How To Knit the Fish Mittens

I have been working on Fish Hats and decided to knit matching mittens. I was unable to find a specific pattern for Fish Mittens, so I did my own. Here are the “how to’s”.

Materials:

Worsted weight yarn approximately 250 yards
Double Pointed needles set of 5, US size 4
If you do stranded knitting for the mittens you will need Size 5 needles
Waste yarn, worsted weight or bulky
Buttons for the eyes or crochet hook size D
Yarn needle

Gauge:

6 stitches to the inch
8 rows to the inch

Size:

Small/Medium

For larger mittens, go up one size needle

These mittens measure 8 inches around the knuckles

Measurements you will need:

Wrist to top of thumb joint
Top of thumb joint to top of index finger
Thumb joint to tip of thumb

Pictures first, then instructions:

Basic Mitten pattern:

Cast on 48 stitches and divide evenly over 4 needles. Join. K2 P2 around until cuff measures 3 inches or desired length.

Knit plain (stockinet stitch) until you have reached your first measurement. My wrist to thumb joint measurement is 2 1/2 inches.

K2, using waste yarn K 6 stitches. Slip these stitches back to the left hand needle and continue knitting until you reach your second measurement. My second measurement, thumb joint to tip of index finger is 4 inches.

Begin decreasing.

(K4, K2 together) around. K 3 rounds even.
(K3, K2 together) around. K2 rounds even.
(K2, K2 together) around. K1 round even.
(K1, K2 together) around. K1 round even.
K2 together around. Cut yarn out about 10 inches. Thread yarn needle and pass yarn through all stitches on needles. Remove needles. Pull yarn tight and secure on inside of mitten.

Thumb:

Remove waste yarn carefully and place live stitches on 3 needles. You may want to insert the needles before you remove the waste yarn.

Pick up an additional 3 stitches on each side. This is to prevent holes and make the thumb large enough. So you will have a total of 18 stitches.

Attach yarn and knit around until thumb measures appropriate length. Mine measures 2 inches from joint to tip.

(K2, K2 together) around. K 1 round even.
K2 together around. Cut yarn out a sufficient length to thread through remaining stitches on needle. Pull tight and secure on inside of thumb.

Weave in all loose ends.

Repeat for 2nd mitten.

Now for the FISH part…the fins and eyes.

Dorsal Fins (use 2 needles and knit back and forth):

Cast on 10 stitches leaving a long tail to sew to mitten.
K1 row.
Next row KFB of each stitch (20 stitches)
K1 P1 for 5 rows.
BO

Pectoral Fins:

Cast on 5 Stitches.
K1 row.
Next row KFB of each stitch (10 stitches)
K1 P1 for 5 rows.
BO
Repeat for 2nd pectoral fin.

Place fins on mitten and sew securely.

Eyes:

Using a magic loop to begin your crocheted eyes, make 10 single crochets in the center of the loop, join. Cut yarn. Pull beginning yarn end tight to close up the hole.

Join contrast color yarn. Chain 1, (single crochet in next stitch, 2 single crochet in next stitch) around. Join and end off, leaving a long tail to sew to mitten.

Place eyes on mitten in a pleasing manner and sew to mitten. Stuff loose ends inside as you go. You can also add a little fiber fill if you wish.

And there you have it. A basic mitten turned into a fish.

The hat pattern can be found on knitty.com

Enjoy.

Dead/Alive Fish MITTENS!! Yeah!

I did it! I finally came up with mittens to match my dead/alive fish hat! And it’s is so SIMPLE!

First choose your favorite BASIC mitten pattern. I chose an after-thought-thumb, round top mitten and knitted the basic mitten in colors to match the fish hat. Then I added eyes and fins.

Eyes can be crocheted or buttons or felt, whatever you want. Sew on about 1 inch from tip of mitten.

For the Dorsal fin, I cast on 10 stitches, knitted one row, then increased in each stitch for a total of 20 stitches. Then Knit 1 Purl l for 5 rows. Bind off. Sew to center of mitten about 1 inch away from eyes. The Pectoral fins are a cast on of 5 stitches. Knit 1 row. Then increase in each stitch for a total of 10 stitches. Knit 1 Purl 1 for 5 rows. Bind off. Make 2. Sew to sides about 1 inch back from beginning of Dorsal fin.

Simple and cute!

Don’t have enough of this particular yarn to finish the second mitten. Will try to find some, but may not be able to as it is discontinued. Anyway working on another hat and I will have enough yarn to make matching mittens and maybe even a scarf.

A Newly Designed Mitten!

Yes, I know I’m supposed to be working on those socks.  But the graph is so small and so light, I can barely see it.  I’ll have to darken and enlarge it in order to complete those socks.

In the meantime,  I designed this mitten for a friend.  She loves cables.  I found a stitch pattern that I liked and did the math to work it into a mitten.  Then I had to test knit the pattern, making adjustments as I went along until I reached the final end product.

Now to find a couple of “test” knitters in my groups who would be willing to try it.

Another Pair of Mittens

Just finished these.  And I promise to start the Bella Mittens next.  I did start them with double points but it was awkward.  So this time I will use the circular needles as suggested.

Anyway, here’s the latest completed pair.

