Orchid Bloom Mitts

Orchid Bloom Fingerless Mitts by Rachel Wolfe Designs

Project Overview

The Orchid Bloom Fingerless Mitts are an intermediate-level knitting pattern designed by Rachel Wolfe Designs. These elegant mitts combine decorative colorwork with functional fingerless construction, making them ideal for crafters seeking a project that balances visual interest with wearability. The pattern accommodates most adult hand sizes thanks to its inherent stretch and offers customization options for cuff length.

What Is Being Made

This pattern creates a pair of fingerless mitts—hand coverings that extend approximately 8 inches in length with a circumference of about 6 inches around the palm. The mitts feature an open finger design, allowing full dexterity while keeping the hands and wrists warm. The design includes a shaped thumb gusset that creates a fitted opening for the thumb, ensuring comfortable wear during extended use.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round: The mitts are constructed using circular needles or preferred method for seamless, tubular construction
• Ribbed cuff: A stretchy rib pattern forms the foundation and can be extended for longer cuffs according to maker preference
• Colorwork charting: A Main Chart guides the decorative pattern work across the mitts
• Thumb gusset shaping: Strategic increases create a fitted thumb opening using a separate Thumb Chart, with increases worked every 4th round until the gusset reaches 21 stitches
• Stitch markers: Used to track pattern repeats and gusset placement

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Knit and purl stitches: Form the foundational ribbed cuff pattern (p2, k1, p1 repeats)
• Charted colorwork pattern: The Main Chart introduces decorative stitch work over 30 stitches, creating the signature Orchid Bloom design
• Make one (m1) increases: Used to shape the thumb gusset gradually
• Gauge: 9 stitches per inch at the specified tension

Materials Required

Yarn: Approximately 183 meters (200 yards) of fingering weight yarn. The sample shown uses Fyberspates Vivacious 4ply in the Lavender Haze colorway, though any fingering weight yarn in preferred colors will work with this pattern.

Needles and Accessories: 2.75mm (US 2) needles in your preferred method for knitting in the round (circular needles, double-pointed needles, or magic loop). Additionally, you will need one stitch marker, a cable needle for any cable techniques, and waste yarn or a stitch holder for securing stitches during construction.

Difficulty Level and Fit

Rated as an intermediate project, the Orchid Bloom Fingerless Mitts suit knitters with foundational skills in circular knitting and basic colorwork. The pattern's inherent stretch accommodates most adult hand sizes, eliminating the need for multiple size variations. Crafters can customize the finished length by working additional rounds of the rib pattern before beginning the charted colorwork section.