I have been so happy knitting mittens lately that it makes perfect sense my next published pattern is one for mittens. Consquently, I am more than excited to report my Flame Mittens are in Issue 32 of Yarn Forward magazine:
Obligatory close up shot:
These began life as perfect skeins of Sport Weight from Blue Sky Alpacas. It is 100% luxury with yarn made from 100% baby alpaca. Let me just say, if I only knit with one yarn the rest of my life, this could be it:
I used Dark Grey (#509) for the main color (MC) and Red (#511) for the flames (contrast color, CC). The mittens begin with corrugated ribbing at the cuff, but instead of knitting two, changing colors and then purling two, I fell in love with a technique I learned from Wendy of Wendy Knits fame.
Instead of changing colors every two stitches, she knits the two MC stitches then slips the two CC stitches and repeats this for round 1. For round 2, slip the first two MC stitches already worked in round 1 and then purl the two CC stitches and repeat that for an entire round. Consequently, both rounds 1 and 2 are required before all stitches are worked, but I love it because I just focus on the one color the whole round. I also use two sizes larger needles whenever I work corrugated ribbing.
These mittens are worked in the round with the grey but each individual flame has its own color bobbin. Consequently, each little "flame" is worked separately and the yarn for each flame zig zags from the end of one round to the start of the next round. When you yank slightly on these, each flame "pops" a bit as well, which I think is kind of fun. The grey is worked at 6 stitches per inch, so the mittens really do cruise along nicely once the bobbins behave properly.
The mitten pattern is written in three sizes, 7.25" (8", 9.25") circumferences x 9.25" (10.25", 11.25") in length.
There is a chart printed to make life a bit easier and the tip of each mitten is grafted with Kitchener stitch. When working in the round, each row of the chart is read right to left.
Yarn Forward is a British knitting magazine and is now at Barnes & Noble if yours in town carries this magazine. I find mine does off and on, depending on the month.
Knit on.