Monday, November 24, 2014

Dessert First Mitts

This was looking like a great pattern, and I was excited to get started on the mitts.
As I  looked at the yarn, and ate a piece of  pumpkin pie at 10:00AM, I asked myself, "What if I knit the mitts....?











But first, I'd  like to share the pumpkin pie recipe. 
Resources: PLU#3134 Pumpkin Pie; produce sticker
WELL FED, by Melissa Joulwan;  Velvety Butternut Squash, p 119

Roasting a pumpkin is no more difficult than roasting squash.  Remove the stem. Cut pumpkin in half, scoop out seeds & strings.  Place cut side down on parchment lined baking sheet. Sprinkle 2Tbs water on the parchment.  Bake 350F for 1 hour until tender.  Cool, and scoop out flesh.
 "pumpkin"  and a note from Farmer Ginger: 
Sure! It's pumpkin season!! That squash however is a speckled pup- not technically a pumpkin but a mini kobocha. Sweet and very good in pies! Enjoy and happy holidays!
Ginger from R-Evolution Gardens CSA

Prepare your favorite pie 9" shell.
Preheat oven to 375F.

Pumpkin pie filling: 
1 1/3 cup smooth pumpkin 
1 can sweetened condensed milk 
1 egg
1Tbs pumpkin pie spice (or 11/2 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ginger, 1/4 tsp clove)
Beat together, and pour into 9" pie shell.
Bake at 375F for 55-60 minutes.
Let cool, and enjoy!

Now, let's get back to Dessert First Mitts.
As I  looked at the yarn, and ate a piece of  pumpkin pie at 10:00AM, I asked myself, "What if I knit the mitts with all this green & blue, and never get to the pretty magenta?  How can I, 'Knit, Relax, Smile. Repeat!' as suggested on the Universal Yarn label?"
As I finished the piece of piece of pie, I decided to solve that problem. I unwound, and wound the yarn into a ball. I found/wound 33g of green & blue. I continued unwinding on through the magenta, and into the red.  I divided the red in half, and my lucky day, 50g of yarn in that ball.
Then I wound the other ball pulling from the inside, and I started both mitts with a red/magenta cuff!  Dessert first!  Now, I could "Knit, Relax, Smile. Repeat!" as it suggests on the label.


 Dessert First Mitts      Marilynn Blacketer 2014
These Dessert First Mitts are fraternal twins. If finished neatly, interestingly reversible!
The mitts are worked from wrist to fingers in worsted weight yarn. Mitt sizes are determined by the needle size. The Fancy Cable is fun to work, and the mitts can be knit in a weekend, or two, making them the perfect gift or accessory. This may be considered an intermediate level pattern because knowledge of cables, and stitch construction is helpful.


Finished sizes:
Small: Flat 5”, stretches (at cable) to 8”circumference, height 9”
Medium: Flat 5.5”, stretches (at cable) to 10”circumference, height 9”
Large: Flat 6”, stretches (at cable) to 12”circumference, height 9”
Gauge: (size #6 needle) 8 stitches = 1” flat 2x2 ribbing; (size #7 needles) 7sts = 1” flat 2x2 ribbing;
(size #8 needles) 6 stitches =1” flat 2x2 ribbing. Adjust needle size to match gauge.

Materials:
Yarn: cotton or wool blend in worsted weight; 200 yards/3.5 oz;
Photo: Dessert First Mitts (size small) are knit in Universal Yarn Classic Shades;
70%acrylic / 30%wool; color 733 Jubilant
Needles:
Size small: Two sizeUS#6, 16”or 24” circular needles, set sizeUS#6 double pointed needle
Size medium: Two sizeUS#7, 16”or 24” circular needles, set sizeUS#7 double pointed needle
Size large: Two sizeUS#8, 16”or 24” circular needles, set sizeUS#8 double pointed needle
(I prefer to knit both mitts at the same time on two circular needles.
KNITTING circles around SOCKS by Antje Gillingham is an excellent resource for getting started.)

