Heading South Again

Heading South Again Knitted Gloves and Mittens by Elitza Chernaeva

What Is Being Made

Heading South Again is a downloadable knitting pattern that provides instructions for creating two coordinating hand-warming accessories: a pair of fitted gloves and a pair of cozy mittens. Both designs feature cable knit detailing and are sized to fit regular adult hands with a finished palm circumference of 18 cm (7 1/8 inches) above the thumb. The pattern allows knitters to choose between making the gloves or mittens depending on their preference and climate needs.

Knitting Techniques Used

This intermediate-level pattern employs several fundamental and decorative knitting techniques. The primary construction method uses small circumference knitting, which can be accomplished using either double-pointed needles or circular needles depending on the knitter's preferred method. The pattern incorporates cable knitting as a central design element, creating textured twisted stitches that add visual interest and dimension to the finished pieces. Additional techniques include increases for shaping (particularly around the thumb gusset area), decreases for tapering the fingers and cuff, and cast-on and bind-off methods to begin and finish the work.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern utilizes the following specialized stitches and abbreviations:

• C4B (Cable 4 Back): Place the next 2 stitches on a cable needle and hold at the back of the work, knit 2 stitches from the left-hand needle, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable twist that leans to the right.
• C4F (Cable 4 Front): Place the next 2 stitches on a cable needle and hold in front of the work, knit 2 stitches from the left-hand needle, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable twist that leans to the left.
• k2tog (Knit 2 Together): A right-leaning decrease that combines two stitches into one.
• k2tbl (Knit 2 Together Through the Back Loops): A decrease worked through the back loops of the stitches.
• M1L (Make 1 Left): An increase worked by inserting the needle from front to back under the strand of yarn between stitches, creating a new stitch that slants to the left.

The base fabric is worked in stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic knit surface that provides an ideal background for the cable pattern details.

Materials and Tools Required

The pattern calls for light fingering or fingering weight yarn, which is a fine yarn weight that creates detailed, fitted garments. Yardage requirements are modest: approximately 40 grams / 160 meters / 175 yards for the gloves, or 30 grams / 120 meters / 130 yards for the mittens. Knitters should use US 1 or US 2.25 mm to 2.5 mm double-pointed needles (or circular needles if preferred for small circumference knitting), along with essential notions including stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a cable needle for executing the cable stitches, a stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches temporarily, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 30 stitches and 40 rows over 10 x 10 centimeters (4 x 4 inches) in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for ensuring the finished gloves and mittens fit properly. The single size provided offers a regular fit with a finished palm circumference of 18 cm (7 1/8 inches) measured above the thumb, making these accessories suitable for average adult hands.