O Canada! Maple Leaf Mittens

O Canada! Maple Leaf Mittens by Cheryl Andrews

Project Overview

The O Canada! Maple Leaf Mittens are advanced-level knitted mittens designed to showcase Canadian pride through an integrated maple leaf motif. This downloadable PDF pattern from Wooly Bear Hand Knits provides instructions for two adult sizes—medium and large/extra large—allowing knitters to create a pair of warm, decorative mittens suitable for cold weather wear.

What Is Being Made

These are adult mittens featuring a distinctive maple leaf graph pattern worked over the finger portion. The mittens are constructed in the round using a traditional mitten construction method. Two finished sizes are offered: Adult medium measuring 4 inches wide by 10.5 inches long, and Adult large/extra large measuring 4.5 inches wide by 12.5 inches long, both measured flat. The pattern notes that length can be adjusted to suit individual preferences.

Knitting Techniques Used

This advanced pattern employs several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques. The mittens are worked in the round on double-pointed needles, requiring knitters to divide stitches across multiple needles and join them in a circle. The pattern incorporates ribbed cuffs using a knit-purl combination stitch pattern. A thumb gusset is constructed using left and right increases, with specific instructions for picking up stitches using the back purl bump method. The maple leaf design is worked using a stitch graph, requiring knitters to follow a charted pattern while maintaining their regular stitch work.

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Ribbing: K2, P1 (knit 2, purl 1) ribbed pattern worked for the cuff section
• Stockinette Stitch: Knit rounds worked in stockinette stitch for the body of the mitten
• Increases: Left and right increases used for thumb gusset shaping
• Charted Pattern: Maple leaf motif worked from a stitch graph over the finger portion

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors—Main Color requiring approximately 130–160 yards and Contrast Color requiring approximately 30–35 yards. The sample mittens were made using Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted weight yarn (113g, 190 yards per skein).

Needles and Notions: Size 6 double-pointed needles in a set of 4, 2 stitch markers, and a 6-inch length of waste yarn for holding stitches.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows over 4 inches when knitting in the round in stockinette stitch. Accurate gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions. The Adult medium size begins with 39 cast-on stitches divided across 3 needles (12/15/12), while the Adult large/extra large size uses 42 cast-on stitches divided as 15/12/15.

Pattern Construction Details

The mittens begin with a cast-on edge worked in the main color. The cuff is worked in K2, P1 ribbing for 3 inches (Adult medium) or 3.25 inches (Adult large/extra large), providing elasticity and a finished edge. Following the ribbed cuff, knitters work an additional 1 inch (Adult medium) or 1.25 inches (Adult large/extra large) in stockinette stitch before beginning the thumb gusset shaping. The thumb gusset is constructed using paired increases on either side of a central stitch line, creating the necessary width for thumb insertion. Once the gusset reaches the required height, stitches are placed on waste yarn to be worked later. The maple leaf graph pattern is then worked over the finger portion of the mitten, combining the charted design with the ongoing stockinette stitch background. This advanced pattern requires careful attention to stitch placement and pattern reading to successfully integrate the decorative motif.