Mittens and More Mittens

I love knitting mittens.  Quick and easy.  Makes a nice gift too.  Trying to work on a crochet mitten pattern, but it’s not comming out like I think it should.  Probably due to the fact that I usually knit them, and the crocheted one looks odd. 

Anyway here’s my latest knitted ones.

Knitting Websites

Since I have done a few knitting tutorials, I thought I would load you up on some knitting websites.  You will find instructions and free patterns for you to try.

This is usually the first place I go for free patterns:

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php

Instructions can be found on the left hand side.

Here’s another site that may be of interest to you:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/

Here’s another one for sock patterns:

http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns2/socks/Sock_Index.html

And other items:

http://www.straw.com/cpy/free_patterns.html

For Harry Potter fans:

http://www.freshislefibers.com/Patterns/hpknittinglinks.htm

And here you can find the free PDF download for Bella’s mittens (Twilight):

http://subliminalrabbit.blogspot.com/2008/11/bellas-mittens.html

Hope you enjoy rummaging through all of these patterns and instructions.

Crochet Mittens Tutorial

I usually prefer to knit, but a friend, Donna, who recently learned to crochet, wanted to learn how to crochet mittens.  She has done so well, absorbing all kinds of techniques in the field of crochet.  It’s amazing that only a few weeks ago, she never held a crochet hook in her hands.  She is learning at a phenominal rate.

So Donna, this is for you.

How to Crochet Mittens

Materials list:

4 ounces of sock/fingering yarn

G hook

measuring tape/ruler

yarn needle

scissors

You will need three (3) measurements.  (1) Measure around your wrist.  (2) Measure from your wrist to your thumb joint, actually, the space between your index finger and your thumb.  (3) And measure from your thumb joint to the tip of your middle finger.

We will begin with the cuff.  With your G hook, chain 11.

SC (single crochet) in second chain from hook and in the remaining chains.

Chain 1 and turn.  SC in the BACK  loop of the last SC made and in each chain across (10 SC).  This will give a ridged/ribbed  look to your cuff.  Be careful.  It is easy to miss that first SC each time you turn to do your next row.  Count your stitches.  There should always be 10 SC.

Continue in this manner until your cuff reaches your wrist measurement. 

Now bring the short ends up to meet each other.  Slip stitch them together.  If you wish to change colors, then cut the yarn and attach your new color.  If not, then continue on with the same color.  I changed colors so that it would be easier to see how the mitten is done.

I also used scrap yarn to mark the spot where each new round begins which you will notice in one of the pics below.  Join your new color or continue with your same color.  SC in each space BEFORE AND AFTER each ridge.  So there will be 2 SC between each ridge.

Do Not join in the usual manner.  You will continue with SC around as in a spiral.  This round will also be your increase round.  SC twice in the first SC of previous round, then SC once in each of the next 8 SC.  Then SC twice in the next stitch, and SC once in each of the next 8 stitches.  Continue in this manner until you have come back around to your marker.

SC in each stitch around continuously until your mitten has reached your wrist to thumb joint measurement.

To create the thumb opening, you will chain 4 or 5, maybe even 6, depending on the size of your thumb.  Skip 4 or 5 or 6 SC in the previous round, and SC in the next stitch.  (I chained 4 as I have small hands.)  If in doubt as to the size of your thumb, stick it in the opening to see how it fits.

Continue to SC in each stitch around until the piece reaches from your thumb joint to just within 1/2 inch or less  of your middle finger.  If you want very roomy mittens, continue around until the piece equals your 3rd measurement from the thumb joint to tip of middle finger.

Now it is time to begin your decreases.  Keep in mind where your yarn marker is as you do each round.

To decrease, insert hook into next stitch and draw up a loop.  Then insert your hook in the NEXT stitch and draw up another loop.  You will have 3 loops on your hook.   Bring your yarn over the hook and pull it through all 3 loops.  You have just made 1 decrease.

SC in each of the next 8 stitches.  Decrease again as described above.  Continue around in this manner until you have come back around to your marker.

Do the next round even…No decreases.

At the beginning of the next round, Decrease, then SC in each of the next 7 stitches.  Continue this around until you have reached your marker.  Do the next round even.

Decrease, then SC in the next stitch.  Decrease, then SC in the next stitch.  Repeat this around to marker.  This will make your opening at the top of the mitten small, about finger size.

Cut the yarn and thread it into your yarn needle.  Slip the threaded needle through the stitches around and pull tight.  Secure the thread by going through several of these tightly pulled stitches.  Then slip it down through the center of the stitches and secure on the inside of your mitten.  Yes, you will have to turn it inside out to do this.  Cut the yarn leaving approximately 1 inch on the inside of your mitten.  Turn your mitten right side out.

Now it is time to do the Thumb.

Attach your yarn to the bottom stitches.  SC in each stitch.  Make two (2) SC in the corner.  SC in each of the top stitches. Make two (2) SC in the next corner. 

SC around in a spiral as you did for the hand part of the mitten until the piece reaches the tip of your thumb.

Decrease in the next stitch.  SC in the next one.  Repeat around.  Finish as for top of mitten.  You know, cut your yarn, thread your needle, etc.  Secure both on right side and wrong side.  Weave in any loose ends.

This mitten can be used for either hand by “rolling” the mitten between your hands to adjust where the thumb placement is.

Make your second mitten.

I hope I have not thoroughly confused you.