I want to thank all of you for your kind approval and encouragement
for my finished Delicato Mitts. Just for the record, I added a small
comment of thanks and hugs to all of you:) You are the best!
These
really are a wonderful knit. I was able to follow the pattern easily
and the result was very close to what I wanted. Here are my
pattern notes for this project. Maybe someone will find them helpful.
Please keep in mind, I am, by no means, an expert. I have knitted only two other 'lace' projects. But, I found certain techniques helpful to me in the completion of Delicato, and I wanted to share them.
First, the Delicato pattern can be found at KnitSpot.com
for a fee of $4.00. It is pattern #45 of 51. So, when you get to the catalogue, go to the end of it and work your way back. You'll see. It'll save you some time. The pattern is well written and I really did not
run into any real problems understanding it. (That says a lot, right
there! Doesn't take much to confuse me...)
I used 4 Size 2 Clover Bamboo Double Pointed needles. This pattern could probably be knit on circulars, but it is written for double points.
I used Jojoland 'Melody.' 100% Wool, 220 yds/50g ball, color Y-25. Not superwash, so handwashing would be necessary, should you decide to follow suit.
Cast on: I used my standard long-tail cast on.
Cuff: This is an eyelet rib pattern. It is knit with a 4 row repeat. I had to rip back a couple of times before I caught on to the rhythm. But, once I did, it worked beautifully.
At this point the stitches are re-distributed over the three needles: needle#1 contains the lace panel itself, thumb gusset stitches(right handed mitt) for needle#2, and remaining palm stitches on needle 3. This made things easier to keep up with. I like the thinking here. (For the left hand mitt, the thumb gusset stitches are knit on needle 3)
Lace Panel: For knitting lace, I find it necessary to write each line of the lace panel on a separate piece of paper, not turning said piece until that particular row is complete. Here's a photo of how I made this work for me. I have also used spiral bound note cards.
These little journals sell at Barnes and Noble for $4.95. I like the size for carrying around in my knitting bag. I also like the band for keeping my place in the pattern.
The lace panel is 8 rounds worked on needle one for 2 1/2 inches. Beginning with row one, every other row is the same. The even rows each had a page in my little journal. So, I'd knit row 1 and row 2, turn the page, knit row 3 and 4, turn the page, knit row 5 and 6, etc....You get the idea. I could always figure out where I was in the pattern, should I lose my place. I simply check the lace panel for yarn overs. Based on that and my journal page, I knew to knit an odd row or the next even row. So, if there were yarn-overs on the needle, then it was time to knit the odd row(same every time)but if there were none, time to knit the next even row of the lace pattern.
At 2 1/2 inches of lace, it is time to start the gusset. I used markers as suggested, increasing between them and continuing lace pattern on needle one and stockinette on needle three until there were the required # of stitches between each marker on needle 2. At this point the thumb stitches are put on a holder (I used waste yarn) and the pattern is continued with the Lace panel for needle 1, stockinette on needles 2 and three until the total number of repeats of the branched fern pattern have been completed. Simple decreases for the next row, and then stitches are again redistributed to ready for knitting the final eyelet rib round. The eyelet rib pattern is worked around and then bound off loosely.
Thumb: The thumb is worked by picking up stitches from gap and the thumb gusset stitches on waste yarn and arranging them on 3 needles. They are then worked in stockinette for 6 rounds and eyelet rib for 8. At this point I did deviate from the pattern. I have smaller thumbs than most. I knit approx. 4 rows in stockinette and then the 8 in eyelet rib. They fit my hand perfectly knit this way. But you will have to decide for yourself what is appropriate for your hand size. At the last row of the thumb ribbing, I bound off loosely.
Finishing.
Weaving in the ends is simple enough. Not many to weave in.
I hand-washed these in warm water. I rolled them in a towel and laid them out flat to dry. This is all the blocking that is necessary. The lace shows up very nicely when they are stretched onto your hand.
*These notes were published with the kind permission of Ann at KnitSpot.*
