Briar Rose Mitts

The graphic, modern colourwork pattern on these fingerless mitts was inspired by rambling roses

Stranded colourwork mitts

DESIGNER SOPHIE McKane loves to use colour in graphic, unusual ways, and these mitts display her modern style perfectly. The colourwork pattern in grey and white is lifted by tiny red flowers worked in duplicate stitch. The palms are striped, while the thumbs use a checkerboard pattern. They’re knitted in Baa Ram Ewe’s new 4ply yarn, Pip Colourwork, which comes in a choice of 15 shades.

STITCH PATTERNS CORRUGATED RIB

Rnd 1: (K1A, P1B) to end. Repeat Round 1 for pattern.

LEFT MITT CUFF

Using 2.25mm needles and yarn A, and the long-tail cast-on, cast on 48 ( 56: 66) sts. Pm and join to work in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts. Rnd 1: (K1A, K1B) to end. Continue in corrugated rib until work measures 3cm, placing a mrk on the final round after stitch 24 ( 28: 33).

BOTTOM OF HAND

Change to 3.25mm needles. Rnd 1: Beg on stitch 39 of Chart rnd 1 and ending on stitch 70 ( 74: 79) begin working Chart to mrk, slm, K1B 0 ( 0: 1) times, (K1A, K1B) to end. Note that the yarn C sts on the chart are worked in yarn A while knitting, with the yarn C added in duplicate stitch after knitting is complete. For smaller sizes, any incomplete yarn C flowers at the end of the round should be omitted. Cont to work Chart through to rnd 40. Rnd 41: Work to thumb gusset, place 19 sts onto waste yarn and hold for thumb, cast on 3 sts in yarn A using the backwards loop method, work to end. Continue working Chart until all rnds are complete.

TOP OF HAND

Change to 2.25mm needles. Rnd 1: (K1A, K1B) to end. Work corrugated rib for 2cm. Cast off loosely in yarn A.

THUMB

Return 19 thumb sts to 2.25mm needles. With yarn A, leaving a 20cm yarn tail, pick up and knit 3 sts from cast-on edge of thumb gusset, join to work in rnd. 22 sts. Rnd 1: (K1A, K1B) to end. Work corrugated rib for 1.5cm. Cast off loosely in yarn A.

RIGHT MITT

Work cuff as for Left Mitt.

BOTTOM OF HAND

Change to 3.25mm needles. Rnd 1: K1B 0 ( 0: 1) times, (K1A, K1B) to mrk, beg on stitch 10 ( 6: 1) of Chart and ending on stitch 41, work Chart to end of rnd. Complete as for Left Mitt.

MAKING UP

Weave in all ends, using yarn tails to close any holes at thumb join. Using duplicate stitch (Swiss darning), add flowers in yarn C as indicated on Chart. Wet block mitts, following any yarn care instructions on the ball band, and lay flat to dry.