Honey For A Caterpillar

Honey For A Caterpillar Knitted Gloves and Mittens

Project Overview

Honey For A Caterpillar is a downloadable knitting pattern designed by Dagmar Mora that offers versatile hand coverings in both glove and mitten styles. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, this pattern celebrates inclusivity with five carefully graded sizes ranging from Women's XS/S through XL, accommodating hand circumferences from 17.5cm to 21.5cm (6⅞ to 8½ inches). Whether you prefer fitted gloves or cozy mittens, this intermediate-level pattern provides options for crafters seeking a customizable hand-warming project.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a pair of fitted hand coverings available in two styles: gloves with individual finger sections and mittens with a unified hand pouch. The design features a two-color construction using contrast color work, creating visual interest through strategic color placement. The pattern includes five size options to ensure a proper fit across a wide range of hand sizes, from petite to extra-large.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Two-color knitting: The pattern employs contrast color (CC) work alongside a main color (MC), requiring attention to color changes and yarn management
• Increases and decreases: Shaping is achieved through knit left loop increases (kll) and knit 2 stitches together decreases (k2tog) to create fitted hand sections
• Sizing and grading: Five distinct size options with graduated stitch counts and yardage requirements allow customization for different hand circumferences

Stitches and Stitch Abbreviations

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches suitable for intermediate crafters. Key abbreviations include:

• k: knit stitch, the primary fabric-building stitch
• k2tog: knit 2 stitches together, a right-leaning decrease used for shaping
• kll: knit left loop, an increase technique for expanding stitch counts
• co: cast on, the foundation row creating initial stitches

Materials and Yarn Requirements

This pattern is designed for fingering weight yarn (also known as 4-ply), a lightweight yarn category ideal for detailed colorwork and fitted garments. Yardage requirements vary by size:

• Women's XS/S: 90 meters (approximately 98 yards) in main color and 65 meters (approximately 71 yards) in contrast color
• Women's M: 100 meters (approximately 109 yards) in main color and 70 meters (approximately 77 yards) in contrast color
• Women's L: 105 meters (approximately 115 yards) in main color and 70 meters (approximately 77 yards) in contrast color
• Women's XL: 110 meters (approximately 120 yards) in main color and 75 meters (approximately 82 yards) in contrast color

Yarn and Tools

The pattern sample was created using Peppino yarn by The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze in the shades Honey On The Go for the main color and a coordinating contrast color. Knitters will need appropriate needles for fingering weight yarn, typically in the US 1-3 range, though specific needle size recommendations appear in the complete pattern documentation. The downloadable PDF format allows crafters to print or reference the pattern digitally while working.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern assumes knitters have mastered basic stitches and are comfortable with two-color knitting techniques, shaping through increases and decreases, and managing multiple yarn colors simultaneously. The size grading and detailed construction make this an engaging project for crafters seeking to expand their skills beyond beginner patterns.