Simple Fingerless Mittens and Hat

As the weather has been colder and colder here in Denmark (especially in the mornings when I bike the 6yr old to kindergarten!) I’ve found myself increasingly thinking about mittens.  Fingerless are best, because childcare often leaves one needing full use of their hands.  The internet failed me on this account (mostly because I’m too lazy to search for longer than twenty minutes for a pattern.)  The first pair I made were far too small, and many of the others looked fancier or more complicated than I generally prefer.  So I made my own pattern.  Then I made a hat to go with it.  A scarf may be on its way…

These patterns were made using a size K hook with 3 skeins of worsted weight wool.

Fingerless Mittens

• Holding all three strands of yarn together, chain 25
• Row 1:  In the 4^th chain from hook, dc 22.  The chain counts as 1^st dc. (23)
• Row 2-10: Ch 2, dc 22, ch counts as 1st dc. (23)
• Row 11: Ch 2, dc 7, hdc 1, sc 1, slip to end.
• Sew ends leaving room for thumb (I sew directly on my hand because I’d rather make sure my fingers are covered as I like than count stitches and have it fit poorly, but if you’re a counter, from wrist to fingers I sewed 15 stitches, skipped 4, then sewed the rest.  Though I actually leave the very last stitch unsown, creating a slight dip that allows for slightly better flexibility, imo.)

(Make two, unless you are differently handed.)

Hat

• Holding all three strands of yarn together, chain 2
• Rnd1: In 2^nd ch from hook, dc 6
• Rnd 2: In spiral rounds throughout, dc 2 in ea st (12)
• Rnd 3: dc 2 in ea st (24)
• Rnd 4: dc 2 in ea st (48)
• Rnd 5-15: dc around (48)
• Sew ends in.

Please note that I made these patterns specifically to fit me and are NOT one size fits all.  For larger hands increase the mittens pattern by adding an extra round(s) in the middle.  For larger heads, increase the fifth round by stitches that are common denominators of 48 (ie: for 54 stitches around instead of 48, dc 6, then dc 2 in next st, rpt.)  Also, the top of the hat is not a completely flat spiral, it will ruffle a bit.  This is not a problem once it is on your head, as yarn stretches and the hat (and gloves, for that matter) should fit snugly.

I’m thinking I might have enough yarn left over to make a matching scarf as well.  For this I am just going to chain to the desired length, then dc enough rows to get to a desired width.  Simple, right?

-Ariel

Stuffed Bears

These bears are my latest crocheting project for the girls I watch.  The skein next to them is to get an idea of the size.  The pattern is NOT mine, I found it online at http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=31654 The only changes I made (outside of the colors) were to use an H hook, and on the last round in the arms I did 4 sc st, turned, then did the remaining 4 sc in the previous st’s causing the top of the arm to be longer.  I feel this allows the arms to hang a bit more naturally on the bears.  I’ve decided to let the girls choose whether they want button eyes and nose for the bears or not, as I think it’s cute both ways.

I’m thinking about making some mittens or finger-less gloves next, what with the weather changing and all (the other morning it was 5 degrees celsius out!  I don’t even know what that is in fahrenheit, but I was cold bicycling to the kindergarten!)  Anyone have any good patterns to suggest?

-Ariel