Route 66 Driving Mitts

Route 66 Driving Mitts by Carol Herman

What Is Being Made

Route 66 Driving Mitts are fingerless gloves designed for women in two sizes: S/M and L. These mitts are crafted with negative ease for a snug, fitted appearance and are versatile enough for driving, office wear, or casual reading. The finished dimensions range from 6 ¾ inches wide and 6 inches long for the S/M size to 7 ¾ inches wide and 7 inches long for the L size. The pattern accommodates hand measurements from 7 to 8 ½ inches around the widest part.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several essential techniques to create its distinctive look and structure. The pattern features crossed stitches as a primary design element, with a dedicated mini-tutorial provided on page 4 of the pattern to guide knitters through this decorative technique. Additional core knitting skills required include standard knitting and purling for the base fabric construction.

The mitts are constructed using several important finishing and shaping methods:

• Cable Cast-On for creating a sturdy, elastic foundation edge
• Decreasing techniques for shaping the mitt to fit the hand contours
• Picking up stitches for seamless transitions between sections
• Mattress Stitch for invisible, professional seaming

The combination of crossed stitches with traditional knit-purl work creates visual interest while maintaining an easy construction process that delivers results quickly.

Yarn and Materials

Route 66 Driving Mitts are designed to work with 4-ply and sport weight yarn, offering flexibility in fiber choice while maintaining the intended drape and fit. The sample shown in the pattern was worked in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted, demonstrating how the yarn weight and fiber characteristics influence the finished appearance of the crossed stitch details.