The word thrum refers to short lengths of waste yarn/thread left after cutting woven fabric from a loom. These pieces of yarn were repurposed to line hats and mittens and stuff pillows and mattresses. It’s likely thrums did not include bits of unspun wool until knitters in Eastern Canada and the U.S. did this to add a little extra woolly layer in their hand knit mittens.

There are three sizes in the pattern. If you use yarn and needles larger or smaller then what’s listed in the pattern, try knitting either a smaller or larger size to find what will give you the best fit.

For the month of September, 2023, 50% of pattern sales is donated to Alberta Homeward Hound rescue, a local non-profit rescue organization for dogs. Please visit AHHRB for more information about the organization.

SIZES 1 (2, 3)

HAND CIRCUMFERENCE
6 (8, 9)” / 15 (20, 22.5) cm
To fit hand circumferences listed with intended 0 to 0.5” / 0 to 1.5 cm positive ease. Ease will depend on the thickness of thrums made.

MATERIALS
Yarn: 1 skein Briggs and Little Heritage (100% Pure Wool, 215 yds / 196 m – 113 g), colour Teal Blue. Or approx. 115 (190, 215 ) yds / 105 (174, 196) m worsted / aran weight yarn.
Unspun wool: 1 (1, 2) DHG Extra-fine Merino Wool Top (100% Merino Wool, approx. 50 g), colour Starry Night.

SUGGESTED NEEDLE SIZE
US 6 / 4 mm (Main needles) and US 5 / 3.75 mm (Cuff needles)
Or needle size(s) needed to obtain gauge in DPNs or circular needles in the lengths needed to knit in your preferred in-the-round method. (Use Main needle size needed to obtain gauge, and Cuff needles one size smaller than Main needles.)

GAUGE
28 rnds x 15 sts = 4” / 10 cm, after blocking, in stockinette stitch with thrums.
A match in gauge will give a similar resulting item to the photographed samples.

ABBREVIATIONS (full list written in pattern)
inc’d – increased
k2tog – knit 2 together
KLL – knit left leg
Ssk – slip slip knit
tbl – through back loop

If using the pattern for an in person class, and you would like to knit the cuffs before class starts, here’s the instruction below.

DIRECTIONS – cuff
With Cuff needles Size US 5 / 3.75 mm recommended, loosely Long Tail Cast-on 28 (36, 40) sts. Or use your preferred CO in the appropriate needle size. Carefully join work in the round without twisting the CO, and place a BOR marker on the RN.

Rnd 1 (RS): (K1, p1) rep to end, slip BOR marker.

Continue in established 1x1 pattern until cuff measures 2 (2.5, 2.5)” / 5 (6.25, 6.25) cm.