Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Double Knit Mittens


First attempt.

Second attempt.

 Here you can see the inner and outer layers of the mitten.

I was flailing around a bit this weekend trying to figure out where to put my knitting energy when, while cleaning up, I found the above lone failed mitten.  Perfect small project to crank out to completion, or so I thought.  The first attempt was a fail because I made them too big and my brilliant idea for making them double layered with an angora liner (ooo bunny warmth!) was poorly thought out.  I started with a provisional cast on thinking I would simply undo those stitches and begin a second mitten that would mirror the first.  This is the same method I used when I sewed a pair of double layer mittens out of felted sweaters a few years back.  But, after trying the idea out the cuff got too bulky and stretched out funny on the folded edge where the two layers met.  So, I frogged back and did a stretchy cast off on the cuff with a new plan of picking up stitches on the inside above the cuff to knit the second layer.  Well, that idea also crashed and burned leaving me with a too big single layer mitten - exactly what I didn't want.

In come Ravelry to the rescue!  I knit double knit coasters a while back and the thought occurred that I could use the same construction method to make the mittens.  I love that Raverly has such great search options and I could choose to search this specific construction method, as well as what I wanted to knit.  Most of the patterns that appeared in my search had two color patterns which looked awesome (I love this one), but weren't a good fit for the handspun yarn I was using (You may recognize it as leftovers from that yellow hat.  That's right I'm making a matchy-matchy set - yay!)  Then I ran across this pattern, which was a simple single color on the outer layer with a liner - perfect!  It's more of a recipe than a pattern per se, but still really easy to follow.  Now I'm finally on the right track, a slooowww track, but the right one.  You see you knit the one row in the outer color and then work back around in the opposite direction in the liner color.  It has no formal gusset for the thumb.  Instead you knit in a scrap piece of yarn which you will undo after you complete the body of the mitten, picking up the now "live" stitches to knit the thumb in the round just as you did before.  The only tricky thing is to remember to make a right AND left mitten as this style makes the mittens hand specific. 

I wish you could feel through the internet how squishy soft these are, but alas you'll just have to trust me the resulting fabric is fabulous!  The only downside to this project is that I cannot just crank them out like I was hoping for, but the end product will be just what I want and that's what matters most. 

Joining in with Rachel for Yarn Fanatic Party, Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On and Ginny for Yarn Along.

12 comments:

  1. Wow! Those will be warm and cozy. I have tried double knitting exactly twice. It's in my "to get back to eventaully" pile as I was ready to rip out my hair...trying to use 2 colours and not understanding the directions at all. I left a reply to your comment about the bowls...not sure if it will go directly to you, or if you have to go back to see it. Thanks so much for stopping by to visit.

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    1. Yes, I am excited to try them out in cold weather. Although, oddly we are really warm in MN right now - 45 degrees yesterday, but then I'm no where near done anyway.

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  2. Just like Natalie shared... wow! the colors look so pretty together! mari

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  3. I know exactly how squishy they are because I just finished a pair of double-knit mittens for my sister! :) I made mine on dpns - which are slow going for me anyway but double meant they were really slow. Still, I'd make them again given how wonderful they turned out.

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    1. Cool! Yes, isn't double knitting slow. Very generous of you to give yours to your sister. I'd like to make some for my mom too, but maybe next Winter :)

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  4. They look wonderful. Love the colours. I wish it got cold enough here for people to really need my knitting!

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    1. Thanks Jayne! Yes, the benefit to living in a cold climate is knitting things to keep you warm!

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  5. What cute mittens, love the colors.

    Diane

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    1. Thanks Diane. I'm seeing the color combo of yellow and gray everywhere now that I'm knitting these mittens. Is it wrong to buy items to match your accessories even when then will be worn under a coat? Hmm...probably.

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  6. Oh, those look so cozy, warm, and beautiful! I never would have thought of doing a double mitt, but now I want some too! Yellow and gray is so "in" right now too. ;-)

    Thanks for sharing at the Yarn Fanatic Party! I look forward to "seeing" you there again! Have a great week!

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