HOW-TO: Make the “Tiny Crackers” mittens from The Mitten Handbook
Do you remember a time when you were so small you didn’t know how to use your thumbs? Me either, but if you’re lucky, at some point you’ll meet a person that size. If you’re really lucky, you’ll get to watch them learn how. Until they do, help keep those wee hands cozy with these thumbless mittens, inspired by every little one’s favorite tiny fish crackers.
SIZE Baby
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 4½" (11.5 cm) hand circumference 4" (10 cm) long, including cuff and tail
YARN Super Fine Weight Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight [100% superwash merino wool; 405 yards (370 meters)/5⅛ ounces (146 grams)]: 1 skein Cozy Fierce and Dirty Orange; approximately 2 yards (1.8 meters) Dark Brown for embroidery
NEEDLES One set double-pointed needles, or other needle(s) for working a small circumference in the round, size US 2 (2.75 mm) One set double-pointed needles, or other needle(s) for working a small circumference in the round, size US 1 (2.25 mm) Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
NOTIONS Stitch markers; tapestry needle
GAUGE 28 sts and 40 rnds = 4" (10 cm) in St st on larger needle(s)
NOTES These mittens are worked from the top down in the round. One size is given; the size may be adjusted by working at a firmer or looser gauge.
STITCH PATTERN 1X1 RIB (even number of sts; 1-rnd repeat) ALL RNDS: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.
MITTENS
SHAPE MITTEN TOP With larger needle(s) and using Judy’s Magic CO (see below), CO 20 sts. Join for working in the rnd; pm for beginning of rnd. Set-Up Rnd: K10, pm, k10. Increase Rnd: *K1, M1R, knit to 1 st before marker, M1L, k1; repeat from * once—4 sts increased. Repeat Increase Rnd every other rnd twice—32 sts. Work even until piece measures approximately 21½" (6.5 cm) from CO.
CUFF Change to smaller needle(s). Work approximately ¾" (2 cm) of 1x1 Rib.
TAIL Change to larger needle(s). Increase Rnd: *K8, M1L, pm; repeat from * to end—36 sts. Shaping Rnd: *Knit to 2 sts before marker, s2kp2 (removing marker), pm, knit to 1 st before marker, M1R, k1, sm, M1L; repeat from * once. Repeat Shaping Rnd every other rnd twice. Knit 1 rnd. Work 1 rnd of 1x1 Rib. Loosely BO all sts in pattern.
FINISHING Weave in ends. Steam lightly to block, pinning out points on tail. Embroider mouth and eye on both sides of Mitten as shown below.
SPECIAL TECHNIQUES
BACKSTITCH Bring threaded needle up from WS to RS through first hole, then take needle back to WS through next hole. Bring yarn back to RS through third hole, then back to WS through second hole. Continue in this manner, working from WS to RS in empty hole beyond last hole worked, then going backward 1 hole to go from RS to WS.
FRENCH KNOT Bring threaded needle from WS to RS of fabric, hold yarn taut a few inches from where it exits the fabric, wind yarn twice around needle, insert needle from RS to WS very close to where it exits the fabric, then keeping yarn taut, slide wraps of yarn down needle to fabric, hold securely, and pull needle through to WS.
JUDY’S MAGIC CO Worked with two needles. Make a slipknot and place the loop around one of the needles. The anchor loop counts as the first st. Hold the two needles together, with the needle that the yarn is attached to toward the top. This needle is needle #2 and the other needle is needle #1. In your other hand, hold the yarn so that the tail goes over your index finger and the working yarn (the yarn that leads to the ball) goes over your thumb. (This is opposite from how the yarn is usually held for a long-tail CO.) *Bring the tip of needle #1 over the strand of yarn on your finger, then around and under the yarn and back up, making a loop around needle #1. Pull the loop snug, but not tight, around the needle. Bring needle #2 over the yarn tail on your thumb, around and under the yarn and back up, making a loop around needle #2. Pull the loop snug around the needle. There are now two sts on needle #2: the st you just CO plus the anchor loop. The top yarn strand always wraps around needle #1 (the bottom needle), and the bottom yarn strand always wraps around needle #2 (the top needle). Repeat from * until all sts are CO, ending with a loop around needle #1.
For years, students have asked knitting instructor Mary Scott Huff for a book on their favorite topic—knitting mittens—but one that empowers them to create their own mittens their own way. This is that book. The Mitten Handbook is much more than an instruction book—it provides a list of mitten ingredients (thumbs, cuffs, tops, edgings, and different constructions), then outlines the best tools and techniques for readers to combine them to knit their own unique creations. The book is organized into three sections. The first presents mitten elements, with a menu of choices that makes get¬ting custom results easy. The second section covers the key aspects of construction, including how to measure for the perfect fit, yarn and gauge considerations, and which direction to knit. And the final section provides 20 complete mitten patterns.
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