4 Year Old Mittens Pattern #163

REQUIREMENTS:

YARN: 2-ounces of 4-ply Knitting Worsted, 5-yds. contrasting color

NEEDLES: 1-pr. #4 single pointed

RIGHT MITTEN: Starting at the cuff, cast on 32 sts. Work in ribbing of k 1, p 1, for 2 inches. Now work in the following pattern: ROW 1: Knit 4 sts, p 2, k 4, p 2, k 20 sts. ROW 2: Purl 20 sts, k 2, p 4, k 2, p 4 sts. ROW 3: Knit 4 sts, p 2, slip the next 2 sts onto a dble pt needle and hold in back of work, knit the next 2 sts, knit the 2 sts off the dble pt needle (cable twist), p 2, k 20 sts. ROW 4: Repeat row 2. These 4 rows make the pattern. After 4 rows start the thumb increases. Note: Keep the cable twists going until you come to the tip of the mittens regardless of what you are doing.

THUMB INCREASES: 1st inc: Work over 16 sts in the pattern, inc. 1 st in each of the next 2 sts, k 14 sts. Next row and every other row: Work back as the sts are. 2nd inc: Work over 16 sts, inc. 1 st in next st, k 2, inc. 1 st in next st, k 14 sts. 3rd inc: Work over 16 sts, inc. 1 st in next st, k 4, inc. 1 st in next st, k 14 sts. 4th inc: Work over 16 sts, inc. 1 st in next st, k 6, inc. 1 st in next st, k 14 sts. Next row: Work back as the sts are.

THUMB: Work over 16 sts and place onto a st holder; knit 10 sts and leave on the needle, place the remaining sts onto a 2nd st holder. Cast on 1 st at end of thumb sts, turn and purl back, cast on 1 st. Work in stockinette stitch on thumb sts for 1½ inches. Next knit row: K 2 sts together across row. Break yarn leaving 6 inches. Thread a darning needle and draw through sts. Fasten tightly on wrong side of work. Sew up thumb.

HAND: Place the sts off first st holder onto a needle, tie yarn in, pick up and knit 3 sts on thumb gusset, knit the sts off 2nd st holder. Keeping the pattern work until the mitten measures 3¼ inches above the ribbing.

TIP DECREASES: 1st dec: * k 4 sts, k 2 tog, repeat from * across row. Purl next row. 2nd dec: * k 3 sts, k 2 tog, repeat from * across row. Purl next row. 3rd dec: * k 2 sts, k 2 tog, repeat from * across row. Purl next row. 4th dec: * k 1, k 2 tog, repeat from * across row. Last dec: Purl 2 sts together across row. Break yarn leaving 10 inches. Finish as tip of thumb.

LEFT MITTEN: Work as the right one until you come to the pattern. ROW 1: Knit 20 sts, p 2, k 4, p 2, k 4 sts. ROW 2: Purl 4 sts, k 2, p 4, k 2, p 20 sts. Work remainder of mitten to correspond to the right one. For the first thumb increase start with: Knit 14 sts, inc. 1 st in each of the next 2 sts, work to end of row.

TRIMMING: Thread a needle with 4 strands of contrasting color and weave through center of cable. Then thread with 2 strands of contrasting color and overcast every other knit row on first knit st on each side of the cable.

This pattern was originally published in Doreen Knitting #101, Two Needle Mittens and has passed into the public domain: the source states these designs "are no longer protected by copyright and you are free to do whatever you would like to do with them." It is reproduced here verbatim, including original vintage terminology, abbreviations, and measurements, which may differ from modern conventions. You can view the original transcription at freevintageknitting.com.