I’ve now uploaded a new, “Re-Vamp(ir)ed “ pdf of the Whitby Mitby, with re designed thumb. Anyone who has previously purchased the old version should automatically get a copy.

Whitby, where Count Dracula set foot ashore in England. The ruined Abbey at sunset; a blood red moon, bats fluttering; flaming crosses and demonic looking skulls in the crypt below. This pattern is not for the faint hearted, and I would definitely recommend experience with stranded knitting, if not with vampires. There are a few areas of the pattern that have long floats to be dealt with.

These Gothic fingerless Mittens only take a small amount of 4ply yarn. Two strongly contrasting colours are needed, 50grams of a dark colour and 25 grams of a light contrast.

The addition of 12 size 8 seed beads for the demonic eyes on the skulls gives them a terrifying expression!. I used 32 Miyuki 8 seed beads from www.begellybeads.com

They fit my ladies medium sized hand which is 9” circumference at the widest part at the thumb joint. The actual mittens measure 8” top to bottom, which includes a generous cuff, and 7 1/2” in circumference at the widest part, 6 1/2” circumference at the wrist. And of course, they will stretch. Length is easily adjustable by adding or reducing the ribbed cuff rows and larger or smaller sizes can be achieved by going up or down in needle size, depending on your gauge.

The original Whitby Mitby featured an “afterthought” thumb, which means a piece of spare yarn is knitted into the design at the place where the thumb is to be put. This is unpicked later, when the rest of the mitten is complete and the live stitches are picked up and knitted. This new version has the live thumb stitches kept on a stitch holder or spare piece of yarn, ready to be worked when the rest of the mitten is completed.

I think they will make an elegant addition to the outfit of any Goths attending the Whitby Goth Week!