Sheep Shots

they lost their Mittnz!

Boo Hoo! So Sheepie had to make 'em some new 'uns!

I started out with my collection of Free On the 'Net mitten patterns and, like potato chips (or tiny sunhats), I couldn't stop at just one!

The yarn was a bargain--Lion Brand Landscapes (50/50 wool and ack) that is very loosely spun comes in wonderful colors, and knits up soft and lofty. I got it at Ollie's. You can probably find your own at a Big Lots or other close-out place.

All of the patterns call for at least double strands of worsted weight or a single strand of bulky yarn. I chose to use size 10.5s on all three pairs and got a nice fabric. Your Mileage May Vary. Use what gives you a result you like. None of the pairs has a distinct "left" or "right" mitten. (In other words, "make another" is the last line of each pattern--or should be.)



First up, Warm Woolies Thick Mitts which I have heard has an mistake in it. Confession: either I didn't notice, or it's been corrected. I own two printed versions of this pattern. The one linked above is live, the other isn't.

This is a basic mitten that starts with a ribbed cuff and builds the gusset using increases on each side of a central wedge. The thumb is finished, then the hand.

These were quick to knit and come in Child Small, Medium, and Large. I made the Medium.

With minor modifications to the length, these Mittnz would fit an adult.

Knit flat and seamed.



Gifted, by Kate Gilbert, is an engineering marvel. Follow the pattern blindly if you choose this one, because, if you are like me, getting your mind wrapped around What Is Going On will be a challenge until you finish the first one!

Okay, the best part? The shaping, and then the finishing on the thumb and the fact that (at least for me) there was No Hole At the Start Of the Thumb! These are also knit flat and seamed.

Try this one!

The pattern comes in a wide range of sizes from Child Small to Man. I made the Child Medium. Because of the shaping, it's shorter and wider than Warm Woolies, but you could make the cuff longer (I followed the pattern to the letter). I used just one 50 gram ball of the yarn (55 yards) and had just about a yard left over.





Last, but certainly not least, Joan Hamer's Boat Oar Mittens.

Knit in a tube with an afterthought thumb, these start with a smaller (size 9) needle for the cuffs. Joan suggests 3 strands of yarn (my Landscapes subbed in nicely) and size 11 for the hand. (I used my 10.5. It was struggle enough to locate the size 9s for the cuff.)

Boat Oars are a One Size Fits Most (Adults) and they are a comfortable fit for my hands. I think that a creative knitter could easily adapt them to a smaller size.

I'm not overly fond of afterthoughts (pockets, heels, or thumbs) but these were relatively painless (being only 8 stitches around).

So, which one is my favorite? What day is it?


I suspect that I will be going back to all three at least once more during this Mittnz Challenge.

And so, Gentle Reader, I bid you Good Night. Sleep tight and have mittn dreams.

Labels: charity, Cheyenne River, mittnz