The Fingerless Gloves Fanatics group on Ravelry is having a monthly KAL/CAL featuring new patterns by group members & I was lucky enough to get the February crochet slot. This pattern was created especially for the CAL & will be available free here during the month of February (& possibly for longer).
I hope you have fun making these mitts & that you come back in June when my turn rolls around again :0)
Harlequin Mitts by Shirley MacDonald
Size: Ladies medium
1 50g ball of DK yarn in main colour (MC) - I used Patons Diploma Gold DK in red
1 50g ball DK yarn in contrast colour (CC) - I used Rowan Pure Wool DK in enamel
4mm hook*
4.5mm hook*
1 stitch marker
*Please note - I crochet
tight so if you generally crochet quite loosely you may wish to use 3.5mm & 4mm instead.
These mitts use a very simple & easy to memorise 4-row pattern with 2 rows worked in each colour. The colours are not fastened off between rounds but are carried up the inside of the work - be sure to pull your new yarn tight (but not too tight!) at each colour change. Once finished the inside of the glove should look like this -
The stitch count remains the same throughout & shaping is achieved by changing hook sizes.
They begin with a double crochet foundation chain. This gives a nice stretchy foundation row. If preferred you can just start with a normal foundation chain & work a single row of double crochet first but this will be much less stretchy.
Please note that pattern uses US terminology.
Abbreviations:
ch - chain
DC - double crochet
sl st - slip stitch
FPDC - front post double crochet
BPDC - back post double crochet
Techniques:
Double crochet foundation chain -
Make a slip knot & chain 3 (counts as first stitch).
Step 1 - Yarn around hook, insert hook into ch furthest from hook & work 1 DC.
Step 2 - Yarn around hook, insert hook into bottom loop of first double crochet & work 1 DC.
Repeat step 2 until you have worked the required number of stitches.
Front post double crochet (FPDC) - yarn around hook, insert hook from front to back around the stem of the next stitch, yarn around hook & draw loop through, yarn around hook & draw through 2 loops, tarn around hook & draw through remaining 2 loops.
Back post double crochet (BPDC) - yarn around hook, insert hook from back to front around the stem of the next stitch, yarn around hook & draw loop through, yarn around hook & draw through 2 loops, yarn around hook & draw through remaining 2 loops.
First mitt (both mitts alike):
Using 4mm hook, main colour (MC) & double crochet foundation chain method make 36 stitches. Join with a slip stitch around the stem of the first stitch (beginning 3 chain), inserting hook from back to front between first & second stitches.
Rows 1-5 - Chain 3 (counts as first stitch), BPDC around next stitch, [FPDC around next stitch, BPDC around next stitch] to end of round. Join with a slip stitch around the stem of the first stitch, inserting hook from back to front between first & second stitches.
Row 6 - [3 ch, skip next 2 stitches, 1 DC into next stitch, 3 ch, skip 2 stitches, slip stitch into next stitch] 5 times, 3 ch, skip next 2 stitches, 1 DC into next stitch, 3 ch, skip 2 stitches, slip stitch into 1st of 3ch at beginning of round. Drop MC but do not break yarn.
Row 7 - Using contrast colour (CC), 4 ch (counts as 1 DC & 1 ch), 1 DC into first sl st, skip 3ch, sl st into next DC, [skip 3ch , {1DC, 1ch, 1DC, 1ch, DC} into next sl st, skip 3 ch, sl st into next DC] 5 times, 1DC into base of 4ch, ch 1, slip into 3rd ch of beginning 4ch.
Row 8 - Using CC, ch 6 (counts as 1 DC & 3ch), skip {1ch & 1DC}, sl st into next sl st, [3ch, skip 1DC & 1ch, 1 DC into next DC, 3ch, skip 1ch & 1DC, sl st into next sl st] 5 times, 3ch, sl st into the 3rd of beginning 6ch. Drop CC but do not break yarn.
Row 9 - Using MC, ch1, skip 3ch, [{1DC, 1ch, 1DC, 1ch, 1DC} into next sl st, skip 3ch, sl st into next DC] 6 times, working sl st of final repeat into the ch1 at beginning of round.
Row 10 - Using MC, [ch3, skip 1DC & 1ch, 1 DC into next DC, ch3, skip 1ch & 1 DC, sl st into next sl st] 6 times working sl st of final repeat into base of beginning ch3. Drop MC & pick up CC.
Rows 7-10 form the pattern.
Change to 4.5mm hook
Rows 11-14 - repeat rows 7-10
Rows 15 - 16 - repeat rows 7 - 8
Make thumb hole
Row 17 - Using MC, ch1, skip 3ch, [{1DC, 1ch, 1DC, 1ch, 1DC} into next sl st, skip 3ch, sl st into next DC] 2 times, place marker in sl st just worked, ch11, skip next [3ch, sl st, 3ch, 1 DC, 3ch, sl st, 3ch], sl st into next DC, [{1DC, 1ch, 1DC, 1ch, 1DC} into next sl st, skip 3ch, sl st into next DC] 2 times, working sl st of final repeat into the ch1 at beginning of round.
Row 18 - Using MC, [ch3, skip 1DC & 1ch, 1 DC into next DC, ch3, skip 1ch & 1 DC, sl st into next sl st] 2 times, ch3, skip 2ch, 1DC in next ch, ch3, skip 2ch, sl st in next chain, ch3, skip 2ch, 1DC in next ch, ch3, skip 2ch, sl st into next sl st, [ch3, skip 1DC & 1ch, 1 DC into next DC, ch3, skip 1ch & 1 DC, sl st into next sl st] 2 times working sl st of final repeat into base of beginning ch3.
Rows 19 - 22 - repeat rows 7 - 10.
Rows 23 - 25 - repeat rows 7 - 9.
Row 26 - ch3 (counts as first st), work 1 DC in every DC, ch1 & sl st to end. Join with a slip stitch around the stem of the first stitch (beginning 3 chain), inserting hook from back to front between first & second stitches. 36 sts
Row 27 - ch3 (counts as 1st stitch), BPDC around next stitch, [FPDC around next stitch, BPDC around next stitch] to end of round. Join with a slip stitch to top of ch3.
Fasten off & weave in ends.
Thumb
Using MC & 4mm hook, rejoin yarn to marked stitch on row 17.
Row 1 - Skip 3ch, [1DC, 1ch, 1DC, 1ch, 1DC in next sl st, skip 3ch, sl st in next DC] twice.
Row 2 - Working along underside of 11ch [ch3, skip 2 ch, 1DC in next ch, skip 2ch, sl st in next ch] twice. Now working along Row 1 [ch3, skip 1DC & 1ch, 1 DC into next DC, ch3, skip 1ch & 1 DC, sl st into next sl st] twice.
Fasten off yarn & weave in ends.
