Charoite Mittens

Charoite Mittens by Mandy Spoth

What Is Being Made

The Charoite Mittens are a pair of adult-sized knitted mittens named after a rare purple mineral. These mittens feature an allover colorwork pattern combined with garter stitch detailing at the cuff. The finished mittens measure 8 inches (20.5 cm) in circumference and 10.25 inches (26 cm) in length, making them suitable for most adult hands. The pattern is adjustable for larger or smaller sizes by modifying the gauge.

Craft and Techniques

These mittens are created using the knitting craft with intermediate-level difficulty. The project employs colorwork knitting, a technique that incorporates two colors throughout the main body of the mittens to create a patterned design. The cuff utilizes garter stitch, a fundamental knitting stitch that creates a textured, ridged appearance. The mittens are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, a traditional method for creating seamless tubular garments.

An important technical consideration for this colorwork project is yarn dominance—the appearance of stitches in colorwork patterns changes dramatically depending on which hand holds which color yarn. The pattern instructions emphasize maintaining consistent yarn placement throughout the project: if you begin with the main color in your right hand, it must remain in your right hand for the entire mitten to ensure consistent stitch appearance.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (at the cuff)
• Charted colorwork pattern stitches
• SSK (slip, slip, knit) for decreasing
• Cast on and basic knit/purl stitches for colorwork

Materials

The Charoite Mittens pattern calls for Cascade 220 Wool by Cascade Yarns, a worsted-weight yarn made from 100% wool. The yarn specifications are 100 grams per 3.5 ounces with 220 yards (201 meters) per skein. Two colors are required: Silver Gray #8401 for the main color (1 skein) and Plum #9474 for the contrasting color (1 skein).

Needles required include a set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) in size US 4 (3.5 mm), or the size needed to achieve the correct gauge. The recommended gauge is 6 stitches equals 1 inch (2.5 cm) when measured over the charted pattern. Additional notions include a stitch marker and a darning needle for finishing.

Pattern Format

This pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF designed by independent designer Mandy Spoth, making it accessible for immediate digital download and printing at home.