Spigato Mitts

Spigato Mitts by Barbara Benson

What is Being Made

The Spigato Mitts are fingerless mittens designed to showcase the luxurious qualities of premium yarn while providing practical hand warmth. These mitts are crafted in four sizes—Small through Extra Large—offering a customizable fit ranging from 6 to 9 inches around the hand and 8 to 8.5 inches in length. The fingerless design allows for tactile freedom while keeping hands cozy, making these mitts ideal for activities requiring dexterity.

Yarn and Materials

The Spigato Mitts are worked in Anzula Serenity, a 100% cashmere yarn in fingering weight. Each skein provides 185 yards (169 meters) per 50 grams. The pattern requires two colors of this sumptuous yarn, allowing crafters to create striking colorwork effects. Needles required include US 3 (3.25 mm) and US 2 (2.75 mm), sized to achieve proper gauge. Additional notions include 2 stitch markers, a tapestry needle for finishing, and waste yarn for provisional cast-on techniques.

Techniques and Construction

These mitts are constructed using in-the-round knitting, a method that creates seamless, tubular fabric ideal for fitted garments like mittens. The pattern employs a two-color approach that avoids traditional stranded colorwork, which can create bulky fabric and require managing multiple strands simultaneously. Instead, the designer incorporated colorwork in a way that maintains the delicate drape and softness of the cashmere fiber. The use of waste yarn indicates a provisional cast-on technique, allowing for a refined, finished edge.

Stitches and Abbreviations

The Spigato Mitts utilize fundamental knitting stitches and increases to shape the fabric:

• Knit (k): The basic stitch forming the foundation of the mitts
• Make One Right (m1R): An invisible increase worked by picking up the strand of yarn running between two stitches and knitting through the front loop, creating a new stitch without visible holes

The pattern works in rounds, indicated by EOR (end of round) markers. Stitch markers help track pattern repeats and construction points throughout the circular knitting process.

Skill Level and Gauge

Rated as intermediate difficulty, the Spigato Mitts require competency with in-the-round knitting, colorwork techniques, and shaping increases. Proper gauge is essential for achieving the correct fit; crafters should knit a gauge swatch using their chosen needles and yarn to ensure accurate sizing across all four available dimensions.