Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Perfect Leaves Convertible Mitts

UPDATE: This pattern is now only available as a PDF on Ravelry. Please follow this link to access it


Last August I got to visit Melbourne for the first time. I was staying with a friend and we'd arranged to go camping at the Cathedral Ranges for a few days. I knew it would be extra cold, so I wanted something to keep my fingers warm but also allow me some dexterity. I had seen other convertible mitt patterns, but they were all quite plain. And so these mitts were born!

For more pictures, see my Ravelry project page
You'll see the top/left mitt has a closed thumb and the bottom/right mitt has an open thumb

Equipment:
Yarn: 8ply. I used Cleckheaton Perfect Day with Chocolate for the main colour and Chocolate Natural Marl for the contrast.
Needles: 4mm. I prefer 1 long circular (60cm+) in the magic loop or 2 shorter circulars. DPNs can also be used.
Sizing: These were designed for me, but should fit most women with averaged sized hands. The cuff circumference measures approx 16cm but will stretch to about 26cm. From the base of the thumb to the top of the mitt measures 12cms (this would be from the base of your thumb to the top of your middle finger. If you would like to know any other measurements, please leave a comment.
Approx gauge: 23sts & 32 rows to 10cm in stockinette


Tip
In the lace pattern, there is a part where you have to do a yarn over followed by a purl stitch. If you're new to lace, you might have found this a bit confusing - I know I did the first time! The trick is to wrap the yarn around the needle - bring yarn to front under the needle as you would for a regular YO, take it back over the top of the needle then bring to front under the needle - then work the purl stitch.

I made my mitts using the magic loop method, as I find this the easiest way of working in the round. Choose whichever method works best for you. 

Tips for working the thumb:

(the pictures show 4 cast on stitches, that was my error)


22 comments:

  1. Those look very pretty. Thanks for the pattern I love flip top mitts.

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  2. Enjoying this project, but I had a question on Row 39. Posted the question on Ravelry, but thought I'd mention it here in case you saw this first. Making these for a birthday gift for this weekend!!

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  3. these are so cute.
    i added them to the directory at www.knittingatplay.com

    You can find them in the recently added section and the mittens page!
    Megan

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  4. I must be very dense. I've come here twice and still cannot find the "Perfect Leaves" lace pattern. Not on the Web either. Not in Ravelry. So where can I find the lace pattern? Thank you Knuttyknitter941@verizon.net

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    Replies
    1. In the first paragraph after the heading "Pattern", the second line says " You can view/download the PDF here". The word 'here' is hyperlinked to the lace pattern

      Delete
  5. Dear Penelope,

    I would like to make these mittens for my children could you please let me know the adjustments that I should make to the pattern for an 11 year old girl and an 8 year old...or should I just make them the same size?

    thank you,
    Daphne
    daphnerj@nyc.rr.com

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    Replies
    1. Hi Daphne,
      It's hard to say without knowing the size of their hands. I think the easiest way to size these down would be to use a lighter yarn and smaller needles.
      The first step would be to work out the circumference of their hands. These mitts have a circumference of 38st, not including the thumb. So you'll need to use yarn & needles that give you the right gauge for the size you need. Because of the lace pattern and the fact that the decreases are in specific places (ie along the sides of the fingers, rather than evenly spaced) it would be tricky to reduce the overall number of stitches to fit.

      Let me know if you have any other questions or need more help :)

      Delete
  6. I cannot download the PDF of the leaves pattern. I tried it on my tablet and my computer. They both keep coming up blank. Can you help me? Sarah

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  7. I also had problems witha blank page despite having looked at this previously. Look through your history and access it that way, it worked for me.

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  8. This pattern is incomplete after the leaves are placed on scrap thread you talk about knitting in the round, where do the extra stitches come from? I was left with just a flap. This is quite frustrating I am goin to have to improvise. What a shame. Cute pattern but incomplete.

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    Replies
    1. Hi,
      I think you are referring to the instructions in row 44? After working the lace pattern, scrap yarn is thread through those stitches, however they are kept "live" and you continue to work the ribbing on these stitches.
      This scrap yarn is in place to make it easier to pick up the stitches referred to in Rnd 1 of the Top of Mitt section of the pattern, where the "flip top" attaches to the mitt.

      Hopefully this helps. Let me know if you have any more questions.

      Pene

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  9. Thank you for the clarification. Unfortunately I will have to improvise on the first one I completed. I still say the information is sketchy. How can you put the nineteen on scrap yarn and continue working the stitches. Not to clear.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Again,
      Putting the stitches on scrap yarn is like using a lifeline, but only for half of the work. I don't have any photos of how I did it, but I found this good blog post about it here: http://knittingyards.wordpress.com/lifelines-step-by-step/

      I hope that you are able to continue making these mitts and enjoy doing it!

      Pene

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    2. I have completed the mittens and have given the mittens to the recipient today.

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  10. Would it be possible to get a printed copy of this pattern?

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    1. Hi Elina,
      Unfortunately at this stage I don't offer printed patterns. I am looking at converting my patterns to PDF format so they are easier to print, but that will be quite some time away.

      Delete
  11. I'm a bit confused on row 15 when you start increasing for the thumb. You say to work Lace Pattern first, but is that all 19 stitches? I don't think it can be since then there are no more stitches to do the 2 KFB. Do I start the KFB before the 2 pulls? Thank you!! I'm making these for my daughter for Christmas.eeek

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  12. I'm a bit confused on row 15 when you start increasing for the thumb. You say to work Lace Pattern first, but is that all 19 stitches? I don't think it can be since then there are no more stitches to do the 2 KFB. Do I start the KFB before the 2 pulls? Thank you!! I'm making these for my daughter for Christmas.eeek

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  13. Okay, so then what do I do with stitches between the markers for rounds 6-9? There is no mention of slipping the marker during those rounds. When I K2tog,do I knit the stich before the marker with the stitch on the other side of the other marker?

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  14. Ugh, okay...you can just delete all these messages I've posted to your site. I'm sorry for being such a dork. The thumbs go on the palm side...not the lace side. Duh. :-( Sorry for message bombing your site. Yikes.

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