Mittens! Part 3

Yes, I’m still obsessed with the mitten thing, thinking about how many cool ways there are to make them. Different gussets, cast-ons and shaping methods make mitten knitting a true source of nerdy joy to me. Today, I’d like to talk a little bit about one of my favorite unusual thumb gussets, the arched or lifeline gusset.

Mittens make great gifts! Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be posting about mittens, the various methods, thumbs, cuffs and shapings. I’ll be posting a free-for-a-limited-time mitten pattern every week and its matching hat pattern will be offered at 50% off in my Ravelry shop. Coupon codes are at the bottom of this post.

This week I’d like to offer my Mercury Mittens and matching Mercury Hat, a one-two punch that pairs simple, squishy garter stitch with a sweeping mercurial lace motif. These simple mittens feature a flowing lace motif of V’s and eyelets etched with garter stitch. A slightly denser gauge compensates for the pretty openwork, so Mercury will still manage wind and wet snow with ease. Both the hat and mittens begin with a deep band of garter stitch forming a thick, squishy cuff. The best part is the unusual gusset! I’ve chosen the sweeping ‘arched’ or ‘lifeline’ gusset for its elegant movement across the palm.

Though it feels a little weird at first, especially if you are in the habit of shaping with a traditional thumb gusset, the arched gusset works beautifully to create extra room in the palm. Once the thumb position is determined, increases are worked every round; this means that the gusset develops much quicker and requires fewer rounds to achieve shaping. You might use this shaping if you’re using a yarn with a particularly long row gauge or if you are planning a band of patterning that begins after the gusset is complete.

Here is another lovely use of an arched gusset, the Inverness Gloves by Elizabeth McCarten. Elizabeth has created an elegant, classic, gift-worthy pair of gloves that cry out to be worked in a luxury yarn.

Ready for a holiday cast on? Without further ado, here are your Ravelry coupon codes. These are valid for one week. MERCURY1 gets you the free mitten pattern while MERCURY2 will take 50% the cost of the matching hat pattern.

Happy knitting!