Honey

Honey Mittens by Rebecca Hill

What is Being Made

Honey mittens are a pair of fingerless or convertible mittens designed by independent designer Rebecca Hill. These mittens feature a distinctive honeycomb pattern and are specifically engineered for tech users who need thumb access for texting, dialing, and other smartphone interactions. The mittens include a functional thumb that can be folded back when not needed, making them a practical gift for anyone who uses mobile devices regularly while wanting hand warmth.

Knitting Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs several fundamental techniques suitable for beginner-level knitters. The primary construction method involves working in the round using double-pointed needles, which allows for seamless mittens. The pattern incorporates cable-style techniques to create the honeycomb texture, specifically using the Cross 2 Right technique. This technique involves knitting into the second stitch on the left needle without dropping it, then knitting into the first stitch before dropping both stitches off together, creating the characteristic twisted cable effect that forms the honeycomb pattern.

Stitches Used

The Honey mittens pattern utilizes essential knitting stitches that make it accessible to beginners:

• Knit (K) - the fundamental stitch forming the base of the fabric
• Purl (P) - used in combination with knit stitches to create texture and pattern definition
• Knit 2 Together (K2TOG) - a decrease stitch used for shaping the mittens
• Make 1 (M1) - an increase stitch created by inserting the right needle into the bar between stitches from front to back, then knitting into the back of the new stitch
• Bind Off (BO) - the finishing technique used to close off stitches and complete the mittens

Materials and Tools

The Honey mittens pattern calls for specific materials to achieve the intended finished fabric and appearance. The yarn used is Malabrigo Chunky in the colorway Frank Ochre, with 2 skeins required to complete the pair. Chunky weight yarn works up quickly, making this an ideal beginner project that can be completed relatively fast.

The primary knitting tool is a set of 4 US size 10 double-pointed needles (DPNs), which are essential for working mittens in the round without seams. Additional supplies include scrap yarn for holding stitches, a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and a stitch marker to track pattern repeats. The pattern also offers optional embellishment with two 1/2" buttons and needle and thread for sewing, allowing customization of the finished mittens. A crochet hook is listed as optional, likely for picking up dropped stitches or finishing edges.

Pattern Difficulty and Suitability

Rated as a beginner-level pattern, the Honey mittens are designed to be accessible to knitters new to the craft while still incorporating interesting stitch techniques. The combination of basic stitches with the Cross 2 Right cable technique provides an excellent learning opportunity for beginners to develop their skills. The chunky yarn weight means fewer stitches and rows to work, reducing the overall time commitment and making this an ideal last-minute gift project.