Whit's Knits: Colorblock Hand Warmers

The sweet spot of knitting, for me, is when it starts to feel a lot like painting. When the form is fluid and mutable and when the palette is supple and free, then I feel that knitting really hits its creative stride. Creating these Colorblock Hand Warmers delivers just that kind of deeply satisfying experience.

The idea behind these simple mitts was to give free rein to the gorgeous colors of Madeline Tosh Merino Light, to allow the spectacularly hand dyed palette to speak its own story and to create its own beauty: from moonlight gray to buttery yellow to bronzed apricot to blazing tangerine.

Follow your own color whimsy or take a page from our book!  -Whitney

The Materials

 

• 4 skeins of Madeline Tosh's Tosh Merino Light. These colors, from the left, are Napoli, Alabaster, Milk and Luster (Antler would be a very close alternative to the Luster). Just one skein would be enough to make a whole pair of hand warmers. Or use all four and switch the colors around to make four slightly different pairs! (UPDATE: The color Napoli has been discontinued. Cameo would be a great substitute!)

• A set of US #2 double pointed needles.

• A set of US #3 double pointed needles.

The Pattern

Gauge

8 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Finished Sizes

Small/Medium: 6 1/2 inches in circumference and 12 inches long

Medium/Large: 7 1/2 inches in circumference and 12 inches long. (Instructions for the Medium/Large size are shown in parantheses after the Small/Medium size.)

Begin

With Color A (Luster) and the US #2 double pointed needles, cast on 52 (60) stitches.

Join for working in the round being careful to not twist your stitches.

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 five more times.

Change to US #3 double pointed needles.

Knit until the piece measures 4 1/2 inches from the cast on edge.

With Color B (Milk), knit until the piece measures 8 inches from the cast on edge.

With Color C (Alabaster), knit 5 rounds.

The Thumb Hole

NOTE: For the thumb hole, you will work back and forth in rows, turning the work between each row, as you would a flat piece of knitting. Work the stitches on the double pointed needles just as they are, moving from one needle to the next.

*Turn the work so the purl side is facing you and purl all 52 (60) stitches.

Now turn the work so the knit side is facing you and knit the 52 (60) stitches.

Repeat from * until the thumb hole measures 1 1/2 inches, ending with a knit row.

The Hand

NOTE: For the hand section you will work in the round again with the outside of the hand warmer facing you. You will begin with a joining round that connects the two sides of the thumb hole. For the joining round, just continue to work from the last knit row with the outside facing you.

Knit 5 rounds.

With Color D (Napoli), knit for 1 inch.

Change to US #2 double pointed needles.

Next Round: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat the last round 3 more times.

Use a US #3 double pointed needle to bind off in the 1 x 1 rib pattern.

Finishing the Thumb Hole

With Color C and the US #2 double pointed needles, pick up 28 stitches around the thumb hole.

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 one more time.

With a US #3 double pointed needle, bind off in the 1 x 1 rib pattern.

Weave in all the ends and then make another!