Thumb Instructions

srt = short row turn. I used wrap & turn, and left the wraps in place to hide in the garter stitch

Cast on 50 with winding cast-on (25 loops).

1. K25
2. K23, kbf, k2, kfb, k21, srt
3. k48, srt
4. k22, kbf, k2, kfb, k20, srt
5. k46, srt
6. K21, kbf, k2, kfb, k19, srt
7. K44, srt
8. k42, srt
9. K40, srt
10. k17, ssk, k2, k2tog, k15, srt
11. k34, srt
12. k14, ssk, k2, k2tog. k12, srt
13. k28, srt
14. k11, ssk, k2, k2tog, k9, srt
15. k23

Knit to center, break yarn, and graft 11 sts from each side to close thumb. Leave remaining 14 sts from each side on holders.

Attach First Half of Thumb

In row 1, work 25 stitches of provisional cast-on in color A.

Next 14 stitches of provisional cast-on are dropped. Instead, with top of thumb facing the right (toward stitches you have just knit) work the 14 wrong-side stitches (the edge farthest from you).

Since my thumb was in color B, I cut color A here and switched to color B to work thumb stitches.

Finish remaining 14 stitches in row 1 with color B.

Mitten Body

Continue with pattern, making three sections. Graft closed, with the 14 held thumb stitches substituting for the 14 skipped in the first row.

Pitfalls

The shape isn’t ideal, with the top a little pointy and the cuff a bit too short. Lengthening the cuff is no problem, but I don’t understand the geometry well enough to make a more rounded top. I blocked it into a more round shape, but it won’t hold.

There’s a glitch in the grafting where the thumb stitches join. I need to pay better attention. The garter ridges on the thumb do not match those on the body of the hat/mitten cleanly.

Invitation

If you try this yourself with Azula, any of the Elemental designs, or indeed any hat pattern, I’d love to hear about your experiences. Please pm me or leave a note/link in the comments.