Crochet U-Turn Mitts

Do you like constructions a bit out of the ordinary? And are you - as me - not really fond of weaving in ends? Then this crochet pattern is made for you.
These fingerless gloves are worked in on piece, starting at the outer wrists and ending at the thumb - in an interesting construction that great to show off your variegated yarn.
A knitted version of these mitts can be found in this blogpost.

This work by Knitting and so on is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.




Other Languages
Thanks to sannemethorst (Ravelry user name) a dutch version of this pattern is available here.


Materials

• about 40-45 grams of fingering weight yarn
• 3mm crochet hook
• 5 removable stitch markers (e.g. safety pins) 
• tapestry needle to weave in ends

Abbreviations

• ch: chain 
• sc: single crochet
• sl st: slip stitch: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-crochet-the-slip-stitch.html
• inc: increase by working 2 single crochet stitches into 1 sc below: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-increase-with-single-crochet.html
• sctbl: single crochet through back loop: http://crochet.about.com/od/crochetterms/tp/back-loops-only-or-blo.htm
• dec or sctog: decrease by working 2 single crochet stitches together: http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-decrease-single-crochet.html 
• join: joining pieces with crochet: in order to join to pieces (or, in case of this pattern, the two sides of one piece) hold the pieces together with wrong sides facing and insert the crochet hook into both pieces at the same time, a foto tutorial can be found here (scroll down to “Joining with Crochet” http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/FEATwin08TT.php)
• [y]*x: work the sequence y (within the brackets) x times.
• crochet short rows (as done in this pattern (*)): work sc's to the stitch indicated, then turn work (without a turning-chain) and start into the 2nd sc; when you're working over this turn in a following row, always crochet into the turning-sc as well.
  (*) there may be different methods out there, feel free to try them.

How the half-circle is worked in this pattern?
Basically, in each RS-row, you have to increase by 4 stitches – evenly distributed whereas in WS-rows no increases occur. It is important to start the increases at different points in each row to avoid a visible edges, so I started increasing at a random stitch in the first quarter
So, if you start with 4 stitches that will form the half-circle, you start off as follows
row 1: [inc]*4
row 2 and all even-numbered rows: sc all sts
row 3: [sc inc]*4 (i.e. there is a distance of 1 st between the increases)
row 5: [inc sc*2]*4 (i.e. there is a distance of 2 sts between the increases)
row 7: [sc*2 inc sc]*4 (i.e. there is a distance of 3 sts between the increases)
row 9: [sc inc sc*4]*4 (i.e. there is a distance of 4 sts between the increases)


Gauge or what to measure beforehand
You should measure the circumference of your wrists.


Construction

These mitts are knitted in three parts (see picture on the right):

• Part 1 covers the wrists, it is worked with a 10 stitch wide ribbing (always working into the back loop) and a single crochet body which includes the half-circle. This part ends with a row that join the two sides together (1st join).
• Part 2 covers the palms up to the knuckles. It is worked back and forth and consists of an upper ribbing edge (also 10 stitches that are worked into the back loop) and its main body. It also ends with a row where the two side of the upper ribbing are joined together (2nd join) - leaving a hole for the thumb. 
• Part 3 is worked around the thumb - to create the same stitch pattern than parts 2 and 3, it is also worked back and forth with a slip stitch to join the "rounds" together.

Instructions
The pictures numbered 1 to 6 will give you and idea how the piece looks like during the stages of creation. On the pictures you see stitch markers. Strictly speaking, it’s not necessary really to use them, but it may be convenient as they provide a visual (and haptic?) aid. Therefore, I have included instruction for working with stitch markers in brackets. Since this is crochet, the marker must be carried up to the current row. I'd also advise to mark the RS (e.g. with a safety pin).

Part 1
Chain 23 (22 stitches and 1 turning-chain)
Row 1 (RS): sc 10, (place marker) sc 10, (place marker), [inc]*2, turn piece by 180 degrees and continue on the lower edge of your chain, [inc]*2, sc 10 (place marker), sc 10, (place marker), 1 turning-chain
Row 2 (WS): sctbl 10, sc 10, sc 4, place marker (="middle-marker") sc 4, sc 10, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain
Row 3 (RS): sctbl 10, sc 10, from here to the last 20 stitches (or between the current and the next marker): increase by 4 stitches – evenly spaced out and started at a random point to form the half-circle, sc 10 sctbl 10, 1 turning chain
Row 4 (WS): sctbl 10, sc 10, sc until the last 20 stitches (or until the last but one marker), sc 10, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until the lover edge fits around your wrists - for me this was the case after row 17. After a few repeats, your piece should look similar to the one in picture 1. End with an odd-numbered row.

