The Midwinter Stag fingerless mittens are a super comfy, chunky, textured pair of fingerless mittens that are perfect for keeping cold hands warm through the deepest part of the winter. The staghorn cables, which are presented in chart and written formats, are simple and supremely satisfying to knit, even for first time cable knitters. They add just enough interest to keep the knitting so addictive that you’ll probably be wanting to turn to these again and again for those quick gift-knits. The cables, combined with the worsted weight yarn, add such a comforting texture to the mittens. So whether you’re fondling a hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night, or running out to grab a bucketload of kindling from the shed, these will keep your hands and heart toasty and warm. Skills Used: Long tail cast-on K2 P2 Rib Knitting cables using a cable needle Increasing, decreasing Backward loop cast-on Picking up and knitting thumb gusset Purl cast-off Level of Difficulty: Confident Beginner
Yarn: Bergere De France “Fileco” (78% Acrylic, 12% Wool, 6% Nylon/Polyamide, 4% Other, 85 meters per 50g ball); 2 balls; sample uses colour “Ecomauve.”
Tips for yarn substitutions: The yarn I used is a worsted weight yarn, firmly spun, with a rustic and slightly rough hand. This design would look good with rustic tweeds, undyed pure wool, or even loosely spun yarns with a slight halo. The staghorn cables will stand out best if the yarn is a solid to semisolid, with only slight variegations.
Needles: 4.5mm/ US #7 ; 40 inch circular for magic loop mittens or, set of US 4.5mm/ US # 7 DPNs, or needles required for your preferred method to work small circumferences in the round. * Please work up a swatch and use the needle size that will get you the gauge.
Notions Required: Stitch markers Cable Needle Waste yarn, or stitch holder, for holding thumb sts Darning needle
Gauge (after blocking): 4.5 sts over 1 inch in St st
Size Information: Adult female, One Size
Staghorn Cable Chart:
Written Instructions for staghorn cable: Round 1: Purl 2, Knit 4, C4R, C4L K4, Purl 2 Round 2: Purl 2, Knit 16, Purl 2 Round 3: Purl 2, Knit 2, C4R, K 4, C4L, K2, Purl 2 Round 4: Purl 2, Knit 16, Purl 2 Round 5: Purl 2, C4R, K 8, C4L, Purl 2 Round 6: Purl 2, K 16, Purl 2
Knitting Instructions: Using the long-tail cast-on CO 40 sts, and divide equally among needles.
To join to knit in the round, first make sure there are no twists in your cast on edge, then simply start knitting into the first cast-on st on your LH needle.
Cuff: Knit 1 round plain, St st. Next round, start K2P2 ribbing, and work 10 rounds of K2P2 rib to complete the cuff. Knit one round plain, St st.
Begin Cable Pattern: * the staghorn cable pattern will be worked on the first 20 sts (or needle 1 for magic loop) for both left-hand and right-hand mittens. The cable pattern is worked over 16 sts, with two purl sts flanking it on either side for a 2 st reverse stockinette background. â—? Work the 6 rounds of the staghorn cable pattern over the first 20 sts, and continue to work plain St st for the 20 palm sts.
Begin Thumb-Gusset increases: * Gusset increases for both right-hand and left-hand begin on round 1 of the second set of the staghorn cable pattern. The gusset is formed using paired M1R and M1L increases. -
thumb-gusset set-up for right-hand mitten:
Round 1: Knit the cable pattern on the first 20 sts. When you get to the palm sts, K3, PM, M1R, K2, M1L, PM, knit 15 sts. Round 2: Work cable pattern on first 20 sts, knit all palm sts. -
thumb-gusset set-up for left-hand mitten:
Round 1: Knit the cable pattern on the first 20 sts. When you get to the palm sts, K15, PM, M1R, K2, M1L, PM, K3. Round 2: Work cable pattern on first 20 sts, knit around palm sts. â—? For both mittens, repeat rounds 1 and 2, increasing one stitch after the first stitch marker and one before the second stitch marker, every other round, for a total of 14 sts between markers.
● After the last increase round, work one more round where you knit plain St st on the palm sts.
Remove thumb-gusset sts: Work cable pattern on first 20 sts, when you get to the palm sts remove the gusset stitches as follows: ● K3, place 14 sts on waste yarn or holder, CO 2 sts using backward loop cast-on, knit to end of round. ● Keep working the 6 rounds of the cable pattern on the first 20 sts, and plain St st on the last 20 sts, for a total of 6 sets of the staghorn motif. ●
Knit 4 rounds of plain St st on all 40 sts.
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Work 5 rounds of K2P2 rib.
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Cast-off using purl cast-off, or a cast-off of your choice.
Picking up and knitting thumb sts: ● Pick up, but do not knit, all 14 sts on the waste yarn/holder. Divide sts equally amongst the needles. ● At the beginning of round, join in your working yarn by picking up, and knitting, 2 extra sts from the body of the mitten, adjacent to the thumb sts. ● Work around to the end of the round, and pick up and knit 2 more sts from the next gap between thumb sts and body of mitten. Total of 18 sts on needles. ● Next round, work a K2tog with the first two sts on the needles, knit to last two sts, and work another K2tog with the last two sts. Total of 16 sts on needles. ●
Knit 8 rounds of plain St st.
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Knit 5 rounds of K2 P2 Rib.
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Cast-off using purl cast-off, or a cast-off of your choice.
Finishing: Weave in all yarn ends, and wet block gently.
Designer and Pattern Information A Duckling Knits http://canetoncouture.com/ Email: dakibrittain@gmail.com Instagram: aducklingknits
Credits Photography: All photographs by Daki De Alwis Graphic design and pattern layout: Daki De Alwis
Copyright Š A Duckling Knits, 2018 Pattern Version #1, January/2018
Abbreviations K2tog: knit 2 sts together K2P2: Knit 2, Purl 2 LH: left hand needle M1L: Make one left: Insert left needle, from front to back, under strand of yarn that runs between next st on left needle and last st on right needle; knit this st through the back loop (1st increased) M1R: Make one right: Insert left needle, from back to front, under strand of yarn that runs between next st on left needle and last st on right needle; knit this st through the front loop (1st increased) PM: Place marker RH: right hand needle st(s): stitch(es)