Color Tip Mittens

With tips that look as if they’ve been dipped in a pail of paint, our Color Tip Mittens are a fun pattern for exploring the lively tweeds of our new Echo Wool yarn. Just two balls of this affordable, exceptionally soft recycled wool yarn are enough to make two opposite-color pairs in any size, from kids through adults!

These mittens are an easy and satisfying knit. They have a no-gusset thumb that you make with the “afterthought” method, a simple technique where you knit the thumb hole stitches with scrap yarn, finish your mitten, then go back and slip the scrap-yarn stitches onto your needles, ready to knit the thumb in the round. Super simple, and we link in the pattern to our great tutorial—you’ll have no problem following along!

Spun from 100% recycled wool fibers reclaimed from the mill’s production process, Echo Wool is grounded in the integrity of reuse and second chances. It knits up happily anywhere from a sport to DK weight into a nubbly, exceptionally soft fabric with a reassuringly familiar feel that needs no breaking in. For the Color Tip Mittens, you’ll knit quite densely for a thick, warm fabric with an almost felted hand… Very beautiful!

The 16 heathered colors of Echo Wool’s palette are speckled with colorful nepps for a rich tweed effect that reflects the many fibers spun into the strand. Choose any two for your mittens, and you’ll see how the flecks speak to each other—little sparks of shared color that blend the palette together.

Our Color Tip Mittens are a joyful project for discovering the warmth, softness, and tweedy colors of Echo Wool. Cast on with your favorite shades and enjoy a simple knit with a playful touch!

Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!

Pattern designed and written by Purl Soho designer, Gianna Mueller. See even more of Gianna’s work on her Instagram!

Story written by Andrea Lotz for Purl Soho.

Want to print this pattern? On desktop, find the “print” icon in the right margin, and on mobile, scroll to the end of the pattern for it. Use the on-screen instructions to remove anything you don’t want to print!

Materials

• Purl Soho’s Echo Wool, 100% recycled wool yarn. Each ball of this sport- to light worsted/ dk-weight yarn is approximately 328 yards/100 grams.
  • Main Color: 1 ball; approximately 100 (130, 150, 175, 200) total yards required
  • Contrast Color: 1 ball; approximately 20 (20, 30, 35, 40) total yards required
• A set of US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles OR US 2, 32-inch circular knitting needles for Magic Loop
• A set of US 3 (3.25 mm) double pointed needles OR US 3, 32-inch circular needles for Magic Loop
• Stitch markers, including one unique
• Scrap yarn

NOTE: This is enough yarn to make at least 2 pairs of Mittens in any size, with colors swapped!

We knit the following sizes and colors for our Mittens…

• KID: Main Color, Renaissance Blue; Contrast Color, Cake Shop
• ADULT MEDIUM: Main Color, Tilled Field; Contrast Color, Fathom Blue
• ADULT MEDIUM: Main Color, Blue Brume; Contrast Color, Heirloom White

GAUGE

26 stitches and 34 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, on larger needles

28 stitches and 38 rounds = 4 inches in 2×1 rib stitch, on smaller needles

SIZES

Kid (Adult Small, Adult Medium, Adult Large, Adult X-Large)

• Finished Circumference at Palm: 5½ (6¾, 7½, 8½, 9¼) inches
• Finished Circumference at Wrist: 5¼ (6, 6¾, 7¾, 8½) inches
• Finished Length from Cuff to Tip: 9¼ (10, 10¾, 11¼, 11¾) inches, with instructions to modify

NOTE

DOUBLE POINTED NEEDLES OR MAGIC LOOP

This pattern includes instructions for working on either double pointed needles or on long circular needles, using the Magic Loop method. We have tutorials for both techniques, so just pick the approach you prefer!

For more help, visit our How To Knit With Double Pointed Needles Tutorial and our Magic Loop Tutorial.

PATTERN

CUFF

With Main Color (MC) cast 36 (42, 48, 54, 60) stitches onto smaller needles, dividing the stitches among 4 double pointed needles or arranging them on circular needles for Magic Loop (see Note). We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

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

Round 1: *K2, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 2½ (2¾, 3, 3, 3½) inches from cast-on edge.  

