Well, it'll be Sunday in a few hours, so I'll post some
starting info here for those of you ready to start your
mitten.
When you cast on for this mitten, you will cast on ALL your
stitches for the cuff onto one needle, and then distribute
them around 3 needles total. You will then pull the points
of the needles together, work the first stitch of the 1st
round JOINING the last cast on stitch to the first cast on
stitch. This spot is the beginning of your round, and you
would do to mark it so you can find it easily. Some folks
like to leave their dangling "tail" from their cast on yarn
here and use that to denote the beginning of the
round..whatever makes it easy for you.
Basically, once you have cast on all your stitches and
distributed them along 3 needles, lay the whole thing flat
on a table and make a triangle out of your 3 needles with
the last cast on stitch at the right top point of the
triangle. There's a great illustration of this at this web
page:
http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/round.htm
Make sure your cast on edge loops all face inside the
triangle, then
*put the point of your fourth needle into the first stitch
at the top left of the triangle...knit it onto the fourth
needle pulling the top stitch at the right top point of the
triangle TIGHTLY to close the gap between the knitting and
the needles. Knit across all 10 sts of the top left
needle......you will then find that needle empty of
stitches...so put it into your right hand...turn the
triangle so that your working yarn (that is attached to the
ball of wool) is coming out of the stitch at the right top
point of the triangle * repeat between**2 x more, so that
all 2 needles are worked across and you are back to the
beginning of the round.
NOW.....we worked the first round in the KNIT stitch...real
ribbing is*k1, purl 1* repeating those 2 stitches again and
again all around. Ribbing has great elasticity and hugs the
wrist, and if you want to do that stitch, do it. If you want
to just knit all the stitches....lots of mittens are made
that way and they are just fine.
To purl:
bring your working yarn to the front of your work between
the points of your needles.....put the point of your right
needle (over the top of the working yarn which is just
laying there for now) into the FRONT loop of the next stitch
from right DOWN to the left....pick up your working yarn and
wrap it counterclockwise around the point of your right
needle as you start down the point (there is a great picture
of the purl stitch at this web page), pull the loop through
and OUT the back of the stitch...then pull the stitch up off
the left needle onto the right. For a great illustration of
this, go to:
http://marketplace.xtra.co.nz/isroot/KnittingStore/knit/round.htm
There are wonderful illustrations and tips for knitting on 4
needles at the Socknitter's web site:
http://www.pcola.gulf.net/~enp/sockpage/lessons/lessons.html
If you are having ANY trouble.....holler
This material ©1999 Claudia Krisniski
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