Babylove mitts and beret

Babylove Mitts and Beret by Anni Howard

Project Overview

The Babylove Mitts and Beret is a coordinating knitting set designed by Anni Howard, featuring two complementary accessories perfect for babies and young children. This intermediate-level knitting project includes fingerless mitts and a matching beret, both worked in sport-weight yarn for a delicate, breathable finish.

What is Being Made

• Fingerless Mitts: Hand-warming accessories with an open palm design, measuring approximately 5 inches (13 cm) around the palm. These mitts provide wrist and hand coverage while leaving fingers free for movement and dexterity.
• Beret: A classic rounded hat with a width around the head of 16 to 18 inches (40 to 45 cm), offering comfortable coverage for babies and toddlers.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This project employs several fundamental and decorative knitting techniques suitable for intermediate knitters. The construction features lace stitch patterns created through strategic yarn-forward increases and decreases, which add visual interest and breathability to the finished pieces.

Key stitches and techniques used include:

• Knit (K) and Purl (P) stitches: The foundational stitches that form the fabric base.
• Yarn forward (yfwd): An increase technique that creates decorative eyelet holes characteristic of lace patterns.
• Slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over (sl1, K1, psso): A left-leaning decrease that pairs with yarn-forward increases to maintain stitch count while creating lace motifs.
• Knit two together (K2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in combination with yarn-overs to form the heart panel pattern.
• Slip, knit two together, pass slipped stitch over (sl1, K2tog, psso): A centered double decrease that creates more pronounced design elements within the lace pattern.
• Heart Panel: A distinct lace motif worked across 13 stitches, featuring symmetrical increases and decreases that form a decorative heart shape. This panel is incorporated into the design of both the mitts and beret.

The pattern uses circular knitting on double-pointed needles, a technique that allows for seamless construction of small circumference items like mittens and hats.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Babylove Mitts and Beret is designed to be knitted in sport-weight yarn, a lightweight yarn category ideal for delicate baby garments. The recommended yarn choices include:

• Debbie Bliss Ecobaby in shade 008 (primary recommendation)
• Baby Cashmerino in shade 600 (alternative option)
• Any 5-ply or sport-weight yarn that knits to the specified tension

Yarn quantities required:

• Fingerless Mitts: 1 × 50g ball
• Beret: 1 × 50g ball

The pattern calls for knitting needles in two sizes to achieve proper gauge and fit:

• 2¾ mm needles (for ribbing or initial cast-on)
• 3¼ mm needles (for main fabric)
• Set of 4 double-pointed needles in both 2¾ mm and 3¼ mm sizes for circular knitting

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this project is suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle lace patterns and decorative stitch techniques. The heart panel lace motif requires attention to yarn-over and decrease placement, making it an excellent project for developing pattern-reading and stitch manipulation skills.