Hear Me Roar!

Hear Me Roar! Fingerless Mitts by Sharon Mooney

Project Overview

Hear Me Roar! is an intermediate-level knitting pattern for fingerless mitts designed by Sharon Mooney. This downloadable PDF pattern (K663) creates elegant fingerless mitts with an unstretched circumference of 7 inches (17.8 cm) around the finger knuckles just above the thumb gusset, standing 6.75 inches (17.1 cm) tall after light blocking. The design combines delicate construction with decorative beading for a refined finished piece.

Craft and Techniques

This pattern uses knitting as the primary craft method. The mitts are worked in the round using circular knitting techniques on double-pointed needles, which allows for seamless construction. The pattern incorporates stockinette stitch (also called stocking stitch) as the foundation fabric, creating a smooth, classic knit surface. Light blocking is recommended after completion to achieve the specified finished dimensions and to even out the fabric.

The pattern includes beading as a decorative embellishment technique. Eighty size 6/0 Miyuki beads are incorporated into the design, requiring the use of a size US 13/.75mm steel crochet hook or Fleegle Beader tool to thread beads onto the yarn before or during knitting. This adds visual interest and texture to the fingerless mitts.

Stitches and Construction

The mitts are constructed using fundamental knitting stitches worked in the round. The pattern employs stockinette stitch in circular knitting, which produces the characteristic smooth "V" pattern on the right side of the fabric. A thumb gusset is incorporated into the construction, allowing the mitts to fit comfortably around the hand while accommodating the thumb. Stitch markers are used throughout to denote pattern repeats and construction points, with the pattern requiring two small ring stitch markers and one small locking stitch marker.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The pattern calls for two distinct yarns held together as one throughout construction, creating a blended yarn with unique properties:

• Knit Picks Palette: 100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 231 yards (211.2 meters) per 1.75 ounces (50 grams), in color 6884 Blush—approximately one skein required
• Knit Picks Aloft: 72% Super Kid Mohair and 28% Silk blend, 260 yards (237.7 meters) per 0.88 ounces (25 grams), in color P871 Blush—approximately one skein required

The combination of these two yarns—one a sturdy wool and one a luxurious mohair-silk blend—creates a fabric with both structure and softness. The yarn weight is classified as 4-ply and lace weight, resulting in a delicate, refined fabric suitable for fingerless mitts.

Tools and Notions

The following tools and notions are required for this project:

• Set of four size US 2 (2.75mm) double-pointed knitting needles for working the mitts in the round
• Two small ring stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats
• One small locking stitch marker
• Yarn needle or large embroidery needle for weaving in ends
• Eighty size 6/0 Miyuki beads for beading embellishment
• Size US 13 (0.75mm) steel crochet hook or Fleegle Beader for threading beads onto yarn

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 7 stitches and 10 rounds to 1 inch (2.54 cm) on stockinette stitch in the round, measured before blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for the mitts to fit correctly at the specified 7-inch circumference. Knitters should swatch before beginning the project to ensure their tension matches the pattern requirements.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate in difficulty. While it uses basic knitting stitches, the combination of working in the round, incorporating a thumb gusset, managing beading, and achieving proper gauge requires some knitting experience. This pattern is well-suited for knitters who have completed several basic projects and are comfortable with circular knitting techniques.