Materials: 4 oz. Canadian 2-ply yarn (the weight that normally knits about 
               17 sts to 4 inches using 4.5 or 5 mm (American size 7 or 8); 
           1 set 3.5 mm (American size 4) double-pointed needles.

Gauge: 22 sts = 4 inches in stocking stitch.

Cuff (both mittens): Cast on 40 sts, divide sts on 3 needles, and join in
round, being careful not to incorporate a twist in the round. Work 22
rounds in K2P2 ribbing. 

Right mittens thumb gusset: Next 5 rounds, K2, P1, K4, P1, K to end. Round
6: K2, P1, Make 1, K4, Make 1, P1, K to end. Repeat these increases (i.e.,
make 1 inside the P sts at each side of the thumb gusset) on round 9, 12,
15 (48 sts). Round 18: Place the 12 sts of the gusset on to a scrap of
yarn, cast on 4 sts in their place, K to end. 

[Left mitten thumb gusset: Place the gusset in first round by K to 6 sts
remaining, P1, k4, P1. Increase within the P sts as for the right mitten,
and remove and replace gusset sts at the same height as for the right
mitten.]

Body (both mittens): K straight up for about 32 rounds (50 rounds
completed above cuff). Round 51: K3, K2tog around (32 sts). K 1 round
even. Round 53: K2, K2tog around (24 sts.) K 1 round even. Round 55: K1,
K2tog (16 sts). K1 round even. Round 57: K2tog around. K1 round even. 
Break yarn, thread through remaining 8 sts, and darn in securely. 

Thumb (both mittens): Using 3 needles, K across 12 sts from gusset, and
pick up 1 st in the corner, 4 sts across cast-on sts, and 1 st in the other
corner (18 sts). K straight up 14 rounds. Round 15: K1, K2tog around (12
sts). K1 round even. Round 17: K1, K2tog around (8 sts). Round 18: K2tog
around (4 sts). Break yarn, thread through remaining 4 sts, and darn in
securely. 

NOTES ON HOW TO MODIFY MABEL'S PATTERN FOR ADDITIONAL SIZES
by Esther S. Bozak

As written, Mabel's pattern will produce a mitten that is approximately
7.25-7.5" in circumference around the knuckles. This is a good size for a
small adult hand, but you may wish to knit a larger or smaller sized
mitten. This can be easily accomplished by using different sized needles
and/or heavier or lighterweight yarn to alter the gauge rather than the
number of sts cast on.

1.  MODIFIED PATTERN USING BULKY WEIGHT YARN:
Size: Approximately 9-9.25" in circumference around knuckles (Adult 
      Medium/Large).

Materials: 5-6 oz. bulky weight yarn (the weight that normally knits about 
              12 sts to 4 inches using American size 10-11 needles);
           1 set 5 mm (American size 6) double-pointed needles

Gauge: 17.5 sts = 4" in stocking stitch.

Cuff: No change; use original pattern's instructions.

Thumb gusset: No change; use original pattern's instructions.

Body: K straight up for about 30 rounds (48 rounds above cuff). Round 49: 
K3, K2tog around (32 sts). K 1 round even. Round 51: K2, K2tog around (24
sts). K 1 round even. Round 53: K1, K2tog around (16 sts). K1 round even.
Round 55: K2tog around (8 sts).  K 1 round even. Break yarn, thread
through remaining 8 sts, and darn in securely. 

Thumb: Using 3 needles, K across 12 sts from gusset, 1 sts in corner, 4
sts across the cast-on sts, and 1 st in the other corner (18 sts). K
straight up for 16 rounds. Round 17: K1, k2tog around (12 sts). K 1 round
even. Round 18: K1, K2tog around (8 sts). Break yarn, thread through
remaining 8 sts, and darn in securely. 


