Lattice Armwarmers Mittens Knitting Pattern

Lattice Armwarmers in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK

What is Being Made

The Lattice Armwarmers are a pair of knitted arm coverings designed by Martin Storey for Rowan. These armwarmers measure 11 cm (4¼ inches) wide when laid flat and 30 cm (11¾ inches) in height, making them a versatile accessory for layering or warmth. The finished pieces feature a sophisticated two-color design combining contrasting yarn colors throughout the construction.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to create its distinctive appearance:

• Magic Loop Technique: Knitters may use circular needles with the magic loop method as an alternative to traditional double-pointed needles, allowing for seamless in-the-round construction
• Fairisle Patterning: The main body of the armwarmers is worked using the fairisle technique, a stranded colorwork method where yarn not in use is carried across the wrong side of the work
• Two-Color Ribbing: The top and bottom edges feature a two-color rib construction that creates a textured, elastic finish
• In-the-Round Knitting: The entire project is worked circularly to create seamless tubes

Stitches Used

The Lattice Armwarmers utilize fundamental knitting stitches combined in specific patterns:

• Knit Stitch (K): Used throughout the stockinette stitch base and ribbing sections
• Purl Stitch (P): Incorporated into the two-color rib pattern to create texture
• Stockinette Stitch (St St): Forms the foundation for the fairisle pattern work in the main body
• Two-Color Rib Pattern: An alternating knit and purl pattern worked with two yarn colors, creating a distinctive striped ribbed texture
• Fairisle Pattern: A charted 18-stitch pattern repeat that is repeated 3 times across each round, worked over 63 rounds in stockinette stitch

Materials: Yarn and Needles

Yarn: The Lattice Armwarmers are knitted using Rowan Alpaca Soft DK, a double knitting weight yarn. Two colorways are required: Rainy Day (color 210) and Charcoal (color 211), with 2 x 50 gram balls of each color needed to complete the project.

Needles: The pattern requires two needle sizes to accommodate the different gauges needed for ribbing and patterned sections. For the ribbed cuffs, use 3¼mm (US 3) needles, available as either a set of 4 double-pointed needles or a 3¼mm circular needle at least 80 cm (32 inches) long for magic loop work. For the fairisle patterned body, change to 4mm (US 6) needles, similarly available as double-pointed or circular needles of the same minimum length.

Pattern Construction Details

The armwarmers are constructed in three distinct sections. The project begins with a two-color rib worked over 7 rounds using the smaller needles and both yarn colors, establishing a 54-stitch cast-on. The main body is then worked using the larger needles in fairisle pattern from a provided chart, spanning 63 rounds of stockinette stitch with an 18-stitch pattern repeat. The piece concludes with a final 7-round two-color rib section worked on the smaller needles before casting off.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

Achieving proper gauge is essential for this project. The two-color rib section should measure 28 stitches and 25 rows over 10 centimeters when worked on 3¼mm (US 3) needles. The fairisle pattern section should measure 25 stitches and 26 rows over 10 centimeters when worked on 4mm (US 6) needles. The completed armwarmers measure 11 cm wide when laid flat and 30 cm in total height.