I had so much fun hosting last year’s Mitten Garland Advent Calendar KAL, I couldn’t resist coming up with a new mini mitten knit along for this Christmas. This year will will be making twelve mittens that represent the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
My inspiration for these mittens is papercuts and wood block printing. All of the mittens have a graphic, silhouette look and will have the same design at the cuff. Each mitten uses two colors for the main image and a third color for berries at the cuff. I am using Knit Picks Palette in Finnley Heather, Black and Pimento. You can do all your mittens the same colors or make each one different. I would suggested you choose colors with good contrast, so the designs show up well. I would also suggest not using a yarn with too much quick color changes (like hand painted yarns) as that will take away from the crispness of the designs. Here is a peak at mitten number 1.
You will also want to think about peek through when choosing your colors since these designs will require catching longer floats. I tried knitting it in cream and black and white and black and was not happy with how the black showed through even at my gauge. Changing to a light grey really made a difference.
My mittens are about 2.5″ wide (without the thumb) and 4.5″ long. You do not need to knit the mittens at my gauge or size, but I think they are just right for using as a Christmas tree decoration, on packages or, of course, as a garland.
This year you will have two weeks between mittens. That should give everyone time to keep up. If you are a quicker knitter you’ll have time to work on other projects or make multiple sets as gifts. Or if you want to turn this garland into an advent calendar, use the off weeks to knit another twelve mittens. The Mitten Garland Advent Calendar has twenty-four more designs you could use, just change the Latvian braid at the cuff to garter stitch to match these.
PRIZES!
(**This giveaway ended on 6/12/16.)
The lovely folks at Knit Picks liked the Advent Calendar KAL so much, they decided to offer us prizes packages for this year’s KAL**. Our first prize package is a set of tools perfect for knitting these mini mittens.
This prize package contains, a chart keeper, 5″ Caspian wood double pointed needle set, sock knitting needle holders, and a project bag. You can enter to win just by joining this knit along before we release the first pattern on Monday, June 13th, 2016. Make a project page on Ravelry for the KAL and leave us a link to it in the comments of this post. If you don’t use Ravelry, just leave us a comment letting us know you are joining in. We will chose a winner randomly on June 13th. Because of shipping, only people in the US, Canada, UK and Australia are eligible to enter.
We will have another prize package in December for those who finish the KAL. Details on that one will come later.
DETAILS
Dates: The first pattern will be released Monday, June 13th. A new mitten pattern will follow every other Monday through November 14th. Pattern links will be posted on Ravelry, but the patterns will be downloadable from this site. If you get one mitten done every two weeks, you’ll have a whole set done for the holidays.
Ravelry: We have a Ravelry group which was really active for last year’s KAL so please join in. There is also a pattern page set up for the KAL, feel free to use the image I created for your project page.
Yarn: I am using fingering weight yarn. Each mitten takes about 3g/14yds of the dark yarn, 6g/28yds of the lighter yarn and a scrap amount of a third color for the berries. Twelve mittens should take about 36g/168yds of dark yarn, 72g/336yds of light yarn and 9g/41yds of a third color.
Needles: I am using four size 1 double pointed needles to get gauge. I really like using shorter sock knitting needles on these, especially for the thumbs. You may also want needles a size smaller for the garter stitch at the top depending how you knit.
Gauge: My gauge is 10 stitches and 12 rows per inch on size 1 needles. My finished mittens are about 2.5″ wide (without the thumb) and 4.5″ long.
Skills : knitting and purling in the round (either on double-points or with two circulars or magic loop), working stranded color work, reading color charts, doing m1l and m1r, picking up stitches, basic decreases (ssk and k2tog) and kitchener stitch. This is a great project for practicing knitting in the round and color work
** Knit Picks has been nice enough to provide my yarn for this knit along and two prize packages for giveaways. They have not reimbursed me in any other way or any input into the content of my posts.
© 2005 – 2016 Kathy Lewinski & Susan Cornish
I am SO up for this! Thank you for having another wonderful knit along!
My Rav project page: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/20AcresNoSheep/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bbmeunier/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Looks like fun!
Here is my project page.
I may use scraps/stash but I think this’ll be fun!!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/j-i-m-i-n-i/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
This is totally a great project for stash/scraps.
I want to participate! Ravelry isn’t letting me create a project page right now. I think it’s mad at me for neglecting it. When I hit continue it blanks out the fields. I’ll figure it out later…
Yep, mine may be a leftover yarn project as well 🙂 🙂
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/ozabel/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
OK somehow I screwed that up . .. let’s try AGAIN . .
Let’s see . . . . never made mittens, done stranded work, read charts, m1l, m1r, ssk, or Kitchener . . . . How Bad Can it Be??? LOL!!!!
