Hen of the Woods Instructions and Video

Hen of the Woods Mittens

Modifications used with the Waiting for Winter Mitten pattern
Susan B. Anderson

Hen of the Woods is a gray textured mushroom found at the base of oak trees, which is kind of a perfect way to describe these bobbled mittens but on top of that I kind of just love the name in general.
 
Here at BWC we have received some cones of a limited-edition heathered gray 100% American Wool that we are just crazy about. The wool is spun into a lofty, airy 2-ply worsted weight yarn. The spin is between a semi-worsted and woolen spun, which creates an interesting blend of texture and loft. It is truly lovely yarn. For the mitten kits we are winding the wool into skeins and washing the skeins for the kits.
 
The pattern used for the Hen of the Woods Mittens is my Waiting for Winter Mitten & Fingerless Mitts along with the following simple modifications presented here.
 
The sample mittens in the photo are the Medium size or the second size in the pattern. The finished pair of mittens weighs in at 60 grams. The Hen of the Woods Mitten Kit comes with about a 100 gram skein (240 yards) of our limited-edition wool. This should be enough yarn to make up to the XL size following the pattern but be sure to keep tabs if you go larger in size.

Yarn Note: Wisconsin Woolen Spun Worsted and Home Worsted Weight will both work great for this pattern.
 
Needles: US size 7/4.5mm set of 4 double-pointed needles or size to obtain gauge
Note: A long circular would work fine for the magic loop method but the pattern is written for double-pointed needles.
 
Gauge: 5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch
 
Abbreviations
 
MB (Make Bobble) ~ Knit into the front, back and front of the same stitch. You now have 3 sts on the right needle. Pass the 2^nd and 3^rd stitches over the 1^st stitch on the right needle and off the right needle. Bring the yarn to the front. Slip the first stitch on the right needle to the left needle. Bring the yarn to the back again going in between the needles wrapping around and under the bobble. Slip the stitch back to the right needle.
 
M1 (Make One) ~ Increase one stitch by inserting the tip of the left needle from front to back and under the bar or strand of yarn that runs in between the stitches Lift the strand onto the left needle. Now knit the new stitch through the back loop.
 
Ktbl ~ Knit the stitch through the back loop.

Cuff

Follow the original pattern as is for the ribbed cuff.
 
After you have reached the recommended length for the ribbed cuff, begin the Mini-Bobble Texture as follows.
 
Mini-Bobble Texture Pattern
Rnds 1-3: Knit.
Rnd 4: (K3, MB) repeat to the end of the round.
Rnd 5: (K3, k1tbl) repeat to the end of the round.
Rnds 6 and 7: Knit.
Rnd 8: K1, then repeat (MB, k3) to the last 3 sts, MB, k2.
Rnd 9: K1, then repeat (k1tbl, k3) to the last 3 sts, k1tbl, k2.
Rnds 10 and 11: Knit.
 
Repeat Rounds 4-11 to the recommended length before starting the thumb gusset.
 
For the sample mittens I completed Rounds 1-8 and then started the increase for the thumb gusset.

Set-up Round for the gusset increases (work this 1 round before starting gusset):

Work in pattern to the end of the round, place a stitch marker, cast on 1 stitch using the backwards loop method. 
 
Thumb Gusset
Work the same as in the original pattern using M1 for the gusset increases. The thumb gusset and thumb are both worked in stockinette stitch (knit every stitch).  
 
Continue repeating the Mini-Bobble Texture rounds while increasing for the thumb gusset. 
 
Hand

When working the first round of the hand you may want to pick up a couple of extra stitches across the thrumb section to close the gap and then decrease those away on the next round. Just make sure you end up with the original number of stitches from before the gusset. 

Continue in the Mini-Bobble Texture Pattern for the hand until the desired length is reached as recommended in the pattern or about 1-inch short of the desired length.
 
Decrease for Top of Mitten
Work the same as in the original pattern in stockinette stitch only.
 
Thumb
Work the same as in the original pattern in stockinette stitch.
 
Finishing
Weave in all ends to the inside of the mitten. Block as desired.

©Barrett Wool Co. 2018