These beautiful butterfly mittens bring a piece of paradise into the dark of winter
These butterfly mittens are decorated with wings that merge when you hold your hands together. The pattern wraps around the palm and the back of the hand.
Size: S–M
Butterfly mittens: supplies
- Lankava Alize Superwash sock yarn (75% wool, 25% polyamide, 100 g = approx. 420 m): 35–40 g in gray (21) and 5 g in undyed (01)
- Double-pointed needles 2.5 mm (US 1.5) and 3 mm (US 2.5), or as needed to meet gauge.
Stitch patterns
Rib stitch: Work in the round: *p1, k1 tbl,* repeat from * to * to end of round.
Stockinette stitch: Work in the round, knitting all sts.
Stranded colorwork: Follow the chart in the round. Note that the chart only shows the sts in the motif. Knit the sts outside the chart in gray and secure the white yarn every 4th or 5th gray st by passing it alternately over and under the gray yarn, so the yarns don’t twist around each other. When working the motif, secure the yarns in this way whenever there are more than four consecutive sts of the same color. Always secure the yarns in different spots on each round, as shown on the first two rounds of the chart.
Gauge: 30 sts and 35 rounds = 10 cm in stockinette
How to knit the butterfly mittens
Cast on 56–60 sts in gray with the smaller needles and distribute them evenly on four needles (14–15 sts per needle). Start by purling 1 rnd, then work 6 cm of rib. Knit 1 rnd in stockinette. Mark st 29–31 as the center of the motif (C), and move the marker as you go. Switch to the larger needles, continue in stockinette, and begin the thumb gusset at the same time.
Round 1: yo, k1, yo, then continue in stockinette to end of rnd.
Round 2: On every even rnd, keep working in stockinette and knit the yos through the back loop.
Round 3: yo, k3, yo, then knit to end of rnd.
Round 5: yo, k5, yo, then knit to end of rnd.
Round 7: yo, k5, yo, then knit to end of rnd. Continue making increases in this manner every other rnd. After 13–15 rnds of stockinette, start the charted colorwork and keep increasing for the thumb gusset. Count your sts from the center marker. When the gusset has 19–21 sts, and you have finished that rnd, place the gusset sts on hold on scrap yarn, and cast on 1 new st = 56–60 sts. Continue the colorwork and begin the tip decreases right after the colorwork.
Round 1: *k1, k2tog through the back loop, knit until 3 sts remain on the next needle, k2tog, k1,* repeat from * to * once more. Make these decreases 3–4 times on every 3rd rnd, then 3–4 times on every 2nd rnd. Finally, decrease on every rnd and pull the yarn through the last 8 sts.
Thumb
Move the gusset sts on the scrap yarn onto three needles (7+7+6) and pick up 1 st at the edge of the cast-on stitch = 20–22 sts total. Work in stockinette until you reach the start of your nail and then begin decreasing.
Round 1: *k6, k2tog,* repeat from * to * once, then k6. Work 2 rnds with no decreases.
Round 4: *k4, k2tog,* repeat from * to * two more times. Work 1 rnd with no decreases. Then k2tog at the end of each needle and pull the yarn through the final 6 sts.
Knit the other mitten the same way, but mark sts 28–30 as the motif center and begin the thumb gusset on the 4th needle by working in stockinette until 2 sts remain on the needle, then yo, k1, yo.
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Soak the mittens and lay them flat to dry. Steam lightly on the wrong side.
Yarn and pattern inquiries: Lankava Oy, www.lankava.fi
