Saint Patrick Mittens by Bridget Pupillo

Saint Patrick Mittens

Knitting
June 2015
Sport (12 wpi) ?
24 stitches and 28 rows = 4 inches
in over charted pattern
US 6 - 4.0 mm
US 5 - 3.75 mm
328 yards (300 m)
Woman's Medium
English
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Good luck is at your fingertips with these mittens! Here I used the classic construction techniques of a Scandinavian mitten, blended with the beauty of Celtic knotwork design in honor of Saint Patrick and the Irish tradition. The back of these mittens features a shamrock with starburst, surrounded by Celtic knotwork motifs. The palm is covered in an allover knot pattern reminiscent of Aran cable work. Even the thumb displays two small shamrocks (for a little extra luck!). These mittens would make a perfect gift for Saint Patrick’s Day, or an everyday surprise for your favorite Irish lass!

This pattern is sized for a woman’s medium. The width of the mitten is 4” and the length from cuff to tip is 11”. For a larger size (to fit a man’s medium), work the same pattern using a worsted or Aran weight yarn. For a smaller size (to fit a child), use a fingering weight yarn.

The gauge is 24 stitches and 28 rows over 4” in charted pattern.

This mitten is worked in the round using double pointed needles. The cuff is worked in k2p2 ribbing with color stripes. The mitten itself is worked using the stranded knitting technique, following a detailed chart. A thumb gusset is worked into the chart for a better fit. The thumb stitches are then set aside on a holder while the rest of the mitten is worked, decreasing to a point at the tip. The thumb stitches are later picked up and worked to a similar point. Both mitten and thumb feature a border edge.

This pattern is recommended for intermediate knitters. You must be able to follow a chart, to knit using the stranded knitting technique, and to work increases and decreases for shaping.

For this pattern, I used Cascade 220 Sport, a DK/sport weight yarn (100% Peruvian highland wool, 164 yds per hank). You will need 1 hank of Natural (#8010) for yarn A, and 1 hank Christmas Green (#8894) for yarn B, or equivalent amounts in a DK weight yarn. You will also need double pointed needles in size US 6 or whatever size necessary to get the gauge, and double pointed needles one size smaller for the ribbing.

This pattern includes written instructions for the mittens, full color charts, color photographs, and notes on the stranded knitting technique.