Shipping Green Water Mittens

These mittens be designed for the wee pirates, about kindegarten age or so. If'n you want a mitten for a full-sized hand, there are instructions after th' pattern. We call them Shippin' Green Water, because that's th' very foulest kind of water you kin encounter out in the wide seas, with your bow diggin' into th' waves, and water a-runnin' free across the decks. In conditions like that, some nice warm mittens be just the thing to help ye grip wet ropes.

This pattern is written for the two-at-once on two needles method, but if'n ye be more comfy with the weapon-like nature of DPNs, go right ahead.

Gear:

• Size 4 needles
• Size 6 needles
• Scissors
• Yarn needle
• Waste yarn
• 1 ball main color
• 1 ball contrast color

Gague 6 sts = 1" on larger needles

Instructions:

If'n yer tryin' the all-at-once method, remember to do the same thing to both mittens, even though the instructions make it sound like just one.

Cuff:

Usin' the smaller needles, cast on 32 stitches.
Join in round, bein' careful not to twist.
For the twain mittens, cast one mitten on in each color.
Knit k1p1 ribbing, for two inches. Pull your tail into the knitting, so that's one less end to be weavin'. Pirates are all about efficiency.

Thumb section:

Switch to larger needles.
Knit two rounds plain.
K1, M1. Knit to end of round. M1. (34 sts)
Knit one round plain.
Repeat these two rounds 3 more times. (40 sts)
Knit to last 5 sts and slip them onto waste yarn.
Slip the next 5 sts onto waste yarn, for a total of 10 sts.

Mitten body:

You should have 30 sts remaining on your needles. Join in the round and knit.
Pull out about 3 yards of the MC for that mitten, and cut at the end.
Knit the next 4 rows in the charted pattern. Yer main color is the blue bits, yer contrast color be the white ones.

Continue knitting with contrast color until mitten measures 3.25 inches above the cuff.
Pull out 3 yards of the CC for that mitten, and cut at the end.
Knit the next 4 rows in the charted pattern, reversing the colors so that the MC for the mitten carries on.

Top:

Taper the top. If you have trouble getting all the K2tog stitches in the right place, you may need to drop them and pick them up on the next needle.
*K4 K2tog*
K
*K3 k2tog* (20 sts)
K
*K2 K2tog (15sts)
K
*K1 k2tog (10 sts)
K
*K2tog (5 sts)

Break off a 12-inch tail and use the needle to pull the tail through the remaing 5 sts and inside the mitten. Pull tight and weave in end.

Thumb (work each thumb seperately, using magic loop):

Switch to the smaller needle and CC yarn.
Take the 10 sts off the waste yarn and pick up 2 sts in the hand of the mitten.
Join in the round, 12 sts.
Knit until thumb measures 1.5 inches long, as measured from the web of the thumb.
*K2tog*
*K2tog*
Break off yarn ad thread the tail through the remaining 3 sts.
Pull tail inside and weave in end.

Finishing:

Remove the waste yarn used for the thumb stitches.
Turn the mitten inside out and find the end of the Fair Isle joins. Adjust tension and weave in ends.
The sample mittens were made with Knitpicks Swish, in Aloe and Mint, for washability.

Pithy version:

Cuff:
CO 32 on small needles, continue for 2 ins. in K1P1 rib.

Thumb gusset:

Switch to larger needles
K 2 rds plain
K1 M1, knit to end of round, M1
K1 rd plain
Repeat 3 times for a total of 40 sts.
K to last 5 sts, put on waste yarn.
Put next 5 sts on waste yarn.
Join remainder of stitches in round.

Body:

Knit next 4 rows in FI pattern.

Continue knitting in CC until mitten measures 3.25 inches above the cuff.
Knit next 4 rows in FI pattern, reversing colors.

Top:

*K4 K2tog* repeat between stars til end of round
K round
*K3 k2tog* repeat between stars til end of round(20 sts)
K round
*K2 K2tog* repeat between stars til end of round(15sts)
K round
*K1 k2tog* repeat between stars til end of round(10 sts)
K round
*K2tog* repeat between stars til end of round(5 sts)
Break off a 12-inch tail and use the needle to pull the tail through the remaing 5 sts and inside the mitten. Pull tight and weave in end.

Thumb:

Switch to smaller needle and CC yarn.
Pick up stitches on waste yarn, plus 2 from body of mitten. Join in the round.
Knit for 1.5 inches.
*K2tog*
*K2tog*
Break off yarn ad thread the tail through the remaining 3 sts.
Pull tail inside and weave in end.

Finishing:

Weave all ends.

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Shipping Green Water Mittens Pattern by Laura Thomas & Heidi Waterhouse is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.