If the Mitts Fitz

Chunky mitts for winter walks in the Scottish Highlands
Or your own backyard wherever it may be.

Needle
US 13 - 9.0 mm

Yarn
Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky
Colorway
402 Wheat



C/O 30 stitches
(long tail, doesn’t seem to have a problem with rolling over)
R 1 knit
R 2 purl
R 3 knit
R. 4 purl
R 5 kn.st 1-17, decrease 1 (knit two together) knit rest of row
R 6 purl
On knit (odd rows) decrease 1 with center stitches
(even rows purl straight across)
Until there are 19 stitches left.
Three rows of stockinette
On the 3rd row (purl side) knit first 3 and last 3 stitches..
Garter stitch first and last 3 stiches on each row for seven rows
(For thumbs)
Stockinette for last 5 rows
BO on purl row.
(Seems to eliminate rolling)
Seam up sides. Leaving space for the thumb at the garter stitch section. You don’t have to do the garter stitch but it keeps the thumb opening lying flat and nicely defined, especially if you use a yarn that doesn’t block well.
I usually leave a long enough tail when I bind off and cast on to stitch up the seams.

I wear a US size 16….if you are small you may want to go down a needle size, or start with fewer stitches…..to compensate and preserve the length just knit more rows of stockinette before the thumbs.

Ode to Issey

Notes

Long tail CO 80 stitches
R1 - knit
R2 - knit one pearl one rib
R3 - knit one pearl one rib
R4 - knit one pearl one rib
R5 - P 1-74, K1,P1,K1,P1,K1,P1
R6 - K1,P,1K1,P1,K1,P1, K 74-80
Continue until piece measures approx. 60”
Repeat three rows of P1,k1 ribbing (these are the ends)
Knit one row, bind off on purl row..
fold in half to match the ribbed ends together

one long side will be ribbed, the other long side curled up stockinette, this is the side that gets sewn,
sew from the ends toward the middle, leave about 12’ from the folded edge open. this becomes the neck opening.
I made the neck by doing four rows of Single Crochet back and forth, on the last row I added four chain stitches and wove that in to the bottom of the crochet section to make a button loop.
You could also Crochet in the round and eliminate the button. Or pick up stitches and knit the collar, leaving the opening wider would accommodate a cowl neck.
I made this for a teen boy so I wanted the finished look more tailored and severe. I would probably do a more open neck for myself.
Easy project, just time consuming. And most likely made a lot easier if not Black……

The button is an antique US Navy button.
The photos are lightened so the stitches will show, it is truly black. Very luxurious feeling, and warm.
I made it for my teen son who is a big fan of Issey Miyake and Commes des Garcon, he requested a black poncho with that aesthetic in mind. It’s a Christmas present.

Joe can Sew!

This afternoon I was planning to start sewing

Christmas presents for my family.

Joe asked if he could help, so he helped me cut out

the fabric for his present, a pair of pajamas.

It's a tiny house so everyone had already seen their

fabric. No surprise ruining going on here.

What was a surprise was that he wanted to sew his own.

I said no, but there was enough fabric leftover to make a new apron.

I thought he could help me.

I cut the fabric and pieced it for him.

He did the rest.

This was his first time sewing.

And he was very intent and focused.

That in itself is an accomplishment for him.

He usually struggles with attention.

Except when cooking.

Here he is wearing his new apron and cooking his dinner.

If there is one thing that is as satisfying as sitting down to

eat a meal you just made,  it is whipping the apron you just finished

out of the sewing machine and wearing it

while you cook that meal.

He is one proud boy, with one proud momma,

and a brand new apron.