How-to:
These Monster mitt wrist muffs use a Monster Ball, best made from several friends combining 2-yard yarn segments from their communal stash. The added bonus of the Monster Ball approach is that a group of new knitters may collect and assemble their Monster Balls as they wait for a Knit Stitch one-on-one with the instructor.
The Skill
You have the opportunity to be exposed to many types of yarn without being totally committed to any one of them.
You will need:
- 1 ball of medium to bulky yarn to share, cut into approximately 2-yard segments. It is not important for the segments to be the same length. The sample used 30 segments of a variety of 5 yarns for one pair.
- Size 10 needles
- Darning needle
- Crochet hook
- Scissors
Making a Monster Ball
Cut at least 30 two-yard segments of yarn for each set of Monster Mitt Wrist Muffs. Beginning with a thicker yarn, tie the segments end to end, winding them into a ball as you go.
Texture is key! Every place you knot two yarns together the tie will show and add to the wildness of your mitts! When the knitting is finished we'll even add extra fake tie-ons for fun.
Monster knitting
Cast on 20 stitches.
Knit about 50 rows or 25 ridges, or half of your yarn segments (15 yarn changes).
The knitting is easy, with the exception of knitting over knots from time to time. Just plow right through, and later on you can pull the knots to the front or back—whichever you prefer. When you have counted 15 yarns from the beginning (or whatever your halfway yarn is), finish the row with the newest yarn segment, then bind off on the next row.
Starting with a thicker yarn, cast on for the second mitt as above. Knit for 15 yarn changes and end with a thicker yarn (add pieces on if you need to).
Leave a tail about as long as your arm.
Not knotty enough?
Using a crochet hook, pull the loop of a folded 6" segment of yarn through the mitt. Pull the ends through the loop to knot the yarn to the monster mitt fabric. Add many in random places to make your mitts wormier and hairier!
Sewing the side
Using the yarn tail from your bind-off, sew the sides of the rectangle together, beginning with the bind-off edge. When there are 15 ridges left, stitch through only one side for 4 ridges, then begin stitching both sides together to the end. This will make a thumb hole.
Lion Brand Yarn
You will find all the yarns shown wherever you find Lion Bran Yarns. We used:
Landscapes
Homespun
Jiffy
Sensations
Fun Fur
Please check fiber content and care requirements
when choosing your yarns!
We are also pleased with Lion Brand's new Knitting Needles For Kids. They are size 10 and come in a pair of one red and one blue. This helps a new knitter remember which color was in each hand, to prevent taking off in the wrong row direction. The needles' impish faces keep frustration at bay.
For more ideas on easy kids knitting projects and class ideas, see all Knitter's Kids links at right. Monster mitts by Natalie Sorenson.
Classes
Extra credit