Featuring stranded colourwork knitted in the round, with corrugated rib and a steeked thumbhole, these mitts are inspired by symbols carved on the Neolithic stone artefacts excavated at the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney. An ideal small project for learning how to create a steek (in conjunction with online tutorials). A matching hat, Tam o Brodgar, is also available.

The design of these mitts, and the related Tam o Brodgar, came about as a charitable fundraising collaboration with Orkney Tweed and the Ness of Brodgar, in order to raise funds for ongoing excavations. Both patterns are available from my ravelry store, but the hat pattern is also available as a download directly from the Ness of Brodgar website where all proceeds of the pattern go directly to supporting the charity.

Join the Skein Reaction Ravelry group for information and discussion about my designs.

Yarn: Orkney Tweed 4-ply 100% wool (105m/114yd per 25g skein) - one skein in each of:
Zwartbles Black/Dark Grey (A)
Natural White (B)
Zwartbles Black (C)
Light Grey (D)
Depending on gauge, one skein of B & C is sufficient for both the hat and mitts.

Needles and Notions
Use preferred needles for small diameter knitting (DPNs, or 80cm/32in circular needle for magic loop method) in following sizes:
3mm/US 2.5 (or size required to obtain gauge).
2.75mm/US 2 (or one size smaller than gauge needle).
2.5mm or 2.75mm crochet hook for steek reinforcement (or one or two sizes smaller than gauge needle).
Small amount of strong fingering weight yarn for reinforcing steek, sharp scissors for cutting steek, stitch marker (unless using DPNs), tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge
33 sts and 37 rows to 10cm/4in, after wetblocking, across stranded colourwork and stocking stitch using larger needles. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain gauge.

Measurements and Sizing
One size: length 22cm/9in, circumference 21cm/8.5in.

The mitts are shown on a hand with palm circumference 19cm/7.5in with approx 2cm ease but will fit larger hands with less ease.

Skills Required
The pattern uses stranded colourwork, requiring the anchoring of longer yarn floats at the back of the work. Steeking is used to create the thumbhole after knitting the mitt in the round as a tube of fabric. Other techniques include German twisted cast-on and corrugated ribbing. Knowledge of backward loop cast-on method is assumed. See skeinreaction.com for more information.