Summer Solstice Mittens, you say!??! Say what!?!? Yes. There are two reasons for these summer mittens for my babe. One: I'm learning that I have to plan ahead to in order to optimize the amount of time that my handknits fit this wee one. Fall/winter knitting does not provide enough time to wear those items before they are outgrown (such as this wonderful cardigan). So, I'm using summer to prepare for winter, just like I do in so many other areas of our lives, and I love it.
Two: We're heading to Summerfest in Milwaukee next week and while we'll be there over the 4th of July, there have been plenty of times in the past years where hats and mittens are not only wanted, but desperately needed to keep the lake wind chill away from our bones. So, a pair of mittens was in order for the Oakster as the only other pair he had was from when he was first born and they barely covered his hands anymore.
This pattern is a simple one that I've made quite a few times now for many different little ones in our lives. It's the Family Mittens pattern by Carrie Bostick Hoge that appeared in Taproot Magazine, Issue 3. I knit them up in some left over Malabrigo that I used for Oak's Helmet Hat that he got for Christmas and some green vintage wool given to me by a dear friend. (My Ravelry link can be found here.) These mittens should get him through this next winter and possibly beyond as I added a bit of length to the cuffs and the garter stitch pattern provides a bit of stretch all around.
He seems to like them, even though he's a bit confused as to what to do with them. :)