The Buck Mountain Mitts are a companion pattern to the Buck Mountain Hat, part of my new book, Independent Fabrication: Volume 2. Formerly available only as part of a pre-order bundle with the print book, they’re now available as an individual pattern, and are 20% off through October 24, 2017, no code needed!

Call it old fashioned, but I have always loved riffing on traditional Gansey stitch patterns. I love the magic they produce from simple knit and purl stitches, the way something so bold and graphic can come from such simple, soothing stitch patterns. I love the way they seem to call you to knit “just one more row!” so you can see the pattern develop.

Gansey stitch patterns show to their greatest advantage in round, “organized,” worsted-spun multi-ply yarns with good stitch definition. These yarns have less bloom and fuzz than, say, a woolen-spun two-ply, but in return, you get a crisp pattern of stitches that reads well from a distance, with a sharp, modern look.

These adorable mitts, knit in Sincere Sheep’s Eureka Worsted, take advantage of this combination of stitch pattern and yarn to produce a bold, graphic look on a mitt that couldn’t be simpler to work. Their short length is functional and modern, while the bouncy worsted-weight Rambouillet wool is warm, hard-wearing, and resilient -- just what you want on someting you wear on your hands. Combine them with their big sister, the Buck Mountain Hat, and get the full set out of a single skein, or make a pair for everyone in the family.

Size
Adult S (M, L); 7 (7.75, 8.5)” / 19 (22, 25) cm circumference, 6” / 15 cm length.

Yarn
Sincere Sheep Eureka Worsted (100% California-sourced Rambouillet, 250 yards / 225 meters per 4 oz), or approximately 150 yards / 162 meters of worsted-weight wool yarn. (Note on yarn substitution: you’re looking for something with great stitch definition here. Eureka Worsted is a very round 4-ply yarn that lets this simple Gansey-inspired pattern read well from a distance, but it would have a very different look with a softer, fuzzier 2-ply or single ply yarn.)

Gauge
20 sts and 32 rnds 4” / 10 cm in stockinette stitch on larger needles, after blocking.

Needles
One long (32” / 80 cm or longer) circular needle (for magic loop), or 5 double-pointed needles, per knitter preference, in sizes US 5 / 3.5 mm and US 7 / 4.5 mm or size needed to obtain gauge.

Notions
Stitch markers; tapestry needle.

Skills Required
decreasing; increasing; picking up stitches; knitting in the round; small-circumference circular knitting using double-pointed needles or magic loop

CONSTRUCTION NOTE
These mitts are knit in the round from cuff to fingers, with the pattern worked on the back side of the mitt and stockinette stitch on the palm side. A thumb gusset is worked in stockinette stitch simultaneously with the first few repeats of the stitch pattern. After all stitches for the gusset are increased, the gusset is put on waste yarn and the remainder of the mitt is worked, after which stitches are picked up for the thumb. The basic instructions for both mitts are the same, however, the gusset instructions are different for the right and left hands.