Vehnän Mitts - a free pattern

Recently, I was trolling the web for funky ribbing stitches to finish off my Knucks. When I found the prefect ribbing, I kept noticing a beautiful stitch being displayed in the sidebar. The website had dubbed it the "Wind in the Wheat" stitch.
I loved it so much, I had to make some mitts out of it. And, since I have some unexplainable obsession with all things Finnish, I decided to name them Vehnän Mitts; Vehnän being Finnish for wheat. (Well, really, it means "common wheat"). Vehnän Lapaset is roughly translated to Wheat Mitts, but I thought that may be a bit unwieldy on the tongue.

You can knit these mitts in a weekend and they take less than a skein.

What you need
Yarn: Any DK weight. Shown in Gloss DK yarn by KnitPicks, in cream; number 24985
Needles: A Set of US number Five DPNS or circular long enough for Magic Loop method.
Notions Tapestry needle, stitch marker
Note: If you’re making these gloves with only two DPNs or using the Magic Loop method, the stitches will rearrange themselves on the needles. I recommend arranging the stitches back to an even amount on each needle every time you work round 12.

Wheat in the Wind stitch adapted from the instructions found here: http://www.craftcookie.com/knitting-stitches/eyelet-lace-stitches/162-wheat-in-the-wind

Wheat in the Wind stitch
Rounds 1 & 3: p1, k11; repeat from *
Round 2 & all other even rounds: Knit all sts
Round 5: * p1, k1, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k4; repeat from *
Round 7: * p1, k2, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k3; repeat from *
Round 9: * p1, k3, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k2; repeat from *
Round 11: * p1, k4, yo, k1, yo, k2tog, k1, sl1kw, k1, psso, k1; repeat from *
Round 12: Knit all sts
These rounds form the Wheat in the Wind stitch.

- Instructions
Arm/Wrist
CO 36 sts on three DPNs. Join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist. Place marker to indicate beginning of round.
Work one inch of k1, p1 ribbing. K one row.
Work Wheat in the Wind rounds 1 – 12 three times. A total of 36 rows worked.
Work Wheat in the wind rounds one and two.

Place Thumb
Work 18 sts in patt, knit next six sts with scrap yarn. Move the six sts worked back to the right needle. With working yarn, resume in patt until the end of the round.

Hand
Finish working remaining Winds in the Wheat rounds.
K 3 rounds straight.
Work one inch in K1, P1 ribbing.
Bind off in patt.

Thumb
Carefully remove waste yarn and place resulting live sts on needles; there will be 6 sts below the opening and 5 sts above. Attach yarn and k 6 sts below the opening; pick up and k 2 sts in space between below and above. K 5 sts from above opening; pick up and k 2 sts in space between this needle and lower needle. 15 sts.
K one row.
Next row: K6, K2tog, K to end of round. 14 sts.
Work K1, P1 ribbing for three rounds.
Bind off in patt.

Finishing
Weave in all ends. Enjoy!

Abbreviations
Sl1kw: Slip one stitch knit-wise
PSSO: Pass slipped stitch over
YO: Yarn over
K2Tog: Knit two stitches together

Pattern copyright 2012 Natalie Gonzalez. Please do not make these to sell, unless for charity.

Coffee Cozy - free pattern

I had been looking for a coffee cup cozy pattern for fingering sock weight yarn for long while, and couldn’t find one. So, easiest solution – make one up! This cozy should fit small through large size cups.

Ravelled here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/coffee-cozy-4
PDF here - http://nantucketknitter.com/cozy.pdf

YARN: Fingering weight sock yarn. The most important thing is it should be machine washable. I used yarn from the wonderful Storied Yarns – http://storiedyarns.etsy.com .
NEEDLES: US size four DPNs or circular long enough for magic loop.
GAUGE: 1” = 7 sts
NOTIONS: Tapestry needle to weave in ends.

INSTRUCTIONS:
- Cast on 62 sts, and join to begin knitting in the round, being careful not to twist.
- Work in K1, P1 ribbing for five rows.
- Knit five rounds.
- Next round: K1, K2tog, K to last three sts, SSK, K1.
- Next: K all sts
- Repeat these two rounds three times more. 8 sts decreased, 54 sts remain.
- Knit five rounds.
- Work in K1, P1 ribbing for five rounds.
- Bind off all stitches.
FINISHING: Weave in all ends.

Pattern and images copyright Natalie Gonzalez, 2012. Please do not reproduce and redistribute pattern. Please do not make these items to sell unless for charity. www.nantucketknitter.com

2 x 2 mitts

I have really been wanting to knit some of the yarn I have dyed, but couldn't think of anything I really wanted to create. Then these popped into my head. They're fairly simple, and can be made simpler by using a regular bind off, rather than the picot edge I used on these.
They are so quick, they knit up in less than a weekend.
(FYI - I plan on getting pictures with both of the mitts being worn in one picture in a few days. Right now it is just me and my camera phone, so I could only take one hand at a time!)

