Are Mittens the Perfect Crochet Gift?
I know a lot of us are thinking about gift-making this
time of year. And if your holiday planning is anything
like mine, you might need a gift that can come
together at the last minute. Ha.
Are Mittens the Perfect Crochet Gift?
I know a lot of us are thinking about gift-making this
time of year. And if your holiday planning is anything
like mine, you might need a gift that can come
together at the last minute. Ha.
Explanation:
Whether you’re headed to the backcountry or just
back to the coffee shop, these chunky mittens will
keep your hands toasty warm like the mitts your
grandma used to make. While they look like knit
stockinette, they’re actually crochet! The simple
pattern works up in about three hours, making these
mittens a go-to handmade gift this holiday season.
Supplies + Materials
Purchase a kit with all the yarn + a digital copy
of the pattern here.
• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (Weight:
6/super bulky – 106 yds, 6 oz)
–Oatmeal (#640-123) – 2 skeins (approx. 225 g)]
• Size L (8.0 mm) crochet hook
• Size P/Q (15.0 mm) crochet hook
• Stitch markers or safety pins
• Tapestry needle
• Leather scraps, hole punch and embroidery
thread (optional)
Sizes
One size – fits most women’s hands
Gauge
Ribbing: 5 hdc x almost 3 rows = 2”
Main Mitten: 4 sc x 4 rows = 2”
Abbreviations and Glossary (US Terms)
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
hdcblo – half double crochet through the back loop
only
st(s) – stitch(es)
sl st – slip stitch
post – the vertical strands of yarn in a sc stitch (See
photo below.)
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
Step 1: Crochet the Mitten Cuff
Notes:
• The right and left cuffs are worked identically.
• Row 2 and beyond are worked into the back loop of
the hdc stitch only (hdcblo).
• Ch 2 at beginning of each round does not count as a
st.
Make 2.
Using smaller hook:
Foundation: Ch 15.
Row 1 (RS): Hdc in third ch, hdc in each hdc; turn.
(13)
Rows 2 – 12: Ch 2, hdcblo in each hdc; turn. (13)
Fasten off, leaving 15” tail to seam cuff.
Step 2: Seaming Cuff
With RS facing out, pin cuff into a loop by placing the
initial chain row underneath Row 12. Using cuff tail
and a tapestry needle, work a basting stitch to join
edges. Take care to create enough overlap that
foundation chain doesn’t stretch and create large
gaps. (See photo B.)
Turn cuff inside out to proceed with mitten hand.
3. Crocheting Mitten Hand
Notes:
• Follow notes throughout on how to work right and
left hands. Where not noted, right and left hands are
worked identically.
• Hands are crocheted in the round with each row
beginning with a ch 1 and ending with a sl st to the
first sc of round. Neither the ch 1 or sl st count as sts.
• Row 2 and beyond are worked into the middle of
each sc stitch rather than the top loops. See Photo C
for hook placement. Besides inserting your hook in a
slightly different location, you will still be working
regular sc stitches. View a video tutorial on this
stitch with lots of helpful tips here .
• Take care to keep stitches loose so that it’s easier
to insert hook as described in photos below As you
work each sc, it’s helpful to raise your hook a bit after
picking up your second loop so as to ensure the two
posts remain loose enough for next round. It’s normal
that your stitches require a small bit of effort to push
hook through, but if it’s proving very difficult, it
means stitches must be worked even looser by pulling
hook higher.
• Left-handed crocheters: Work pattern as written
except where indicated. Instructions for right handed
mitten will actually create a mitten that fits your left
hand and visa versa.
• To create fingerless mitts instead of mittens, fasten
off after Round 10.
RIGHT & LEFT MITTENS: attaching yarn
With WS of cuff seam facing you, attach yarn
anywhere along either edge of cuff.
RIGHT & LEFT MITTENS: increasing for thumb
Using larger hook:
Round 1: Ch 1, work 12 sc evenly around (essentially
1 sc per hdc row), sl st to first sc to join. (12)
Round 2: Ch 1, sc in next 5, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc,
sc in next 5 sc, sl st to join. (14)
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in next 6, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc,
sc in next 6 sc, sl st to join. (16)
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in next 7, 2 sc in each of next 2 sc,
sc in next 7 sc, sl st to join. (18)
RIGHT mitten: creating thumb hole & hand
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in each of next 7 sc, sk 5 sc,
loosely ch 2, sc in each of next 6 sc, sl st to join. (15)
Round 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc and ch, sl st to join. (15)
Weave in any ends now as it will become difficult to
do so later.
Rounds 7-15: Ch 1, sc in each sc, sl st to join. (15)
See Photo E for how to decrease (sc2tog) while
working between posts of each sc stitch.
Round 16: Ch 1, sc in each of next 6 sc, sc2tog, sc in
each of next 5, sc2tog, sl st to join. (13)
Round 17: Ch 1, sc in each of next 5 sc, sc2tog, sc in
each of next 4, sc2tog, sl st to join. (11)
Proceed to instructions for closing top.
LEFT mitten: creating thumb hole & hand
Round 5: Ch 1, sc in each of next 6 sc, sk 5 sc,
loosely ch 2, sc in each of next 7 sc, sl st to join. (15)
Round 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc and ch, sl st to join. (15)
Weave in any ends now as it will become difficult to
do so later.
Rounds 7-15: Ch 1, sc in each sc, sl st to join. (15)
See Photo D for how to decrease (sc2tog) while
working between posts of each sc stitch.
Round 16: Ch 1, sc in each of next 5 sc, sc2tog, sc in
each of next 6, sc2tog, sl st to join. (13)
Round 17: Ch 1, sc in each of next 4 sc, sc2tog, sc in
each of next 5, sc2tog, sl st to join. (11)
Proceed to instructions for closing top.
RIGHT & LEFT mittens: closing top
Fasten off, leaving 15” tail to close top.
Mitten top is closed using a technique commonly used
in amigurumi stuffed animal patterns where
tapestry needle is worked through only front loops of
each single crochet stitch.
Thread tail from mitten top onto tapestry needle.
Insert needle from inside of mitten, under front loop
of first sc, out toward you. Repeat each each sc
around taking care to always work from inside mitten
to out. (See photo below.) Do not tighten down as you
go.
Once you return back to first sc stitch, gently cinch
circle together until it closes. Use tapestry needle to
weave in remaining tail. Here’s a helpful tutorial with
more details on this technique.
4. Creating Thumb
Notes:
• See photo below for visual explanation of thumb.
• As in the mitten hand, all sc stitches are worked
between posts of sc from previous round.
RIGHT & LEFT mittens: creating thumb
Right-handed crocheters: Attach yarn at right
“corner” of thumb where Rounds 4 and 5 meet. Work
clockwise.
Left-handed crocheters: Attach yarn at left “corner” of
thumb where Rounds 4 and 5 meet. Work
counterclockwise.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc2tog, sc in next sc, sc2tog, sl st to
“corner” between Rounds 4 and 5, sc in each of next
3 (the last of which is tricky to spot, check photo for
clarification), sl st to opposite “corner” between
Rounds 4 and 5, sl st to join. (6)
Rounds 2-6: Ch 1, sc in each sc (do not work into sl
sts), sl st to join. (6)
Fasten off leaving 12” tail.
RIGHT & LEFT mittens: closing thumb
Work as described for mitten top.
Step 5: Adding Leather Accents
To add optional leather accents, use a rotary cutter or
scissors to create two 1” x 3.5” strips of leather. (Try
a thrifted leather jacket, purse or wallet!)
Punch four holes in each corner of leather strips using
either ⅛-1/16th inch hole punch, leather punch or nail
and hammer.
Fasten leather to mitten cuffs using embroidery
thread.
Tuck away your crochet hook (just for a bit),
put on your mittens and head outside for a
snowball fight.