If you're not comfortable with the instructions above, here are the first odd-numbered rows spelled out:
Row 3 (RS):  sctbl 10, sc 10, [sc 1, inc]*4, sc 10 sctbl 10, 1 turning chain (-> 1 stitch distance between the increases)
Row 5 (RS):  sctbl 10, sc 10, [inc, sc 2]*4, sc 10 sctbl 10, 1 turning chain (-> 2 stitches distance between the increases)
Row 7 (RS):  sctbl 10, sc 10, [sc 2, inc, sc 1]*4, sc10,  sctbl10, 1 turning chain (-> 3 stitches distance between the increases)
Row 9 (RS):  sctbl 10, sc 10, [sc 1, inc, sc 3]*4, sc10, sctbl 10, 1 turning chain (-> 4 stitches distance between the increases)
Row 11 (RS):  sctbl 10, sc 10, [sc 3, inc, sc 2]*4, sc10, sctbl 10, 1 turning chain (-> 5 stitches distance between the increases)
Row 13 (RS):  sctbl 10, sc 10, [sc 1, inc, sc 5]*4, sc10,  sctbl 10, 1 turning chain (-> 6 stitches distance between the increases)
Row 15 (RS):  sctbl 10, sc 10, [sc 4, inc, sc 3]*4, sc10, sctbl 10, 1 turning chain (-> 7 stitches distance between the increases)
Row 17 (RS): sctbl 10, sc 10, [sc 7, inc, sc 1]*4, sc10, sctbl 10, 1 turning chain (-> 8 stitches distance between the increases)

Fold in half with right sides together and join the first 20 stitches, i.e. inserting your hook into the front and the back stitch at the same time (see picture 2). Remove all markers except for "middle marker".

Part 2
Turn mitt back right sides out (be sure to secure your last loop while you're doing this) and start working a small triangle on top of the joined stitches as follows (see picture 3):
Row 1 (RS-WS-RS): sc 3, turn, sc 5, turn, sc 2 (you're back at the point where you started this row)
Row 2 (RS-WS-RS): sc 5, turn, sc 9, turn, sc 4 (you're back at the point where you started this row)
Row 3 (RS-WS-RS): sc 7, turn, sc 13, turn, sc 6 (you're back at the point where you started this row)

Row 4: crochet (sc's) up to middle-marker and chain 11 (i.e. 10 + 1 turning-chain) (see picture 4)
Row 5: sc 9, dec, sc 2, turn; sc 1, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain (and turn - this is a short row),
     sctbl 9, dec, sc 22, dec, sc to end (i.e. middle-marker), sc 1 from gap between last st and last row's chain, sc 10 into the lower edge of chain, 1 turning chain (see picture 5)
Row 6: sc 9, dec, dec, sc 1, turn; sc 1, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain;
    sctbl 9, dec, sc 5, dec, sc to the last 17 sts, dec, sc 5, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain
Row 7: sctbl 9, dec, sc 1, turn; sc 1, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain;
    sctbl 9, dec, sc 1, turn; sc 1, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain;
    sctbl 9, dec, sc to last 10 sts, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain
Row 8: sctbl 9, dec, sc 1, turn; sc 1, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain;
    sctbl 9, dec, sc 1, turn; sc 1, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain;
    sctbl 9, dec, sc to last 10 sts, sctbl 10, 1 turning-chain

Repeat rows 7and 8 a few times and end with an odd-numbered row -  until there are only about 36 stitches left (2x 10 ribbing, and about 16 for the thumb hole.  For me this after two more repeats (i.e. row 13, if counted on).
If it feel as if the mitts gets too wide, you can always do a row with two decreases (similar to row 6).

You can - if necessary - now widen the upper ribbing by working 1 or 2 widening-rows as follows:
Widening-Row: sctbl 10, turning-chain"; sctbl 10, turning-chain

If you want to avoid cutting yarn, it is necessary that your last stitch is a the top of the ribbing before you start joining the sides. That's why the widening-row is actually two rows - back-and-forth

Now hold the right sides of upper ribbing together and join 10 stitches (see picture 6) - this will look and feel odd, but only for the 10 join stitches.
Turn the upper ribbing back (inside-out) making sure to secure the open loop while you're doing this - now you can start the thumb.

