Sokol

Sokol Knitted Mitts by Melanie Berg

What is Being Made

Sokol is a pair of long knitted mitts inspired by traditional falconry hand protection. The name derives from the Russian word for "hawk," reflecting the garment's heritage in protecting a falconer's arms and hands during the sport. These mitts feature a practical design with extended length and padded construction, combining functional protection with knitted craftsmanship.

Construction and Techniques

The Sokol mitts are knit in the round from the bottom up, a technique that creates seamless tubular fabric ideal for fitted hand garments. The main body of each mitt is worked in plain stockinette stitch, providing a smooth, classic knitted surface. Ribbing is strategically placed along the edges to create definition and ensure a secure fit at the cuffs and openings.

The distinctive buckles—a signature design element—are added after the main mitt construction is complete. To create the buckles, the knitter turns the mitts 90 degrees or 270 degrees and picks up stitches along the sides of the finished mitts. These buckle sections are then knit flat across the width of the mitts, departing from the in-the-round method used for the body. Decreases are strategically worked throughout the buckle sections to form tapered tips. Each buckle tip is finished with a button attachment, adding both visual interest and functional closure.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch — the primary stitch for the main mitt body, creating a smooth, V-patterned fabric
• Ribbing — used at edges for elasticity and definition
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) — a right-leaning decrease used to shape the buckle tips
• Make 1 Left (M1L) — an increase worked by inserting the left needle under the horizontal strand between stitches

Materials and Yarn

The Sokol pattern is designed to be worked in Malabrigo Merino Worsted, a 100% Merino wool yarn. This yarn weight falls in the worsted to aran range, providing excellent stitch definition and drape suitable for fitted mitts. One skein in the colorway "Chapel Stone" is required, with approximately 160 yards (147 meters) used for the sample mitts shown. The full skein provides 210 yards (192 meters) of working yarn.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with some experience beyond basic techniques. The combination of in-the-round knitting, stitch pickup, flat knitting sections, and shaping decreases requires solid foundational skills and comfort with pattern reading and construction methods.

Yarn Weight Specifications

The pattern accommodates both aran and worsted weight yarns, offering flexibility for yarn substitution. These weights provide similar stitch gauge and drape, allowing knitters to choose from a broader range of fiber options while maintaining the intended fit and appearance of the finished mitts.