(shown here with Woven Cable Scarf - Click here for Woven Cable Scarf Pattern) See more Merino 5 patterns here.

Merino 5

Pocket Fingerless Mitts

Designed by Gail Tanquary for Crystal Palace Yarns

Description:  Merino 5 is a 100% machine washable Merino wool yarn with excellent structure and soft hand. Merino 5 comes in a huge range of printed and solid colors.  Use Merino 5 to make these terrific fingerless mitts. They are handy for walking, jogging, or commuting; even nice to wear indoors for that snuggly, warm feeling. The mitts have a handy pocket you can use Use these mitts to hold keys, cash, tickets, etc.

Use the Stitch Red color, Merino 5 in #1012 Crimson, to support heart health. 
Crystal Palace will donate 5% of the sales of this color to
the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH)
on behalf of The Heart Truth® and the Stitch Red Project.

Level:  Intermediate

Size: Adult hands

Materials:

• Yarn: 2 - 50g balls Crystal Palace Merino 5 #1012 Crimson (These mitts use just a little more than one ball.  Three balls should yield two pair.)
• Needles:  Crystal Palace Bamboo 9" Size 6 and 8 (mitts) and Crystal Palace Bamboo 6" Double-Pointed Needles, Size 8 (for knitting and holding pocket top sts)*
• Stitch holders, stitch markers
• 2 buttons

*The double-pointed needles are optional.  If you do have these dpn's, then this method is recommended.  But if you do not wish to purchase extra needles, you can use the single-pointed needles for the pocket top and then transfer the pocket top sts to a stitch holder instead.

Gauge:  4.5=1" over St st on larger needles

Instructions: 
These mitts are worked back-and-forth.

Pocket Top (make 2): Using two double-pointed needles*, cast on 17 sts.
Work in garter st for 5 rows (end by working a wrong-side row).

Buttonhole: K8, yo, K2 tog, K to end. K 1 row.
Next row: K to buttonhole, K into buttonhole instead of into next st and drop this st from needle. (This will elongate the buttonhole.)
K 3 more rows.
Set aside and make second pocket top. Set aside.

Begin Mitts:
Using size 6 single-pointed needles, cast on 39 sts and work K1-P1 rib for 1". End by working a wrong-side row. Change to larger single-pointed needles. Work 8 rows St st. End by working a wrong-side row.
Right mitt: K3, slip next 17 sts to holder, K 17 from pocket top, K to end.  Continue in St st until piece measures 3.5" from cast-on edge.
Left mitt: K19, slip next 17 sts to holder, K 17 from pocket top, K3.  Continue in St st until piece measures 3.5" from cast-on edge.
Thumb gusset - Right Mitt: K20, place marker, m1, K2, M1, place marker, K to end of row.
P 1 row.
Next row: K to marker, sl marker, m1, K to next marker, M1, slip marker, K to end of row.
P 1 row.
Repeat last 2 rows until there are 14 sts between markers.
P 1 row.
Next row: K to marker, sl marker, m1, K to next marker (do not M1), K to end (15 sts between thumb gusset markers).
Next row: P to marker, K across sts of thumb gusset, P to end. K to marker, remove marker, K1, bind off 13 sts, remove marker, K to end.
Joining row: P to 1 st before thumb gusset, P2 tog, P to end. Thumb gusset - Left Mitt: K17, place marker, m1, K2, M1, place marker, K to end of row.
P 1 row.
Next row: K to marker, sl marker, m1, K to next marker, M1, slip marker, K to end of row.
P 1 row.
Repeat last 2 rows until there are 14 sts between markers. End by working a wrong-side row. Next row: K to marker, sl marker, M1, K to next marker (do not M1), K to end.(15 sts between thumb gusset markers).
Next row: P to marker, K across sts of thumb gusset, P to end. K to marker, remove marker, K1, bind of 13 sts, remove marker, K to end.
Joining row: P to 1 st before thumb gusset, P2 tog, P to end.
Both gloves: Work 4 rows St st. Change to smaller single-pointed needles. Work K1-P1 rib for 1" fasten off. Sew side seams.

Pocket lining: Slip sts from holder onto size 8 single-pointed needle. Work in St st until pocket lining measures same length as glove to beginning of fingertip ribbing. Bind off. Sew lining in place. Attach button.

December 2011