In a Muddle with Mittens - Please help me!

#1

Hi, I’m new to the forum and was really hoping someone could help me with the thumb on my mittens!

I’ll explain - the pattern is for 2 normal needles and I’ve done the wrist and thumb (to an extent).
To make the gusset and thumb I had to cast a stitch and then turn to make the thumb shape.
It now says to cut yarn and thread through rest of stitches, draw up and fasten off, join thumb seam (but I have half the thumb on one needle and half the thumb on the other??!) (these stitches are the increases on the thumb actually??!) and does this mean [I]only[/I] the thumb stitches?
The only way it looks like a mitten is if I put the needles side by side.
There are no instructions to put stitches on holders, so I have what looks like half a mitt on each needle.
Even if I thread end of yarn through rest of thumb, what do I do with the rest of the stitches - half of which are on one needle and half of which are on the other?? I am so stuck!!!
The instructions say (after joining the thumb seam) With rs facing, pick up and knit 2 stitches from the base of thumb and knit to end.
Thanks in advance for any help with this…:notworthy:

#2

Is the threading the yarn through the sts for the top of the mitten? That’s a pretty typical way to close them up after decreasing a few stitches. Then you go back to your thumb sts and knit them, then finish in the same way. Do you have a link to the pattern? Then we can take a look at it and see if you’re missing something, or if the instructions are.

#3

Hi! Thanks for your reply!
No, it’s not the top of the mitten, I have knitted the wrist and part of the palm, along with the thumb gussett and thumb - with the decrease as well, so it looks just like 1/2 a hand with no fingers! (hope that sort of makes sense).
The pattern is Sirdar Country Style 8596 for the stripey gloves.
If it helps, I’ll reiterate the last part of the pattern that I’ve done:
[U]Dividing of the thumb(also done)[/U] -
1st row: k40, cast on 1 stitch, turn
2nd row: p17, cast on 1 stitch, turn.
Working on these 18 stitches only, work 10 rows in st-st (this has made the thumb shape)
[U]Shape top of thumb (also done this)[/U]:
1st row (k2tog 9times) [9 stitches]
2nd row Purl
3rd row K1 (k2tog) 4times [5 stitches] - [COLOR=“Green”]break off yarn, run yarn thorugh remaining stitches, draw up and fasten off, join thumb seam.
Then, with rs facing, pick up and knit 2 stitches from base of thumb and knit to end [52 stitches].[/COLOR]
What I don’t understand is that 1/2 the thumb is on one needle and half the thumb is on the other needle? Do I need to slip them all off in order to do the green lettered stuff? Sorry it’s so long, but as your’e all experts, thought you might be able to help

#4

Hi! Just thought I better add that I have both sides of the palm stitches on my needles too. Nowhere in the pattern did it say to slip off and put on a holder. I have got into a right old mess!!:whoosh:

#5

I don’t see anywhere that you have half the [U]thumb[/U] sts on one needle and half on the other. The thumb is only the 18 sts, which are decreased for the top. Then you cut the yarn with a long tail, thread it through the 5 remaining sts and sew up the thumb. You’re done with it.

The next part - [COLOR=Green]Then, with rs facing, pick up and knit 2 stitches from base of thumb and knit to end [52 stitches] [COLOR=Black]is going back to the mitten stitches. You pick up 2 sts at the base of the thumb to kind of join the thumb with the mitten and knit to the end of the row. Then continue on.[/COLOR]
[/COLOR]

#6

Hi Suzeeq,
Thanks for all your help with this, what you have said makes sense, and I’ve managed to do the ‘thumb thing’ and am now on the actual mitten bit. And here I was thinking that I could do gloves / mittens / glittens for Xmas prezzies! I think it will take a bit of practise before I can do that me thinks!!:knitting:

I really appreciate your assistance! :muah:

#7

After the first pair, it should go a lot faster.