Better Late Than Never

There's just something wrong about posting directions to a fingerless mitt when the temperature yesterday was over 90 degrees and today is going to be another warm one too. Still, I did promise to post the directions for the little fingerless mitts I made for my niece. These are really, really basic and, if you knit mittens, you almost don't even need a pattern. They are sized for a ten year old, but because of the ribbing, they are stretchy. There is already an adult pattern that's very similar by Clara Parkes called "Maine Morning Mitts" and you can find that pattern here . I didn't see much sense in trying to reinvent something for adults that's already been done and done well. I can't say the same for my pattern, but here goes anyway:

Child's Basic Ribbed Mitts

Copyright 2010 by Elaine Fitzpatrick. Permission is granted to make and sell items from this pattern provided that credit is given to me as the designer. Permission is not granted to reproduce the actual pattern, or post it, or distribute it, without my express permission.

Material: Worsted weight. I used Malabrigo Worsted (Glazed Carrot). The mitts don’t take much yarn, so one skein of 100 yards should be more than plenty.

Needles: U.S. size 4/3.5mm in double pointed needles or circular. Personally, I’m a die-hard fan of the magic loop method, but use whatever works best for you.

Gauge: 6 sts. = 1 inch in stockinette

Abbreviations:
K = knit
P = purl
Sts. = stitches
M1 = make 1 stitch. Note: I like to make paired increases, otherwise known as M1F (make one front) and M1B (make one back), both of which can be found here: http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/increases Again, use what ever increase you like.

Pattern: Cast on 40 stitches and join in the round.
K2, p2 for 3 inches.
Begin thumb gusset: k2; p1; place marker; m1; place marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round, ending p2.
Next round: k2; p1; slip marker, k1, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Second increase: k2; p1; slip marker, M1F, k1, M1B, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Next two rounds: k2; p1; slip marker, k3, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Third increase: k2; p1; slip marker, M1, k3, M1, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Next two rounds: k2; p1; slip marker, k5, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Fourth increase: k2; p1; slip marker, M1, k5, M1, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Next two rounds: k2; p1; slip marker, k7, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Fifth increase: k2; p1; slip marker, M1, k7, M1, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Next two rounds: k2; p1; slip marker, k9, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Sixth increase: k2; p1; slip marker, M1, k9, M1, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Next two rounds: k2; p1; slip marker, k11, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Seventh increase: k2; p1; slip marker, M1, k11, M1, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Next round: k2; p1; slip marker, k13, slip marker; p1; k2, p2 to end of round.
Next round: k2; p1; remove marker and slip 13 thumb stitches to a piece of waste yarn, remove second marker; p1; k2; p2 to end of round.
Now continue in k2, p2 for seven rounds, or to desired length.
Bind off in k2, p2 ribbing.

Thumb: Place the 13 thumb stitches onto your needles. Join yarn and pick up 2 sts. over the thumb hole. (15 sts.). Now knit around until you come to one stitch before the first picked up stitch. Knit these two stitches together. Knit the second picked up stitch with the next stitch and mark beginning of round. (By making these two decreases, you’ll close the “hole” that sometimes appears.) (13 sts.)
Knit one round, decreasing one more stitch. (12 sts.)
Knit one round.
K2, p2 for 3 rounds.
Loosely bind off in k2, p2 ribbing.

Weave in ends and make a matching mitt!