I took a stab at a few patterns, but very quickly decided to just make up a pattern as I went along because I have freakishly small hands.
I ended up with Thneeds:
One day Ida messaged me and asked if I was going to write up the pattern.
Shucks. I never thought of that. I really don't consider it "write it up worthy", but I figure what the heck. I'll give it a try.
Well, here goes.
Skill Level:
Actually easy, but since I'm not very good at pattern writing, I hesitate to send a beginner down this road. I'll call it "Super Adventurous Beginner on the cusp of Intermediate who has made a pair of mittens before"
Gauge:
5 st per inch
Row gauge really isn't important for this one
Materials:
- I used Paton's SWS but any heavy worsted should do. 2 balls should be enough for a pair of thneeds and a coffee cozy (which is currently percolating in my brain. Eventually I'm going to sit down, knit it, write it and share it with y'all.)
- needles size 6 (4.0 mm) I am a magic loop ho (lots o' links here), so I used 40" circs, but I guess you could use dpn's or two circs if that's what floats your boat.
- blunt yarn needle for weaving in ends
- a length of scrap yarn for holding some thumb stitches (a legit stitch holder will just get in the way.)
You'll want to cast on: 30 stitches (or any even number that will get you a comfy size using your gauge.) Then divide the stitches...
- 15 on each needle if you are using ML or 2 circs.
- 10 on each needle if you are using a set of 4 dpns.
- knit in the round using a 1x1 rib for 18ish rows. ('Cause if you want, you could make thneeds that go up to your elbow.)
- knit every round for 5 rounds (or 6, really no more than 7.)
- knit 14 stitches (OR until there is one stitch remaining on the first needle...for dpn users this wouldn't work so I will say that you are wanting to knit until the stitch before the halfway point...hope that makes sense.)
- place marker
- knit 3 (yes, yes, you will end up two stitches in on the next needle.
- place marker.
- knit 1 round.
- knit to marker.
- slip marker.
- M1 leaning right. (I actually used right and left leaning increases described in the November 2008-January 2009 issue of Cast on Magazine, but I'm sure any of these would work, too.)
- knit 3.
- M1 leaning left.
- slip marker. (Hint, there should now be 5 stitches between markers.)
- knit 2 rounds.
- you have 11 stitches between the markers (or until you try on the thneed and it feels about right on your thumb.)
- end on the last plain ol' knit round (technically round 3 of the 3 row increasing sequence.)
- knit to the first marker. Place all the stitches between the markers onto scrap yarn. Using the backwards loop cast-on (you won't need to start with the slip-knot), cast-on 3 stitches. Continue to end of round.
- On the next round, when you get to the three cast on stitches, knit into the back of them. Continue to end of round
- On the next round, you will have to rearrange stitches so you have 15 on each needle.
- Switch to 1x1 rib.
You may now cast off. I used a tubular cast off. (The only link I'm going to include for that is to amazon so you can get yourself a copy of this. It has become my "go to" reference book.) Actually, any stretchy bind off will do.
Let's finish up that thumb, shall we? I continued to use the magic loop method for this, but dpn's will work just at well.
- pick up 14 stitches (make sure you start on the "palm" side and in the crook of the thumb.
- place marker and knit one round.
- on the next round decrease one stitch (I used k2tog) At the beginning and end of the row. You should now have 12 stitches.
- knit away until the thumb is long enough.
- Cast off using EZ's sewn cast off. (You'll have to scroll down on that link.
If you make this pattern, I hope it is easy to follow. Don't hesitate to e-mail me if you have trouble!
