Tutorial - How to avoid a thumb gap in mittens or mitts!

Although I really do love the mittens I knitted for myself two winters ago, the one thing about them that bothers me is that they have a little hole where I joined the thumb together in the round after picking up stitches.

Since I've knit those mittens, I've picked up a few tricks and I'd like to share with you guys my method for getting rid of that pesky gap. This tutorial goes along well with my new pattern, Slither Fingerless Mitts!

Here we see the "gap" that results after picking up stitches for the thumb - this is where we would join in the round for the thumb.

Here's what it looks like if you just knit the next stitch and join in the round - a little hole that you could sew closed later, but I prefer to fix these things while knitting because I always feel little lazy with finishing.

In order to fix the gap, I'm going to "pick up" one leg of a couple of stitches in the row below where I'm currently knitting, and then knit those two "legs" together with the first stitch on my needle, which happens to also be the first stitch in the round.

Ta-da! No more icky hole to let in cold air or to worry about later! Now you can be lazy with your finishing just like me!

Happy knitting!

Pattern - Slither Mitts

The inspiration (and name) of this design comes from snakes and their movement - hence the zig-zag or "slithering" mock cables. The zig zags are made with Right and Left Twists, which are easy to do without a cable needle, so the mitts can be done in no time at all!



Materials :

• approximately 50 grams of worsted weight yarn (depending on how long you want your mitts to be) 
• US size 6 and 7 double pointed/circular needles (or size to obtain gauge) 
• Small stitch holder or waste yarn
• Stitch markers 
• Tapestry needle to weave in ends

Gauge : 4.5 stitches per inch in stockinette

Size: Women's S/M  - adjust gauge in order to make a smaller or larger size!

Stitch guide : 

• M1R - Make One Right
• M1L - Make One Left
• Tutorial for M1 increases here!
• RT - Right Twist
• LT - Left Twist
• Visit this blog for detailed instructions on how to work these stitches!

Pattern :

Cuff/Wrist :

With size 6 needles, CO 40 sts and join in the round. 

Work K2P2 ribbing for 9 rounds

Switch to larger needles and work following rounds once (add or subtract to make shorter or longer mitts!) :

• Round 1 : [K2, RT] rep. around
• Round 2 and all even numbered rounds : knit around
• Round 3 : K1, [RT, K2] rep. around
• Round 5 : [RT, K2] rep. around
• Round 7 : [LT, K2] rep, around
• Round 9 : K1, [LT, K2]
• Round 11 : [K2, LT]

Gusset :

Next round : K4, PM, M1R, K1, M1L, PM, M1L (in order to have correct number of stitches for zig zag pattern), K to end

Work in established pattern for two rounds

Next round : Work in patt. to marker, SM, M1R, K to marker, M1L, SM, work in patt. to end of round

Repeat increase round every 3rd row until there are 13 stitches between markers, then work in pattern 1 round

Separate thumb : 

Next round - work in patt. to marker, slip 13 thumb stitches onto marker or waste yarn, then backwards CO 4 sts and join in the round. 

Hand :

Work in established patt. for approximately 2 inches, finishing with Round 5. 

Switch to smaller needles, and work in K2P2 rib for 3 round
BO in K2P2 pattern


Thumb :
(See my tutorial here to avoid a gap after between the hand and thumb!)
Place 13 stitches from holder or waste yarn onto larger DPNs, then pick up 3 stitches in gap
K around for 6 rounds
Switch to smaller needles and work in K2P2 rib for 3 rounds
BO in K2P2 pattern

Wear your mitts and be fabulous!

Please let me know if you have any questions or see any mistakes in the pattern!

(Special thanks to Monty the ball python for being a lovely and cooperative model!)