Witch Elm Mitts

Witch Elm Mitts by Anne Hanson

What Is Being Made

The Witch Elm Mitts are fingerless mitts designed in two sizes: S/M and M/L. These knitted accessories feature an intricate cable pattern on the back with a longer cuff that pairs beautifully with pushed-up sleeves. The mitts provide a snug, tailored fit suitable for everyday wear or layering.

Design and Construction Details

Despite their visually complex appearance, the Witch Elm Mitts are composed of straightforward, repetitious cable crossings that make them accessible for knitters of all skill levels. The design showcases a rich tangle of intertwined cables adorning the back of each mitt, while the reverse side is worked in rib from bottom to top. A tailored thumb gusset ensures the mitts stay securely in place during wear, and the allover cable-and-rib fabric creates both visual interest and functional elasticity.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This pattern employs fundamental cable knitting techniques that are ideal for beginners looking to build confidence with cables. The primary stitches used include:

• Cable crossings: Simple, repetitious cable stitches that form the distinctive textured pattern
• Ribbing: Used throughout the cuff and on the reverse side for elasticity and structure
• Thumb gusset shaping: Tailored increases and decreases that create a custom fit around the thumb

The pattern is flexible and can be easily adjusted to be worked on two circular needles if preferred, offering knitters options based on their needle preferences and experience level.

Yarn and Materials

The Witch Elm Mitts are designed to be worked in sport weight yarn, which provides a lightweight fabric suitable for fingerless mitts. The sample shown was knitted in Bare Naked Wools Targhee Sport in the Natural colorway. The pattern accommodates a range of sport weight yarn options, including Bare Naked Wools Ginny Sport, Sincere Sheep Cormo Sport, Sincere Sheep Equity Sport, Quince & Co. Chickadee Organic Heathers, Sunday Knits Eden 3 ply, and Elemental Affinity yarns. Knitters should note that substituting yarn and/or needles may result in variations in overall size, elasticity, and yardage requirements.

Skill Level

Rated as a beginner difficulty pattern, the Witch Elm Mitts offer an excellent introduction to cable knitting without overwhelming complexity. The repetitive nature of the cable crossings makes the pattern easy to track and execute, making it suitable for knitters new to cable work.