PERFECT POPOVERS

Hooray! My first foray into mittens and they turned out great!!

It has proven to be an exceptionally frigid winter here in New York. It stinks because it didn't really start to feel cold until after the holidays, which is coincidentally the same time that everyone is pretty much over winter and ready for spring. I've become obsessed with extreme cold-survival outerwear that doesn't look terrible and overly "functional." There had to be a way to keep warm without a puffer jacket, damnit! But I won't trouble you with my quest for the perfect winter coat. That's what my Pinterest is for.

These mittens do at least solve the hands-part of the problem. Mittens are inherently warmer than gloves because all those fingers huddled up together give their heat to each other and they are all insulated with fabric*. Also, these mittens are a bit thicker than most. They are knitted with DK weight yarn, or 5GG. Ohh, the luxury. Oh the warmth. 
That's awesome, but when you're on the go, sometimes you need your fingers! Hence, the popover. Now the choice is up to you! 

my perfectly manicured nails match! I swear this is a coincidence.

But oh. I am forgetting something oh what was it-OH RIGHT THE PIÈCE DE RÉSISTANCE. 

it occurs to me that this isn't a gif so you can't see it working.

This shit is smartphone-capable! I bought the conductive thread, I knitted it in! It works! I was able to buy light-silver conductive thread, which matches great with the light-grey yarn that I used. It's actually just about invisible! Thank goodness I love grey so much.

A few notes on conductive thread: 
For the handknitting market, there is still a long way to go as far as availability goes. I was actually speaking to the nice ladies at Purl Soho recently, and they said they have been considering stocking it, but they aren't there yet. Soon, I hope. Until then... ebay! amazon! 
Anyway, I haven't finished my search yet, but what I was able to find for this project is a light-silver conductive thread that is very thin - thin like sewing machine thread. I found that if I just knitted 1 strand of it in, there wasn't enough conduction to work a phone properly. I actually ended up knitting in 4 strands at once along with my grey yarn, and that seems to have done the trick. If anyone has any recommendations for thicker conductive thread, I'd love to hear them!

Ok, on to the pattern. 
I have adapted this pattern from The York Mittens, which I found on Ravelry. This pattern was a little too big for my hands, so I have reduced some of the stitch measurements. I also added a second color for tipping. Additionally, the pattern includes instructions for a button, which honestly I was too lazy to add. But you should!

Terms

• pm: place marker
• sm: slip marker
• M1R: make 1 right (please see this very handy stitch increase page)
• M1L: make 1 left

Yarn

• Color A: 1 Skein Madeline Tosh DK Merino (this is the main body color, grey. I used Silver Fox)
• Color B: 1 Skein other DK-weight yarn (this is the accent color, the burgundy. I actually used Cephalopod Yarns "Traveller" in "Maison de Peuple.")
• Conductive thread. You guys are kind of on your own here, but I may try this for the next time.

Needles

• at least 4 #6 double-pointed needles
• tapestry needle

Cast-On
Cast on 40 sts in Color B.
Divide and join to work in the rnd.


Cuff

• Work k2, p2 ribbing for 2 rows in Color B.
• Switch to Color A.
• Work k2, p2 ribbing until the cuff measures 3-4" (your preference).
• Knit whole next round, decreasing 6 stitches evenly as you go. 
• knit 3 rnds

Right Thumb Gusset

• Rnd 1: Knit 2, pm, knit 2, pm. Knit to end of rnd
• Rnd 2: Knit 2, sm, M1R, knit to second gusset marker, M1L, slip marker. Knit to end of rnd.
• Rnds 3 - 4: Knit all.
• Repeat Rnds 2 - 4 until there are 14 sts between gusset markers.
• Work even until piece measures 2.5" (or desired length) from the top of the cuff.

Right Body

• On the next rnd, knit to first gusset marker, remove marker. M1R. Slip the next 14 sts (gusset sts) to scrap yarn (or stitch holder) and secure for later. 
• Cast on 2 sts. Remove second gusset marker. M1L, knit to end of rnd (36 sts)
• Knit 3 rnds. 
• On the next rnd, k18, purl the next 18 sts. 
• Work even (knitting all sts) until piece measures 3" (or desired length) from the top of the cuff. 
• Work k2, p2 ribbing for 3/4"
• Switch to Color B and knit 1 row, then also bind-off with Color B.

Right Popover

• Cast on 18 sts in Color B, then switch right to Color A (this is a little tricky), and then pick up and knit 18 purl sts from the top garter ridge on back of hand. 
• Join to knit in the rnd. 
• Work back of hand in stockinette (knit all sts) and, at the same time, work k2, p2 ribbing 1/2" on the palm sts. [36 sts]. 
• Then knit all sts until mitten measures reaches top of middle finger. 

Popover Top Shaping

• Rnd 1: [k5, k2tog], repeat to end of rnd.
• Rnd 2 (and all even rnds): Work even.
• Rnd 3: [k4, k2tog], repeat to end of rnd.
• Rnd 5: [k3, k2tog], repeat to end of rnd.
• Rnd 7: [k2, k2tog], repeat to end of rnd.
• Rnd 9: [k1, k2tog], repeat to end of rnd.
• Rnd 11: [k2tog], repeat to end of rnd.
• Cut yarn, leaving 8" tail.
• Thread tapestry needle with tail and pull through remaining sts. Pull to close.

Thumb

• Slip the 14 sts on hold to a needle. Knit.
• Pick up 4 sts from the base of the thumb hole on the hand. Join to knit in the rnd. [18 
• total sts]
• Knit until work goes above the top knuckle of your thumb.
• Decrease evenly 3 sts in 1 row.
• Knit until work is about 1/8" from the top of your thumb.
• K2, K2tog for 1 rnd. At this time, add the conductive thread to your yarn and knit with both.
• K2tog around all sts. [9 sts]
• Cut yarn, leaving a tail. Weave tail through remaining sts.

Left Mitt

• Follow directions for the Right Mitt to the Thumb Gusset.

Left Thumb Gusset

• Rnd 1: Knit to last 4 sts of round, pm, knit 2 sts, pm, complete rnd.
• Rnd 2: Knit to first gusset marker, sm, M1R, knit sts to the second gusset marker, M1L, sm, complete rnd.
• Rnds 3 - 4: Knit all.
• Repeat Rnds 2 - 4 until there are 14 sts between gusset markers.
• Knit until piece measures 2.5" (or desired 
• length) from the top of the cuff.

Left Body

• On the next rnd, knit to first gusset marker, M1R, remove gusset marker. Slip the next 14 sts (gusset sts) to scrap yarn. Cast on 2 sts. Remove second gusset marker. 
• M1L, knit 2. [36 sts] 
• Knit 3 rnds. 
• On next round, p18 sts (to form another garter ridge), knit to end of rnd. 

• Follow directions for right body, popover, and thumb.

Button Loop

• Using smaller needles, pick up and knit 2 sts from top of mitten. 
• Work 2 stitch i-cord for desired length to make a loop button hole. 
• Bind off and secure at top of mitten to form a loop.
• Attach one button on cuff of each mitt 
• Weave in ends.

* I always think about how if people are worried about freezing to death, the best idea is to get naked and wrap the clothes around both of you. It's the same principle. THINK ABOUT IT