Octopus Point

Did you like the Enter Octopus hat but think, “What if I wanted octopuses on my hands?” Then this is the pattern for you. Named for a headland near my home on Vancouver Island, the Octopus Point mittens are worked in stranded colourwork using fingering weight yarn. The pattern has instructions for 4 sizes, with a slightly different chart for each size; you can further tweak the sizing by adjusting the gauge.

To make Octopus Point, you will need to know how to do 2-colour stranded colourwork in the round from charts.

Kits available at Beehive Wool Shop.

Buy either Octopus Point or Enter Octopus and get the other for half price! Once you check out with one pattern purchase, you'll be able to get the discount on the other pattern. (Note that since I ended up having to use a different yarn, the gauge for the mittens does not match the Enter Octopus hat.)

Sizes

XS (S, M, L)

Circumference: 7 (8, 8.75, 9.5) in/18 (20, 22.5, 24.5) cm

Hand length (not including cuff): 7 (8, 9, 9.5) in/18 (20.5, 23, 24.5) cm

See Pattern Notes for tips on choosing your size.

Yarn

Drops Flora (65% wool, 35% alpaca; 230 yds/210 m per 1.79 oz/50 g): MC: 1 (1, 2, 2) skein(s) (shown in 05), CC: 1 skein (shown in 27)

Note: The medium size may need little to none of the second skein of MC. To be sure of only using 1 skein in that size, you can swap the MC and CC for the cuff portion.

Needles

US 2/2.75 mm needles for working small circumference in the round, or size needed for correct gauge

US 1.5/2.5 mm needles for working small circumference in the round, or one size smaller than gauge needle

Note: At this needle size, the US/metric conversion is inconsistent. I recommend using the metric size as a starting point for swatching.

Gauge

36.5 sts & 40 rows = 4 in/10cm in stranded colourwork on larger needles, worked in the round and blocked

Recommended stockinette gauge: 24 sts & 32 rows = 4 in/10 cm on US 2.5/3 mm needles, worked flat and blocked (provided as a reference point for the yarn)

For a good fit, take time to check your gauge.

Notions

2 stitch markers, yarn needle, waste yarn or stitch holder for holding thumb sts