Sunday, December 12, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Can you help this knitter?

I received this question this evening from a knitter who is having trouble with knitting a fingerless knit pattern. Can you help this knitter?

Has anyone made the smocked fingerless mitts by Tonia Barry from the 60 Quick Knits book?
I am stuck on a step and I need help figuring out what to do next.
On page 64, thumb placement, it says to work sts 1-4 twice which would make 8 stitches and put them on waste yarn, and then slip these 8 sts back to LH needle, then with working yarn, work sts 1-4 twice more. Continue to follow chart to rnd 8, then repeat rnds 1-8 once more, then rnds 1-4 once. Work in k2, p2 rib for 2 rnds. Bind off in rib.
Now my problem: When I've made mittens in the past, once I put stitches onto waste yarn I leave them there until I have finished the hand and go back and pick them up and make the thumb. This pattern seems to say that I work the 8 stitches for two times more and then continue on with the rest of the row following the chart. And also, why would I have 16 stitches when I begin the thumb?? Live sts? Not something I know either. If someone can help me figure this out so I can finish the mitt I will be so grateful. I love the pattern, it looks awesome. I am just not able to finish it as I have tried almost everything and don't know what is right. Thank you.