YARN: Fingering Sock Yarn, I used a 75% Superwash Merino Wool, 25% Nylon blend that I dyed myself.
NEEDLES: US size one DPNs or circular for magic loop.
NOTIONS: Needle to weave in ends
GAUGE: Doesn't really matter

Before we start I want to warn you that these are going to look super small as you knit them. However, the 2x2 rib is really stretchy, so don't worry, these will fit any average sized wrist!

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cast on 40 stitches. Divide between four DPNs if using. Join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
Work in 2x2 rib(K2, P2) for 5 1/2 inches, or desired length.
Thumb: Work in patt for five stitches, bind off six stitches, work in patt to end of round. Next round: Work in patt for five stitches, cast on six stitches, work in patt to end of round.
Work in patt for another 2 1/2 inches, or desired lenght.

Bind off stitches using picot edge bind off.

Finishing: Weave in ends.

PICOT EDGE BIND OFF:
*Cast on two stitches. Bind off four stitches. Return stitch on right needle to left needle; repeat from* to end of round.

Don't forget my yarn dying kit giveaway

Pattern © 2011 Natalie Gonzalez. Please e-mail me at natalie.knit@gmail.com if you wish to make these to sell. Do not reproduce and redistribute pattern. Any questions or comments? Feel free to e-mail me!
If my fingers appear dirty in these pictures, it's because, well, they are. They're stained with soot. Long story.

Eyelet Fingerless Mitts

YARN: 1 skein Debbie Bliss “Cashmerino Aran” yarn, any color. (Shown in #205, Denim.)
NEEDLES: US size 2 dpns, or size needed to obtain gauge
NOTIONS: Stitch Markers
GAUGE: 24 stitches = 4”

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cast on 36 stitches. Divide between two or three needles. Join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.
CUFF:
- Round one: *P1, K1; repeat from *.
- Round two: Knit.
- Round three: *K1, P1; repeat from *.
- Round four: Knit.
- Round five: *P1, K1; repeat from *.
- Rounds six & seven: Knit.
- Round eight: *K1, YO, K2TOG; repeat from *.
- Round nine: Knit.

INCREASING FOR THUMB:
- Round one: K1, P1, K1, P1, place marker, knit to end of round.
- Round two: K1, P1, K1, P1, slip marker, knit to end of round.
- Round three & four: Repeat round two.
- Round five: K1, P1, M1, K to last stitch before marker, M1, P1, slip marker, knit to end of round.
-Repeat rounds two through five, five more times. You now have a total of 16 stitches from start of round to stitch marker.
- Repeat rounds two through four once.

THUMB:
- K1, P1. Slip next stich purlwise. *Slip next stich purlwise, slip second stich on right needle over first stitch; repeat from * until you have bound off last knit stich over last purl before marker; remove marker.
- Slip last stitch from right needle to left needle.
- Working firmly, cast on three stitches to right needle. Slip first stitch on left needle back to right needle, slip last cast-on stitch over this stitch.
- Knit to end of round. You now have 37 stitches.
- Knit 17, k2tog, knit to end of round. You now have 36 stitches.

HAND:
Knit all rounds until piece measures four inches from end of cuff.
- Round one: *K1, YO, K2TOG; repeat from *.
- Rounds two & three: Knit.
- Round four: *K1, P1; repeat from *.
- Round five: Knit.
- Round six: *P1, K1; repeat from *.
- Round seven: Knit.
- Round eight: *K1, P1; repeat from *.
- Round nine: Knit.
BO all stitches.

FINISHING:
Weave in all ends.
Weave ribbon through eyelits, if desired.

TIP: M1 – With tip of left needle, lift strand running between needles from the front, knit stitch. Or, if you wish the stitch to blend in better, knit in back of stitch.
Pattern © 2011 Natalie Gonzalez. Please e-mail me at natalie.knit@gmail.com if you wish to make these to sell. Do not reproduce and redistribute pattern. Any questions or comments? Feel free to e-mail me!

Owl Washcloth

You can view the PDF here: Sorry the website is down, please e-mail me at natalie.knit@gmail.com for the pdf.) YARN: Knit Picks Dishie, less than one ball, any color. (Shown in #25404, Crème Brulee)
NEEDLES: US size 6 straight or circular
NOTIONS: Needle to weave in ends
GAUGE: Doesn't really matter

INSTRUCTIONS:
Cast on 50 stitches. Work chart, starting with five rows of garter border (K every row) and remembering to K5 at the beg and end of every row. BO. Weave in ends. (Remember, first row is the "right" side.)

Pattern © 2011 Natalie Gonzalez. Please contact me at natalie.knit@gmail.com if you wish to make these to sell. Do not reproduce and redistribute pattern. Any questions or comments? Feel free to e-mail me!