Saturday, January 27, 2007

Playground Mittens

Last Updated Feb. 2008 to reflect a small correction. Thanks to all the Ravelry knitters who called it to my attention!


Playground Mittens, another XRK original



As a mother of small children, I know that while mittens keep small hands warm, kids need their fingers available. It is hard for small fingers to zip jackets or tie shoes, and it is practically impossible to cross monkey bars with mittened hands.

Most children solve this problem by simply removing their mittens, and this is how many mittens get lost. Moms have responded to this by threading mittens on string through coat sleeves, or clipping mittens to the wrists. I came up with a different solution.

I started with a regular convertible mitten, but decided that it was too much bulk for tiny hands and too much effort for a busy preschooler. Playground mittens are mittens with a slit, so that kids can slip their fingers or even their entire hands out of their mittens without actually taking them off. Adding a flap keeps the palm completely covered for warmth without adding too much bulk.

Playground Mittens are a modification of any basic mitten pattern, for any size or gauge. I used Ann Budd’s The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns (Interweave Press, 2002) as my source, but any basic recipe would do. At the end of this pattern is a list of links for such basic mitten patterns available online.

This is my first pattern, and while I have knitted it twice, it has not been test-knit by other knitters. Please feel free to contact me with errors and constructive suggestions, and send any pictures of finished Playground Mittens!




Playground Mittens

To fit sizes 4-6 years/about a 6” hand circumference
Gauge: 5 stitches = 1”
Finished mitten circumference = about 7”

Supplies:
5 dpns
100 yds of worsted weight yarn (sample knitted with less than one skein of Noro Kureyon)
stitch markers
waste yarn

M1L: Left leaning raised increase: with left needle, lift strand between the needles from front to back. Knit this loop TBL.

M1R: Right leaning raised increase: with left needle, lift strand between needles from back to front. Knit this loop TBL.

First, knit the flap. CO 12 stitches. Using two dpns, knit back and forth in K2,P2 rib for 4 rows. Set aside completed flap on one dpn.

CO 32 stitches. Divide evenly over three dpns and join for working in the round, being sure not to twist your stitches. To make cuff, knit K2, P2 rib for 2”.

Switch to stockinette stitch and increase one stitch in the first round for 33 stitches.

Thumb gusset increase round: K to first M, sl m, M1L, K to second m, M1R, sl M, knit to end.

To set up thumb gusset, K16 stitches, PM, M1L, K1, M1R, PM, knit to end of round. Knit two rounds even. Knit thumb gusset increase round every 3 rounds until you’ve made 9 gusset stitches, 41 stitches total.

On next round, place gusset stitches on waste yarn, remove markers, and CO1 stitch over gap using backward loop method, and place marker to mark the beginning of the round. 33 stitches total

K 2 rounds even.

Next round, K2, bind of 12 stitches, knit to end of round.

K2, K 12 flap stitches from holder over bound-off sts, K to end of round.

K even for 3”, then decrease 1 stitch evenly . 32 stitches.

Decrease for top of mitten as follows:

(K6, k2tog) to end.
K 1 round even.
(K5 k2tog) to end.
K 1 round
(k4, k2tog) to end.
K 1 round.
(k3, k2tog) to end.
K 1 round.
(k2 , k2tog) to end.
(K1, k2tog) to end.

Break yarn. Using darning needle, thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull to gather closed.

To finish thumb, take 9 stitches off waste yarn, and pick up 1 stitch from the gap. 10 stitches.

K 6 rounds even.

k2tog, K1 to last 4 stitches, k2tog, k2.
K 1 round.
K2 tog, K1.

Break yarn. Using darning needle, thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull to gather closed.

Knit second mitten, being sure to reverse instructions to place flap on palm side of mitten.

Using darning needle, weave in all the ends. Pay special attention to tacking down the top edges of the flap to ensure a gapless fit.


This pattern is easily modified to fit your child or use any yarn. Simply estimate the number of stitches required for about 3/4 of the palm, and make your flap and slit accordingly.


Other Basic Mitten Patterns:

Basic Cuff-Up Mitten from P2 Designs (.pdf)

Basic Four Needle Mitten Pattern from Knitlist

Generic Mitt Building Template from Knitty, Fall 2005

Labels: XRK Patterns

posted by Liz K. at 12:00 PM

14 Comments:

Blogger knittingphilistine said...

