craftgrrl | Also cross posted to the knitting community. (Reply)

The mitt pattern I've been promising you all. I usually use Bernat worsted (it's cheapest but holds up well). I usually make the size 10 -12 and they fit an adult woman. Some women need the pattern lengthened or shortened for their hands. And the average woman's thumb I find is about 2.5 ins so make sure to measure hands of find some kind of gauge to measure the person's hands you're knitting for.

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Mitts knitted on 4 needles

Sizes Size 2-4 Size 6-8 Size 10-12
Width around palm of hand 4.5 inches 5.5 inches 6.5 inches

Worsted knitting weight yarn

Set of four 3.5 mm double pointed needles

Tension = 6 sts and 8 rows = 1 inch in stocking st.

The instructions are written for size 2-4. Any changes necessary for 6-8 and 10-12 are written in brackets thus - ( )

Cast on 30 sts (6-8 - 34 sts) (10-12 - 40 sts) onto three needles. Join in round.

Work even in rounds of K1 P1 ribbing for 2 ins (6-8 - 2.5 ins) (10-12 - 3 ins).

To make thumb gusset: 1st round: K1, P1, K3, P1. Knit to end of round. Repeat 1st round twice.

4th round: K1, P1. Inc 1 st in each of the next 2 sts. K1, P1. Knit to end of round.

**5th and 6th rounds: Knit, purling the sts purled in previous round.

7th round: K1, P1. Inc 1 st in next st. Knit to the 2 sts before the purled st. Inc 1 st in next st. K1, P1. Knit to end of round.**

Repeat from ** to ** until there are 9 sts (6-8 - 11sts) (10-12 - 13 sts) between the two purled sts.

Repeat 5th and 6th rounds once.

Next round: K2, slip next 9 (6-8 - 11 sts) (10-12 - 13 sts) onto a thread or small stitch holder and leave for thumb. Cast on 3 sts. Knit to end of round.

Knit even in round until work from top of ribbing measures 3.5 ins (6-8 - 4.25 ins) (10-12 - 5 ins).
To shape top: 1st round: *K2tog. K13 (6-8 - K15) (10-12 - K8). Repeat from * to end of round. 28 sts in round (6-8 - 32) (10-12 - 36 sts). Knit one round even.

3rd round: *K2 tog. K5 (6-8 - K6) (10-12 - K7). Repeat from * to end of round. Knit one round even.

5th round: *K2 tog. K4 (6-8 - K5) (10-12 - K6). Repeat from * to end of round. Knit one round even.

Continue decreasing in this manner that is, having 1 st less between decreases every alternate round utnil there are 12 sts in round.

Next round: (K2tog) 6 times. Break yarn. Thread end through remaining sts. Draw up and fasten securely.

To make thumb: Dividing sts on 3 needles knit the 9 sts (6-8 - 11 sts) (10-12 - 13 sts) left for thumb. Pick up and knit 3 sts at base of thumb.

Knit in even rounds for 1.25 ins (6-8 - 1.5 ins) (10-12 - 2 ins).

Next round: *K2tog. Repeat from * to end of round. Break yarn. Thread end through remaining sts. Draw up and fasten securely. Press lightly.