Rhonda, mitten tutorial

[Missy]

I will add more to this as I work on the mitten I have going right now.

I am not sure how to teach knitting itself, so i have to say that this is being done hoping that there is prior knowledge of knitting. If it is unclear, let me know and I will try to show it another way.

You'll need a 4 pc set of dpn's and worsted weight yarn. The needle size really doesn't matter for your first pair, because everyone knits at a different tension. I used a sz 4.

First cast on 28 onto a dpn.

[Missy]

you are going to split, as evenly as possible, these onto three dpns, so two will have 9 and one will have 10. Without twisting the stitches, slide nine sts onto one needle, and another group of nine onto another needle. you'll have something that looks like this.

[Missy]

it really doesn't matter which ones have nine and which ones have ten. So don't worry about that.

Now, turn your needles to form a triangle with the ends crossing each other. the tail of yarn (doesn't lead to anything) is on the left, the tail of yarn leading to the yarn is on the right. I put a marker down for a reference. Markers can be safety pins, circles of yarn, rings like this, etc etc.

[Missy]

next few pics are going to show how I hold the mess. (DON"T TWIST YOUR STITCHES)

[Missy]

if your stitches are twisted, monkey with it till they aren't, lol.

Her'es another view of how I hold - bottom view

[Missy]

one last, from above...

[Missy]

ok, now that you've got the hold down pat, lets start knitting. knit all the way around, starting on the needle that has the tail of yarn that isn't attatched to the ball of yarn. That will be needle one. The next needle in the triangle will be needle2 and the needle that currently has the ball of yarn attached is needle 3. Ok, we're going to knit a row first. this will serve three functions. It will securely close the triangle. and it will begin to stabalise the foundation stitches. and lastly the only way to get going...is to get going!

Essentially you will knit across neeles one, two and three. As you knit across needle one, K1, place marker, knit across. K across remaining two needles. As you get going around and around and around, the marker will stay on needle one. As you get to the marker, you will simply slip it from needle 1 to the working needle. the working needle will take needle 1's place and needle one will be the working needle for the next needle and so on.

Clear as mud??

You'll be knitting around and around the triangle, sort of like a spiraling triangle. around and around and around. After your first initial K row, begin your ribbing. I like K2 P2. you might like K3 P1...whatever. Do what you like.

once you've done a few rows it'll begin to look like something.

[Missy]

Occassionally the yarn inspector will put in his two cents. Your yarn inspector may be slightly different.

[Missy]

my kids like the cuff part to be around 2-3 inches long. I K2P2 around and around and around, until it is 2 inches. I might go on to 3 inches. But this is where I am going to stop for tonight. I will pick it up again in the morning.

[Missy]

if you've questions, post whenever you want. No need to wait till it's all up.

[forestdale]

This is great, missy! Just what I wanted. Of course, my yarn inspector has fur, but I'm sure I'll still get the job done.

I have to get some DPNs. So I'll get them in the next day or two and then come back and try my knitting while I've got this post open in front of me.

I really appreciate this, thanks so much.

[Missy]

when you are first starting dpn and circular knitting, it might seem intimidating. If you get frustrated, put it down and walk away. Tear it out if you have to. It isn't gonna hurt, it's just yarn. I about threw my needles until I had an moment when it finally sunk in. once i "got it" it stuck.

If all fails snuggle with the inspector and with any luck a second go at it will be better.

I am sure you'll pick it up right away.

[Early Bird]

I already have a half-dozen sock projects I want to make! And now you got me interested in MITTENS too!

At least mittens use worsted weight yarn! I've got some of that.

[Missy]

my batteries are dead. I am going to get more today and post some more!

[forestdale]

waiting