2.  CHANGE IN NEEDLE SIZE = CHANGE IN MITTEN SIZE:  
A "rule of thumb" in knitting is that altering the size of the needles
used in knitting while using the same weight yarn will alter the knitted
fabric's gauge by 1/2 st per inch, or 2 sts per 4", per needle size
increase or decrease. So, you can easily increase the mitten's size by
going up one or two needles sizes from what you would need to get the
original gauge given for either worsted weight yarn or bulky weight yarn. 

With worsted weight yarn, knit at a gauge of 24 sts = 4", the mitten's
circumference will be approximately 6.5"; at 18 sts = 4", approximately
8". 

With bulky weight yarn, knit at a gauge of 19.5 sts = 4", the mitten's
circumference will be approximately 8.25"; at 15.5 sts = 4", approximately
10.25". 

With either yarn, if you increase or decrease the needle size to alter the
mitten's width, you should also see an accompanying change in the mitten's
length. Additional length alterations, if necessary, can be accomplished
by adding or subtracting one to a few rows knit in above the thumb gusset
before the decreases (to lengthen/shorten the finger region) or in the
thumb before the decreases are started (to lengthen/shorten the thumb.) If
the thumb gore needs a length adjustment, knit more/fewer rows after the
last increase, or add 1-2 rows in between each increase row to lengthen
and knit fewer rows before beginning to increase to shorten. 

Don't forget, too, that you will need some extra amount of yarn if you
increase the mitten's size. 

Lastly, this mitten's warmth, in part, comes from the yarn being knit with
smaller-than-normally-suggested needles for the weight yarn. Doing this
creates a fairly tightly knit, dense fabric. Do not increase the needle
size too drastically and hence cause the gauge to approach what is
"normal" for the yarn, or you will end up with less warm mittens. 


3. LARGER ADULT SIZE IN ORIGINAL, HEAVY WORSTED WT. YARN
Size: Approximately 8.75-9" in circumference.
Materials & Gauge: Same as in Mabel's instructions. 

Cuff: Cast on 48 sts and proceed with original patterns instructions.

Thumb gusset: Continue increases every 3rd row until a total of 16 sts 
are in gusset. Knit two more rows even an dthen continue with original 
patterns' instructions.

Body: K straight up for about 36 rounds (60 rounds above cuff). Round 61: 
K4, K2tog around (40 sts). K 1 round even. Round 63: K3, K2tog around (32
sts). K 1 round even. Round 65: K2, K2tog around (24 sts). K 1 round even.
Round 67: K1, K2tog around (16 sts). K1 round even. Round 68: K2tog around
(8 sts).  K 1 round even. Break yarn, thread through remaining 8 sts, and
darn in securely. 

Thumb: Using 3 needles, K across 16 sts from gusset, 1 sts in corner, 4
sts across the cast-on sts, and 1 st in the other corner (22 sts). K
straight up for 19 rounds. Round 20: K1, k2tog around (15 sts). K 1 round
even. Round 22: K1, K2tog around (10 sts). Round 23: K2tog around (5 sts).
Break yarn, thread through remaining 8 sts, and darn in securely. 

4. ADAPTING PATTERN FOR CHILDREN'S SIZES

In her January 1996 newsletter, Mabel offers the following suggestions for
adapting her pattern for children's sized mittens: 

   "[T]he adult pattern for plain old-fashioned mittens...can easily be
   adapted for smaller sizes; I would cast on 36 stitches for about a
   10-year size and 32 stitches for a 6-year size. Use your judgement (or
   any available small child) to decide lengths. The thumb starts with a
   few less than half the number of mittens stitches; that is, 14 to 16
   stitches and 12 to 14 stitches, respectively. You can adjust to these
   smaller numbers by starting the thumb gore with fewer stitches,
   decreasing the number of increases in the gore, or doing both." 

Another alternative to achieving smaller sizes is to use the pattern
instructions as originally written and use a lighterweight yarn and/or
smaller needles. For example, I have made children's sized mittens,
comparable to Mabel's 6-year size using a DK weight yarn and sized 4
needles. Using a DK weight yarn and sized 3 needles make an even smaller
size.