In cleaning out the old Homestead General Store, built in 1863, a pair of moth-eaten black-and-red woolen mittens bearing an exquisite rose pattern was found in a discarded box. A summer was spent transcribing the pattern onto paper, line by line, by Karen Jenkins who lives in the Amana Colonies. The following is a slightly edited version of that original pair, which is currently on display at the Amana Heritage Museum Bookstore, Amana, Iowa.
LEVEL: Intermediate
MATERIALS: (2 sets) 4 double-pointed needles (sm/med adult mittens: cuff 2.25 mm/mitten 2.75 mm; med/lg: cuff 2.75 mm/mitten 3.25 mm). Sport weight wool yarn, 75–100 grams.
GAUGE: 8 sts = 1”
Abbreviations: k2tog—knit 2 together; psso—pass slipped stitch over; rnd(s)—round(s); sl—slip; st(s)—stich(s)
Right Mitten
Cuff:
Using smaller needles, cast on 51 stitches. Divide among three needles. Pattern for cuff is K2, P1. 3 rnds color B, 3 rnds color A, 2 rnds color B, 2 rnds color A, 1 round each (B, A, B, A, B), 2 rnds color A, 2 rnds color B, 3 rnds color A, 3 rnds color B.
Body of Mitten:
Switch to larger needles while knitting Rnd 1.
Rnd 1: Knit entire round in color A.
Rnd 2: Knit 1A, 1B, 10A, 1B, 11A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3X, 2A, 1B—(52 sts).
Rnd 3: Knit 1A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 2A, 1B, 4A, 3B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 3X, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, (3B, 1A) 4 times, 1B.
Rnd 4: Knit 1A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 4B, 2A, 1B, 2A, 3B, 5A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 1A, cast on 1A, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 1B, 2A, 1B—(54 sts).
Rnd 5: Knit 1A, 2B, 5A, 4B, 1A, 1B, 1A, 4B, 5A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 5A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 3A, 2B.
Rnd 6: Knit 1A, 2B, 9A, 2B, 1A, 3B, 4A, 3B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 5A, 3B, (1A, 3B) 4 times.
Rnd 7: Knit 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 5A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 3B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 3A, cast on 1A, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 2B—(56 sts).
Rnd 8: Knit 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 3A, 2B, 5A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 2 times, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 9: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 4B, 5A, 4B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 1A, 3B, 1A, cast on 1A, 1A, 1B, 1A, (3B, 1A) 4 times, 1B—(58 sts).
Rnd10: Knit 1A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 5B, 1A, 1B, 1A, 3B, 4A, 1B, 1A, (1B, 4A) 2 times, 1B, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 11: Knit 1A, 4B, (1A, 1B) 2 times, 4A, 6B, 1A, 3B, 4A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, cast on 1A, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 2B—(60 sts).
Rnd 12: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 6A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 3B, 1A, 3B, 2A, 3B, (1A, 3B) 4 times.
Rnd 13: Knit 1A, 1B, 4A, (1B, 1A) 3 times, 1B, 6A, 1B, 7A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, cast on 1A, 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, cast on 1A, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 2B—(62sts).
Rnd 14: Knit 1A, 1B, 5A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 7A, 1B, 6A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 2 times, (2A, 1B) 2 times, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A,1B.
Rnd 15: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 5B, 2A, 1B, 7A, 1B, 6A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 1A, cast on 1A, 3B, (1A, 3B) 2 times, 1A, cast on 1A, 1B, 1A, (3B,1A) 4 times, 1B—(64 sts).
Rnd 16: Knit 1A, 1B, 9A, 1B, 8A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 4 times, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 17: Knit 1A, 1B, 11A, 4B, (3A, 1B) 2 times, 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 1A, cast on 1A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 1B, 1A, cast on 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 3A, 2B—(66 sts).
Rnd 18: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 4A, 2B, 1A, 5B, 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, (1A, 3B) 9 times.
Rnd 19: Knit 1A, (1B, 3A) 2 times, 10B, 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 1B, 2A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 3 times,3A, 2B.
Rnd 20: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 12B, 4A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, slip next 18 sts onto stitch holder, (cast on 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 1A), finish round with 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 2A, 1B—(56 sts).
Rnd 21: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 5A, 5B, 4A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 1B.
Rnd 22: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 5B, 1A, 6B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 23: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, 7B, 1A, 5B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 2B.
Rnd 24: Knit 1A, 1B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 8B, 1A, 2B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 3 times, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 3B.
Rnd 25: Knit 1A, 1B, 6A, 9B, 1A, 3B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.
Rnd 26: Knit 1A, 1B, 6A, 9B, 1A, 3B, 3A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 27: Knit 1A, 2B, 5A, 2B, 2A, 5B, 1A, 3B, 5A, 2B, 1A, 1B, (1A, 3B) 6 times, 1A, 1B.
Rnd 28: Knit 1A, 2B, 6A, 1B, 2A, 4B, 1A, 3B, 6A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 29: Knit 1A, 2B, 2A, 1B, 4A, 4B, 2A, 3B, 5A, 1B, (1A, 2B) 2 times, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.
Rnd 30: Knit 1A, 2B, (2A, 1B) 2 times, 15A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (1A, 3B) 7 times.
Rnd 31: Knit 1A, 2B, (1A, 1B) 3 times, 13A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, 2B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.