Project: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/su3385/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Super excited for this! I’ve really wanted to make Christmas decorations the last few years but lose my motivation. This KAL should keep me going!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/LoveTheKnitLife/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
This looks like fun. I’d love to try.
Can’t get Rav working right now but I’ll try and make a page as soon as I can. Thanks for this opportunity! And fun looking kal
A newbie too: never used DPNs, and what’s stranded colour work?? Looking forward to expanding my knitting knowledge!
Project:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/calabrisellamia/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Dpns are a breeze! You still just knit on two needles at a time, the other needles are just holding other stitches. And stranded color work just means you are stranding the color you aren’t using behind the one you are.
My first ever KAL!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/maisie123/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I’m in, hope to work from stash (I have the light yarn covered, at least!).
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sydnie7/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I so admired a friend’s mittens last year so I’m going to try and keep up this year. my Ravelry project page http://www.ravelry.com/projects/chel1313/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Project page
http://Www.ravelry.com/projects/beadgoddess/12-Days-of-Mittens-garland-KAL
Got my project page all set up. This should be fun!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/littlelena/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Oh what fun it is to KNIT
in a Mystery Mitten Knit Along Way!
(you gotta sing it to the right tune – it totally fits…really it does!)
I’m in!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/StacyAce/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I’ll be using some stash yarns for this. Here’s my project page:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/dmvtatter/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
All set up! This will be fun! http://www.ravelry.com/projects/JAGsHunny/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Set up my project page ready for the start.
Many thanks for this KAL – looking forward to it! Project page is set up, yarn needs to be ordered and I’m crossing fingers and toes that I get lucky (my sister in the UK is happy to accept any post for me!!!!), as I need to buy my first set of DPN’s.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Chicafromspain/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
This looks absolutely fabulous. Plan to make this as a Xmas family heirloom to be used years and years to come
I have set up a project page as follows:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/cocosummer8/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal?new=true
What a great idea! Can’t wait to start.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/happyjack/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
This should be a great little carry in my bag project. Thank you!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/bikewi/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/EvolJenius/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Here’s the link to my project page:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jgaudio/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Can’t wait for the fun to begin!
Here is my link to my project page:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/crochetlady0506/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I’ll be all ready for this!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/coollinda/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/katy-cat/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Scrabbling through my stash for yarn now!
This will be so much fun. I can’t wait to get started. Rav project link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/yarnshopper/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I have made garlands for all my kids, and have always wanted my own! This one is that special one that I have been waiting for! Thank you so much!!!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/capitalK/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Sorry, I pasted the link in the website box and it didn’t show!!!
I want to join — if I don’t forget!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/TuttleDB/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I’m super excited for this KAL! I love knitting tiny mittens! http://www.ravelry.com/projects/schbeckys/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Hello! I am super excited to start this years kal!!
http://ravel.me/cozybear/1docmgk
Still need to decide on my yarn but am deff joining http://ravel.me/webpixies/tan0m
Love the theme!
Sounds like great fun. I’m in.
This will be fun 🙂 I’ll be starting this KAL, knitting in the park every Tues in July & Auguast, with Orillia Sunshine Knitters.
So looking forward to this. I loved last year’s series of mittens but did not manage to get around to making them. Hope I do much better this year 🙂
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/EssBeeP/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
So cute, I’m really looking forward to this!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knotemibee/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I would love to play along! Project page – http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Mommybird58/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Looking forward to this KAL!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/groovyang/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
What beautiful graphic design. I’m looking forward to this very much. Off to stash dive.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sulander/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal-2
looking forward to joining the fun
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/walkthedog/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
This looks fantastic! I have set up my project page on Ravelry and joined your group. Looking forward to knitting along! (Thank you!)
My project page:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knittinginpublic/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
That first mitten is a beauty. Thank you for another great set of patterns
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/LibraryNana/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lynn893/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
sounds like a lot of fun, count me in!
This looks like a fun way to learn a little stranded colorwork. My ravelry page is http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lstba/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/KNITTINGnetty/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
It’s never too early to start Christmas. I hope I’ve put my Revelry page in correctly 🙂
That works just fine!
What a fun, festive project — I’m in! Ordered my yarn, set up my project page, joined the Rav group, and posting here. Thanks in advance for some delightful knitting ahead.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/BarbaraEll/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Really looking forward to the KAL. I plan to use the mittens as gifts so thank you very much.
My Ravelry page is: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/beckib/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I am going to try this! It looks fun and cute and I wanted to make Christmas decorations for the house. Or someone’s house. Here’s my link: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Rhincodon/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Thank you for hosting!
