Arctic Blast

Mitts

Arctic Blast Mitts by St ar Athena

Size Women’s Medium

Wrist circumfere nce:

6.5 inches (16.5 cm)
unstretched. Will stretch to fit
10 inches (25.5 cm).

Gauge: 26 sts/36 rows = 4"

in st st

Needles: 1 set US #3
/3.25mm 32” circular needles
(magic loop), 2 sets of 24”
circulars, or double pointed
needles, or size to get gauge.

Yarn: Malabrigo Silky Merino [50% Merino, 50% Silk; 150yd/137m per
50g skein]; color: Natural; 1 skein. (Or any DK weight yarn that gives you
proper gauge)

Notions: Darning needle, stitch holder, and stitch markers.

Some people live in towns that expect two feet of snow. These towns
have snow plows and salt and intrepid spirits that function despite the
challenges.
I live in a town that panicked. We had some plowing of the major streets,
with sand instead of salt. But if you didn’t have chains, you weren’t
driving anywhere.
I did what I had to do… I stayed at home with some hot tea, bad movies,
and knit some armwarmers. And now I get to brag that I officially survived
the Arctic Blast of Ought Eight.

© 2009 Star Athena 1

http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/
 Arctic Blast
Mitts

NOTES: This intermediate level pattern includes instructions to make a

pair of lacy wrist warmers. You’ll need to know how to read a pattern,
cast on, knit, purl, YO, k2tog, ssk, ktbl, k2tog tbl, and work in the round.
The lace pattern is charted as well as written; take your pick.

This pattern is written using the magic loop or 2-circular method, where
half the stitches are on N1, and the other half are on N2. You can easily
divide these stitches again for double pointed needles.

ABBR E VIAT IO NS: RN: Right needle

CO: Cast on Rnd: Round.
K: Knit RS: Right (or public) side of work
K1tbl: Knit one st through the back loop. Sl: Slip. As in, slip the next stitch
K2tog: Knit two stitches together as one stitch from left to right purl-wise.
M: Marker. Sl m: Slip marker.
M1L: Make one, left leaning. Bring the tip of the SSK: Slip one stitch as if to knit, slip
left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, the next stitch as if to knit, insert left
from front to back. Knit through the back of the loop. One stitch
needle increased.
into front of these two
M1R: Make one, right leaning: Bring the tip of the stitches and knit them together.
left-hand needle under the strand between stitches, St: stitch
from back to front. Knit this loop. One stitch increased. WS: Wrong (or non-public) side of
LN: Left needle work
P: Purl YO: Yarn over
PM: Place marker

Start Mitts:

Cuff:
CO 42 sts. Divide evenly between needles and join to begin working in the round,
being careful not to twist sts when joining. If needed, place marker to indicate
the beginning of the round.
Rnds 1-5: (P1, k2) across
Rnd 6: (P1, k2, p1, yo, k2tog) across
Rnds 7-8: (P1, k2) across

Start Lace:
Work rnds 1-5 of Arrowhead Rib chart 9 times.

© 2009 Star Athena 2

http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/
 Arctic Blast
Mitts

Start Thumb Gusset Shaping:

You will continue to work the Arrowhead Rib pattern while making increases for
your thumb. The thumb stitches will be worked in stockinette stitch.

Rnd 1: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib pattern for 18 sts, pm, M1R, YO, pm,
work in Arrowhead Rib until the end of the round.
Rnd 2: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until first marker, sl m, k to next
marker, sl m, continue Arrowhead Rib chart until the end of the round.
Rnd 3: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until first marker, sl m, M1R, k to
next marker, M1L, sl m, continue Arrowhead Rib pattern until the end of the rnd.
Rnd 4: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until first marker, sl m, k to next
marker, sl m, continue Arrowhead Rib chart until the end of the round.
Rep Rnds 3-4 until there are 14 thumb sts in between markers.

Next rnd: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until just before first marker.
M1L, sl m, k to next marker, sl m, continue Arrowhead Rib chart until the end of
the round.
Next rnd: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until 1 st before first marker,
k1, remove marker, sl 1 st from LN to RN, place 12 sts onto stitch holder, return
slipped st back from RN to LN, k2tog tbl, remove marker, continue Arrowhead
Rib chart until the end of the round.

© 2009 Star Athena 3

http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/
 Arctic Blast
Mitts

Next rnd: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until you hit the 2 extra sts
above the thumb gusset, k those 2 sts, continue Arrowhead Rib chart until the
end of the round.
Next rnd: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until you hit the 2 extra sts
above the thumb gusset, k2tog, continue Arrowhead Rib chart until the end of
the round.
Next rnd: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until you hit the 1 extra st
above the thumb gusset, k1, continue Arrowhead Rib chart until the end of the
round.
Next rnd: Work next row of Arrowhead Rib chart until 1 st be fo re you hit the 1
extra st above the thumb gusset, k2tog, continue Arrowhead Rib chart until the
end of the round.

Start Hand:
Work rnds 1-5 of Arrowhead Rib chart 2 times.
Rnds 11-15: (P1, k2) across

Bind off:
BO using an elastic, stretchy bind off method of your choice. I prefer Elizabeth
Zimmermann’s sewn bind off as follows:

Break yarn, leaving a tail that is five times longer than your bind off edge.
Thread yarn tail onto a tapestry needle. *Sew needle through the first two sts on
knitting needle purl-wise, then sew through the first st on knitting needle knit-
wise. Drop the first st off the knitting needle. Repeat from * until all sts are
bound off.

Thumb:
The thumb is slightly less stretchy than the Arrowhead Rib pattern. You will need
to try on the wrist warmer and find the number of sts comfortable to you. Work
as follows:

Slide the sts on hold to working needles and divide to work in the round. Attach
yarn (leaving a long tail to sew up holes later) and knit across the 12 sts. Pick up
and knit 2-5 sts along the hand side of the mitt. (The number depends on the
size of your thumb – try it on and see what is comfortable. You may need only 2
extra sts, you may need 5, or something in between.)
Rnds 1-5: Knit around all sts.
Rnds 6-8: (K1, p1) across
Bind off using the sewn bind off described above.

© 2009 Star Athena 4

http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/
 Arctic Blast
Mitts

Finishing:
Weave in ends. Use long tail at thumb to sew up any holes. Block as desired.
Blocking is important!

This pattern was originally part of the 2009

Single Skein Club at Twisted in Portland.

Thanks to Vivian for modeling!

This design is for personal, non-commercial

use only. If you wish to share the pattern
please don’t distribute, instead, direct people
to my site, or to Ravelry, so they can acquire
their own copy. Thank you!

Email: starina@hotmail.com

© 2009 Star Athena 5

http://keeponknittinginthefreeworld.blogspot.com/