Part 3 (Thumb)

I decided to work the thumbs back and forth, to get a consistent "stitch pattern" with the rest of the mitt. If you don't mind the change in the stitch pattern, you can also work this part in the round.

Hold your mitt so that the upper ribbing is down, i.e. that you can work stitches into it.

Row 1: work sc's into the edge of the upper ribbing (the number depending on the number of widening-rows you worked at the end of part 2) - at least 1 (if you didn't do any widening-rows) or the number of widening-rows+1, place marker; work sc's into all sc's that are left over from part 2, work 1 sc into gap, and join with sl st to first stitch of row, turning-chain and turn
Row 2: sc 1, dec, sc to one before marker, dec, sc to end, join with sl st to first stitch of row, turning-chain and turn
Repeat row 2 until the the hole fits snugly around your thumb - I repeated until there were 16 sts.

Row 3: sc into all sts, join with sl st to last st, turning-chain (except for very last row)
Repeat until you have worked a total of 6 thumb rows.

Cut yarn and weave in ends.

Make two.

Yarn

The yarn I used here is called Zwerger Opal Hundertwasser - colorway "Blinde Venus" (yarn link on Ravelry).

This pattern was featured at Pinbellish Link Party at Purfylle.com.

U-Turn Mitts in Crochet?

I haven't finished a crochet piece for some time ... or even started one, to be honest. But lately, just after I'd published the U-Turn Mitts knitting pattern, someone on Ravelry asked whether it would be possible to do this in crochet ... and that got me thinking ... and then trying it out.

When I started out, I didn't really like it - it all looked sort of crumply and the texture was "all wrong" (meaning, it wasn't the texture that you're accustomed to when you're knitting ...).

But I persevered, and it started to look better :) I even started to appreciate the "crochet look and feel" that suits pattern and yarn. So I finished one mitt and started the next one ... I guess I will write up the pattern - even though it will rather be a "knitting pattern in crochet" than a real crochet pattern.

U-Turn Mitts

Show off your self-striping yarn with these fingerless gloves. Due to their non-standard construction no yarn cutting is involved, i.e. the mitts are knitted in one part and you only have to weave in two ends per mitt :) They have a garter stitch “ribbing” on both ends (fingers and wrists). Except for the thumb (knitted right in the end) the mitts are knitted flat.

They are called U-Turn mitts not only because they form an inverted U, but also since they are constructed by actually knitting a U-Turn :)

This work by Knitting and so on is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.



Attention: The pattern is written in a way that it can easily be adapted to other sizes or to other yarn weights. I.e. it sometimes states to continue until “X is wide enough to fit around Y”. If you don’t like these kinds of instructions, you probably won’t like the pattern. However, I will try to give some examples, these are printed in purple.

Because I'm better at designing patterns than at naming them, I asked my fellow users on knittingparadise.com for a good name ... the ideas were great: Rainbow, Riesenrad (Ferris Wheel), Aurora Borealis, Aura, Horseshoe Over the Rainbow, Rainbow Bridge, Follow your dreams, Arches, Geode ... but to name a few ... in the end, I opted for "U-Turn" because it has a technical feel to it, which suits me best.

Eine deutsche Version dieser Anleitung wurde von stebo79 (Ravelry-Name) geschrieben und findet sich hier auf Ravelry. Danke!
A German version of this pattern was written by fellow Raveler stebo79 and can be found here on Ravelry. Thanks!

Перевод описания на русский язык выполнен horoshogromko, его можно скачать здесь.
A Russian version was written by horoshogromko (Ravelry name) and is available here on her blog. спасибо!


I've also written a crochet version of these mitts - available in this blogpost.

Techniques and Abbreviations

• Judy’s Magic Cast-On is a technique that gives you live stitches on both sides of your needles – it is used for toe-up socks, but can be used for other purposes as well. Here's a written description (from Knitty) and here a YouTube-video. 
• Magic Loop Method - as shown in this YouTube video. I strongly advise to keep the stitches as they are on the needles and not to move stitches from one needle to another (up until the end of part 2 of the pattern).
• Knitting a flat circle: The technique for knitting a flat circle has been described a few times on this blog, e.g. in the "Zoom Out Mitts"-Post. Basically it consists of doing 8 increases (evenly spaced out in one round) every other row, and varying the starting point for the first increase to avoid an octagon pattern. 
  In this pattern only a half-circle is knitted. This means that there will be only 4 increases on every RS row - and they will be started at a random stitch within the first quarter of the half circle. 
• German Short Rows (or t+p, turn and pull): when you turn, bring yarn to the front and pull it back so that a sort of "double-stitch" is created, then knit back as usual - when you have to knit the double-stitch, make sure to knit it as one stitch (see also this YouTube video); this method has the advantage the no picking up of stitches is necessary. In the pattern, this stitch will be called t+p (turn and pull).
• Three-Needle Bind-Off: http://youtu.be/wpJUrCX52DU  
• Knitted Cast-On: http://youtu.be/-nJKC2xT0Q4 
• Picking up stitches from a gap or ditch: After both three needle bind-offs there is one left over stitch which tends to have a distance to the stitches next to it. To avoid holes, I usually pick up one stitch from the gap and decrease over the new stitch in the following row (see also this YouTube video where it is shown on the example of a thumb gusset). In my experience (or the way I knit :) it's even better to pick up two stitches and knit decreases over them in the following two rows.
• pm: place marker
• sm: slip marker

Materials

• about 35 grams of fingering weight yarn
• 3mm circular needles – mine are 80 cm long (you can use them for the whole project if you can do the magic ring method for the thumb part – for small in-the-round parts I prefer dpns, that’s why I did the thumb with 3mm dpns)
• at least one more 3mm needle (for the three-needle-BO)
• 4 stitch markers
• a darning needle (to weave in ends)

Gauge or what to measure beforehand:
Measure the circumference of your wrists

General Construction

The picture on the right gives a general overview of the construction.

• Part 1: Knitted back and forth, it starts with a magic cast-on, i.e. a cast-on on both edges. On the lower edge a 10 stitch wide garter stitch "ribbing" is knitted, the rest is plain stockinette stitch, with (half-)circle increases that are knitted on the RS. This part ends with the 1st three-needle bind-off.
• Part 2: Knitted back and forth below the thumb and up to the upper edge which consists of a 10 stitch wide garter stitch "ribbing" (to match the lower edge). This part ends with the 2nd three needle bind-off above the thumb. 
• Part 3: Thumb – knitted in the round and ending with a p1k1-ribbing.

Instructions

Part 1:
With Judy’s Magic CO cast on 22 sts on each needle (see picture No. 1)
Turn work, so that you can see the “purl”-side, pull the lower needle through and start knitting

Row 1 (WS): k10 pm p10 pm p2 (here you have to turn your work 180 degrees and pull the other needle, this U-turn is always done at the point where you switch from one side onf the needle to the other - it will at a later point be referred to as "U-turn point") p2 pm p10 pm k10

Even numbered row (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, [within the space between the two markers do 4 increases - evenly spaced out and started at a random point], sm, k10 sm, k10
Odd-numbered row (WS): sl1 k9 sm, p to last (i.e. 4th) marker, k10
Repeat these rows until the lower edge fits around your wrists.
End with a RS row.

If you're uncomfortable with instructions as above, here's an example of the first 26 rows spelled out:
Row 2 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (kfb) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 3 and all odd-numbered rows in this part (WS): sl1 k9 sm, p to last (i.e. 4th) marker, k10
Row 4 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k1 kfb) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 6 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (kfb, k2) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 8 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k1 kfb k2) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 10 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k3 kfb k1) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 12 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k5 kfb) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 14 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k1 kfb k5) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 16 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k4 kfb k3) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10 (by now your piece should start to look similar to picture No. 2)
Row 18 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k7 kfb k1) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 20 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k3 kfb k6) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 22 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (kfb k10) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 24 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k5 kfb k6) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10
Row 26 (RS): sl1 k9 sm, k10 sm, (k12 kfb) 4 times, sm, k10 sm, k10

...

Fold your piece so that the WS is visible (see picture No. 3) and bind off 22 stitches with a three needle BO, i.e. exactly up to the stitch behind the 2nd marker. Put the last stitch on back needle and turn inside out.

Part 2:
First you're going to knit back and forth in very short rows to create a little knitted triangle above the three-needle BO.

Row 1: sl1 (this is the stitch that is left from the three-needle BO), pick up 2 stitches from gap, k3, t+p, p1. p2tog, p2, pick up 2 stitches from gap, p2, t+p, k1, ssk (you should be back at the stitch where you started this row)
Row 2: k2tog, k6, t+p, p6, p2tog, p6, t+p, k6  (you should be back at the stitch where you started this row)
Row 3: k10, t+p, p7, p2tog, p2tog, p7, w+t, k7  (you should be back at the stitch where you started this row)
Row 4 (RS): k to U-turn point, CO10 with knitted CO (see picture No. 4)
Row 5: (WS) k9, k2tog, p2. t+p, (RS) k to end, turn
    (WS) sl1, k8, k2tog, p2,  t+p, (RS) k to end, turn
    (WS) sl1, k8, k2tog, p to U-turn point (from the other side, see picture No. 5), pick up 2 stitches from gap and pick up and knit 10 stitches from the lower edge of the CO of the previous row
Row 6: (RS) sl1, k8, k2tog, k2tog, k2, t+p, (WS) p2, k10, turn
    (RS) sl1, k8, k2tog, k2tog, k2, t+p, (WS) p2, k10, turn
    (RS), sl1, k8, k2tog, k to end
Row 7: (WS) sl1, k8, k2tog, p2, (RS) k to end, turn
    (WS) sl1, k8, k2tog, p2,  t+p, (RS) k to end, turn
    (WS) sl1, k8, k2tog, p to last 10 sts while randomly decreasing one stitch on each needle during the stockinette part), k the last 10 stitches
e.g. (WS) sl1, k2tog, p2, (RS) k to end, turn
    (WS) sl1, k8, k2tog, p2,  t+p, (RS) k to end, turn
    (WS) sl1, k8, k2tog, p6, p2tog, p to 18 sts before end, p2tog, p to last 10 sts, k to end

Your piece should now look similar to the one in picture No. 6

Repeat rows 6 and 7 until there are 19 or 20 stitches on each of your needles. Make sure to end with row 7

Now try the mitt on to see whether the upper edge (garter stitch fits around your fingers). You can now widen this edge with a few more (10 stitch wide) garter stitch rows.

With a new needle
Row A: sl1 k9 and turn (do NOT wrap the next stitch or use any other connection method for short rows - just turn
Row B: sl1 k9

Repeat these two rows until the upper garter stitch edge fits around your fingers.
When it's wide enough fold both needles back, so that the WS is visible (see picture No. 7) and do a three-needle BO of 9 stitches.  (It's easier if you put the 10 upper stitches from the other side also one another new needle.) There will be one stitch left - draw this out a bit, so that you won't lose it when you turn the upper edge back.

Part 3:
Catch the stitch that's been left over from the three-needle BO with a new needle and draw tight. Now it should look like picture No. 8.

Pick up and knit stitches from the edge of the garter stitch edging (about as many as the garter stitch ridges you knitted with rows A & B), then pick up 2 sts from the gap.
Knit around to the next gap, and pick up 2 stitches there.

Knit the next rounds in stockinette always decreasing over the gaps (see picture No. 9) until there are 18 stitches on your needles. Then continue in stockinette stitch until you have knitted a total of 8 rounds from the start of the thumb (part 3).

Knit 6 rounds of p1-k1-ribbing, then bind off in pattern.

Weave in ends.

Make two.

New Construction Idea

Many of the mitts I designed over the last year or so, were constructed in a way that I didn't have to cut my yarn in the process. For me this is quite important, because

1. I don't especially like weaving in ends :)
2. I frog my stuff so often that it would be a waste to cut the yarn before I was sure that the knitted piece would stay in the shape it's currently in

However, when knitting with variegated yarn there are other considerations, too. I think it looks nicer when there is no "jump" in the color gradient, e.g. when you put the thumb stitches to a stitch holder and finish the mitt - and then when you attach the yarn to the thumb stitches the color just won't fit.
This is not exactly tragic, but when I got some new (variegated) sock yarn, I was determined to construct new mitts in a way that I wouldn't have to cut the yarn - which means either to start with the thumb or end with it.
I've already published a few patterns that match this description (e.g. Circle Mitts, Pieces of Eight Mitts, Zoom Out Fingerless Gloves), but it's more fun to construct something new. So, voilà, here's the new construction. A bit on the lines of the Zoom Out gloves, but with a different start.

 

So, all I need to do now is finish them, write up the pattern, get some nice photos and find a good name for them. Any name suggestions are welcome.

Zoom Out Fingerless Gloves

Started from a poin t at the outer edge of the wrist, these fingerless gloves grow in a circle shape and finish at the thumb. One mitt is knitted in one part, i.e. you don’t need to cut your yarn. Because of the shaping this pattern is great to show off variegated yarn. Furthermore, it's a good way to try out new techniques.




This work by Knitting and so on is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.



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WARNING: The pattern is written in a way that it can be adapted to different hand sizes. In consequence, the pattern doesn't give exact stitch counts. It also asks the knitter a few times to "knit until it roughly fits around [something]". If you're uncomfortable with directions like that, you probably won't like the pattern.

Since it also uses some advanced techniques, I guess the pattern is not suited for beginners.


Translation

• Eine deutsche Übersetzung dieser Anleitung wurde durch Mykoya (Ravelry-Name) erstellt (vielen, lieben Dank - insbesondere auch, weil durch ihr Korrekturlesen einige Fehler im Original ausgebügelt wurden). Die Übersetzung gibt es hier.
  Fellow Raveler Mykoya has kindly translated the pattern into German - proof-reading it in the process and giving me helpful hints to make it better. The German translation is available here.

Materials

• about 30 grams of fingering weight yarn (the yarns I used are listed at the end of this post)
• 3mm needles (I used long circulars and the magic ring method to start with, but ended with dpns for the thumbs)
• a crochet hook

Techniques and Abbreviations

• Magic Ring CO: Basically, the magic ring technique (from crochet) is used to cast on knitted stitches. There are several videos on Youtube that show the technique - I used something similar to the technique shown in the first video, but since this is fiddly work, just use the one that suits you best.
• with knitting needles: http://youtu.be/_xZywv8wj9Y or http://youtu.be/eXgvTPSOVIw 
• or with a crochet hook: http://youtu.be/4Vkpqdea-6o  
• Short rows with double stitches (German short rows, t+p): when you turn, bring yarn to the front and pull it back so that a sort of "double-stitch" is created, then knit back as usual - when you have to knit the double-stitch, make sure to knit it as one stitch (see also https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6n561SMZXQ); this method has the advantage the no picking up of stitches is necessary. In the pattern, this stitch will be called t+p (turn and pull).
• Stretchy Bind-Off: for the bind offs at the end of parts 1 and 4, I used this technique: http://youtu.be/cGHItYwr1us – however, other reasonably stretchy COs will do as well.
• Knitting a flat circle: Generally, a flat circle is knitted as follows:
  CO8 and join in round
  Round 1 (and all odd-numbered rounds): k
  Round 2: *kfb repeat from * (i.e. every stitch is doubled) (-> 16 sts)
  Round 4: * k1 kfb repeat from * (i.e. every 2rd stitch is doubled)(-> 24 sts)
  Round 6: * k2 kfb repeat from * (i.e. every 3rd stitch is doubled) (-> 32 sts)
  Round 8: * k3 kfb repeat from * (i.e. every 4th stitch is doubled) (-> 40 sts)
  … I'm sure, the formula is clear by now, namely that you increase by 8 stitches every other row. It also means that the distance between the "doubled" stitches increases by one in each of the increase-rounds. The same "formula" will be used when constructing the mitts. If you do the increases at the same spot (i.e. one kfb on top of the last one) a pattern (maybe even corners of an octagon) will become visible; to achieve a more circular look I started the increases at a different location in each increase row. 
• Three-Needle Bind-Off: http://youtu.be/wpJUrCX52DU  
• Knitted Cast-On: http://youtu.be/-nJKC2xT0Q4

Gauge or What to measure beforehand?
The pattern is written in a way, that it can be adapted to your hand size. Therefore gauge doesn’t really matter.
However, you should measure the circumference of your wrists. as well as the circumference of your
knuckles.

Instructions

Picture 1: Project Parts

The general construction of these fingerless gloves and the parts is shown in picture 1 on the right.

• Part 1: This part is knitted in the round and ends with a short bind-off at the lower edge.
• Part 2: This part is knitted back and forth and ends with a three-needle bind-off. Parts 1 and 2 constitute the wrist portion of the mitts.
• Part 3: This part is knitted back and forth around the thumb gusset and ends with a three-needle bind-off, as well; the upper edge (a 10 stitch wide garter-stitch ribbing) is knitted as well as the portion that covers the palms and back of the hands. Please note, that the upper edge is knitted in garter stitch, while the rest of the mitts is knitted in stockinette.
• Part 4: This part, the thumb, is knitted in the round.

Picture 2 (below) shows how the mitts look while being knitted.

Picture 2: How the mitts look in the different stages of knitting

Part 1:
CO 8 stitches with the magic ring cast-on methods (see Picture 2 - No. 1)
Round 1 and all odd-numbered rounds: k
Round 2: * kfb repeat from * to end of round (now your knitting should look like No. 2 in Picture 2)
Round 4: * kfb k repeat from * to end of round
Round 6: * k kfb k repeat from * to end of round
Round 8: * k3 kfb k5 repeat from * to end of round
Round 10: * k2 kfb k2 repeat from * to end of round
Round 12: * k1 kfb k4 repeat from * to end of round
Round 14: * k4 kfb k2 repeat from * to end of round
Round 16: * k6 kfb k1 repeat from * to end of round
Round 18: * k3 kfb k5 repeat from * to end of round
Round 20: * k7 kfb k2 repeat from * to end of round  (now your knitting should look like No. 3 in Picture 2)
Round 22: * k2 kfb k8 repeat from * to end of round

Continue in this fashinon until the diameter is about two thirds of the circumference of your wrist (doing 8 increases every other row, starting with a random offset) - and make sure that your last round is an odd-numbered round (i.e. a round without increases).
In the example above, this was the case after round 23.

Part 2:
Row 1: BO7 (with a stretchy bind-off), *k2 kfb k9 repeat from * until there are less than 11 sts left, k to the last sts of the round.
Then connect the last stitch to the first bind-off stitch as follows: Before turning slip the last stitch to the right needle and - using a crochet hook - draw the working yarn through the first BO stitch, put the loop on the left needle, move the last (not yet knitted) stitch back to the left needle, knit the two stitches together. This avoids the little gap between the first bind-off stitch and the last stitch of the row.
Row 2: p2tog, p10 t+p, k to end, turn,
     p2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2togtbl (Careful: when you reach the double stitch created with "t+p", make sure to knit it as one stitch)
Row 3: ssk k10 t+p, p to end, turn
     ssk, * k3 kfb k9 repeat from * until there are less than 12 sts on your needles, k to last 2 sts, k2tog
Row 4 = Row 2
Row 5: ssk k10 t+p, p to end, turn
     ssk, * k10 kfb k3 repeat from * until there are less than 13 sts on your needles, k to last 2 sts, k2tog (now your knitting should look similar to No. 4 in Picture 2)
Row 6 = Row 2
Row 7: ssk k10 t+p, p to end, turn
     ssk, * k4 kfb k10 repeat from * until there are less than 14 sts on your needles, k to last 2 sts, k2tog
Row 8 = Row 2
Row 9: ssk k10 t+p, p to end, turn
     ssk, * k6 kfb k9 repeat from * until there are less than 15 sts on your needles, k to last 2 sts, k2tog

Continue in this way until the lower edge is wide enough to fit around your wrists, i.e. equals your wrist circumference - for me this was the case after row 9. End with an odd-numbered row, i.e. a knit-row.

Count your stitches and place a marker right in the middle (Marker "Up") or (if your knitting with circulars and use the magic loop method) distribute the stitches in a way that one half of the stitches is on the front portion of the needle and the other half on the back.

To determine how many stitches you should bind-off, take the stitch distance between the increases of your last row (for me this was 15) and add a third of this distance - if necessary, bring it down to a round figure. (So, for me this was 15 + 15/3 = 15 + 5 = 20.)

Part 3:
Do a three-needle bind-off with the RS together of the number of stitches you calculated (in my case BO20). Place the last stitch on the back needle.
Turn the mitt back inside out, i.e. the RS is visible now.
The first 2 rows are knitted around the stitch that was left over from the three-needle BO.

Row 1: place a marker (Marker "Down"), sl1 (that's the stitch that was left from the three-needle BO), pick up 1 or 2 stitches from the gap to the next stitch (to avoid a hole), k3, t+p, p2 or p3 (depending on the number of stitches you've just picked up from the gap), p2tog, p1, slip marker, pick up 1 or 2 stitches from the gap, p3, t+p, k1, k2tog, k to Marker "Down"

(If you're using circulars, the magic loop method and have distributed the stitches as suggested at the end of part 2, it's not necessary to place markers ("Up" and "Down", because the marked places are the places where you have to switch needles.)

Row 2: k7, t+p, p3, p2tog, p1, slip Marker "Down", p6, t+p, k3, k2tog (you're back at Marker "Down")
Row 3: k to Marker "Up" and remove this marker, turn and cast on 10 stitches with a knitted cast-on

(From now on the uppermost 10 stitches will be knitted in garter stitch - the rest in stockinette stitch,)

Row 4: k9, k2tog, p2, t+p, k to end
      sl1, k8, k2tog, p to 3 sts before Marker "Down", p2tog, p1, p2togtbl, p to Marker "Up" (remove this marker), pick up 1 stitch from the gap, then pick up and knit 10 stitches form the lower edge of the knitted cast-on
Row 5: k9, k2tog, k3, t+p, p2, k to end, turn,
     k9, k2tog, k2, k2tog, k to Marker "Down", k to end (now your knitting should look similar to No. 5 in Picture 2)
Row 6: sl1, k8, k2tog, p2, t+p, k to end, turn
     sl1, k8, k2tog, p to the last 10 sts, k10
Row 7: sl1, k8, k2tog, k2, t+p, p1, k to end, turn
     sl1, k8, k2tog, k to end
Row 8: sl1, k8, k2tog, p2, t+p, k to end, turn
     sl1, k8, k2tog, k to 8 sts before Marker "Down", k2tog, k6, slip marker, k6, ssk, k to end

Repeat rows 7 and 6 until the upper edge measures rougly a centimeter less than the circumference of your knuckles.
If you feel that the part is getting to wide, you can always do symmeticral decreases (like row 8). In the end, you should have roughly 36 2x18 (i.e. 18 sts on each side of Marker "up") sts on your needles. Make sure to end with an even-number row (i.e. a WS row).

Now you will knit a few rows of garter stitch to complete the upper border and to provide an upper edge to the thumb gusset.
Row 1: sl, k9, turn (don't wrap! don't t+p! don't connect in any way to the rest of your knitting.)
Row 2: sl, k9
Repeat rows 1 and 2 four more times.

(If you try the mitts on now, your knitting should look similar to No. 6 in Picture 2).

Do a three-needle bind-off of the top 10 stitches - making sure that the seam is on the inside of the mitt.

Part 4:
I'd advise to distribute the thumb stitches on three dpns, one needle for the stitches picked up above the thumb, and two for the stitches that were "left over" in part 3.

Round 1: Place the last stitch on the back needle (or a new dpn). With that needle pick up 5 sts from the lower edge of the lower edge of the garter stitch border on top of the thumb, pick up 1 or 2 stitches from the gap (if you don't use three dpns, place marker 1), k to end (if you don't use dpns, place marker2) and pick up 1 or 2 stitches from the gap.

You should now have between 26 and 28 sts on your needles (i.e. 1 (leftover from 3NBO) + 5 (picked up from edge) + 1 (from gap) + 16  + 1 (from gap) = 26).

Round 2: k to 1 st before end of needle (or 1 st before marker 1), ssk, replace marker 1, k to 1 st before end of 3rd needle (or 1 st before marker 2), replace marker 2, k2tog,
Repeat round 2, until there are 18 sts left on your needles, always decreasing over the gap between the top on the thumb and the sides.

Knit one more round.

Ribbing: Knit 6 rounds of k1 p1-ribbing
Bind off in pattern.

Yarns

• The brown ones (on the top and end photo) were made with a yarn that was bought at a discounter (Aldi Süd in Germany) two years ago ... on Ravelry it's listed here http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/vendita-sockenwolle (I used Color 551) 
• For the blue(ish) ones (on the tutorial pictures) I used Schachenmayr Regia 4-ply Color (Color 07202) - I think it's this yarn here: http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/regia-color-4-ply---4-fadig ... though I didn't find the colorway on Ravelry.
• For the purple ones I used Maxi Ringel by Froehlich Wolle (Color 7704 Pink Purple) - here's the Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/froehlich-wolle-maxi-ringel

How to Use Yarn Leftovers

A while ago I had the idea to construct fingerless gloves from leftovers. I got a selection of fingering weight yarns in reddish colours - plus some grey and white to show off the red.

These mitts are constructed from stripes that are joined in the round contrasted with parts that are knitted in the round. I like the idea of knitting in different directions :)
I guess there will be five or four parts to make up one mitt, i.e. currently they aren't even half done ... but the idea is worth pursuing ... and I will probably write a tutorial.

Links from Italy

Spam folders can be cruel. I only just found out that some of my patterns were being linked from a yarn store site in Italy. They had sent me an e-mail, that was stuck in my spam folder for a few days.

They have linked to two of my designs - Circle Mitts (or Guanti ai ferri Circle) and Helix Mitts (or Guanti ai ferri Helix) - and I do like the way they write about my designs ... very flattering :)