I’m really looking forward to this kal. Going to check out the yarn on “knit picks”. I’ve already setup my project page. June 13th will be here before you know it!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tmorneau/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Looking forward to this. I love woodcut designs. Project page:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/fricknfrack/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Here is the link to my project
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jweston/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/CherryOnly138/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I’m so excited to start this… my store bought mitten garland broke last year, this one is going to be way more special!
Thank you so much for the KAL and the patterns!
Not to mention, the Knit Picks prize is AWESOME!!!
Thanks for the KAL! I can’t wait for it to start 🙂
I am going to join in. Thanks for the KAL.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/lilymaya/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/cascott/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Thanks for the KAL. For some reason I can’t post your KAL picture on my ravelry project page.
hmmm, I’m not sure why it won’t let you.
I love how this KAL is set up–the timing and everything. 🙂
Here’s my project page:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/candm/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/wildaboutknitting/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Thanks for the KAL! Looking forward to it.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tintrae/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Looking forward to a nice portable project to work on while I’m out on shifts. Timing of the releases works out well too!
Wow! the first teaser mitten looks marvellous. I’m in!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Carolahen/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Spindelicious/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
How fun!
This is a wonderful KAL idea! Excited to begin, planning to use leftover bits.
My Ravelry project page http://www.ravelry.com/projects/slumpyFumbler/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Hi Kat,
Per your kind instructions, I created a project page on Ravelry and set it up to be shared with your Ravelry group there. I hope that will suffice. I’m looking forward to June; hope we don’t exhaust you with all the IT details before then. We want you to have fun along with your fan club. :»)
Ha, ha, I’m lucky I have a good IT person in my husband to help me.
I’m in for this, love the whole idea! Set up my project on Ravelry, user name Heterex. But can’t get the paste function on my nook. Sorry!
That’s ok, you let me know here which is the important part.
Oops…http://www.ravelry.com/projects/tadpoletroll/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/backtobasics/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I´m looking forward http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Strickliese1956/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I know, that only people in the USA , Canada and the UK can win the price, but my daughter is living in Texas, ans so…..
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Strickliese1956/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I am very excited about this project, every two weeks sounds doable and start well before Christmas.
Sorry, here’s the link:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/egh/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Ordered the yarn today, I can’t wait to get started! Here is the link to my project page: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/eivez/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I can’t wait for this to start! Sounds like fun.
Link:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jaelzo/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
First, THANK YOU SO MUCH for doing this for the rest of us! I just found out about this and I can’t wait to get started! I did join the Ravelry group and have created a project page, at least I think I did I’m not to good with Ravelry.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/jeaholm/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Just wondering, will we get an e-mail with a link to the new patterns or will we need to return to your web site to get the patterns? Either way I can’t wait to get started 🙂 I hope you don’t mind, but since I am allergic to wool I’ll be using Knit Picks Lindy Chain
http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Lindy_Chain__D5420254.html
in the colors Linen, 3 skeins, and Black, 2 skeins, and Hollyberry, 1 skein, for the berries.
I don’t really have a good way to email everyone when each new pattern comes out. They will be here on the site, but I will also put links in the forum on Ravelry and the pattern page on Ravelry. If you have joined the group and check your forum link from time to time, you will see when there are new topics in the forum.
You are more than welcome to use any yarn you want to make these. Palette just happens to be my yarn of choice for color work.
Looking forward to this KAL!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Bonni/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I am joining in on this as soon as a pattern is released. Don’t have time to go to ravelry right now.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/JackieM216/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal?new=true
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/AusRoo/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I’d love to join in!
I have set up my Rav project page and will search for appropriate yarn. I’m so in for this KAL!
Can’t wait to begin!
Thanks Kat, here goes:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/takki1/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
I’m in! I have a stash of Knit Picks Palette to work from!!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/RachelBroccoli/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal?new=true
Yarn ordered. New DPNs ordered, (’cause MAJESTIC!!) Project page created: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/DesignsbyJenniB/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
Can we just fast forward to June 13th, now? This is going to be super fun. Thanks for creating an irresistible KAL!
What fun! I set up my page on ravelry and joined the group. Not sure how to link it here.
Lovely Idea for a project, never too early to think about Christmas
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/elfinwylde/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
This should be grand.
I’ve made a Ravelry page – http://www.ravelry.com/projects/cwknitnut/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal – I’m pretty awful at updating it, but I’ll try.
Kat, so happy to be a part of this KAL! Thank you for sharing. Not to sure how to provide link to Ravelry project page. Find me on Ravelry: Woodcart
What more do I have to do to join group and be eligible to participate and have a chance at the prizes?
This is so much fun – I never thought I’d be excited by Christmas in June!!! My page is set up and off to look for wool….
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Saincda/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal
This is just what I’ve been looking for!
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/rachelrs/12-days-of-christmas-mitten-garland-kal