Pacifica Mittens

The Pacifica Mittens are an excellent first mitten project. They knit up quickly and have lots of textures to keep things interesting. 

How to Swatch in the Round with the Long Float Method
How to Accurately Measure Your Gauge
How to Pick Up the Thumb Stitches
How to Finish the Thumb

Swatching in the round with the long float method

To make a small swatch in the round, knit as instructed, and then slide the stitches to the other end of your needle. Continue knitting, leaving a long float of at least 6" between each side. Your edge stitches will be loose and sloppy, but the middle stitches will give you a good indication of your gauge!

Measuring your gauge

Block your swatch by either steam blocking or wet blocking. To wet block, submerge your swatch in cool water and let it soak for a few minutes. Then, squeeze out extra water (do not wring out - try rolling up the swatch in a towel to squeeze out eh extra water.) After your swatch has dried, lay a measuring tape on the swatch and count the stitches across the middle of the swatch. 

If counting two inches, multiple the stitch count by 2 to compare with the listed gauge. (i.e. If you count 8 stitches over 2 inches, your gauge is 16 stitches over 4 inches.) 

If counting over three inches, multiply the stitch count by 1.33 to compare with the listed gauge. (i.e. If you count 13.5 stitches over 3 inches, your gauge is 13.5*1.33 = 18 stitches over 4 inches.)

Returning to the thumb

Right handed knitters should arrange the mitten so the thumb is on the left. (If you're a left-handed knitter who mirror knits, you'll do the opposite!)  Transfer the stitches from the waste yarn or holder to the double pointed needles (DPNs). Beginning at the stitch nearest the hand, join the yarn and knit the thumb stitches. Pick up one stitch at the hand. Then join in the round, and continue to work the thumb. Knitters often worry about exactly where to pick up a stitch, but it doesn't matter too much. Aim for the middle and in the row just above the thumb hole. When you weave in the tail, you'll close up any holes that form.

Finishing the thumb

Cinch up the top of the thumb and weave in the end. Thread the remaining tail through a tapestry needle, and weave in the ends, closing up any holes at the base of the thumb.