This is a Norwegian snowflake design on a child's mitten knit in the round using stranded knitting. I have to say I am pleased with the way this turned out. Overall, I would change only 2 things. This was my first attempt at stranded knitting and it worked out fine for something that was only intended for display, not wear. However, if I were to do this again, I would concentrate on keeping my strands loose. The part of the mitten with the snowflake on it is definitely tighter than the rest of it, and would not be comfortable to wear. I would also make a shorter cuff on the mitten. I think the long cuff that the pattern called for is very practical on a mitten to be worn, but it didn't really look right for display until I rolled it.
Details:
Pattern:
1. Snowflake motif adapted from Donna Druchunas pattern for Norwegian headbands (free download from the craftzine.com podcast website).
2. Mitten from "the knitter's handy book of Patterns" by Ann Budd. How much do I love this book?!? All you need to do is make a swatch of any yarn, measure it, and the book will provide you with a pattern for socks, gloves, hats, mittens, scarves, vests, and sweaters. Genius!
I thought the 6-8 year old child size would be good for an ornament - small enough that it didn't look like a grown-up's lost mitten, but large enough not to disappear on a tree. It was also important to choose a pattern with enough stitches across the hand to accomodate the snowflake on both sides. Using my test swatch to estimate size, the 6-8 yr old was the best fit.
Yarn: Zitron Polo (60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic), from my stash.
Color: A variegated blue (420) and a pure white
Needles: Size 2 DPNs (it looked much better this way than with the recommended size 5s)
Extras: Ribbon for hanging loop, goodies to stuff in the top (who says stockings should have all the fun?)
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