Classic Mittens
Whitney made some. Molly too. And so I had no choice but to join in and make some of my very own wintertime mittens!
Being the last of three kids in my family, I might have a teeny, tiny bit of youngest-child syndrome. Some might even call it a fear of missing out (#FOMO). So after drooling over Whitney’s elegant Gem Gloves and having a mom and daughter sew-along for Molly’s Simple Felted Wool Mittens, I picked up some of Anzula’s wonderfully bouncy, incredibly warm merino-cashmere Cricket and cast on.
With a hearty slip-stitch at the hemmed cuff and a perfectly rounded top, these Classic Mittens hark back to childhood days of bundling up at my mom’s insistence, so anxious to slip out the door and chase after my big brothers.
If you love the yarn used in this project, you’ll love all of our other yarn, too! Explore our 35+ lovingly created yarn collections, in nearly every natural fiber and spectacular color you can imagine… Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn shop!
Just as I used to run after my brothers, my creative eye is now on Whitney and Molly who have me inspired once more. Feel like tagging along? Get started! -Laura
UPDATE: NOW IN WIGEON… AND WITH A HAT, TOO!
FEBRUARY 2024
Snowman-building, winter walks through the woods, or commuting… Wigeon’s 100% fine Falkland merino is soft enough that you’ll want to wear these mittens everywhere, and the addition of a hat pattern makes this set hardy enough for whatever winter brings! Click here to get this the new PDF pattern for free, then pick your favorite color of Wigeon to cast on for this timeless knit!
Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoClassicMittens. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
- 1 (2, 2, 2) skein of Anzula’s Cricket, 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon. Each skein is 250 yards/ 100 grams; approximately 250–500 yards required. I used the color Teal.
- A set of US 3 (3.25 mm) double pointed needles
- A set of US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles
- Crochet hook and scrap yarn (for Provisional Cast On)
Shop our wonderful collection of sport-weight yarn to find a suitable substitute for this project, and remember that it’s always a good idea to check your gauge before you cast on… Our All About Gauge Tutorial shows you how!
Gauge
28 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette stitch
Sizes
X-Small (Small, Medium, Large)
- Circumference around Palm: 6 (6¾, 7¾, 8½) inches
- Length: custom measurements, adjustments given in pattern
Notes
s2kp (slip slip knit pass): slip two stitches together as if to knit, knit one, pass two slipped stitches over knit stitch and off needle. [2 stitch decrease]
Slip all slipped stitches purlwise.
Pattern
Begin at Cuff
With smaller needles, use the Provisional Cast On method to cast on 48 (54, 60, 66) stitches.
Join for working in the round being careful not to twist stitches.
Round 1: Knit.
Round 2: *K2, slip 1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 6 inches from cast on edge.
Hem the Cuff
Fold up the cast on edge to the inside of the knit tube and align the cast on edge with the working stitches.
Use the larger double pointed needles to pick up the cast on stitches.
Holding the outside working needle and inside cast on needle parallel to each other, knit 1 stitch from the front needle together with 1 stitch from the back needle.
Repeat to end of round.
Continue working with the larger needles.
Work Body of Mitten
Decrease Round: *K6 (7, 8, 9), k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. 42 (48, 54, 60) stitches
Knit evenly for 2¾ (3, 3, 3¼) inches.
Make the Thumb Hole
For the Right Thumb Hole
Next Round: K2 and cut yarn. With scrap yarn, k6 (7, 8, 9). Join yarn and knit to end of round.
For the Left Thumb Hole
Next Round: K35 (40, 45, 50) and cut yarn. With scrap yarn, k6 (7, 8, 9). Join yarn and k1.
Continue Body of Mitten
Knit evenly for 3 (3½, 3¾, 4) inches from Thumb Hole Stitches or ½ (1, 1¼, 1½) inches less than desired finished length.
Shape Mitten Top
Decrease Round 1: *K1, k2tog, k4 (5, 6, 7), ssk, k4 (5, 6, 7), k2tog, k4 (5, 6, 7), ssk, repeat from * to end [34 (40, 46, 52) stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
Decrease Round 2: *K1, k2tog, k3 (4, 5, 6), ssk, k2 (3, 4, 5), k2tog, k3 (4, 5, 6), ssk, repeat from * to end. [26 (32, 38, 44) stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
For X-Small Size Only
Decrease Round 3: *K1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2, k2tog, k1, ssk, repeat from * to end. [18 stitches]
Decrease Round 4: *K1, k2tog, k4, ssk, repeat from * to end. [14 stitches]
Cut yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches.
