Thrummed Mittens

Designed by Bethany A Dailey

This is the perfect season for warm, cozy mittens!  This version uses a technique called thrumming, which adds sections unspun fiber into the fabric of a knitted piece to add a layer of toasty warm softness to the inside of the garment.  When viewed from the outside, the thrums give the look of little hearts…perfect for February knitting! 

LOOM: Sock Loom 2

YARN: approx. 108 yards bulky yarn. Sample used Bernat Softee Chunky, 108 yrds, 100% acrylic, in Natural.  Also used: approx 1.25 oz of unspun fiber.  Sample used Spinner’s Candy, 100% Falkland Wool, in Birth of Venus colorway.

NOTIONS: loom tool, yarn needle, crochet hook, scissors, row counter.

GAUGE: 6.5 sts x 14 rows = 2 inches in stockinette.

SIZE: junior/ adult.

ABBREVIATIONS:

Approx=approximately

k=knit stitch

CO=cast on

BO=bind off

KO=knit off

WY=working yarn

st(s)=stitch(es)

rnd(s)=round(s)

PATTERN NOTES

One strand held throughout.

All knit stitches are the true knit stitch, or U-stitch.

To Create and Place a Thrum:

Use lengths of fiber cut or pulled to 6″.  The lengths should be about the same thickness once folded into thirds, as the thickness of the project yarn.  Fold the length into approximately thirds, or a little bit less, and twist to form the thrum.  This is then used on the peg that calls for a thrum, along with the working yarn. (Wrap the thrum around the peg above the base loop and hold the ends between your fingers to the inside of the loom. At the same time, lay the WY in front of the peg and above the thrum. Lift the base loop up and over both the thrum and the WY. The thrum and WY are knit off 2 loops over 1 in the following row.)

This pattern calls for 96 thrums per mitten, 192 total.  Feel free to make them up ahead of time, or as you work each thrum.

For visual instructions on how to create thrums and begin using them in your mittens, see the following tutorial:

THRUM CHARTS
(Click on the charts to view larger)

Thrummed Mittens Chart

Simple Thrum Chart

INSTRUCTIONS 

Set loom so that both end pieces are able to slide inward.  CO to 32 pegs to work in the round.

Rounds 1-12:  *k2, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 13 & 14:  k all pegs.

Rounds 15-24: Work Rounds 1-10 of the Thrummed Mittens Chart. (*see Pattern Notes for working thrums)

Thumb: Using only pegs 1-6, knit a flat panel for 30 rows.  The WY will be back at peg 1 at the end of the 30 rows.

Round 25 & 26: Work Rounds 11-12 of the Thrummed Mittens Chart.

Rounds 27-50: Repeat Rounds 1-12 of the Thrummed Mittens Chart two more times.

Rounds 51-58:  Repeat the following 2 row pattern:

a. Knit all sts of the round, but decrease every 4th peg.  Do this by knitting 4 sts, then move the 4th loop to the 3rd peg. Knit the 2 loops over 1 in the following round.  Slide both end pieces inward and shift the sts around the loom so that there are no empty pegs. Mark the original first stitch and keep this as the first stitch, even though it may move to a different peg.

b.  Knit all remaining sts.

Gather BO the remaining 12 sts.  Pull yarn tail with needle to the inside of the mitten, give one more careful pull to tighten all stitches, and knot securely in place.

FINISHING

Using a 15″ length of yarn, neatly stitch sides of thumb closed.

Weave in all ends and trim close to work.  Thrums can be adjusted with a yarn needle or loom tool to make both “legs” even.

Block lightly.

Repeat all steps for second mitten.

Have questions or comments for Bethany?  Feel free to leave a comment below! 🙂