The Basic Recipe

I know I know. I should have posted this pattern *before* the holidays but now you can get a head start on the 2008 Holiday Season. Not to mention that these mitts make quick and easy gifts year round. So herewith and without further ado I give you [drumroll]...

Felted Lime Green Oven Mitt Pattern

Ingredients:

2 skeins Lion Wool: Lemongrass
1 - 16” size US10 circular needle
set of 5 double pointed needles (dpns) size US10




GAUGE: 3 stitches = one inch
Finished Measurements (before felting): 15.5 inches long by 7 inches wide


With double strand of wool and circular needles (or dpns), pull out 72 inches of yarn and using the long tail method, cast on 40. You will have a tail of about 24 inches which will be used later to create the hanging loop.



Being careful not to twist, join into circle and knit 32 rows. Marking the beginning of the round will make things easier, especially at the decrease rounds.



At row 33 you’ll want to create a “scrap yarn slit” (SYS) in order to set stitches aside which will be picked up later for the thumb.

Here’s how you do it: Knit 8 stitches normally. Using about 12 inches of scrap yarn knit 9 stitches(1). Now return the 9 stitches you just knitted on scrap yarn to the left needle.(2) Knit these stitches again using the Main Color (or MC as we like to say) in this case the Lemongrass. You will be knitting ON TOP of the SYS stitches(3). Whew! Not so bad eh?





Continue knitting in the round, using double strand of MC, for another 22 rows past the “scrap yarn slit” created for the thumb. Now we will start the decrease rounds as follows:

Dec Round 1: Knit 1, ssk, knit 14, knit 2 together, knit 2, ssk, knit 14, knit 2 together, knit 1 (36 stiches remain)
Dec Round 2 (and every even round): Knit every stitch

At this point you may want to switch to dpns if you haven’t already done so.



Dec Round 3: Knit 1, ssk, knit 12, knit 2 together, knit 2, ssk, knit 12, knit 2 together, knit 1 (32 stitches remain)
Dec Round 5: Knit 1, ssk, knit 10, knit 2 together, knit 2, ssk, knit 10, knit 2 together, knit 1 (28 stitches remain)
Dec Round 7: Knit 1, ssk, knit 8, knit 2 together, knit 2, ssk, knit 8, knit 2 together, knit 1 (24 stitches remain)
Dec Round 9: Knit 1, ssk, knit 6, knit 2 together, knit 2, ssk, knit 6, knit 2 together, knit 1 (20 stitches remain)
Dec Round 11: Knit 1, ssk, knit 4, knit 2 together, knit 2, ssk, knit 4, knit 2 together, knit 1 (16 stitches remain)

Move the 16 remaining stitches to two needles (8 stitches on each needle) and graft together using the Kitchener Stitch. There is a wonderful tutorial for learning this stitch here.



Thumb:

At the SYS (Scrap Yarn Slit) pick up the 9 stitches in the row above the SYS





and 9 stitches from the row below.




Remove the scrap yarn, either by picking it out with a spare needle or cutting it (carefully!).






Join double strand MC and knit across the 18 stitches of the two needles.

Divide the 18 stitches onto three needles and join in the round (being careful not to twist).
Knit 14 rows.




At row 15 decrease in the following manner: *knit 2 together, knit 1*. Repeat between ** to end of row. Knit one row. Cut yarn leaving a 12 inch tail. Thread tail and sew through remaining stitches pullling tight.




At this point it’s nice to weave in all your loose ends although this isn’t necessarily required. After felting you can simply cut them. However, I do like to weave the hole that usually appears at the juncture of the thumb and hand.

For the hanging loop, start at base of oven mitt and crochet the cast on tail for about 20-25 crochet stitches. Pull yarn through, fold loop and sew securely to base of oven mitt.




Now you’re ready for the fun part - felting!

Note: Be sure and place your finished oven mitt in a mesh bag before washing to protect your washing machine’s motor from errant wool fibers.




And here’s how I do it: Throw an old pair of jeans into the washing machine, set water level to lowest, temperature to hot. Once agitation begins, I throw in the oven mitt (which has been placed inside a mesh bag to protect the washing machine) and add about 1 teaspoon of laundry detergent. I then allow the machine to do its thing. I don’t remove the oven mitt until the end of the cycle. If the oven mitt is too large, you can wash it again. Different colors of Lion Wool yield different results. If you have any questions or comments about this whole process, please email me. I would love to hear from you. Good Luck!