Samarkand

Samarkand



THESE COSY armwarmers, which extend almost to the elbow and include thumbs, have little Fair Isle motifs and beads for a subtle touch of colour. “The rich colours of the yarn and the beads made me think of the Silk Road and the carpets of Samarkand,” says designer Barb Brown.

SIZE: look after the description

YARN: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Heritage (4ply weight; 100% Shetland wool; 100m/120yds per 25g ball)

A Berry Wine; 2 x 25g balls

B Auld Gold; 1 x 25g ball

NEEDLES & ACCESSORIES

1 set 2.75mm (UK 12/US 2) double-pointed needles (DPNs)

0.75mm crochet hook

Approx 188 gold seed beads and 102 pink beads in size 3mm (6/0) (tip: purchase extra beads in case you drop any!)

2 stitch markers

TENSION

32 sts and 40 rows to 10cm over st st on 2.75mm needles

SPECIAL TECHNIQUES

PICOT CAST-ON

*Using the knitted (lace) cast-on, cast on 5 sts to the LH needle. Cast off 2 sts, slip rem 1 st from the RH needle to the LH needle; Rep from * as required.

PICOT CAST-OFF

Using the knitted (lace) cast-on, cast on 2 sts to the LH needle. *Cast off 5 sts, slip rem 1 st from the RH needle to the LH needle; Rep from * to end, then fasten off rem st.

THREADING BEADS

Beads are placed accordingly as set on charts, using a 0.75mm crochet hook; Place a bead on the crochet hook, slip the next stitch from the LH needle and on to the crochet hook. Pull the stitch through the bead using the crochet hook, slip the stitch onto the RH needle, without knitting it. On the next rnd, knit the stitch as usual.

RIGHT MITT

Using the Picot Cast-on and yarn B, cast on 84(90:96) sts.

Knit 1 row.

Join in yarn A and knit 2 rows.

Join to work in the round,taking care not to twist sts.

Round 1: Knit using yarn B.

Rounds 2 to 15: Work in (K2, P1) rib.

Round 16: Knit using yarn B.

Round 17: Knit using yarn A, dec 9 (10:11) sts evenly around. 75 (80:85) sts.

Round 18: Purl using yarn A.

Round 19: Knit using yarn B.

Round 20: Purl using yarn B.

Rounds 21 to 78: Begin working Chart for your size. For extra length, work repeats from rounds 49-58 of chart. Each rep meas 2cm (3/4in). 55 (60:65) sts.

Round 79: Knit using yarn B, dec 1 (0: inc 1) st. 54 (60:66) sts.

Round 80: Purl using yarn B.

Round 81: Knit using yarn A.

Round 82: Purl using yarn A.

Round 83: Knit using yarn A. Work 8 rounds in (K2, P1) rib using yarn B.

Round 92: Knit using yarn B.

Round 93: Knit using yarn A.

Round 94: Purl using yarn A.

Round 95: Knit using yarn B.

Round 96: Purl using yarn B.

First 27 (30:33) stsofround arenowpalmof hand, last 27 (30:33) sts are back of hand. You will now cont in Yarn A until after the chart border.

**

Round 97: K2, pm, K1, pm, knit to end.

Round 98: Knit to marker, slm, M1, knit to next marker, M1, slm, knit to end of round.

Rounds 99 and 100: Knit.

Repeat rounds 98 to 100 until st count between markers is 17 (19:21)

Next round: Knit to marker, cast on 3 sts, place 17 (19:21) sts on hold, knit to end of round.

Next round: K1, K2tog, K1, K2tog, knit to end of round.

Next round: K27 (30:33), work first 3 sts of appropriate Bead Band Chart for your size, work repeat 3 times, work final 6 sts. Work 2 more rounds as set to complete Bead Band Chart.

Knit 3 rounds in yarn A.

Knit 1 round in yarn B.

Purl 1 round in yarn B.

Knit 1 round in yarn A.

Purl 1 round in yarn A.

Knit 1 round in yarn B.

Work 4 rounds in (K2, P1) rib using yarn B.

Knit 1 round in yarn B.

Knit 1 round in yarn A.

Purl 1 round in yarn A.

Knit 1 round in yarn B.

Purl 1 round in yarn B.

Cast off in yarn B using Picot Cast-off.

THUMB

Using yarn A, knit across the 17 (19:21) thumb sts on holder, cast on 3 sts. Join to work in the round. Knit to 4 sts from end of round, K2tog, K1, knit last st tog with first st of round. 18 (20:22) sts.

Knit 5 rounds in yarn A.

Knit 1 round in yarn B.

Purl 1 round in yarn B.

Knit 1 round in yarn A.

Purl 1 round in yarn A.

Knit 1 round in yarn B.

Purl 1 round in yarn B.

Cast off using yarn B and the Picot Cast- off.

LEFT MITT

Work as Right Mitt to **.

Round 97: K24 (27:30), pm, K1, pm, K to end. Continue to work as Right Mitt to ++.

Next round: K23 (26:29) K2tog, K1, K2tog, knit to end of round. 54 (60:66) sts.

TO MAKE UP

Join seam at cuff of mitts to meet in the round. Weave in all ends. Block gently to measurements.