canyon mittens
knitted from this handspun:
spun from this roving:
4 ozs of Blue Faced Leicester
Specs:
Yarn: above, approx: sport weight, 188 yards
Needles: US size 3 Knit Picks circs and US size 6 Addis
Pattern: Mittens on a String by Erika Knight found in her book, Simple Knits for Little Cherubs
Size: 2-3 toddler
I like that this was a quick and simple pattern, knitted flat, and seamed along the back with mattress stitch. I made a few small changes for sizing really. After finishing the thumb tip you are instructed to pick up and knit the cast on stitches at the base of the thumb to close the gap. I picked up fewer stitches than required as I wanted the circumference of the palm to be a bit more narrow than the pattern called for.
The mittens seemed sized a bit large for a 2-3 toddlers hand to me and I was knitting at gauge. Who knows wee may have tiny hands? Who is to say what is average.
As for finishing the tip of the mitten, I wanted it to match the bind-off for the tip of the thumb. Instead of binding-off all the remaining stitches, I worked a few extra decrease rows, k2tog, ssk across, then breaking the yarn, drawing it through the remaining stitches and pulling to gather the tip, creating a star-point.
(What is the proper name for this type of bind-off? Anyone?)
I like the result and it seems to be holding up to wee's rejection quite well.
The only problem? Getting the wee one to keep them on!
