Pigwidgeon Mitts

Pigwidgeon Mitts by Terri Kruse

What is Being Made

Pigwidgeon Mitts are a knitted mitten pattern designed by Terri Kruse, available as a downloadable PDF. These mittens are sized for children and women, ranging from Child 2 through Women's Large. The finished mittens feature a classic mitten silhouette with a fitted cuff and hand section, designed to provide warmth and comfort for various age groups and hand sizes.

Sizes and Finished Measurements

The pattern includes five size options with the following finished measurements:

• Child 2: 5.5 inches circumference around widest part of hand; 5.5 inches length with cuff
• Child 4: 6.25 inches circumference; 6.25 inches length
• Child 6: 6.5 inches circumference; 7 inches length
• Women's Small: 7 inches circumference; 7.25 inches length
• Women's Medium: 7.5 inches circumference; 8 inches length
• Women's Large: 8 inches circumference; 8.5 inches length

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Pigwidgeon Mitts employ charted colorwork as the primary decorative technique. The pattern uses chart-based knitting, with charts worked from right to left in the traditional manner. This technique allows knitters to create detailed patterned designs by following visual representations of stitches rather than written row-by-row instructions.

The mittens are constructed using double-pointed needles, which enable knitting in the round without seams—a standard method for mitten construction. The pattern utilizes stockinette stitch as the foundation, which creates the smooth, classic fabric characteristic of quality mittens. Different sizes require different needle gauges, with some sizes sharing the same charted patterns but knit on smaller needles to achieve proper fit.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The pattern calls for Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock, a 4-ply yarn composed of 100% Superwash Merino fiber. This yarn weight and fiber content provide excellent elasticity, durability, and ease of care—superwash treatment means the finished mittens can be machine washed, making them practical for active children and everyday wear.

The yarn yardage is 370 yards per 100 grams (3.53 ounces). The pattern uses three colors:

• MC (Main Color): Moss Canyon (green) – 1 full skein
• CC1 (Contrast Color 1): Bella's Truck (orange) – 20 grams
• CC2 (Contrast Color 2): Parchment (off white) – 20 grams

For the largest size, CC1 and CC2 use less than the specified 20 grams, making these mittens an excellent project for using leftover yarn from other projects. This makes Pigwidgeon Mitts an economical choice for crafters with yarn stashes.

Needles Required

The pattern requires two sets of double-pointed needles in different sizes:

• 1 set of US 1/2.25mm double-pointed needles – used for specific sizes
• 1 set of US 2/2.75mm double-pointed needles – used for other sizes

The pattern documentation specifies which needle size corresponds to which sizes, as some sizes share the same charts but are knit on smaller needles to achieve proper gauge and fit.

Gauge

Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished measurements. The pattern specifies:

• 27 stitches and 32 rows over 4 inches on size 3 needles (for Child 2, Child 4, Women's Small, and Women's Large)
• 28 stitches and 34 rows over 4 inches on size 2 needles (for Child 6 and Women's Medium)