In July this year we were traveling in Oregon and I took my husband to Indiola. This is a place up the road from Mapleton on Lake Creek. We were just passer-byes being that I don’t know anyone who lives there anymore. It is were my grandmother lived and it is were my mother grew up. I spent many of my childhood days playing in the river there and running wild. Since I was knitting these mittens on that trip I named them “Indiola Mittens”. My mother passed away this fall so I’m a little sad posting this tribute to her childhood home. The actual house she lived in is gone now, but the air smelled the same and the river still runs.

Near the river is a plaque dedicating the boat landing to my grandparents. May their spirit live on and on!

Now, on to the knitting. The color of the year for me was Coriander Heather (a Knit Picks color that’s basically oatmeal). Here’s just a sample of the knitting I did this year and it’s clear I had a theme going on.

Here we have Floretta Mittens, Indiola Mittens, Blyn Hat, and a baby sweater (no pattern). I simply could not stop knitting flowers!

The other thing I was obsessed with this year is what I call “fancy thumbs”. I love designing mittens with complicated thumbs. Yes, it’s a bit fussy to knit in the round with 20 stitches but I just love how it turns out.

Here’s the Free Knitting Pattern for Indiola Mittens. If you make them I’d love to see a photo. Please post on Ravelry or send me a message. Happy New Year!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

This week I’m presenting the free knitting pattern for All-Star Mittens. These wool mittens are knitted on Size 2 needles with fingering weight yarn. There’s a chart for the corrugated ribbing cuff then you follow 2 charts for the mitten body and the thumb. The front and the back of the mitten are the same. This is a pattern that I designed and knitted while traveling this summer. They are part of my cold weather back-stock of patterns that I plan to put out over the fall months

I though it would be fun to share something I’ve been keeping in a box for years. Let me first say that I am not a keeper of things and it’s very unusual for me to hold on to something for years. I’ve made lots of knitted items that were worn out, donated, or given away—never to be seen again. That’s why it’s so incredible that I kept the very first pair of mittens that I designed and knitted!

Centering the stars was just too difficult I guess! These mittens are so funny to me because I know I didn’t think ahead on how to place the color-work part. I actually wore them the winter I made them but I don’t remember how long ago that was.

Fast forward a few decades— I know how to design with the motif centered now! Here’s the pattern for All-Star Mittens. Enjoy!

Please do not post this pdf on other websites! If you want to share it, just link to this page.

There are two design elements that I’ve been focusing on lately–fancy thumbs and mittens that are the same pattern on the palm and back of the hand. It is true that I’ve made several fingerless mitt patterns with star motifs, but Starla Mitts are different because the palms also have the star pattern.

The other change I made in this pattern is to use ribbing on the thumb and finger opening. I really like how they fit. I used Size 2 needles for the ribbing and the charted star pattern. I always make mitten with Size 2 needles when using a fingering weight yarn because the closer knit makes a sturdy mitt.

If you prefer a seeding pattern for the palms check out Star Lit Mitts and Star Power Mitts, patterns I posted in 2023.

Here is the FREE patten to download if you want to make Starla Mitts. If you want to share this pattern just link to this page. Please do not post the pdf of the pattern on other sites.