Lola-Jo mitts

Lola-Jo Mitts by Tracey Lee

What is Being Made

The Lola-Jo mitts are a pair of knitted hand coverings designed to showcase beautiful colorwork through a two-colour Tuck stitch pattern. Named after the Irish origin meaning "beauty within," these mitts combine functional warmth with decorative striping. The pattern is available in multiple sizes, with the infant size offering a finished circumference of 12.75cm (5 inches), making them suitable for babies and small hands.

Knitting Techniques Used

This beginner-friendly knitting project employs several fundamental techniques to create a polished finished garment. The mitts are constructed in the round using circular needles or double-pointed needles, as indicated by the gauge measurements provided in rounds. The pattern features a ribbed cuff band that provides elasticity and helps the mitts hug the wrist securely. The hand section incorporates a gusset construction for the thumb, allowing for proper shaping and fit around the hand. Knitters will work stocking stitch in the main hand area and transition to a decorative Tuck stitch pattern on the cuff band. The pattern can be customized by shortening or lengthening the cuff through working more or fewer repeats of the Tuck stitch pattern, giving knitters flexibility in the final design.

Stitches Used

• Knit (K) – The fundamental stitch forming the base fabric
• Purl (P) – Used in combination with knit stitches to create the ribbed bands
• Stocking Stitch – The primary stitch for the hand and thumb gusset, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric. Gauge on larger needles is 22 stitches and 28 rounds over 10cm (4 inches)
• Tuck Stitch Pattern – A two-colour technique worked with one yarn at a time to create lovely striped colour designs. This stitch is featured on the cuff band and showcases beautiful colours. Gauge for Tuck stitch is 24 stitches and 36 rounds over 10cm (4 inches)
• Increases (INC) – Used to shape the thumb gusset for proper fit
• Slip Marker (SM) – Stitch markers are slipped every round to track pattern repeats and mark the beginning of round (BOR) and end of round (EOR)

Materials and Yarn Weight

The Lola-Jo mitts are designed to be worked in DK weight yarn, a versatile mid-weight that creates a fabric with good drape and structure. The pattern is ideal for scrap busting, allowing knitters to work each stripe in a different colour from their yarn stash. This makes the project economical and sustainable, perfect for using up leftover yarn from previous projects. The two-colour Tuck stitch technique requires working with just one yarn at a time, eliminating the need for complex colourwork techniques like stranding or weaving. Needles should be sized to achieve the specified gauges: larger needles for stocking stitch (22 stitches and 28 rounds = 10cm) and appropriately sized needles for the Tuck stitch pattern (24 stitches and 36 rounds = 10cm).

Pattern Difficulty and Suitability

Rated as a beginner level project, the Lola-Jo mitts are accessible to knitters new to the craft while still offering opportunities to develop fundamental skills. The straightforward construction—beginning with a rib band, working the hand in stocking stitch, and incorporating a basic thumb gusset—makes this an ideal pattern for building confidence. The Tuck stitch pattern, while creating visually striking results, is simple to execute as it involves working with only one yarn colour at a time, avoiding the complexity of traditional colourwork techniques.