Basket weave fingerless mittens

Basket Weave Fingerless Mittens by Beate Zaech

What is Being Made

These are fingerless mittens designed for a woman's medium hand size. Fingerless mittens, also called fingerless gloves or mitts, provide warmth to the palm, back of hand, and wrist while leaving the fingers exposed for dexterity and tactile tasks. This particular design features a decorative basket weave pattern created through strategic color changes and slip stitch techniques.

Knitting Techniques Used

The mittens are constructed using circular knitting on double pointed needles, which allows for seamless construction worked in continuous rounds. The pattern employs several key techniques:

• Color work using two yarn colors to create visual interest and texture
• Slip stitches combined with knit and purl stitches to form the basket weave pattern
• Stockinette stitch for the main body sections, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Gusset shaping at the thumb to provide proper fit and mobility
• Gauge matching to ensure proper sizing and fabric drape

Stitches and Stitch Pattern Details

The basket weave pattern is created through alternating rounds of slip stitches and knit stitches in the contrast color. The pattern repeats as follows: slip 2 stitches, knit 4 stitches across the round, then slip 2 stitches, purl 4 stitches on the return rows. This slip stitch technique creates a woven appearance without requiring complex colorwork techniques. The main body is worked in stockinette stitch (knit rounds alternating with purl rounds when working flat sections) at a gauge of 36 stitches and 48 rows per 10 centimeters.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The mittens require 40 grams of 4-ply sock yarn with a yardage of approximately 420 meters per 100 grams for the main color. The contrast color uses approximately 5 grams of Kidsilk Haze, a delicate lace-weight yarn that adds a subtle sheen and texture. The pattern notes that Kidsilk Haze can be substituted with fingering weight yarn, though this substitution requires approximately 10 grams instead of 5 grams due to the different yardage per gram ratio.

Tools and Equipment

Construction requires five double pointed needles sized 2 to 3 millimeters, with needle size selection based on achieving the specified gauge. Additional tools include 2 stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping points, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends upon completion.

Difficulty Level and Suitability

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to tackle color changes, slip stitch techniques, and circular needle construction. The pattern requires understanding of gauge, the ability to work in the round on double pointed needles, and comfort with reading written pattern instructions that include stitch repeats and shaping sequences.