Bloom

• Description
• Pattern Information
• Techniques

•  

  This very special project was designed for the May 2025 Lake District knitting retreat and is not currently available for sale.

  These delightful fingerless mittens are highly decorative with a whimsical, floral vibe. Inspired by victorian lace gloves they feature embroidery plus crocheted edgings and dainty button fastenings. The ‘Bloom’ fingerless mitten pattern is designed to provide you with a range of colourwork skills including stranded colourwork in the round, two-handed colourwork, corrugated ribbing, plus duplicate stitching and embroidering onto your knitted piece. Additional the project includes a steek, picked up button bands and even a simple crochet edging.

  The mittens commence with a corrugated rib cuff which also includes a steek. This steek is cut open once the mitten has been knitted and a decorative buttonhole band is picked up with dainty buttons and ribbon added for a delightfully decorative finish. Once the cuff is completed, a stranded colourwork pattern is worked around the circumference of the mitten with a simple thumb opening added. On reaching the top of the mitten, a delicate picot edging is added using a crochet hook. Now the fun really begins as duplicate stitches and embroidered French knots to the mittens to complete the floral picture. As a final finishing touch buttons are sewn onto the cuffs before ribbon is stitched in place over the cut steeks.

  The yarn used is Bluem Fingering weight yarn, which is spun from 100% Bluefaced Leicester yarn to produce a wonderfully soft and luxurious fabric. The shades used for our sample have been chosen to represent the Lake District blooms of daffodils, snowdrops and gorgeous wisteria.

  Bloom includes both clear written instructions and full colour charts plus a handy schematic.

• Yarn
  Susan Crawford Bluem Fingering weight, (Fingering weight) 100% Bluefaced Leicester, (100 metres / 109 yards per 100g skein)
  1 skein, each of shades De Nim, Muscus, Narcissus, Storm Clouds, Wisteria and Fleece

  Gauge
  28 sts and 30 rounds = 10cm (4in) worked over stranded colourwork knitted in the round, after blocking. We obtained this gauge using 3.25mm (US 3) needles.
  If necessary use an alternative needle size to obtain the correct gauge.

  Suggested needles
  

  Set of 2.75mm (US 2) DPNs
  Set of 3.25mm (US 3) DPNs
  Crochet hook of similar size

  Notions
  

  Stitch markers
  Tapestry needle
  6 buttons
  Scissors
  Short length of ribbon 1cm (½in) wide

• Knitting in the round (optional)
  Surface embroidery
  Duplicate stitch
  Steeking
  Additional sewing required
  Simple crochet

Yarn kits will be available soon
Purchase your yarn kit here