As the temperatures drop and the layers build up, wintertime apparel slowly claims our womanly physiques, sometimes making it a struggle to feel like a lady at all. A dash of red lipstick can do wonders, but the best way to fight off that down-coat-yeti look? Beautiful accessories! A soft cabled hat, a brilliantly colored wrap, or my answer this season, these Long Lovely Mittens.

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho

Reaching just shy of the elbow, the mere gesture required to slip on these mittens suggests a certain elegance. Purl Soho’s newest merino yarn, Line Weight, is perfect for this pared-down design. The stockinette fabric is incredibly soft to the touch, and it emits a gentle glow that is just right for winter’s harsh reality.

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho

Pair these Long Lovely Mittens with anything. Even if they get buried under all those layers, having them on will definitely add an extra swing to your step. -Laura

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho

PS: These require just one skein of Line Weight, a perfect holiday gift knit!

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Laura Ferguson.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoLongLovelyMittens, and #PurlSohoLineWeight. We can’t wait to see what you make!

Materials

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho

Gauge

34 stitches = 4 inch in stockinette stitch, using smaller needles

Sizes

Small/Medium (Medium/Large)

  • Circumference around palm: 6½ (7½) inches, stretching to 7¼ (8¼) inches
  • Length from cuff to mitten top: 17 (17¾) with adjustments given in the pattern

Pattern

Begin with Rolled Cuff

With the larger needles, cast on 54 (62) stitches, distributing them onto three double pointed needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Knit one round.

Change to smaller needles; work in stockinette stitch, knitting each round, until piece measures 10 inches from rolled edge.

Shape Thumb Gusset

Round 1: K27 (31), place marker (pm), make 1 left (m1L), k1, make 1 right (m1R), pm, knit to end of round. [56 (64) stitches]

Round 2: Knit.

Round 3: Knit to marker, slip marker, m1L, knit to next marker, m1R, slip marker, knit to end of round. (2 stitches increased)

Rounds 4 and 5: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 3-5 seven (eight) more times. [72 (82) stitches total; 19 (21) stitches between the markers]

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho

Next Round: Knit to first marker, remove marker, slip next 19 (21) stitches onto a stitch holder or scrap yarn, remove next marker…

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho

…then, with the wrong side facing you, cable cast on 3 stitches…

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho

…now, with the right side facing you, join to left side of Thumb Gusset and continue to knit to the end of the round. [56 (64) stitches]

Knit Hand

Knit evenly until piece measures 3 3/4 (4) inches from the base of the thumb (where you cable cast on stitches) or until 3/4 (1) inch from desired finished length.

Shape Mitten Top

Set Up Round: K28 (32), pm, knit to end.

Round 1: *K1, k2tog, knit to two before next marker, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. (4 stitches decreased)

Round 2: Knit.

Repeat Rounds 1-2 zero (two) more times. [52 (52) stitches]

Repeat Round 1 two more times.  [44 (44) stitches]

Next Round: *K1, k2tog, k3, ssk, k7, k2tog, k3, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. [36 (36) stitches]

Next Round: Repeat Round 1. [32 (32) stitches]

Next Round: *K1, k2tog, k2, ssk, k3, k2tog, k2, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. [24 (24) stitches]

Next Round: *K1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, repeat from * to end of round. [16 (16) stitches]

Next Round: Repeat Round 1. [12 (12) stitches]

Cut yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches.

Finish Thumb

Slip the 19 (21) stitches that are on hold onto two double pointed needles.

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho

Hold the mitten so that the gusset is on the left; join yarn leaving a 10-inch tail.

Knit 8 stitches from the front needle. With another double pointed needle, knit the remaining stitches from that front needle and then knit from the back needle until there are 8 stitches on the working needle. With yet another double pointed needle, knit the remaining stitches from that back needle and then pick up 3 stitches from the base of the thumb. [22 (24) stitches]

Place marker and join for working in the round.

Work in stockinette stitch until piece measures 2 inches from the base of the thumb (where you picked up the 3 stitches) or until 1/8 inch from desired finished length.

For Small/Medium Size Only

Round 1: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. [15 (–) stitches]

Round 2: *K2tog, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. [8 (–) stitches]

For Medium/Large Size Only

Round 1: *K1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [– (16) stitches]

Round 2: *K2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [– (8) stitches]

For All Sizes

Cut yarn and thread it through the remaining stitches.

Weave in the cast on tail and the tail at the top of the mitten and the top of the thumb. Then use the tail at the base of the thumb to carefully sew up the gap.

Make another identical mitten.

Long Lovely Mittens | Purl Soho