Indian Corn Mitts

Indian Corn Mitts by Andrea Jurgrau

Project Overview

The Indian Corn Mitts are a pair of knitted mittens designed by Andrea Jurgrau and published by BadCatDesigns. This intermediate-level knitting project creates fitted hand coverings featuring decorative beadwork inspired by corn kernel patterns. The mittens are worked in the round using double pointed needles and incorporate Japanese seed beads for visual interest and texture.

What is Being Made

These are knitted mittens designed to fit women's hands, with options for small and average hand sizes. The mittens feature integrated beadwork that creates a corn-inspired aesthetic, making them both functional winter accessories and decorative handwear. The pattern includes guidance for achieving proper fit through gauge adjustments.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Circular knitting in the round using double pointed needles
• Gauge-based sizing to accommodate different hand dimensions
• Bead incorporation during the knitting process using a crochet hook
• Stitch marker placement for tracking pattern repeats and construction points
• Waste yarn techniques for managing stitches during construction

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern is worked in a stitch pattern that accommodates the beadwork integration. The specific stitch pattern is designed to be worked at precise gauges: 8 stitches to the inch on US 1 needles for a small woman's hand, or 7 stitches to the inch on US 2 needles for an average woman's hand. Gauge is worked in pattern, meaning the beaded sections are included in gauge measurements to ensure accurate sizing.

Materials Required

Needles and Tools: A set of five US 1 or US 2 double pointed needles (size selection depends on desired gauge and hand size), one stitch marker, one US 14 crochet hook or appropriately sized hook for bead attachment, and cotton waste yarn of approximately the same weight as the project yarn.

Yarn: One skein of sock weight yarn in a 4-ply construction. The designer used Malabrigo Sock in the Archangel colorway, which provides 3.5 ounces and 440 yards per skein. Approximately half a skein is required to complete the mittens, making this an efficient project for yarn usage.

Embellishments: Sixty Japanese seed beads are used for the corn-inspired beadwork. The designer specified Toho 3mm Magatama Lustered African Sunset beads, which provide a specific size and finish that coordinates with the overall design aesthetic.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, indicating it is suitable for knitters with foundational skills in circular knitting and basic pattern reading. The combination of working in the round, managing multiple double pointed needles, integrating beads during knitting, and achieving proper gauge requires experience beyond beginner level but does not demand advanced techniques.