I am a big mitten fan. To me, they keep my hands warmer than gloves. So, I’m always on the lookout for a good mitten pattern.
I am also a fan of the specialty pattern magazines like Jane Austen Knitting, even though the patterns are typically aimed at sweet young things who envision themselves as Austen heroines. However, there are often accessories like shawls and mittens that are cross-generational enough as to not give me the “mutton dressed as lamb” look, if you get my meaning.
These mittens were one of those pattens:
I happened to have two skeins of Berroco Blackstone Tweed in my stash, although a different color than used in the original pattern. The simple design appealed to me, along with the long arms. Something else I liked — while this yarn is suggested for use on a size 8 needle, these mitts use a size 5 and I always like a dense fabric. This is dense but keeps its soft hand.
It is not quite mitten weather yet, but the firepit area makes a lovely knitting spot:
The weekend is shaping up to be another one of mild, sunny days so I am hoping the get the mate to the first mitten completed.
The Wool Merchant's Daughter 
The mittens are lovely. Can you tell me the magazine issue where this pattern can be found?
Kind regards,
Vee
The Northanger Abbey Mittens are in the Fall 2012 edition of Interweave Press’s Jane Austin Knits. You might check with your library to see if there is a copy available. Paper and digital copies may still be ordered via Interweave’s Web site here.