Free Pattern: IWAKI Wrist Warmers

We’re super excited about our new yarn line, ITO Rakuda, a dreamy mix of wool and camel fiber. It is gloriously soft and full-bodied, plumping up nicely during its first dip in the handwash bucket.

ITO wants to spread the excitement with two free patterns for Rakuda. First up, IWAKI Wrist Warmers. You know what they say: “Cold hands, warm heart.” Now you can have warm hands, too! This super simple pattern can be whipped up in no time with just one cone of ITO Rakuda.

So get yourself busy choosing one of the 15 ITO Rakuda colors and then we can begin.

Size
3 sizes: 1 (2) 3
Length approx. 30 cm / 11 ¾", circumference approx. 13 (16) 19 cm / 5 (6 ¼) 7 ½"

Needles
ITO No. 2 号 (2.7 mm) Circular Needle, 80 cm / 32″ long (for magic loop), or Double Pointed Needles, 15 cm / 6″ long

Material
Size 1: 1x ITO Rakuda (70% Wool, 30% Camel; 40 g ~ 212 m / 231 yd), shown here is #646 Denim
Size 2: 1x ITO Rakuda (70% Wool, 30% Camel; 40 g ~ 212 m / 231 yd), shown here is #643 Camel
Size 3: 1x ITO Rakuda (70% Wool, 30% Camel; 40 g ~ 212 m / 231 yd), not shown

Gauge
Using No. 2 号 (2.7 mm) needle and worked in the round, 32 sts and 38 rds = 10 x 10 cm / 4 x 4″ in stockinette st

Stitches & Techniques
Stockinette stitch in rounds: knit all sts
Make 1 left (m1l): pick up the bar between the end stitches on the left and right needles by inserting the left needle from front to back, so that the picked-up stitch sits on the left needle in the same orientation as the other stitches (hint: think of the stitch as the legs of a rider on a horse). Knit through the back of the new stitch, twisting it.
Make 1 right (m1r): pick up the bar between the end stitches on the left and right needles by inserting the left needle under the bar from back to front, so that the picked-up stitch sits in the opposite orientation from the other stitches. Knit through the front of the new stitch, twisting it

NB: Cast on and bind off very loosely so that the ends are nice and stretchy (to fit over your palm).

Directions
Cast on 42 (51) 60 sts loosely. Join to work in the round making sure not to twist; work in stockinette st until piece measures 22.5 cm / 8 ¾" = 86 rds from cast on.

Thumb Gusset
Rd 1: k10, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 2 and all even rds: k all sts
Rd 3: k10, m1r, k1, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 5: k10, m1r, k3, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 7: k10, m1r, k5, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 9: k10, m1r, k7, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 11: k10, m1r, k9, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 13: k10, m1r, k11, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 15: k10, m1r, k13, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 17: k10, m1r, k15, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 19: k10, m1r, k17, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 21 (only sizes 2 & 3): k10, m1r, k19, m1l, k rem sts
Rd 23 (only size 3): k10, m1r, k21, m1l, k rem sts
Next round: loosely bind off the 19 (21) 23 increased sts. Join remaining 42 (51) 60 sts in rd and work until piece measures 30 cm / 11 ¾" = 117 rnds from cast on. Bind off all sts loosely.

Work the second wrist warmer same as the first.

Finishing
Weave in ends. Dry flat.

Key
st             stitch
m1l        make 1 left
m1r        make 1 right
rem        remaining

Next step: Wear! Or wrap them up nicely for your favorite warm-hearted person.

Stay tuned for the ITO MITAKA Scarf, coming soon!