Blooming Fine Mitts

Blooming Fine Mitts by Jessie McKitrick

What is Being Made

The Blooming Fine Mitts are a pair of elegant hand coverings designed to provide warmth during transitional seasons. These mitts feature a finished length of approximately 20 cm (8 inches) with a wrist circumference of 14 cm (5.5 inches) and a circumference above the thumb of 18 cm (7 inches). Designed as a one-size project, these mitts are suitable for keeping hands warm during crisp fall days, early spring walks, and summer evenings by the fire.

Design Features and Inspiration

The Blooming Fine Mitts draw inspiration from nature and feature glorious colours combined with a Norwegian motif. The design has been embellished with bobbles for an extra decorative element and whimsy. The sample shown features a two-color colorwork design in Milk Chocolate (main color) and Daring (contrast color), making them an excellent quick gift project when made as a pair with reversed colors for a friend.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Stranded colorwork: The mitts utilize stranded stocking stitch for the Norwegian motif, a traditional technique that carries yarn colors across the back of the work to create intricate patterns
• Gusseted thumb: A structured thumb gusset is incorporated for comfortable, ergonomic wear that accommodates natural hand movement
• Bobble embellishment: Decorative bobbles are worked into the design for added texture and visual interest
• Blocking: The finished mitts are blocked to achieve proper gauge and finished measurements

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

• Stranded stocking stitch: The primary stitch pattern, worked in the round to create a smooth, reversible colorwork fabric
• Bobble stitch: Used as decorative embellishments throughout the design

Yarn and Materials

The Blooming Fine Mitts are worked with Ancient Arts Yarns Lascaux Fine 50's, a premium yarn blend consisting of 25% Manx Loaghtan Wool and 75% Punta Arenas Wool. Each skein provides 1.75 oz (50g) with 175 meters (192 yards) of yardage. This yarn weight is classified as 4-ply, offering excellent stitch definition for detailed colorwork.

Gauge and Finished Specifications

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 38 stitches and 38 rounds over 10 cm (4 inches) in stranded stocking stitch, blocked. Achieving proper gauge is essential for obtaining the correct finished measurements and ensuring the mitts fit comfortably.

Skill Level

The Blooming Fine Mitts are classified as an advanced knitting project. This difficulty level reflects the complexity of working stranded colorwork in the round, managing multiple yarn colors, and executing the gusseted thumb shaping with precision.

Designer and Format

The Blooming Fine Mitts are designed by Jessie McKitrick and are available as a downloadable PDF pattern. This independent designer creation was originally published in 2019 by Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts.