Minky Mittens

Minky Mittens

I've been plotting another pair of mittens for awhile now. In fact, I've been plotting them for so long that I didn't manage to complete them until our first spring-ish week here in Wisconsin (oops). While my timing is terrible, however, these mittens are not; made with a slip stitch color pattern, they are thick and warm, and can be sized from toddlers to adults. Now I just have to hope my kids don't grow out of them before next winter...

Sizes: Toddler (Child Small; Child Medium; Child Large/Adult Small; Adult Medium; Adult Large)

Yarn: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash (100% Superwash Wool; 220 yards [200 meters]/100 grams); #1946 Silver Grey - one skein (color A), #810 Teal - one skein (color B for the toddler sized mittens) & #9863 Spring Meadow - one skein (color B for the children's small mittens)

The pattern. Plus an eye! Notice how the variegated color B
yarn changes the look of the mitten.

Needles: One set of double pointed needles (dpns) in size US 5, one set of dpns in size US 7

Notions: Tapestry needle

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches on size 7 needles

So let's do this thang! Using your size 5 needles and your color A yarn, cast on 30 (34; 36; 40; 44; 48) stitches and divide evenly between 3 dpns. Join in round. Then knit the following ribbing row:

Ribbing Row: * k1, p1; rep from *

Knit this ribbing row until ribbing measures 1.5" (1.5"; 1.75"; 2.25"; 2.25"; 2.5"). Then switch to your size 7 needles and knit one row around, still in your color A yarn. And once that's done, we'll work a few more rows before we gusset in the thumb, as follows:

Rows 1 & 2: using color B, * k1, slip 1 with yarn in back (wyib) *

Row 3: using color A, knit

Rows 4 & 5: using color B, * slip 1 wyib, k1 *

Row 6: using color A, knit

Knit rows 1 - 6 once (once; once; twice; twice; twice), and then we'll set up our gusseting rows, as follows:

Set-up Gusset Rows 1 & 2: using color B, * k1, slip 1 wyib * 

Set-up Gusset Row 3: using color A, m1r, place marker, knit until end of round

Set-up Gusset Rows 4 & 5: using color B, k1, slip marker, * slip 1 wyib, k1 *

Set-up Gusset Row 6: using color A, k1, m1r, slip marker, knit across remainder of stitches in row, place marker, m1l

And once you've completed these 6 set-up gusset rows, we'll continue with the main gusset rows, as follows:

Gusset Row 1: using color B, knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, * k1, slip 1 wyib * until you reach next marker, slip marker, knit until end of round

Gusset Row 2: using color B, slip 1, knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, * k1, slip 1 wyib * until you reach next marker, slip marker, knit until end of round (in case you're wondering, slipping that first stitch will help you create a jogless stripe)

Gusset Row 3: using color A, knit until you reach first marker, m1r, slip marker, knit until you reach next marker, slip marker, m1l, knit until end of round

Gusset Row 4: using color B, knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, * slip 1 wyib, k1 * until you reach second marker, slip marker, knit until end of round

Gusset Row 5: using color B, slip 1, knit until you reach first marker, slip marker, * slip 1 wyib, k1 * until you reach second marker, slip marker, knit until end of round

Gusset Row 6: using color A, knit until you reach first marker, m1r, slip marker, knit until you reach next marker, slip marker, m1l, knit until end of round

Knit gusset rows 1 - 6 until you've added 9 stitches (11 stitches; 13 stitches; 13 stitches; 15 stitches; 17 stitches) in total and you've just finished gusset row 3 or gusset row 6 of the pattern. Clip both yarn tails and, using a tapestry needle, transfer all added stitches from your first and third dpns to a scrap of yarn to work later. Remove markers. Then, we'll resume the main pattern, beginning with the stitches you have remaining on your first dpn, and joining the mitt back in the round at the thumb break. Please note: if you ended on row 6 of the gusset pattern, you'll begin the following main pattern rows on row 1. If, on the other hand, you ended on gusset row 3, you'll begin the main pattern below beginning at row 4. So let's continue like so:

Rows 1 & 2: using color B, * k1, slip 1 wyib *

Row 3: using color A, knit

Rows 4 & 5: using color B, * slip 1 wyib, k1 *

Row 6: using color A, knit

Knit rows 1 - 6 until piece measures roughly 2.5" (2.75"; 3.25"; 3.5"; 4"; 4.25") from the thumb break and you've just finished row 2 or row 5 of the pattern. Clip the tail of your color B yarn, and knit the following marker placement row:

Marker Placement Row: knit 15 (17; 18; 20; 22; 24) stitches, place marker, knit until end of round

And once that's done, let's move on to the decreases, which go as follows:

Decrease Row 1: ssk, knit until 2 stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker, ssk, knit until 2 stitches before end of round, k2tog (26 stitches left (30; 32; 36; 40; 44))

Decrease Row 2: knit

Decrease Row 3: ssk, knit until 2 stitches before marker, k2tog, slip marker, ssk, knit until 2 stitches before end of round, k2tog (22 stitches left (26; 28; 32; 36; 40))

Decrease Row 4: knit

Decrease Row 5: (ssk) twice, knit until 4 stitches before marker, (k2tog) twice, slip marker, (ssk) twice, knit until 4 stitches before marker, (k2tog) twice (14 stitches left (18; 20; 24; 28; 32))

If you're knitting sizes toddler, child small, or child medium, do the final decrease row, as follows:

Final Decrease Row for sizes toddler, child small, and child medium: * k2tog * (7 stitches left (9; 10))

Using tapestry needle, thread through final stitches, pull tight, thread to inside of mitten and knot. 

If you're knitting sizes child large/adult small, adult medium, or adult large, continue like so:

Decrease Row 6: knit

Decrease Row 7: (ssk) twice, knit until 4 stitches before marker, (k2tog) twice, slip marker, (ssk) twice, knit until 4 stitches before marker, (k2tog) twice (-- stitches left (--; --; 16; 20; 24))

Final Decrease Row for sizes child large/adult small, adult medium, and adult large: * k2tog * (-- stitches left (--; --; 8; 10; 12)

Using tapestry needle, thread through final stitches, pull tight, thread to inside of mitten and knot. 

Finally, for all sizes, using your size 7 dpns and your color A yarn, pick up your thumb stitches again, taking care not to put a seam where the break in the stitches occurs (where you rejoined your glove in the round after removing the thumb stitches from your dpns). Knit around, picking up one extra stitch at the break, until thumb measures 1.25" (1.5"; 1.75"; 2"; 2.25"; 2.5"). Then knit the following row:

Thumb Decrease Row: * k2tog * 5 stitches (6 stitches; 7 stitches; 7 stitches; 8 stitches; 9 stitches)

Clip yarn tail and, using your tapestry needle, thread through remaining stitches. Pull tight, thread to inside of them, and knot. Tuck in ends. Finally, as with all slipped stitch patterns, you may need to do some stitch-scootching at this point to achieve perfection.

My three-year-old in the toddler size.

My five-year-old in the small children's size