Slipstream Mitts

Slipstream Mitts by Louise Zass-Bangham

What is Being Made

Slipstream Mitts are a pair of knitted hand coverings designed to showcase variegated or semi-solid yarn through interesting colour transitions and texture work. The pattern offers flexible styling options, allowing crafters to choose between wrist-warmers or regular mitts with a shaped thumb gusset. Both styles are approximately 20cm/8" long and easily adjustable to personal preference for wrist or finger coverage length. The design is available in two sizes: S/M to fit 18cm/7" hands and L/XL to fit 20cm/8" hands.

Techniques Used

Slipstream Mitts are worked in the round, a fundamental knitting technique that creates seamless tubular fabric ideal for fitted garments like mitts. The pattern employs a shaped thumb gusset construction, which provides a custom fit at the thumb base. Crafters can choose their preferred method for working in the round, including double-pointed needles (dpns), circular needles using the magic loop technique, or two sets of circular needles. The intermediate difficulty level reflects the coordination required for in-the-round construction and shaping techniques. Optional embellishment with beads adds decorative glamour to the finished mitts.

Stitches and Stitch Details

While specific stitch patterns are not detailed in the pattern overview, the design emphasizes texture work that showcases yarn characteristics. The pattern is constructed to highlight colour slipstreaming—the gradual transition of colours from one to the next—making it particularly suitable for variegated or semi-solid yarn selections. The shaped thumb gusset involves increases and decreases to create a custom-fitted thumb opening.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

• Yarn Weight: 4ply/fingering weight yarn
• Yardage: 365m/400yds per 100g skein; allow 180m/200yds for standard sizes, or approximately 240m/265yds for longer cuffs
• Yarn Selection: Choose a yarn with a good twist and a bit of bounce to ensure the mitts hold their shape and showcase texture effectively
• Needles: 2.75mm/US 2 and 3mm/US 2½ needles for working in the round using your preferred method—double-pointed needles, circular needles with an 80cm/32" cable minimum for magic loop technique, or two sets of circular needles with 60cm/24" cables
• Additional Notions: Stitch markers, small amount of waste yarn to hold thumb stitches, and optional size 6/0 beads for embellishment

Pattern Format

Slipstream Mitts is available as a downloadable PDF pattern, making it accessible for immediate digital access and printing at home.