Many of us would agree, I think, that seed stitch is one of knitting’s most refined patterns, as elegant as Grace Kelly and as classic as argyle. But what may go a little under appreciated is the feel of seed stitch.

A firm seed stitch has a wonderfully satisfying texture, like warm pebbles on a garden path or like crisp kernels on a sweet cob of corn. In the dark, I’d take a swatch of seed stitch over stockinette any day! And so I thought, why not put the feeling of seed stitch literally at my fingertips?

In Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure, seed stitch couldn’t really feel any better. Soft and cozy, dense and hefty, Alpaca Pure seriously ups the pleasure ante on these Seed Stitch Mittens and Hand Warmers!

Finger-hugging mittens for the frigid cold and finger-liberating hand warmers for the milder months of early spring, both are super easy to make and both feel absolutely incredible! -Whitney

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

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

Materials

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• 2 skeins of Purl Soho’s Alpaca Pure, 100% alpaca. Approximately 180 (218) yards required for a pair of Mittens or Hand Warmers. We used the colors Sea Salt and Oyster Gray. (NOTE: We no longer offer Alpaca Pure, but choose from one of our other worsted weight yarns.)
• A set of US 6 (4 mm) double pointed needles
• A yard of scrap yarn

Gauge

18 stitches = 4 inches in seed stitch

Sizes

Women’s Small/Medium (Medium/Large)

• Finished circumference around cuff and palm: 7⅓ (8¼) inches
• Finished length from Mitten hem to Mitten top: 12 (13½) inches (adjustable)
• Finished length from Hand Warmer hem to Hand Warmer top: 9½ (11) inches (adjustable)

Mittens Pattern

(Note: The photos in this pattern show the size Small/Medium.)

Cuff

Cast 33 (37) stitches onto three double pointed needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

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

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1.

Round 2: *P1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 6 1/2 (7 1/2) inches from cast on edge, ending with Round 1.

Thumb Hole

Next Round: With scrap yarn, [p1, k1] 2 times, p0 (1), cut scrap yarn.

Slip 4 (5) scrap yarn stitches back to left needle.

With the working yarn, work Round 2.

Palm and Top

Continue to repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 4 3/4 (5 1/4) inches from thumb hole (or until mitten fits to right below tip of middle finger), ending with either round.

Next Round: Knit.

Next Round: K0 (1), *k1, k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [22 (25) stitches]

Next Round: K0 (1), *k2tog, repeat from * to end of round. [11 (13) stitches]

Next Round: [K2tog] 5 (6) times, k1. [6 (7) stitches]

Cut yarn, leaving a 12-inch tail. Thread the tail onto a tapestry needle and sew it through the remaining stitches. Pull tight and bring the tail to the inside of the mitten.

Thumb

Slip a double pointed needle under the right legs of the 4 (5) stitches right below the scrap yarn.

Turn the piece upside down and slip a second double pointed needle under the right legs of the 4 (5) stitches that are now right below the scrap yarn.

Remove the scrap yarn and turn the piece right side up again.

Set-Up Round: With a new needle and joining new yarn to the bottom stitches, [p1, k1] 2 x, p0 (1).

With the right side facing you and using the bottom needle, pick up three stitches between the bottom needle and the top needle.

With a new needle and the right side facing you (which means flipping the mitten upside down), work the top 4 (5) stitches…

For Size Small/ Medium

…[K1, p1] 2 times.

For Size Medium/ Large

…[P1, k1] 2 times, p1.

Both Sizes

With a new needle and the right side facing you, pick up two stitches from between the top and bottom needles. [13 (15) total stitches]

Place a marker and with the same needle k1, p1, k1 from the first needle. The stitches are now evenly distributed [4-4-5 (5-5-5)] and ready to work in the round.

Finish Set-Up Round: *P1, k1, repeat from * to end of round.

Round 1: *P1, k1, repeat from * to last stitch, p1.

Round 2: *K1, p1, repeat from * to last stitch, k1. **

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until thumb measures 2 1/8 (2 3/8) inches (or until thumb is 3/8 inch shorter than the actual thumb), ending with either round.

Next Round: Knit.

Next Round: [K1, k2tog] 4 (5) times, k1 (0). [9 (10) stitches]

Next Round: [K2tog] 4 (5) times, k1 (0). [5 (5) stitches]

Cut the yarn, thread it onto a tapestry needle and sew the tail through the remaining stitches.

Bring the tail to the inside of the thumb and weave in the end.

Weave in any remaining ends and make a second identical mitten!

Hand Warmers Pattern

Cuff and Thumb Hole

Work the Mittens pattern from the Cuff section through the Thumb Hole section.

Palm

Continue to repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 3 (3 1/2) inches from the Thumb Hole (or until the Palm reaches your middle finger’s knuckle), ending with either round.

Cast off loosely in knit stitch.

Thumb

Work the Thumb section of the Mittens to the **.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until thumb measures 1 1/4 (1 1/2) inches from the thumb pick up (or until thumb reaches the middle of your actual thumb’s knuckle), ending with either round.

Bind off loosely in knit.

Weave in the ends and make a second identical hand warmer!