For Small Size Only
Decrease Round 3: *K1, k2tog, k3 (4, 5), ssk, k1 (2, 3), k2tog, k3 (4, 5), ssk, repeat from * to end. [24 (30, 36) stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
Decrease Round 4: *K1, k2tog, k2, slip slip knit pass (s2kp, see pattern notes), k2, ssk, repeat from * to end. [16 stitches]
Decrease Round 5: *K1, k2tog, k3, ssk, repeat from * to end. [12 stitches]
Cut yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches.
For Medium Size Only
Decrease Round 3: *K1, k2tog, k3 (4, 5), ssk, k1 (2, 3), k2tog, k3 (4, 5), ssk, repeat from * to end. [24 (30, 36) stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
Decrease Round 4: *K1, k2tog, k3, ssk, k2tog, k3, ssk, repeat from * to end. [22 stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
Decrease Round 5: *K1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k2tog, k1, ssk, repeat from * to end. [14 stitches]
Cut yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches.
For Large Size Only
Decrease Round 3: *K1, k2tog, k3 (4, 5), ssk, k1 (2, 3), k2tog, k3 (4, 5), ssk, repeat from * to end. [24 (30, 36) stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
Decrease Round 4: *K1, k2tog, k4, ssk, k1, k2tog, k4, ssk, repeat from * to end. [28 stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
Decrease Round 5: *K1, k2tog, k3, s2kp, k3, ssk, repeat from * to end. [20 stitches]
Next Round: Knit.
Decrease Round 6: *K1, k2tog, k5, ssk, repeat from * to end. [16 stitches]
Decrease Round 7: *K1, k2tog, k3, ssk, repeat from * to end. [12 stitches]
Cut yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches.
Pick up for the Thumb
Slip the 6 (7, 8, 9) stitches below the Thumb Hole scrap yarn onto a double pointed needle.
Slip the 6 (7, 8, 9) stitches above the scrap yarn onto another double pointed needle.
Remove the scrap yarn.
Next Round: Joining yarn, knit lower 6 (7, 8, 9) stitches, pick up 1 stitch, knit upper 6 (7, 8, 9) stitches, pick up 1 stitch, place marker and join for working in round. 14 (16, 18, 20) stitches
Knit evenly for 2 (2, 2¼, 2½) inches or ¼ inch less than desired length.
Decrease Round: *K1, k2tog, k2 (3, 4, 5), ssk, repeat from * to end of round. 10 (12, 14, 16) stitches
For XSmall and Small Sizes Only
Cut yarn and thread through remaining stitches.
For Medium (Large) Sizes Only
Decrease Round: *K1, k2tog, k2 (3), ssk, repeat from * to end of round. 10 (12) stitches
Cut yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches.
Finish
Weave in the ends, gently block your mittens and you’re done!
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
Thank you for the great pattern. What a brilliant way to pick up the stitches for the thumb. I will definitely be making these mittens.
Hi there, will this be up on Ravelry soon? Have been stalking the site so I can add this lovely pattern to my queue 🙂
Love this pattern but I don't use DPNs. Do you think it would be very difficult to knit these using Magic Loop?
I'm confused with the mitten top decrease. I am doing the large size and I now have 44 stitches. When I scroll down and do the intstructions for the size Large Decrease Round: *K1, k2tog, k4, ssk, k1, k2tog, k4, ssk, repeat from * to end. (28 stitches)
the pattern doesn't fit the number of stitches on my needles and I wind up 35 stitches instead of 28 and its unevenly worked I feel like I missed a step can anyone help me with this?
Hello Katie.
I think you may have jumped over a section… After SHAPE MITTEN TOP there is a section called FOR SIZES SMALL (MEDIUM, LARGE) SIZES. After this section you will have 36 stitches. Then you continue to the FOR LARGE SIZE ONLY section.
Let me know if this doesn't solve the problem!
Thanks for writing in.
Laura
Love this classic pattern! It is exactly what I was looking for this winter. I was wondering would Blue Sky's Alpaca Silk be an okay substitution for this pattern?
Hi Alicia,
Blue Sky's Alpaca Silk would be an okay substitution! The silk will add a nice, sheen to them.
Laura
This is probably the easiest to follow mitt pattern/tutorial I've come across, thanks! I've never made a mitt before and I'd really love to try. I do have one question though – is there any way to modify for worsted weight yarn, or do you think it would be ok? I'm just wrapping up a toque in Malabrigo worsted and would love to make a pair of mitts to match. Thanks!
Hi Caitlin,
I'm glad you find the pattern clear!
