A pretty lace heart pattern runs the length of these fingerless mitts.

Click here to see a larger image of our heart-motif mitts

Finished measurements: 7½ inches (19 cm) around (unstretched); approx 12½ inches  (31.5 cm) long

You need:
one ball (3½ oz/100 g; approx 183 yd/167 m) Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Washable Ewe (wool) in #3903 Strawberry
one pair each 3.75 and 4 mm knitting needles (or size needed to obtain gauge)
one set (4) 4 mm double-pointed needles (dpn)
Stitch markers

Tension:
20 sts and 27 rows = 4 inches (10 cm) over St st using larger needles.

To save time, take time to check tension.

Glossary:
dec: decrease
inc: increase
k:  knit
k2tog: knit two sts together (decrease)
M1: make one (With needle tip, lift the strand between the last stitch knit and the next stitch on the left-hand needle and knit into back of it. One knit stitch has been added.)
p: purl
pm: place marker
rep: repeat
RS: right side
S2KP: Sl2 sts together, k1; pass 2 slipped sts over knitted st
SK2P: Sl1, k2tog; pass slipped st over k2tog. Two sts have been decreased.
Sl: slip
Ssk: Slip next two sts knitwise, one at a time, to right-hand needle. Insert tip of left-hand needle into fronts of these sts, from left to right. Knit them together. One st has been decreased.
St st: stockinette stitch
sts: stitches
WS: wrong side
YO: yarn over

K2, P2 RiB:
Row 1 (RS): K2, *p2, k2;
rep from * to end.
Row 2: P2, *k2, p2;
rep from * to end.
Rep rows 1 and 2 for k2, p2 rib.

Notes:
1. Mitts are worked back and forth on 2 needles.
2. Thumbs are worked back and forth on 3 DPN.

To make : Left mitt
With larger needles, cast on 38 sts. Work in k2, p2 rib for 10 rows, dec 1 st at end of last row and end with a WS row (37 sts).

Begin chart pattern

Row 1 (RS): K18, pm, k1 (thumb gusset), pm, k2, work chart pattern
over next 13 sts, k3.
Row 2: P3, work chart pattern over next 13 sts, p2, sl marker, p1, sl marker, p18. Continue to follow chart in this way to row 15, then repeat rows 6 to 15 three times more, then rows 6 to 10 once, ending with a WS row.

Thumb gusset
Next row (RS): Knit to first marker, sl marker, M1, k1, M1, sl marker, k2, work chart row 11 over next 13 sts, k3 (39 sts). Cont to inc 1 st after first marker and 1 st before 2nd marker every other row 5 times more (49 sts).
At the same time, continue to follow chart to row 15, then repeat rows 6 to 11 once, ending with a RS row.
Next row (WS): P3, work chart row 12 over next 13 sts, p2, drop marker, place next 13 sts on scrap yarn for thumb, drop marker, cast on 1 st, p18 (37 sts). Working as established, continue to work chart to row 15, then repeat rows 6 to 15 once more, ending with a RS row. Change to smaller needles.
Next row (WS): Purl across, dec 1 st at end (36 sts).
Work in k2, p2 rib for 4 rows.
Bind off in rib.

Thumb
Place 13 sts on scrap yarn on 3 DPN (5 sts on first needle and 4 sts on second and third needles). Join yarn, then with fourth needle, k13, then pick up and k 1 st in cast-on st at base of thumb. (14 sts: 5 sts on first needle, 4 sts on 2nd needle, and 5 sts on 3rd needle).
Working back and forth, purl next row.
Continue in k2, p2 rib for 4 rows.
Bind off in rib. Right mitt
With larger needles, cast on 38 sts.
Work in k2, p2 rib for 10 rows, dec 1 st at end of last row and end with a WS row (37 sts).

Begin chart pattern

Row 1 (RS): K3, work chart pattern over next 13 sts, k2, pm, k1 (thumb
gusset), pm, k18.
Row 2: P18, sl marker, p1, sl marker, p2, work chart pattern over next 13 sts, p3. Continue to follow chart in this way to row 15, then repeat rows 6 to 15 three times more, then rows 6 to 10 once, ending with a WS row.

Thumb gusset
Next row (RS): K3, work chart row 11 over next 13 sts, k2, sl marker, M1, k1, M1, sl marker, k18 (39 sts). Continue to inc 1 st after first marker and 1 st before 2nd marker every other row 5 times more (49 sts).
At the same time, continue to follow chart to row 15, then repeat rows 6 to 11 once, ending with a RS row.
Next row (WS): P18, drop marker, place next 13 sts on scrap yarn for thumb, drop marker, cast on 1 st, p2, work chart row 12 over next 13 sts, p3 (37 sts). Working as established, continue to work chart to row 15, then repeat rows 6 to 15 once more, ending with a RS row. Change to smaller needles.
Next row (WS): Purl across, dec 1 st at end (36 sts). Work in k2, p2 rib for 4 rows. Bind off in rib.

Thumb
Work as for left mitt:
Place 13 sts on scrap yarn on 3 DPN (5 sts on first needle and 4 sts on second and third needles). Join yarn, then with fourth needle, k13, then pick up and k 1 st in cast-on st at base of thumb. (14 sts: 5 sts on first needle, 4 sts on 2nd needle, and 5 sts on 3rd needle). 
Working back and forth, purl next row. 
Continue in k2, p2 rib for 4 rows. 
Bind off in rib.

Finishing
Sew side and thumb seams. Block pieces to measurements.

Excerpted from Knit Red: Stitching for Women's Heart Health, copyright 2012 by Laura Zander. Used by permission of Sixth&Spring Books All Rights Reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.

This story was originally titled "Heart Warmers" in the February 2013 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!