Rnd 32: Knit 1A, 1B, 6A, 1B, 13A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (1A, 1B) 2 times, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 33: Knit 1A, 1B, 6A, 1B, 11A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, 4B, 1A, 1B, (1A, 3B) 6 times, 1A, 1B.
Rnd 34: Knit 1A, 1B, 7A, 1B, 10A, 1B, 1A, 2B, 3A, 1B, 1A,1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 35: Knit (1A, 1B) 2 times, 5A, 1B, 10A, 1B, 1A, 6B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.
Rnd 36: Knit (1A, 1B) 2 times, 5A, 2B, 9A, 2B, 5A, 1B, (1A, 3B) 7 times.
Rnd 37: Knit 1A, 2B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 1A, 6B, 4A, 5B, 2A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.
Rnd 38: Knit 1A, 1B, 4A, 3B, 1A, 1B, 1A, 5B, 1A, 1B, 8A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 39: Knit 1A, 1B, 4A, 3B, 2A, 1B, 2A, 4B, 9A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 1B.
Rnd 40: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 4B, 3A, 1B, 14A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 41: Knit 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 5A, 1B, 13A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.
Rnd 42: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 3B, 5A, 3B, 12A, 1B, 1A, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 3B.
Rnd 43: Knit 1A, 1B, 9A, 3B, 1A, 2B, 10A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B.
Rnd 44: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 6A, 3B, 1A, 1B, 1A, 4B, 6A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 45: Knit 1A, 1B, 2A, 1B, 5A, 3B, 2A, 1B, 2A, 4B, 1A, 1B, 3A, (1B, 1A) 2 times, (3B, 1A) 6 times, 1B.
Rnd 46: Knit (1A, 1B) 3 times, 3A, 3B, 4A, 1B, 2A, 4B, 4A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 2A, 1B.
Rnd 47: Knit 1A, 1B, 7A, 3B, 3A, 1B, 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 5A, 1B, 1A, 2B, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, 2B. Slip end stitch from 1st needle to 3rd needle.
Rnd 48: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 4A, 3B, 10A, 1B, 5A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 2B, (1A, 3B) 5 times, 1A, 2B, k2tog A—(52 sts).
Rnd 49: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 21A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, (3A, 1B) 5 times, 3A, k2tog A—(48 sts).
Rnd 50: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 19A, k2og B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, k2tog A—(44 sts).
Rnd 51: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 4A, 1B, 12A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 1B, (1A, 3B) 4 times, 1A, 1B, k2tog A—(40 sts).
Rnd 52: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 3A, 1B, 11A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 2A, (1B, 3A) 3 times, 1B, 2A, k2tog A—(36 sts).
Rnd 53: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, (1A, 1B) 2 times, 9A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, (3A, 1B) 3 times, 3A, k2tog A—(32 sts).
Rnd 54: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 4A, 1B, 6A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, (1A, 3B) 3 times, 1A, k2tog A—(28 sts).
Rnd 55: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 3A, 1B, 5A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 1A, (1B, 3A) 2 times, 1B, 1A, k2tog A—(24 sts).
Rnd 56: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, (1A, 1B) 2 times, 3A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 2A, 1B, 3A, 1B, 2A, k2tog A—(20 sts).
Rnd 57: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 5A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 3B, 1A, 3B, k2tog A—(16 sts).
Rnd 58: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 3A, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 1B, 3A, 1B, k2tog A—(12 sts).
Rnd 59: Sl 1, knit 1B, psso, 1B, k2tog B, sl 1, knit 1A, psso, 3A, k2tog A—(8 sts).
Cut yarn with enough length to draw through final 8 stitches with crochet hook, pulling yarn through top into mitten’s interior and gently tightening.
Thumb:
Continue using larger needles. Divide 18 held stitches evenly onto 2 needles. Pick up 8 stitches from cast-on edge onto 3rd needle using crochet hook. End with color B.
Rnd 1: (1B, 3A) 4 times, k2tog B, 3A, 1B, k2tog A, 2A—(24 sts).
Rnd 2: 2B, (1A, 3B) 5 times, 1A, 1B.
Rnd 3: (1B, 3A) 6 times.
Rnd 4: 2A, (1B, 3A) 5 times, 1B, 1A.
Rnd 5: (1A, 3B) 6 times.
Rnd 6: Repeat Rnd 4.
Rnd 7: Repeat Rnd 3.
Rnd 8: Repeat Rnd 2.
Rnd 9: Repeat Rnd 3.
Rnd 10: Repeat Rnd 4.
Rnd 11: Repeat Rnd 5.
Rnd 12: Repeat Rnd 4.
Rnd 13: Repeat Rnd 3.
Rnd 14: Repeat Rnd 2.
Rnd 15: Repeat Rnd 3.
Rnd 16: (k2tog A, 1B, 1A) 6 times—(18 sts).
Rnd 17: (k2tog A, 1B) 6 times—(12 sts).
Rnd 18: (k2tog A) 6 times—(6 sts).
Cut yarn with enough length to draw through final 6 stitches with crochet hook, pulling yarn through top into thumb’s interior and gently tightening.
Left Mitten
Cuff: Same as for right mitten.
Body of Mitten: Reverse all of the above, including sl, k, psso vs. k2tog. Slip last stitch from 3rd needle to 1st needle after Rnd 47.
Thumb: Same as for right mitten. Begin with k2tog in B and continue as above, making adjustment to end Rnd 1 with 24 sts.