With 42 (48, 54, 60) stitches at the body of the mitten and a gauge of 7 stitches = 1 inch, the circumference at the palm measures 6 (6 3/4, 7 3/4, 8 1/2) inches
If you can knit the Malabrigo Worsted at 5 stitches to the inch, the XSmall pattern would result in a 8.4-inch palm circumference. A pretty wide mitten. If you can manage to knit the Malabrigo at 5 1/2 stitches to the inch and work the XSmall pattern,, you would end up with a 7.6-inch circumference… better.
I am not sure the Malabrigo Worsted is the way to go on this one. I think it is typically worked at 4 stitches to the inch, so getting 5 1/2 to the inch might be uncomfortable to knit. Although, that dense a mitten sure would be warm.
Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Laura
Hi, just wanted to point out that the pattern notes at the top gives a little tutorial on sskp, but the pattern itself uses ssk. That was confusing me for a bit, I was wondering why I was losing extra stitches haha
Hello Rachel.
Thank you for writing in.
Depending on what size mitten you are making you do either just SSK or you do both SSK and SSKP in the shaping of the mitten top.
I am sorry this confused you. Usually we only put the less common abbreviations in the notes and since ssk is fairly standard I did not include them in the Pattern Notes above. But I can add them to prevent anyone else from making this mistake.
Laura
Hi, LOVE this pattern. Will definitely be making it. Per a previous post, I would
Like to make them with magic loop (hate dps). But the needle tip's length make
This difficult. Any suggestions?
Hi Tootles,
Hummm, that's a tough question. I am not sure what your options are if you can't do magic loop and you don't like double pointed needles. I can't help but encourage you to learn to love double points. They provide such a different, special experience to knitting. Have you seen Whitney's wonderful dpn tutorial:
https://www.purlsoho.com/create/knitting-tutorials-working-rnd/2008/7/25/double-pointed-needles.html
-Laura
I hope to use this to attempt my first pair of mittens. Your tutorial is so clear!
My question is on yardage requirement – I have 270 yds of sport weight yarn and am between size S & M. Would 270 yds be enough for a medium-sized pair? Would it be safer to knit a small pair? Or do I need more yarn…?
Many thanks!
Hi Jane.
I believe 270 would be fine for the Small, but perhaps a little short for the Medium. I think it'd be safer to knit the small pair.
Laura
Thanks so much! I'll try the small pair. I love all your patterns and am ready to try my first mittens thanks to you!
Hi! Love the mitts…and pretty much everything else on your wonderful site 🙂 My question is about the gauge, which size needles are you getting 7sts/inch? I'm going to use Jade Sapphire cashmere doubled and have gotten the gauge on size 1's. So will that be my larger needle and use size 0 as the smaller? Or are the 1's the smaller and I need 2's for the larger? Hope this makes sense! Thanks you!!
Hi Brook-
You will use the 1s as your larger needle and the 0s as the smaller. Needle size is always just a recommendation so it's really great that you did a swatch and figured out what size needle works best for you!
Thanks!
Molly
I am dying to make these mittens for my son. How small is the XS? He's a toddler..
Thanks!
Hi Becky.
The XS would work for a petite woman of teenager or maybe a kid, but will definitely be too big for a Toddler.
The average palm circumference of a Toddler is approximately 4 1/4 – 5 inches. So, mitten circumference would be best around 3 – 3 1/2 inches.
I'll keep this request in mind though and see about designing a Toddler Mitten soon!
Laura
I'm having a huge problem with gaps forming around the corners of the thumb. Any suggestions?
Hi Katie.
When you pick up the 1 stitch on either side of the thumb, sometimes it will help if you twist that stitch. Another common way of dealing with these holes is by using the tail from when you started the thumb to close them up, weaving in your end on the inside of the mitten to secure that join.
I do hope this helps.
Laura
Hello. The k2sl1 for the cuff: how do you slip the stitch? i.e. as if to knit regularly from the front of the stitch on the left needle, then onto the right needle w/o knitting it. I am only 5 rows in, but the slipped stitch doesn't looked popped up and pronounced like it does in your pictures. Thanks.
Hi Squashmom.
Thank you for asking this. Please slip purlwise, or as if to purl from back to front. I will be sure to make a note of this in the Pattern Notes section.
Thanks for letting me know!
Laura
Enjoying knitting my first mittens. What beautiful mittens this pattern makes! Here’s my question: For the cuff, do you s1 with yarn in front or yarn in back?
Hi Sarah.
Thanks for writing in! So glad to hear you’re enjoying the mittens.
As for your question… you slip 1 purlwise with the yarn in back!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Laura
I love the cricket yarn but would like to use a less expensive yarn. Any suggestions?
