Breeze Mittens in Novita 7 Veljestä Raita - Downloadable PDF

Breeze Mittens Knitting Pattern in Novita 7 Veljestä Raita – Free Downloadable PDF

The Breeze Mittens are a classic pair of knitted mittens designed by Novita, worked in the round using the self-striping Novita 7 Veljestä Raita yarn. This free downloadable PDF pattern is rated intermediate in difficulty and offers four size options to suit a wide range of wearers, from young children to adult men. The pattern produces a left mitten and a right mitten, with the right mitten worked as a mirror image of the left.

Sizes Available

• 110 cm (child, approximately shoe size reference by chest/height)
• 150 cm (older child or youth)
• Women's
• Men's

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for Novita 7 Veljestä Raita, an aran-weight yarn, in colorway 813 Breeze. The amount of yarn required varies by size:

• 50 g for the 110 cm and 150 cm sizes
• 100 g for Women's and Men's sizes
• One 100 g skein is sufficient for the two smaller sizes, while adult sizes require a full 100 g skein

In addition to yarn, knitters will need Novita 3½ mm (US 4) double-pointed needles, or whatever needle size is required to achieve the correct gauge. A small length of scrap yarn is also useful for holding thumb stitches while the hand is worked.

Gauge

The stated gauge is 24 stitches in stockinette stitch = 10 cm / 4 inches. Achieving the correct gauge is important for ensuring the mittens fit as intended across all four sizes, so knitters are encouraged to swatch before beginning.

Stitch Patterns and Techniques Used

The Breeze Mittens use a combination of two straightforward stitch patterns, making them an excellent project for knitters who are comfortable with basic circular knitting and ready to practice shaping techniques:

• Ribbing in the round: The cuff is worked in a *k2, p2* rib repeat, which creates a stretchy, snug-fitting cuff that holds the mitten in place on the wrist. The cuff measures 5 cm for the 110 cm size, scaling up to 10 cm for Men's.
• Stockinette stitch in the round: All stitches are knitted every round to form smooth, even fabric across the hand and thumb sections.

Construction Method

The mittens are worked entirely in the round on four double-pointed needles, a traditional and versatile method for small circumference knitting. Stitches are cast on and divided evenly across the four needles, with the beginning of the round positioned between needles I and IV. After the ribbed cuff, a few rounds of plain stockinette are worked before stitches are redistributed in preparation for thumb shaping.

Thumb Gusset

The pattern uses an Indian thumb gusset, a method in which thumb stitches are increased gradually on needle I by picking up the strand of yarn between needles I and II and knitting it through the back loop (or onto needle I). This creates a neat, slanted increase that builds the gusset over multiple rounds. Increases continue until needle I holds 16 (20) 22 (24) stitches depending on size. The inner gusset stitches — 12 (16) 18 (20) stitches — are then placed on hold using scrap yarn, and the remaining hand stitches are redistributed evenly across the four needles to continue working the body of the mitten.

Hand and Top Shaping

After the thumb stitches are set aside, the hand is worked in stockinette stitch in the round until the mitten reaches approximately 12 (15) 17 (18) cm from the cuff edge, or until the fabric covers the index finger. Top decreases are then worked on every round using two decrease methods: