Women’s mittens with a Latvian braid and a unique jacquard design are knitted with natural wool knitting needles.
How to knit women’s mittens with a Latvian braid
Women’s mittens are knitted in the round with a set of five double needles in the direction from the cuff to the fingertips. The upper and lower part of the cuff with three types of jacquard patterns is framed by a Latvian braid.
The palm-shaped wedge is formed around the full number of loops required for the thumb. The first half of the wedge is located on the outside of the palm, the second – on the inside. The top of the mitten is closed with a spiral toe, consisting of six equal parts.
The right and left mittens are connected according to the same pattern and are considered interchangeable.
Sizes: Woman’s Medium (Woman’s Large, Woman’s X-Large).
Finished measurements:
- 7¼ (8, 8¾)” [18.5 (20.5, 22) cm] hand circumference;
- 9 (9½, 9¾)” [23 (24, 26) cm] long, including edge and cuff.
Yarn: Rauma Strikkegarn [100% wool; 115 yards (105 meters) (50 grams)]: 1 (2,2) skein(s) color 101 Natural (MC); 3 skein color175 Bright Teal (CC).
Needles: One set double-pointed needles, or other needle(s) for working a small circumference in the round, size US 3 (3.25 mm). Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Gauge: 24 sts and 36 rnds = 4″(10 cm).
Scheme
Stitch pattern Latvian braid (even number of sts)
Rnd 1: *K1 with MC, K1 with CC; repeat from * to end.
Rnd 2: Move both strands to front of work. *P1 with MC, P1 with CC, bringing each strand up from under prior strand with every st; repeat from * to end (strands will twist around each other in this rnd, and untwist in the next one).
Rnd 3: *P1 with MC, P1 with CC, crossing each strand over prior strand with every st; repeat from * to end.
Edge of the mitten
With MC, CO 44 (48, 52) sts. Join for working in the rnd, being careful not to twist sts; pm for beginning of rnd.
Work Rnds 1-3 of Latvian Braid.
Cuff
Work Rnds 1-6 of Lower Border chart.
Work Rnds 1-11 of Little Birds chart for your size.
Work Rnds 1-6 of Upper Border chart.
Work Rnds 1-3 of Latvian Braid.
Shape palm gusset
Set-Up Rnd: K7 (7, 8), pm, knit to last 7 (7, 8) sts, pm, knit to end.
Increase Rnd: Knit to marker, sm, M1L, knit to marker, M1R, sm, knit to end—2 Hand sts increased.
Repeat Increase Rnd every other rnd 6 (6, 7) times—58 (62, 68) sts.
Knit 1rnd.
Next Rnd: Knit to last marker, remove marker, place next 14 (14, 16) Thumb sts on waste yarn, sm (this now marks beginning of rnd)—44 (48, 52) sts remain.
Hand Women’s mittens with а Latvian braid
Work even until piece measures approximately 7½ (8, 7¾)” [19 (20.5, 19.5) cm] from CO, or to 1½ (1½, 2)” [4 (4, 5) cm] less than desired Mitten length.
Shape mitten top
Sizes woman’s medium and woman’s X-large only
Next Rnd: K6 (-, 9), k2tog, knit to last 9 (-, 12) sts, k2tog, knit to end—42 (-, 50) sts remain.
All sizes
Set-Up Rnd: *K7 (8, 10), pm; repeat from *to end.
Decrease Rnd: *Knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog; repeat from *to end—6 (6, 5) sts decreased.
Repeat Decrease Rnd every other rnd 5 (6, 8) times—6 (6, 5) sts remain.
Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining sts, pull tight, and fasten off to WS.
Thumb
Transfer Thumb sts to needles; rejoin MC. Join for working in the rnd; pm for beginning of rnd.
Work even until Thumb measures approximately 1¾ (2, 2¼)”[4.5 (5, 5.5) cm].
Shape thumb top
Next Rnd: *K2tog; repeat from *to end—7 (7, 8) sts remain.
Break yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tail through remaining sts, pull tight, and fasten off to WS.
Finishing
Weave in ends, using tails to close gaps at base of Thumb Block as desired.
This article describes how to knit women’s mittens with a Latvian braid and a unique jacquard design.
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