Warm Things Mitts

Warm Things Mitts by Kristen TenDyke

What is Being Made

The Warm Things Mitts are a pair of knitted mittens designed in child and adult sizes. This pattern offers two finished circumference options: 5¾ inches for the child size and 7¼ inches for the adult size. The mittens are available in three length variations—4 inches, 5¼ inches, and 6¾ inches—allowing crafters to customize the finished garment to their preferred proportions. The sample shown in the pattern is the adult size, displayed in the colorway Wild Geranium.

Techniques and Construction

These mittens are constructed using knitting in the round, a fundamental technique for creating seamless, tubular garments. The pattern employs cable work as a central design element, featuring a cable panel that runs along the mitt. Working in the round on double pointed needles creates a continuous fabric without the need for seaming, resulting in a smooth, professional finish ideal for a fitted hand garment.

Stitches Used

The pattern incorporates cable stitches as the primary decorative element, with the cable panel measuring 3½ inches wide in the adult mitt version. Cables are created by crossing groups of stitches over one another using a cable needle, producing the characteristic twisted, rope-like texture that adds both visual interest and structural integrity to the mittens. The pattern also uses stitch markers to track pattern repeats and shaping increases or decreases throughout the construction.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (CYCA #4 Medium). The sample is worked in O-Wool Local, a blend of 45% certified organic Merino wool and 50% alpaca fiber, with approximately 240 yards per 100-gram hank. The child size requires approximately 63 yards, while the adult size requires approximately 103 yards, meaning one skein is sufficient for either size.
• Needles: US size 6 (4 mm) double pointed needles in a set of 4 or 5, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge.
• Notions: A cable needle for manipulating cable stitches, stitch markers for tracking pattern placement, waste yarn or stitch holders for securing live stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends.

Gauge and Difficulty

The pattern specifies a gauge of 18 stitches across the adult mitt cable panel measuring 3½ inches wide, with 28 rounds equaling 4 inches in length. Achieving accurate gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly in a fitted garment like mittens. The Warm Things Mitts are classified as an intermediate difficulty pattern, making them suitable for knitters with foundational skills in circular knitting and cable work who are ready to tackle more complex stitch patterns.