Adorable and quick ornaments – a great way to use up scraps of sock yarn.  I used an initial motif over a background of stripes (and dots in one case).  This works best with a motif that is 7-11 st wide and 8-10 st high.

Yarn: leftover sock yarn – or any yarn, for that matter

Needles: appropriate to weight of yarn used, dpns or circular

For the samples shown, I used Sport weight yarn and Sz 3 dpns.

Notions: stitch holder (or safety pin, or scrap of yarn) to hold live thumb stitches.

Sizes: bitty odd and bitty even.  The two sizes listed ensure proper centering of odd(even) width motifs, i.e., if your motif is 9 stitches wide, use the first number, if it’s 10 stitches wide, use the second number.  Subtract your motif width from 13(14) and divide that number by 2 – that’s the number of “border” stitches on either side of your motif, e.g., if your motif is 9 st wide, then figure 13-9=4/2=2 border st.  Note that for a while, you’ll have more border stitches on one side of your motif because of the thumb shaping.

Cast on 18(20) st, arrange for magic loop or on 3 dpns (if using dpns, put half the stitches on one and split the rest onto two more – this way it’s easier to keep track of the two sides of the mitten.)

Arrange in a loop, being careful not to twist stitches.

Work 1×1 ribbing for 5-6 rounds.

Start whatever background pattern (e.g., stripes) you want now.

Round 1) Kfb, K1, Kfb, K2(3), Kfb, K1, Kfb, K1, repeat. 26(28 st)

2) K 11(12), Kfb, K1, Kfb, K to end

3) K

Now start your motif on top of your background pattern.  Because the mitts will be hung on the tree from the cuff, work your motif upside-down.

You can pull your motif yarn straight across from the other side – after all, no one has to get their hands inside the mitt!

4) K border st, work top row of motif, K to last 2 st on that side, Kfb, K1, Kfb, K border st, work top row of motif , K border st

5) K, working motif as set

6) K border st, work motif, K to last 2 st on that side, Kfb, K1, Kfb, K to motif, work motif , K border st

7) K, working motif as set

8 ) K border st, work motif, K border st, slip next 6 st to a stitch holder, safety pin, or scrap of yarn, K border st, work motif, K border st

Keep going as set until motif is finished.  Then work 2-3 rounds of background pattern.

Next round: (in pattern) SSK, K9(10), K2tog, repeat

Next round: (in pattern) SSK 3 times, [K1, K2tog twice](K2tog 3 times)

Cut yarn and pull through remaining st.

Now pick up the thumb st, and pick up two more st on the body side.

Work in pattern for 3-4 rounds, then K2tog 4 times, cut yarn, and pull yarn through remaining st.

You can pretty much stuff your yarn ends inside.  Block if you want to.  Use the CO tail to make a little loop, and hang it from your tree!

Look, a diagram!