Artichoke French Mittens for Me (and You!)

I bet you didn't think I would release another pattern this year... did you?
Introducing Artichoke French Mittens!!

I often get asked what my design process looks like.... and frankly it is all over the place... this time I had a hole in my wardrobe that needed to be filled (and quickly!)

This all started last month... it was starting to get cold and I realized I was desperately short in the warm mitten department. I knew I wanted some mittens that would be fitted and knit at a dense gauge to keep the wind out! I was also very aware that last winter I didn't really have any mittens that matched my new coat and it seemed sacrilegious to wear store bought mittens with a hand made coat.

So, I decided to resurrect the stitch from Artichoke French, and slap it on some mittens for me. Even better I still had lots of yarn leftover from the sweater I knit Bella and it matches my coat almost a little too perfectly!

And then I decided another pair needed to be knit from the original skein I knit the first Artichoke French in.... Jill Draper Makes Stuff Empire is the perfect yarn match for this pattern, it's structured and dense and locks out the wind! Jill is on vacation right now, so if you don't have any Empire in stock she does sell mini skeins that you can score after the first of the year! (One skein can make any of the 3 sizes!) Maybe I'll even talk her into doing a giveaway with me!

Of  course I also shot you a video of this stitch in case you have never worked with elongated stitches before... The Artichoke Stitch has a 4 round repeat, and once you get the hang of it these will FLY off your needles. (That is my way of saying that you can get these done in time for the holidays (if you are already done with everything else on your needles : )! )


Oh, and you probably noticed I took a little break from Friday giveaways, I plan on taking a complete blogging break until after the New Year, but when I come back I plan on reinstating them and I have a new sweater pattern for you to warm you up! Start looking at Bulky Yarns!

Enjoy the Solstice everyone.... I am just so very very thankful that the days will be getting longer, I do love me some daylight!