Great pattern! I could definitely use some sweet playground playin' mittens!

1:03 PM  
Blogger shizzknits said...

LOve those mittens! They look really cool in the Kureyon. Nice job!

4:16 PM  
Blogger Mo said...

Wow! Nice work. I'm impressed with my two designin' pals.

7:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

a pretty rosebud with her pretty mittens!

fabu!

anne marie in philly

7:55 PM  
Blogger Ann said...

I think N and R will be sporting these soon! Way to go Liz -- great pattern!

8:33 PM  
Anonymous tiennie said...

Very cool - thanks for the pattern and links!

11:10 PM  
Blogger bethc said...

Looks like a great idea... I may have to try some!

7:34 AM  
Anonymous Mintyfresh said...

very cute; thanks for writing up the pattern for us!

7:33 PM  
Blogger Carol said...

Great idea! I'll have to try them for some of my little people. Also, your child modeling them is uber-cute.

5:22 PM  
Blogger eyeknit said...

I can't wait to make these! Is the M1R correct? I usually lift the strand from back to front, and then knit the front loop. This gives me a nice increase that mirrors my M1R (done same as yours).

2:19 PM  
Blogger eyeknit said...

Sorry...I meant "that mirrors my M1L", of course.

2:20 PM  
Blogger carrie said...

ok, now i just need some kids. one of these days ...

8:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Quick question ... what size DPNS?
Thanks!

1:39 PM  
Blogger Beth said...

I've gotta try these, thanks!

10:06 PM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

Contributors

  • Ann
  • Mo
  • Liz K.

Subscribe

    Subscribe with Bloglines

XRK Free Patterns

Anemoi Hat

Ian's Chullo

Playground Mittens

Finished Objects Gallery

www.flickr.com
www.flickr.com
www.flickr.com
Mo Knits' photos More of Mo Knits' photos

XRK Nightstand

Liz: Freddy and Fredericka, Mark Helprin

Ann: The Universe in a Single Atom, His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Mo: The Preservationist, David Maine

Current Knit Tunes

The 885 Most Memorable Musical Moments Countdown on WXPN

Kate Rusby, Awkward Annie

WRIR

XRK Web Rings



Knitting Bloggers
Previous | Next


Mid Atlantic Knitters
Join | List | Previous | Next | Random | Previous 5 | Next 5 | Skip Previous | Skip Next
Powered by RingSurf

Pkwebringbutton
    PhillyKnitters
Join | Previous | Next | Random

Powered by RingSurf

XRK Favorite Knit Bloggers

  • All Tangled Up
  • Archivist on the Edge
  • Bee Knits
  • Big Adventures of Mama-E
  • the Blue Blog
  • BrooklynTweed
  • C U R L Y P U R L Y
  • dogged.
  • Every Word's A Purl
  • The Frog and the Daisy
  • fluffa!
  • Go Knit In Your Hat
  • Gromit Knits
  • Grumperina
  • Isel's Knitting Blog
  • Knit and the City
  • Knit and Tonic
  • Knitzanity
  • January One
  • Lickety Knit
  • LollyKnitting Around
  • Maggi Stitches
  • Mason-Dixon Knitting
  • The Panopticon
  • Pepperknit
  • Purlwise
  • Savannahchik Knits
  • SpiderWomanKnits
  • Subway Knitter
  • Tiennie Knits
  • Two Sharp Sticks
  • Yarn Harlot
  • Zeneedle
  • Non-Knitting Blogs You'll Like

  • Brandon Eats
  • Backyard Boulangerie
  • Buttermilk and Molassas
  • Jen Lemen
  • Food For Thought
  • Kindness Girl
  • Muddy Paws
  • The Wind In The Trees
  • Knitting Along


  • KALs Complete



  • Liz = 12 Ann = 3
  • 1875 miles traveled, DONE!
  • _______

    Previous Posts

    • Ian's Chullo
    • XRK Blogiversary Week
    • XRK First Blogiversary
    • Teasing
    • Mr S's Arms
    • Cables Completed
    • Trying to get it right ...
    • Resolved.
    • A New Year for Knitting
    • Out with the Old, In with the New

    Powered by Blogger

    Subscribe to
    Posts [Atom]