Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Mira's Bath Mitt pattern

Mira's Bath Mitt

A cute and functional bath mitt, quick to knit in chenille. Makes a perfect gift - wrap it with a rubber ducky for a baby, tuck in some special soaps for a friend, or package with a spa gift certificate for Mother’s Day. Or, treat yourself!

This project can be completed by advanced beginning knitters. You need to know how to cast on, knit, purl, bind off, and knit in the round.

If you are a more experienced knitter, whip out several over the course of a week, and you’re set for holiday gifts!


Materials

200 yards Casco Bay Chenille (available from Halcyon Yarns) or other worsted weight chenille yarn

Yarn substitution note: The mitt uses much less than the full 200 yards of Casco Bay Chenille.

4 DPNs, US size 7/4.5 mm needle, or size to obtain gauge

Tapestry needle

Cotton or acrylic waste yarn

Abbreviations

K = Knit

P = Purl

SSK = Slip next two stitches as if to knit. Insert left needle into the front of these two stitches and and knit together through the back loops.

K2tog = Knit next two stiches together through the front loops.

CO = cast on

BO = bind off

PU = pick up stitch

Stockinette stitch = In the round, knit every row.

Gauge

4.5 sts/inch, but not critical for this project.

Pattern Notes

To make a bobble:

[K1, P1] twice into bobble stitch. Turn.

Purl 4. Turn.

Knit 4. Turn.

Purl 4. Turn.

Slip next 2 stitches as if to purl. K2tog. Pass two slipped stitches over, one at a time.

Mitten palm pattern:

Rows 1-3: Knit

Row 4: K2, [bobble, K2] 4 times, K18.

Rows 5-7: Knit

Row 8: K2, [K2, bobble] 4 times, K18.



Knitting directions

Using long-tail method, CO 30 distributed evenly over three DPNs. Join, being careful not to twist stitches. Your yarn tail marks the start of each round.

Work in K1,P1 rib for 10 rows.

Change to stockinette and work set-up row as follows: K10, M1, K10, M1, K10

Redistribute stitches as follows:

N1: 16

N2: 8

N3: 8

N1 holds the stitches for the palm of the mitten. Unlike a regular mitten where the pattern appears on the back or “outside” of the item, the bath mitt has the bobble pattern on the palm for maximum scrubbiness!

Work mitten palm pattern repeat once.

Work next 8 rows as follows:

Rows 1-3: Knit

Row 4: K2, [bobble, K2] 4 times, K18.

Row 5: Knit

Row 6: Using scrap yarn, K5. Slip these stitches back onto the left needle. Knit these stitches again with working yarn, and continue to work even to end of row.

Row 7: Knit

Row 8: K7, bobble, K2, bobble, K2, bobble, K18.

Work mitten palm pattern repeat 3 more times.

At this point, you may wish to try on the mitten to check the length. If you are knitting for a person who generally has larger hands, you may wish to work rows 1-4 again or even add an additional pattern repeat.

Decrease for top of mitten:

Row 1: Knit even.

Row 2: [K1, SSK, K10, K2tog, K1] twice

Row 3: Knit even.

Row 4: [K1, SSK, K8, K2tog, K1] twice

Row 5: Knit even.

Row 6: [K1, SSK, K6, K2tog, K1] twice

Row 7: Knit even.

Row 8: [K1, SSK, K4, K2tog, K1] twice

Arrange sts on two DPNs with 8 sts on each needle. Graft top of mitten closed using Kitchener stitch.

To work thumb

Unravel waste yarn and PU live sts. PU additional sts between top and bottom of thumb opening so for a total of 15 thumb sts, with 5 on each of 3 DPNs. Join and work in round. K until thumb measures 2” or desired length.

Decrease as follows:

Row 1: *K3, K2tog*

Row 2: K even

Row 3: *K2, K2tog*

Row 4: K even

Row 5: *K1, K2 tog*

Row 6: K even

Break yarn and pull through remaining sts. If you wish, you can add a loop at the cuff of the mitt so the user can hang it to dry.


Mira says, "I love my bath mitt!"






Copyright notice: This pattern is provided free of charge but cannot be copied or redistributed in any form. This pattern may not be reproduced for sale and may not be used to produce garments for sale.

If you have any questions, please contact me at emily@giveitapurl.com - thanks for giving Mira's Bath Mitt a purl!