Rainbow Mittens

Rainbow Mittens by LCMknits

What Is Being Made

Rainbow Mittens is a downloadable knitting pattern designed to create colorful mittens featuring vibrant rainbow stripes. The pattern offers versatility across multiple sizes and styles: the smallest size (ages 2-4) features full mittens with thumb coverage, while the three larger sizes (ages 5-8, 9-12, and teen/adult small) are designed as fingerless mittens. This design flexibility makes the pattern suitable for knitters creating gifts for children through adults.

Sizes and Measurements

The pattern includes four distinct size options with adjustable length:

• Size 1 (Ages 2-4): Wrist circumference 5¼ inches (13cm), hand circumference 5 inches (13cm), length 5¼ inches (13cm) – full mittens with thumb
• Size 2 (Ages 5-8): Wrist circumference 6 inches (15cm), hand circumference 5½ inches (14cm), length 5¾ inches (14.5cm) – fingerless
• Size 3 (Ages 9-12): Wrist circumference 7 inches (18cm), hand circumference 6½ inches (16.5cm), length 6¼ inches (16cm) – fingerless
• Size 4 (Teen/Adult Small): Wrist circumference 7½ inches (19cm), hand circumference 7¼ inches (18.5cm), length 6½ inches (16.5cm) – fingerless
• Adult M/L Option: Knitters can create larger mittens by using UK size 4mm (US size 6) needles instead, resulting in wrist circumference of 8 inches (20cm), hand circumference of 7½ inches (19cm), and length of 7¼ inches (18cm)

Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level knitting pattern employs fundamental knitting techniques suitable for knitters with basic experience. The construction involves working in the round to create seamless mittens, a common approach for hand-wear that ensures a comfortable, fitted finish. The pattern incorporates colorwork techniques to create the rainbow stripe effect, requiring knitters to work with multiple yarn colors in sequence. The fingerless mitten design for the larger sizes eliminates the need for thumb shaping, simplifying construction while the full mitten in the smallest size includes thumb gusset shaping—a technique that creates a properly fitted thumb opening by increasing stitches strategically.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The pattern specifies DK weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that produces a fabric with good drape and durability suitable for mittens. The designer recommends Stylecraft Special DK yarn or an equivalent DK weight alternative.

Yarn quantities by size:

• Size 1 (Ages 2-4): Approximately 0.8 ounces (22 grams)
• Size 2 (Ages 5-8): Approximately 0.9 ounces (24 grams)
• Size 3 (Ages 9-12): Approximately 1.2 ounces (32 grams)
• Size 4 (Teen/Adult Small): Approximately 1.3 ounces (35 grams)
• Adult M/L: Approximately 1.4 ounces (38 grams)

The pattern requires small oddments of seven distinct rainbow colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Each color needs approximately 8 feet of yarn, making this an excellent project for using up yarn scraps or stash yarn in these colors.

Needles

The pattern calls for UK size 3.5mm (US size 4) knitting needles for sizes 1 through 4. Knitters creating the adult M/L size should use UK size 4mm (US size 6) needles instead to achieve the larger gauge required for the increased measurements. Circular needles or double-pointed needles are typically used for mittens worked in the round, though the pattern instructions will specify the preferred needle type.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate, indicating it is best suited for knitters who have completed basic projects and are comfortable with fundamental techniques including casting on, knit and p