0 In accessories/ knitting

motorway mittens

Just popping in to share my latest design with you, the Motorway Mittens. Imaginatively named because I realised the stranded stitch pattern looks like road markings. Not because I have a particular love for the M6.

I’ve been on something of a sweater and hat kick of late, but realised a pair of well fitting mittens would be a welcome addition to my winter warmers collection too. A pair that A) actually fit well, B) stayed on, C) used up stash yarn, and D) were quick and simple to make, preferably. Et voila! Must say I’m pretty happy with the final result – obviously they’re nothing revolutionary as knitting patterns go, but they do feature a couple of nifty techniques and use non-traditional shaping to fit the hand and wrist better than most mittens (in my humble opinion). The finished mitten looks kinda like something you’d wear on the slopes, although I’ve never been skiing so wouldn’t know. My single ice skating experience ended with a broken arm so I don’t think I’m particularly suited to winter sports. Après ski, maybe. These would be excellent après ski mitens. Or an excellent Christmas gift!

The knitterly details: the Motorway Mittens are made with DK weight yarn, at a fairly dense gauge on 3.25mm needles. I used Louisa Harding Grace for the main colour (a beautiful but discontinued blend of merino and silk), Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK in a cream shade, and Rowan Alpaca Classic in a dark brown. All yarn from mine and my mum’s joint stash – I wanted this to be a stashbusting project that uses up odds and ends of DK weight yarn. The mittens are knitted in allover 2×2 rib with alternating colour Vikkel braids (full instructions in the pattern), and simple stranded colourwork.

Pattern available on Ravelry here.