Cuddle Mitts

Cuddle Mitts by Sharon Mooney

Project Overview

Cuddle Mitts are a pair of cozy knitted mittens designed by Sharon Mooney, offering a luxurious blend of textures and materials. These intermediate-level knitting mittens feature a distinctive two-yarn construction that combines a soft, fuzzy cuff with a warm wool hand section. The finished mittens measure 7 inches (17.8 centimeters) in circumference around the knuckles above the thumb opening and stand 6.5 inches (16.5 centimeters) tall, making them a comfortable fit for average adult hands.

What Is Being Made

Cuddle Mitts are a pair of fitted mittens constructed using the in-the-round knitting method. The design features a two-part construction: a textured fur cuff that provides a plush, tactile exterior, and a wool hand section that offers warmth and durability. The mittens include a thumb gusset for proper thumb placement and shaping, ensuring a functional and comfortable garment.

Knitting Techniques Used

• In-the-round knitting: The mittens are worked circularly using double-pointed needles, which allows for seamless construction and continuous rounds of knitting
• Thumb gusset shaping: Strategic increases create a gusset that accommodates the thumb, marked with ring stitch markers to track increases
• Blocking: The finished mittens are blocked to precise measurements (7 inches circumference and 6.5 inches height) to ensure consistent sizing and proper drape
• Bind-off finishing: The pattern includes instructions for binding off stitches to complete the mittens securely

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch (stocking stitch): The primary stitch used throughout both the cuff and hand sections, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric

Materials and Specifications

The Cuddle Mitts pattern calls for specific materials chosen to maximize texture and warmth:

• Fur cuff yarn: One skein of Knit Picks "Fable Fur" in color 27941, a 100% polyester yarn with 71 yards (64.9 meters) per 3.5-ounce (100-gram) skein. This fuzzy, textured yarn creates the distinctive plush cuff
• Hand yarn: One skein of Knit Picks "Simply Wool Bulky Weight" in color AC, a 100% eco wool yarn with 193 yards (176.5 meters) per 3.5-ounce (100-gram) skein. This worsted to bulky weight wool provides warmth and durability for the main hand section
• Needles: Two sets of double-pointed knitting needles are required—size US 10.5 (6.5mm) for working the fur cuff and size US 7 (4.5mm) for working the wool hand section. The different needle sizes accommodate the different yarn weights and create appropriate fabric density for each section
• Notions: One locking stitch marker to mark the beginning of rounds and two ring stitch markers to track thumb gusset increases
• Finishing tools: A yarn needle or large embroidery needle for weaving in ends

Yarn Weight and Gauge

The pattern uses chunky and worsted weight yarns to create a quick-knitting, substantial fabric. The gauge for the hand section is 5 stitches and 6 rounds per 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) in stockinette stitch using size US 7 (4.5mm) needles, measured on circular gauge before blocking. This relatively loose gauge contributes to the cozy, quick-to-knit nature of the project.

Difficulty Level

Cuddle Mitts are rated as an intermediate knitting project. Knitters should be comfortable with in-the-round knitting using double-pointed needles, basic increases for shaping, and stitch marker placement. The two-yarn construction and multiple needle sizes add complexity beyond beginner patterns, but the straightforward stockinette stitch and clear structure make the project accessible to knitters with foundational skills.

Pattern Format

This pattern is provided as a downloadable PDF document, designed by independent designer Sharon Mooney and copyrighted in 2020. The format allows knitters to print the pattern for reference while working and access detailed instructions, abbrevi