Felted Mitten Knitting Pattern

This pattern was originally posted in our Forum, by Marina. I think it would work with handspun wools as well.

At Thursday’s Chat, several people were interested in making fulled mittens. I said I had an old pattern and would post it here. Here it is. Those of you who aren’t interested in weaving – please forgive the departure from the usual topics!
Marina

Felted Mittens

To fit women’s (men’s) hands. Final fitting is done in felting. Directions are for the smaller size, with larger size in parenthesis.

Materials:

One 3.5 oz. skein Brunswick Germantown Knitting Worsted. Do not use Superwash wool or blends. Sets of double-pointed needles, sizes 8 or 9 and 0 or 1 for cuff ribbing.

Gauge:

In circular stockinette st, approximately 9 sts and 12 rows equal 2″. Mittens are fulled and shrunk until proper size. Gauge after fulling – 10 sts and 15 rows equal 2″.

Right mitten
CO 44 (52) sts. Join and work 3 rnds of rev St st (purl). K 18 (20) rnds. Change to tiny needles. Work k2, p2 ribbing for 6 rnds. With larger needles, k 6 (8) rnds. Remainder of mitten worked in St st (knit).

Gusset

K3, place marker, M1, k3, M1, place marker, k rest of rnd. M1 just after and before the marker every other rnd until 11 (13) sts are between markers. Work 1 rnd. Place 11 gusset sts on a thread and CO 3 sts at back of thumb [44 (52) sts].

Palm
K22 (28) rnds. * K1, k2tog, k17 (21) sts, k2tog. Place marker. Rep from * K 1 rnd. *K 1, k2tog, k to within 2 sts of marker, k2tog. Rep from *. Rep established dec every other rnd 3 times, then every rnd until 4 sts rem. Break yarn and pull through sts to fasten off.

Thumb

Transfer 11 (13) sts from holder to 2 needles and pick up 5 (7) sts from back of thumb on 3rd needle, 16 (20) sts total. Work 11 (14) rnds. Dec as in palm, every rnd until 4 sts rem. Break yarn and pull through sts then sew ends through back of work to fasten off.

Left Mitten

Work as R mitten until gusset. Work first rnd of gusset until 6 sts rem. Place marker, M1, k3, M1, place marker, k3. Inc sts inside markers to match R mitten incs. Work palm and thumb as R mitten.

Fulling
Machine wash in hot water with strong soap (it takes 3-6 washings) and lay flat to air dry. Insert hand in mitten between washings and stretch to shape. Stop felting when they fit! Warm rinse. Once felted, wash like other fine woolens. Use a stiff brush to raise the nap.

P.S.: If anyone knows what M1 stands for, pleae let me know. I think it means “increase 1 st”.