Yay! Finished on time :]
It is definitely a small surprise for me, as I kept having to rip out half my work every couple of days, I wasn't sure if I would have *one* mitten done by the 8th.
And now I have *both* mittens done & ready to be worn a day early!
I took quite a few liberties with the Lithuanian mitten pattern I found in the Ultimate Mittens book I borrowed from the library. For whatever reason (and most-likely because I was using needles 2 sizes too big) the mittens kept coming out way too large for my hands so I started tweaking with the numbers.
I thought I would include my notes for any others interested in trying this revised pattern. Please note I DO NOT own this pattern & reserve all rights to the owners of the book.
Lithuanian Mittens, Revised
With size 3, double point needles, CO 39, splitting them 15, 12, 12.
*K2 P1, repeat, for 19 rows.
P around one row.
Begin new pattern: *K2, P1 for 2 rows; P around for 1 row. Repeat from *For every row that starts with K2, increase one stitch. For example: Row 1 - K1 make 1 K1 P1, *K2 P1, repeat from *.
Row 2 - K1 make 1 K2 P1, *K2 P1, repeat from *
Row 3 - P all
Row 4 - 10 repeats Rows 1-3 until there are 8 knit stitches between the P stitches.
Row 11 - 22 *K2 P1 for 2 rows, P one row; repeat from *. Ending Row 22 with a P row.
There should be 8 Purl rows or the length needed to reach your lowest thumb knuckle.
Slip these 10 stitches (1 P, 8 K, 1 P) onto a stitch holder.
CO 4 stitches on to finished-stitches needle. Continue working, P1 *K2 P1 & continue in pattern [Row 1 & 2: K2 P1; Row 3: P] until it reaches 7 P rows above the thumb hole or your second finger knuckle.
Decrease every first K row. SSK, P1 *K2 P1 for 15 stitches. K2tog P1. SSK. P1 *K2 P1 for 15 stitches. K2tog P1.
Continue regular pattern for rows 2 & 3 until there are 16 stitches remaining. Kitchener stitch the top closed.
Thumb
Slip the holding 10 stitches onto one double point needle. Pick up 9 stitches around top of thumb hole.
K around for 2 rows, P third row. Repeat for 6 rows or until length splits knuckle distance.
*Row 7: SSK, K around to last 3 stitches, K2tog, K1.
Row 8: K row
Row 9: P row
Repeat from * until 11 stitches remain. Kitchener stitch closed.
Weave in ends & model :]
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| Complete! And displayed with thumbs in the center, per a Lithuanian quirk. |
*My favorite part of the whole process is discovering this new pattern. Try making a swatch and feeling the little nubby pattern yourself. Amazingly fun!