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Contents 1 Corkscrew Muffatees 1.1 Original Pattern 1.2 Updated Pattern 1.2.1 Background 1.2.2 Materials 1.2.3 Pattern

[edit] Corkscrew Muffatees

From Exercises in Knitting by Cornelia Mee. Original text at Project Gutenberg.

(Photos of sample forthcoming.)

[edit] Original Pattern

Five skeins of German wool are required for each: the 2 first and last should be alike, the middle one white. Cast on 24 stitches on each of 3 needles.

First round:—Seam 3 stitches and knit 3, seam 3 and knit 3. Continue this for 2 rounds; then knit 3 rounds, knitting the 2 first and last on each needle plain; the intermediate ones, 3 plain and 3 seamed as before.

The next 3 rounds:—Knit the 1st and 2 last stitches plain, with 3 seamed and 3 knit between them. Three rounds of 3 stitches plain and 3 seamed. Then 3 rounds, the first 2 and last stitches seamed, and the middle 3 plain, and 3 seamed. Then seam the first and last 2 stitches of the next 3 rounds, and begin the whole pattern again, only knitting 3 rounds instead of 2, as at first, of 3 seamed and 3 plain.

[edit] Updated Pattern

Adapted by Nan Chinander

[edit] Background

First, a bit of background—Muffatees were fingerless wrist warmers, designed to keep folks warm in chilly, non-central-heated rooms and also to cover the gap between where a mitten leaves off, and where a coat sleeve begins. Usually they had a thumb hole anchor them to the hand, but sometimes muffatees were simple tubes of knitting, such as these Corkscrew Muffatees are.

I knit these muffatees using some wool sock yarn that I had—I believe it was either Regia or Opal brand yarn. I’m afraid I didn’t have the band with that information. I do know that it was 100% wool. Using US size 3 needles, these muffatees were about a ¼ inch too big for my large woman’s wrist, though they would be an ideal size for a man (yes, men wore them—and children too.) For a smaller woman’s size I recommend using US size 2 needles, and not knitting too tightly.

[edit] Materials

4 double pointed US size 3 knitting needles (for a man) or 4 double pointed US size 2 knitting needles (for a woman)

100 grams of 100% wool sock yarn (this will be more than enough for both muffatees.)

[edit] Pattern

Cast on (CO) 72 stitches using a long tail or other flexible edge cast on. Divide the stitches between 3 needles (24 stitches per needle.) Join and begin knitting in the first cast on stitch. Make sure the stitches are not twisted.

Rows 1-3: P3,K3 to end of row.

Rows 4-6: K2,*P3, K3 to last stitch*, K1.

Rows 7-9: K1,*P3, K3 to last 2 stitches*,K2.

Rows 10-12:K3,P3 to end of row.

Rows 13-15:P2,*K3,P3 to last stitch*,P1.

Rows 16-18:P1,*K3, P3 to last 2 stitches*,P2.

Begin pattern at Row 1 and continue in corkscrew pattern for two more complete pattern repetitions (making 3 total) or to desired length. Cast off in P3,K3 pattern, using loose tension or a larger needle to guarantee a flexible edge.

Sew in any loose ends. Make another muffatee.