Warm-hearted mittens KAL and free pattern for Valentine's day

 

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-warmhearted-mittens

Warm-hearted mittens:

Two sizes: smaller (e.g. for teenager) and wider (e.g. for adult ) 

The circumference of the smaller mitten is about 18 cm and the circumference of the wider size is about 20 cm. 

The gauge: 24 s x 24 rows = 10 cm x 10 cm

The heart pattern is divisible by 8.

You will need: 

- 5 knitting needles (DPN) size 3,5 mm EU (or according to you own knitting gauge)

- yarn consumption: about 50g of the main colour ja about 30g of the second colour

- yarn thickness 100g / 200m  e.g. Drops Lima, Novita 7brothers, Lankava Lysti (if you have/chose slightly thicker yarn, I advice you to use the pattern for smaller size)

Cuff:

Cast on 44 sts and devide them to needles 12,10,12,10. Then work  the rib *k2p2* for 16-18 rounds (or as long as you want your cuff to be)

Then work the increases and decreases knitting all stitches stockinette. For smaller size mitten decrease 1 st on each needle = 40 sts and arrange them onto the needles 10,10,10,10. For wider mittens add 1 st to each needle = 48 sts and arrange them onto the needles 12,12,12,12.

If you want, you can also knit a different kind of a rib e.g. *P1K3* as long as it fits the stitch count.

Knit one more round in stockinette stitch in main colour and then start the pattern according to the chart adding the second colour.

The Heart pattern:

Begin the colour work following the chart above knitting from row 1. Work the chart rows 1-15. Then, on round 16 eight stitches are set aside for the thumb. 

Right hand mitten:  on needle 3, knit one and then knit 8 stitches with waste yarn. Then slip the waste yarn stitches back  onto the left needle and knit till the end of the needle according to the pattern on the chart. 

Left hand mitten: on the second needle, knit according to the chart until there are 9 stitches left on the needle. Knit 8 with the waste yarn and slip them back onto the left needle. Knit according to the chart.

Continue the colour work according to the chart and work the rows till the row 40. Knit 4 more rows stockinette in main colour (or until the mitten measures approximately 24-25 cm from the cast on edge or your preferred length = 3,5-4 cm less than the desired total length). The decreases will add 3,5-4cm to the length.

Top decreases:

Knit the decreases on every row in each needle. At the beginning of the needles 1 and 3 Knit 1 and ssk (slip, slip, knit). At the end of the needles 2 and 4, knit until 3 stitches remain and then 2tog (knit 2 stitches together) and knit 1. Continue to knit the decreases until there are two stitches left on each needle.

Cut the yarn and thread it through the remaining 8 stitches tightly.

 Thumb:

You will need three DPN knitting needles. Pick up the 8 sts you worked with the waste yarn. Pick up the stitches from the upper (8sts) and lower(8sts) edges at the same time to two needles. In addition to the  2 x 8 sts, pick up a total of 4 sts from the sides adding two to each needle . Now you have 10 sts on both the upper and lower needles (= 20 sts).

Continue to knit the thumb with stockinette in main colour. On the first row, knit the4 stitches picked up from the sides, from the back loop. This will prevent loose stitches and holes forming. 

Note: if you want, you can decrease the number of thumb stitches by knitting 2tog on the second row at the end of each needle once (= 18 sts). But I advice you to still pick up the extra stitches from the sides to prevent holes.

Knit 16-18 rows stockinette or until your thumb is covered barely (about 6 cm), and start the  top decreases. 

Make the decreases at the beginning (ssk) and at the end (k2tog) of each needle and each ro until there is 2 or 3 sts left on ech needle. Cut the yarn and pull through the rest of the stitches. 

Finishing: 

Finish by securing the ends and pulling them inside the mitten. Weave in all the ends and check the thumbs so, that there are no loose stitches in the beginning of it. 

I weave in the ends back and forth, so that it will last well in use.

Finish by soaking in water and drying to even out the stitches or by steaming and blocking.

Put a beautiful ribbon around the mittens and give them to your friend or valentine. Maybe, knit a pair for yourself as well.

I knit these mittens like I was taught at school years ago. The Heart pattern is used a lot in knitting in different sizes and I can not take credit for it. I wanted to make something simple and wearable with a message about caring. In Finland, we don't celebrate Valentine's day especially with a valentine, but as a celebration of friendship. And therefore I release this pattern to all of you in my knitting community on Valentine's day. I hope you like it.

The pattern will be also released in my Ravelry shop by Valentine's day in Finnish and in English. I hope you enjoy.

I will appreciate all the feedback you have thelittlefinnishknittingblog@gmail.com.

And mentions on social media #warm-heartedmittens would be greatly appreciated. I would love to see all your colour combinations

Someen voi laitta #sydamellisetlapaset tai #sydamelliset

Samalla idealla laitan Sydämellisten sukkienkin ohjeen tänne blogiini.