ADULT SMALL + ADULT LARGE SIZES ONLY

Next Round: K2, knit front and back (kfb), *k2, p1, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k2, kfb. [– (44, –, 56, –) stitches]

WRIST

Switching to larger needles…

Work in stockinette stitch, knitting every round, until piece measures 5½ (5¾, 6, 6, 6¼) inches from cast-on edge.

CREATE THUMB HOLE

NOTE: In this section, you will knit Thumb hole stitches with scrap yarn so that you can later put live stitches onto your needles to knit the Thumb. Don’t worry, when it’s time for that, we’ll link to our tutorial to help you!

RIGHT MITTEN ONLY

Next Round: K2, cut MC; with scrap yarn, k5 (6, 7, 8, 9); re-join MC and knit to end of round.

LEFT MITTEN ONLY

Next Round: Knit to last 7 (8, 9, 10, 11) stitches, cut MC; with scrap yarn, k5 (6, 7, 8, 9); re-join MC and k2.

PALM

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 2 (2¼, 2½, 2¾, 3) inches from Thumb Hole.

Cut MC.

Join Contrast Color (CC).

Continue in stockinette stitch until piece measures 3¼ (3½, 3¾, 4, 4¼) inches from Thumb Hole or ½ (¾, 1, 1¼, 1¼) inch(es) less than desired finished length. [8¾ (9¼, 9¾, 10, 10½) inches from cast-on edge]

MITTEN TOP

Set-Up Round: [K9 (11, 12, 14, 15), place marker] 3 times, knit to end of round. [4 markers, including unique]

Round 1: [K1, knit 2 together (k2tog), knit to 2 stitches before next marker, slip slip knit (ssk), slip marker (sm)] 4 times. [8 stitches decreased]

Round 2: Knit to end of round.

Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 zero (1, 2, 3, 3) more time(s). [28 (28, 24, 24, 28)] stitches remain]

Repeat Round 1 two (2, 1, 1, 2) more time(s). [12 (12, 16, 16, 12)] stitches remain]

ADULT MEDIUM + LARGE SIZE ONLY

Next Round: [K2, ssk, sm, k1, k2tog, k1, sm] 2 times [12 stitches remain]

ALL SIZES

Cut CC and thread tail onto a tapestry needle.

Thread tail through remaining stitches, pull taut, and bring tail to inside of Mitten to weave in.

THUMB

NOTE: As promised… For additional help with this section, including step-by-step photos, please visit our Afterthought Method: Thumbs, Heels + Pockets Tutorial!

Slip the 5, (6, 7, 8, 9) stitches below the Thumb Hole onto one needle.

Slip the 5, (6, 7, 8, 9) stitches above the Thumb Hole onto another needle.

Remove scrap yarn.

Next Round: Joining MC, knit lower 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) stitches, pick up 1 stitch at left side of Thumb Hole, turn Mitten 180-degrees and knit upper 5 (6, 7, 8, 9) stitches, pick up 1 stitch at other side of Thumb Hole, place marker and join for working in the round. [12 (14, 16, 18, 20) total stitches]

Knit in stockinette stitch until Thumb measures 2 (2¼, 2½, 2½, 2¾) inches, or ¼ inch less than desired finished length.

Decrease Round: [K1, k2tog, k1 (2, 3, 4, 5), ssk] 2 times. [8 (10, 12, 14, 16) stitches remain]

ADULT LARGE + ADULT X-LARGE SIZES ONLY

Decrease Round: [K1, k2tog, k – (–, –, 2, 3), ssk] 2 times. [ – (–, –, 10, 12) stitches remain]

ALL SIZES

Cut MC and thread tail onto a tapestry needle.

Thread tail through remaining stitches, pull taut, and bring tail to inside of Thumb to weave in.

Make another Mitten, following Thumb Hole instructions for the other hand.

FINISHING

Weave in ends, gently block your Mittens, and you’re done!

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

Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our knitting patterns (including tons of 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!