Free Mitten Pattern for Toddlers - Updated 01/11/2010

"Soon To Be Lost" Toddler Mittens - fits ages 2-4


Needle size: 6/ 4.0mm
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Deep Olive Tweed, Worsted weight
Gauge: 24 stitches = 4 in.
Yardage: approx. 100 yds.

Measurements: Cuff 1.5in, Wrist to tip of fingers: 4.5in, Thumb: 1.5 in.


Pattern is written for two circular needles, but may be easily altered for dpns by dividing the stitches evenly on each dpn.

For the beginning of each round (on one needle only) you may use a stitch marker or you may use the long tail of your cast on to keep up with the beginning of each row.


Cast On:

Cast on 28 stitches.

Cuff:

Rows 1 - 10: K1P1 Ribbing
(If you prefer a longer cuff, you may add as many rows as you like.)

Rows 11 - 16: Work 6 rows of St st

Thumb Shaping:

Row 17: Inc1, k to end. 2nd needle - k to end.
Row 18: knit
Row 19: same as row 17
Row 20: knit
Row 21: same as row 17
Row 22: knit

Separate for Thumb:

Place 8 stitches (4 stitches from each needle) onto a holder/waste yarn. Cast on 2 stitches using backward loop method.

Center of the Mitten:

Work two inches in St. St.

Fingers:

On each needle: ktog, k to last two stitches, ktog.
Next row: knit

Repeat two more times
Next row: knit

Bind Off:

Three needle bind off or Kitchener.

Thumb:

Move the 8 stitches from the holder, placing four stitches on each needle.

Row 1: Pick up and knit two stitches from the inside of the thumb and knit around both needles. At the end of the second needle, pick up two more stitches. Make sure that all four of the picked up stitches are knit twisted. This will help tighten up any gaps made where the thumb and hand meet.

Row 2 and 3: knit

Row 4:ktog, knit to end of row.
Row 5: knit
Row 6: ktog, knit to end of row
Row 7 and 8: knit

Bind Off:

Leaving a long tail, cut yarn and thread onto needle. Thread the yarn through all loops on the needles, remove needles and draw up the yarn tightly. Weave in the tail.

Weave in all loose ends on the mitten.


*As always, all comments and critiques are much appreciated. If you find an error in the pattern, please let me know and I will update the pattern accordingly.

*Updated on 01/11/2010 - corrected the increase section at the thumb.

Free Pot! - Sorta

I've been trying to sell some stuff in order to get enough money to get me a drum carder. Have you priced drum carders lately? Those suckers cost more than my spinning wheel did and I thought that was excessive. So, I'm back to saving my nickels and dimes and pinching those pennies til the scream for mercy. Sort of. Anyway, I had a pleasant surprise today. I dumped out my little piggy bank and counted up what I've been socking away for the past several months and found $66 bucks! That's before I sell anything. Now if I could only get someone to respond to some of my Ebay and Craigslist ads...

I took the Youngest out today to run some errands. One of those errands involved getting him some new shoes. He insisted on the Batman ones, the ones that came with the dressup costume and only cost $10 at Walmart. But, I bet you didn't know that Batman ran around carrying an axe, did ya?




We also went around to some thrift shops looking for a pot that I can use for dyeing wool and roving in - specifically for acid dyeing. Found nada, zip, zilch. Until, I went to my Father In Law's for a second today. Guess what? Big enamel pot's been sitting in his cabinets for 25 years with no one wanting it. Yes! Free pot! Score! (HeeHee, now we'll see how many hits I get on this page alone just because I wrote Free pot.)


When we got back, I saw this, but in a blurry sort of state as it rushed past me out the door:


The neighbors got quite a show. Shea, diving into bushes yelling , No! Tiger! and then coming back up with a hissing cat that was trying to kill me. Fun.

New FO!

My new scarf is finished!

Project: December is for Stephanie
Yarn: Handspun Merino in Riverstone colorway
Needles: Size 8
Started: Jan. 14, 2009
Completed: Jan. 20, 2009

This was a super easy, fun project. Unfortunately, these pics don't do the yarn justice. I could not get a better pic of it while I was inside and it's too bloomin' cold to go outside to take a better one.



In it's previous life, it looked like this:It's much easier to see the true colors of the yarn in this shot.

Inauguration Observations

A couple of things I'd like to mention about today's presidential inauguration:

I thought the bobbling of the Presidential Oath by the Chief Justice and the President was delightful. The Chief Justice reversed the order of some of the words of the oath and it briefly threw off Obama's response. I'm delighted because it shows that they're both human and can make mistakes like the rest of us.

During the ceremony though, I was less than delighted by Aretha Franklin's rendition of My Country Tis of Thee. While I enjoy Aretha singing Soul music, I found her version of the song to be the equal of a tooth needing a root canal. Jarringly yelled, not reverently sung.

Three presidents ago, I attended the Inauguration of George W. Bush Sr. I was honored to be able to participate by marching in the Inaugural Parade with the Auburn University Marching Band. While it was an honor to be there, it was absolutely miserable. The temps were freezing and I was crying by the end of the 5 mile parade. I feel both happiness and sympathy for the poor kids who will be doing this again today. I'm very glad to be watching the events from home while snuggled in my armchair in my nice toasty house knitting something that I wish I had had during that parade approximately 20 years ago:


A nice wool scarf. Back then I was just wishing I could get some booze. My how times age us, huh?