Notions: Stitch markers,  tapestry needle,  cable needle,  2 yards different color yarn,  (smaller spare) set double pointed needles,  crochet hook

Abbreviations: CO = cast on      BO = bind off       K = knit       p = purl
MC = main color      cn = cable needle      Rnd = round      sts = stitches
c8B = cable 8 Back      c8F = cable 8 Front

Fancy Cable (these 20 stitches and 10 rounds make the fancy cable)
Rnds 1-9: * Knit 2, purl 2; repeat from * to end
Rnd 10: K1, c8B, c8F, k1, p2
Special Stitches:
c8B = cable 8 back = slip 4sts to cn and hold in back, work 4sts on left needle as presented 
(k1, p2, k1), work sts from cn as presented (k1, p2, k1)
c8F = cable 8 front = slip 4sts to cn and hold in front, work 4sts on left needle as presented 
(k1, p2, k1), work sts from cn as presented (k1, p2, k1)
Key:(Rnd 10) knit    , cable8B >//<, cable8F >\\<, k    , purl - , p -



Directions: Make two mitts.


If working with one (200 yard)skein of yarn, divide into two (100yard/50g)balls, winding so the favorite(dessert)colored yarn is toward the beginning to be worked into the cuff. If working with 2 skeins of yarn, pull from the inside, or outside, enjoying the favorite(dessert) colored yarn toward the beginning to be worked into the cuff.

Use the long-tail cast-on method, with two SizeUS #6,(#7,#8), 16” circular needles, 
cast on 48 stitches.
Place marker & join together by knitting first stitch being careful not to twist. (24sts per needle)
Rnds 1- 9: *Knit 2, purl 2; repeat from * to end
Rnds 10: (back of hand) K2, p2, k1, c8B, c8F, k1, p2, then (palm) (k2, p2) 6 times
(Optional Rnds 10, 20, 30: * K2, p2, k1, c8B, c8F, k1, p2; repeat from * to end)
Work mitts with Fancy Cable at least 6” from CO completing rnd 4.

Thumb opening:
Oops, two right thumbs. Yes, I fixed that!






The mitts are (fraternal) identical, and you've been looking at the back of the hand. This round will determine the right and left thumb placement.
Right Thumb Opening Rnd 5: (K2, p2)6times(back of hand), then k2, drop MC yarn, with a strand of different colored yarn, p2, k2. Slip the four stitches back to the left needle. Drop colored strand, pick up MC, p2, k2 across 4 stitches once more, and continue p2, (k2, p2)4times (palm).
The thumb cuff will be put in later.
Left Thumb Opening Rnd 5: (K2, p2)6times(back of hand), then (palm)(k2, p2)5times, drop MC yarn, with a strand of different colored yarn, k2, p2. Slip the four stitches back to the left needle. Drop colored strand, pick up MC, k2, p2 across 4 stitches once more. The thumb cuff will be put in later.

Rnds 6 - 9: * K2, p2; repeat from * to end
Rnd 10: K2, p2, k1, c8B, c8F, k1, p2, then (k2, p2) 6 times

Continue to work mitt an additional 3” with Fancy Cable on the back of hand, ending work on rnd 9.
Bind off loosely in pattern.

Finishing:

Thumb Cuff: Carefully slide the 4sts below, and 4sts above the colored yarn to 2 (smaller spare) double pointed needles. Carefully remove the colored yarn. 
Attach MC yarn, working with sizeUS#6,(#7,#8), double pointed needles, picking up 2 stitches as knit or purl at the beginning of each needle, and knit 2, purl 2 as the stitches present themselves, work one round. (You'll have the rib pattern established, and 6 sts on the two needles. This will help avoid “holes” on the sides, and offer comfort for the thumb.)
Now work the thumb cuff onto 3 double pointed needles (k2, p2 per needle).
Rnds 1-10:* K2, p2; repeat from * to end
Bind off loosely in pattern. Weave in tail very neatly for a reversible mitt.
Make the second mitt.




This pattern is available on  marilynnsgardenknitdesign.blogspot.com.
Dessert First Mitts pattern pdf is available on Ravelry (login needed)
Copyright 2014, Marilynn Blacketer. All rights reserved. 11-23-14
For pattern support please contact: marilynnblacketer@gmail.com