Hasta Mitts

Hasta Mitts by Kristen TenDyke

What is Being Made

The Hasta Mitts are a pair of knitted gloves or mittens designed by independent designer Kristen TenDyke. This downloadable PDF pattern provides instructions for creating warm hand coverings suitable for intermediate-level knitters.

Craft and Primary Technique

These mitts are created using knitting as the primary craft method. Knitting is a fabric creation technique that uses two needles to loop yarn into interlocking rows of stitches, building the garment from the ground up. This method allows for flexibility in shaping and the creation of fitted hand coverings.

Stitches and Stitch Techniques Used

The Hasta Mitts pattern employs several specialized knitting stitches and techniques to construct the garment:

• Knit stitch (k) — the fundamental stitch that forms the basic fabric structure
• Right Lifted Increase (RLI) — a technique where the right needle picks up the stitch below the next stitch on the left needle and knits it, used for shaping increases
• Left Lifted Increase (LLI) — a mirror technique that uses the left needle to pick up the stitch two rows below the next stitch on the right needle, then knits it for increases
• Left Lifted Purl Increase (LLPI) — a variation that combines the lifted increase method with a purl stitch
• Knit 2 Together (k2tog) — a decrease stitch that combines two stitches into one
• Slip, Slip, Knit (ssk) — a decrease technique where two stitches are slipped individually knitwise to the right needle, then knitted together
• Slip 2 Stitches, Knit 1, Pass Slipped Stitches Over (s2kp) — a centered double decrease used for shaping
• Slip stitch (sl) — moving a stitch from one needle to another without working it
• Bind Off (BO) — the finishing technique that secures stitches and closes edges
• Cast On (CO) — the starting technique that creates the initial stitches

Construction Method

The pattern uses circular knitting in the round (rnd), as indicated by the abbreviations for rounds and double-pointed needles (dpn). This construction method allows the knitter to work continuously in spiral rounds rather than flat rows, creating seamless cylindrical sections ideal for fitted mittens or gloves.

Difficulty Level

The Hasta Mitts are rated as an intermediate difficulty project. This classification reflects the use of specialized increase and decrease techniques, shaping methods, and the coordination required for working in the round with multiple needles. Knitters should have foundational skills in basic stitches and be comfortable with pattern reading before attempting this project.

Materials: Yarn and Needles

The Hasta Mitts are designed to be worked with worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that provides good stitch definition and creates a fabric with appropriate warmth and drape for hand coverings. The pattern requires double-pointed needles (dpns) for working in the round, allowing the knitter to distribute stitches across multiple needles while maintaining circular construction.

Design Philosophy

This pattern is published by Caterpillar Knits, an earth-friendly knit and crochet design company. The PDF encourages sustainable practices by recommending that users only print the pattern if absolutely necessary, use recycled paper, and print on both sides to help save resources.