Latvian Hat and Gloves Set

Keeping your ears warm can be a challenge during a polar vortex! With temperatures in the negative and snow blowing everywhere, you need winter accessories that can block the wind. This matching set features a stranded design and a warm, bulky knit.

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Hat: 20” circumference; Mittens: Women’s medium, Approximately 8” circumference. Length is easily adjusted.

Gauge: 14 sts x 18.5 rows = 4” with larger needles

Materials

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Bulky (85% wool, 15% mohair; 125 yards [114 meters]/113 grams): Bright Blue (MC, 2 skeins), White Frost (CC, 1 skein)
Needles: US size 10 circular and double-pointed  (16”) needles and US size 8 circular and double pointed (16”) needles
Notions: Markers, stitch holder or waste yarn, scissors, tapestry needle

Hat Pattern

Cuff

With smaller needles and CC, cast on 72 stitches. Place marker for beginning of round. Purl one row, knit one row (these two rows make a garter ridge) until there are 9 garter ridges. Stripe Sequence as follows: 2 ridges CC, 1 MC, 1 CC 1 MC, 1 CC, 1 MC, 2 CC.

Body of Hat

Change to larger needles. K 3 rows MC. Work Chart rows 1-9 once. Read chart right to left from bottom to top. (8 stitches of chart will be repeated 9 times around the hat). Cut CC. K 4 rows MC.

Decreases

Rnd 1: (k7, k2tog) around. (64 sts)
Rnd 2 and all even rounds: Knit one round.
Rnd 3: (k6, k2tog) around. (56 sts)
Rnd 5: (k5, k2tog) around. (48 sts)
Rnd 7: (k4, k2tog) around. (40 sts)
Rnd 9: (k3, k2tog) around. (32 sts)
Rnd 11: (k2, k2tog) around. (24 sts)
Rnd 13: (k1, k2tog) around. (16 sts)
Rnd 14: (k2tog) around. (8 sts)
Cut yarn leaving a tail. Using a tapestry needle, thread yarn through stitches and pull tight.  Weave in all ends.

Mitten Pattern

Cuff

With smaller needles and CC, cast on 28 sts. Place marker for beginning of round. Purl one row, knit one row (these two rows make a garter ridge) until there are 9 garter ridges. Stripe Sequence as follows: 2 ridges CC, 1 MC, 1 CC 1 MC, 1 CC, 1 MC, 2 CC.

Thumb Gusset

Change to larger needles and MC only. Knit one round.
Increase Rnd 1:  M1, knit 1, M1, place marker, knit around. (30 sts)
Rnd 2-4: Knit.
Rnd 5: M1, knit to marker, M1, slip marker, knit around. (32 sts)
Repeat rnds 2-5 once more.
Knit 3 rnds. There will be 7 stitches before marker. (34 sts around) 

Hand

Slip 7 gusset stitches onto a stitch holder or scrap yarn. Remove marker. Using a backward loop, CO 5 stitches over gusset space at beginning of round. Place marker between 2nd and 3rd cast on stitches for new beginning of round. (32 sts)
Knit 2 rows.
Work Chart rows 1-9 once. Read chart right to left from bottom to top. (8 stitches of chart will be repeated 4 times around the mitten). Cut CC. K 5 rows MC or until mitten is long enough to cover the index finger.

Decrease

Rnd 1: (Ssk, knit 12 sts, k2tog) repeat. (28 sts)
Rnd 2: (Ssk, knit 10 sts, k2tog) repeat. (24 sts)
Rnd 3: (Ssk, knit 8 sts, k2tog) repeat. (20 sts)
Rnd 4: (Ssk, knit 6 sts, k2tog) repeat. (16 sts)
Rnd 5: (Ssk, knit 4 sts, k2tog) repeat. (12 sts)
Rnd 6: (Ssk, knit 2 sts, k2tog) repeat. (8 sts)
Rnd 7: (Ssk, k2tog) repeat. (4 sts)
Cut yarn. Using tapestry needle, run yarn through stitches and fasten off.

Thumb

Put 7 sts from holder on needles. Using MC, pick up 1 or 2 sts on the left of the held stitches, 4 sts between the CO sts, and 1 or 2 sts on the opposite side of the thumb. Try to close up any spots that might make a hole. Decrease to 12 stitches around on first row. Knit 11 rows for thumb or until top of thumb is covered.
Knit 2 together around. Cut yarn. Using tapestry needle, run yarn through stitches and fasten off.
Make a second mitten exactly the same. Weave in all ends and enjoy your new hat and mittens!