Reindeer Dance Mittens

Knitted mittens for children in DROPS Daisy. The piece is worked bottom up, with multi-coloured reindeer pattern. Sizes 2 – 14 years.

DROPS Children 47-19
DROPS Design: Pattern da-005-bn
Yarn group B
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SIZES:
2 - 3/5 - 6/9 - 10/12 - 13/14 years
Circumference: approx. 14-14-17-17-21 cm. Length: approx. 14-16-18-20-22 cm.

YARN:
DROPS DAISY from Garnstudio (belongs to yarn group B)
50-50-50-50-50 g colour 02, marzipan
50-50-50-50-50 g colour 13, almond
50-50-50-50-50 g colour 17, moss green
50-50-50-50-50 g colour 21, crimson red

NEEDLES:
DROPS DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES SIZE 3 MM.
DROPS DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES SIZE 2.5 MM.

KNITTING TENSION:
23 stitches in width and 32 rows in height with stocking stitch = 10 x 10 cm.
NOTE: Needle size is only a guide. If you get too many stitches on 10 cm, change to a larger needle size. If you get too few stitches on 10 cm, change to a smaller needle size.

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EXPLANATIONS FOR THE PATTERN:
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PATTERN:
See diagram A.1. The whole pattern is worked in stocking stitch.

KNITTING TIP-1:
If you would like a smaller/larger circumference, use a half or whole needle size smaller/larger. A half needle size will give you 1 cm less/more, a whole needle size will give you 2 cm less/more.

KNITTING TIP-2:
To avoid the knitting tension losing its elasticity when working pattern, it is important that the strands at the back are not tight. Use a size larger needle when working pattern if the piece becomes tight.

KNITTING TIP-3:
The length before beginning the thumb-opening can be adjusted by working fewer/more rounds before marking the thumb-opening.

DECREASE TIP:
Start 2 stitches before the marker-thread, knit 2 together, marker-thread, slip 1 stitch knit-wise, knit 1 and pass the slipped stitch over the knitted stitch (2 stitches decreased).

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START THE PIECE HERE:

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MITTENS – SHORT OVERVIEW OF THE PIECE:
The piece is worked in the round with double pointed needles, bottom up. The circumference can be adjusted – read KNITTING TIP-1.

LEFT MITTEN:
Cast on 38-38-46-46-56 with double pointed needles size 2.5 mm and colour marzipan DROPS Daisy. Work rib in the round (knit 1, purl 1) for 3 cm.
Change to double pointed needles size 3 mm. Knit 2-2-3-3-3 rounds and decrease 6-6-6-6-8 stitches evenly on the first round = 32-32-40-40-48 stitches.
Read KNITTING TIP-2. Work A.1 4-4-5-5-6 times on the round. When A.1 is finished in height, continue with stocking stitch and colour marzipan to finished length. REMEMBER THE KNITTING TENSION!
AT THE SAME TIME, when the mitten measures 7-8-9-10-11 cm from the cast-on edge – read KNITTING TIP-3, mark the thumb-opening as follows:
Work pattern until there are 6-7-7-8-8 stitches left on the round, knit 5-6-6-7-7 stitches with a contrasting strand, place these stitches back on the left needle and work pattern as before to the end of the round.
Continue working until the mitten measures 12-14-15-17-19 cm from the cast-on edge. There is approx. 2-2-3-3-3 cm left; try the mitten on and work to desired length before decreasing.
Insert 1 marker-thread at the beginning of the round and 1 marker-thread after 16-16-20-20-24 stitches. Continue with stocking stitch and colour marzipan.
AT THE SAME TIME on the first round, decrease 1 stitch on each side of both marker-threads – read DECREASE TIP (4 stitches decreased). Decrease like this every round a total of 6-6-8-8-9 times = 8-8-8-8-12 stitches.
On the next round knit all stitches together 2 and 2 = 4-4-4-4-6 stitches. Cut the strand, pull it through the remaining stitches, tighten and fasten well. The mitten measures approx. 14-16-18-20-22 cm.

THUMB:
Place the 5-6-6-7-7 thumb-stitches (worked with a contrasting colour) on double pointed needles size 3 mm as follows: Carefully remove the strand and divide the stitches between the needles; there are 5-6-6-7-7 stitches on each side of the opening = 10-12-12-14-14 stitches. Work stocking stitch in the round with colour marzipan and knit up 1 stitch on each side of the opening on the first round (between the 5-6-6-7-7 stitches) = 12-14-14-16-16 stitches.
Work until the thumb measures 2½-3-4-4½-5 cm. There is 1 cm left to finished length; try the mitten on and work to desired length before decreasing.
Insert 1 marker-thread in each side. On the next 2 rounds, decrease 1 stitch on each side of both marker-threads – remember DECREASE TIP = 4-6-6-8-8 stitches. On the next round knit all stitches together 2 and 2 = 2-3-3-4-4 stitches.
Cut the strand, pull it through the remaining stitches, tighten and fasten well. The thumb measures approx. 3½-4-5-5½-6 cm.

RIGHT MITTEN:
Cast on and work in the same way as the left mitten, until the piece measures 7-8-9-10-11 cm.
Mark the thumb opening as follows:
Knit 1 stitch in pattern, knit 5-6-6-7-7 stitches with a contrasting strand, place these stitches back on the left needle and work pattern as before to the end of the round.
Work the rest of the mitten in the same way as the left mitten.

THUMB:
Work the thumb in the same way as the left mitten.

Diagram explanations

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