Barnacle Fingerless Mittens with Thumb Gussets!

Using my wrist warmer pattern as a base, I wanted to make fingerless mittens with thumb gussets. I used Cascade Llama Lace, doubled, throughout.  A fingering weight yarn should also work. 

These instructions make a mitten to fit women's medium to large. Mitten is about 10 inches long and 3.5 inches at the widest point unstretched.  There is a lot of stretch in these. My hand is almost 8 inches in circumference at the widest point and these fit me. Length of wrist and hand sections can be customized as well as the thumb gusset. To change the width, increase or decrease in multiples of four stitches or size up/down needles used.

This is a great way to use up leftover lace yarn (doubled up) or fingering weight yarn (used single).

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Pattern:

Materials:  One ball of Cascade Llama Lace yarn (used double throughout).  This yarn has 601 yards per ball so you will have plenty left over.  I used 58grams or about 349 yards. You can work from the centre and outside of the ball simultaneously so you don't need to wind off a second ball to double up the yarn.  Conversely, you can choose two different lace weight yarns in complementary colors. Just be sure to have at least 175 yards of each.

One pair of 2.75 double pointed needles

Scissors, a tapestry needle and a measuring tape.

Gauge:  6 stitches and 12 rows to the inch in pattern

CO 48 stitches on a set of 2.75 mm double pointed needles (16-16-16). Join in the round. 

Do (k2, p2) ribbing for 8 rounds. Then commence pattern stitch:

Barnacle Stitch (aka - mock cable stitch)

Round 1: (k2, p2), repeat to end of round.

Round 2: (k1, yo, k1, p2), repeat to EOR.

Round 3: ( k3, p2), repeat to EOR.

Round 4: (sl1, k2, psso, p2), repeat to EOR.

Complete 11 pattern repeats ( or number of repeats for the length you desire to base of the thumb gusset.)

Next round: k1, m1l, k1, p2; then (k2, p2), repeat to end of round.  Those first 3 stitches of your round constitute the beginning of the thumb gusset.

Next round: k1, m1l, k1, m1r, k1; p2, then continue in mock cable pattern round 3.

Next two rounds - k5, p2, then maintain mock cable stitch pattern to EOR. 

Next round: k1, m1l, k3, m1r, k1, p2, then maintain mock cable stitch pattern to EOR. 

Next two rounds: k7, p2, then maintain mock cable stitch pattern to EOR. 

Continue increasing the stitches for the thumb gusset in the same manner every third round while maintaining the mock cable stitch pattern until you have the desired stitches needed for your gusset. In this case, I used 21 stitches and completed two more rounds without increases.  If you need a larger gusset carry on for another increase. Make sure you end on mock cable pattern round 4.

Next round: Knit across thumb gusset. Keep these stitches on a separate double pointed needle for now. Continue the round as follows: k1, m1l, p1, (k2,p2) repeat to last four stitches in the round, k2, p1, m1l, k1.

Slip gusset stitches to a holder or waste yarn. Then slip the last stitch on needle three to the working needle. Continue on in pattern: yo, k1, p2, (k1, yo, k1, p2); repeat to EOR. 

Do 4 complete pattern repeats (16 rounds), or the number you desire for length. Then complete 8 rounds of (k2,p2) ribbing and cast off.

Thumb gusset - with working yarn, pick up stitches as follows:

Pick up four stitches where two were added to rejoin the mitten top in the round. Then pick up the loop right before the reserved stitches, then k4 from the holder (9). Then k8 onto the second needle.  Then k9 remaining on the holder and pick up the loop between the last reserved stitch and the first stitch picked up. (26 sts)

Next round: k4, knit loop and next stitch together as one, k3 (8 on needle 1). Then k8 stitches ( 8 stitches on needle 2). Then k8, and knit the last stitch and loop from needle 3 as one (8 stitches on needle 3).  Work these 24 stitches in stockinette for 6 rounds. 

Next round: (k2,p2) to end of round.

Repeat this k2, p2 ribbing 5 more rounds. Then Cast off.

Weave in ends. Repeat pattern for second mitten. Right and left hands are alike.