Elinore
Hi Elinore.
These would look great in so many different yarns! Here is a link to all of our Sport Weight Yarns: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/3-knitting-crochet-yarn?filters%5B%5D=4
I would take a closer look at…
Purl Soho’s Mulberry Merino: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/9650-Purl-Soho-Mulberry-Merino
Madeline Tosh’s Tosh Merino Light: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/7957-Madelinetosh-Tosh-Merino-Light
Blue Sky’s Sport Weight in Solid: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/714-Blue-Sky-100-Sport-Weight-Alpaca-Solids
Blue Sky’s Sport Weight in Melange: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/1105-Blue-Sky-100-Sport-Weight-Alpaca-Melanges
Cascade’s 220 Sport: https://www.purlsoho.com/purl/products/item/8066-Cascade-Yarns-Cascade-220-Superwash-Sport
Let me know if you have any questions about any of these!
Thanks for writing in.
Laura
Hi I am knitting the top of my mitten and I’m having some trouble with the first decrease round. I am making the small size and have 16 stitches on each needle. I started with the decrease round under the FOR SMALL (MEDIUM LARGE) SIZES, and I am ending up with two stitches left when I have to do a ssk… I don’t know where I am going wrong but every time I retry I end up with not having enough stitches on my needle to complete the pattern.
Hello Michelle,
You only need two stitches to complete a ssk! You slip one stitches knitwise from left to right, then slip one stitch purlwise, and then you put the tip of your left hand needle into the front of the two slipped stitches on the right hand needle and knit them together. Take a look at our tutorial here: https://www.purlsoho.com/create/2013/08/13/slip-slip-knit-ssk/
I hope this answers your question. Don’t hesitate to write again if you’re still confused! Thanks for writing in! -Alyson
Have you done a pattern like the above in a child size. 4 year old.
Hi Susan,
Thanks for writing in! While we do not have a child’s size for this lovely mitten pattern, we do have a size that should work for a 4 year old in our Arched Gusset Mittens as well as our Twisted Rib Mittens.
I hope that this helps!
Cassy
Hi, I have finished the body of my mitten and am now trying to start on the thumb. After I pick up the stitches above and below my placeholder yarn, the pattern says to knit them and pick up a stitch on either end. What does it mean to pick up a stitch? How do I do that? I can’t seem to find any videos that demonstrate this specific instructions. Thank you!!
Hello Melissa,
Thank you for reaching out! Picking up stitches is easier than it sounds. You are basically pulling a new stitch through the edge of your thumb hole, using your working yarn. We have a great tutorial on it right here.
Happy knitting!
-Marilla
Hi Purl Soho,
I’m a little confused about the yarn requirements (1-2 skeins). If my palm circumference is about 6.5 inches, and palm length is 6.5 inches, do you think I can get away with using 1 ball and making size small? I know vertical yarn tension is part of this, but is the extra yarn mostly for people making a version with longer fingers, since length is adjustable? Thanks so much!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for writing in! Your mitten may be a bit snug if you choose a size that is smaller than your actual hand circumference, even by just a quarter inch, so I would suggest trying the mitten on as you go to make sure it will fit properly. If the small fits around your hand, another option for saving on yardage would be to make the cuff an inch or so shorter. Either way, it would probably be a good idea to buy a second ball of yarn just in case, and as long as you don’t wind it, it can be returned for store credit!
Happy knitting!
Julianna
Hi Juliana,
Thank you! The circumference will definitely be big enough (the small size is 6 3/4, and my hand is 6 1/2). I’m just not clear why it calls for 1-2 balls of yarn; that’s a big yardage difference.
Do you have the actual yardage (in yards or meters) for the sizes, by any chance?
Hello Sarah,
Thanks for reaching out! If you are making the small, these mittens use just over a skein of yarn. If you wanted you could shorten the cuffs by half an inch and have enough with 1 skein.
I hope this helps!
Happy knitting,
Marilla
Thanks so much, Marilla! This is so helpful and will leave me with budget for some extra yarn for other projects 🙂
I think there is an error in the decreases for the size medium. After the second to the last decrease, the medium size has 22 stitches. The last decrease as written has two repeats using 13 stitches each time – not 11. I think it should read
*k1, K2tog, k1, ssk, K2tog, k1, ssk* repeat from * to end. (14 stitches)
Can you confirm?
Thank you!
Hi Shari,
Thanks for writing in! I brought up your comment with our design team, and we all agree with your edit to this decrease round. We’ll be updating the pattern as soon as possible, and we apologize for the error! Thanks again for bringing this to our attention!
All the best,
Lili