Sunflower Mittens

Sunflower Mittens by Mary Jane Mucklestone

What Is Being Made

The Sunflower Mittens are a pair of cozy winter mittens featuring a cheerful stranded colorwork pattern inspired by sunflowers. Originally published in Maine Knits, these mittens are designed to keep hands warm and sunny during chilly winter days. The finished mittens measure 8.5 inches (21.5 cm) in hand circumference and 10 inches (25 cm) in length, making them a standard adult size suitable for most wearers.

Knitting Techniques

These mittens are worked in the round from the ribbed cuff upward, a classic construction method that creates a seamless, tubular fabric. The design employs stranded colorwork, a technique where two colors of yarn are carried simultaneously across the work to create the decorative pattern. This method requires managing multiple yarn strands while knitting, adding visual interest and complexity to the finished piece. The mittens feature a simple peasant thumb, which is an easy-to-execute thumb construction that simplifies the overall knitting process and makes this project accessible to intermediate-level knitters.

Stitches and Stitch Pattern

The mittens begin with a ribbed cuff, which provides stretch and helps the mittens stay securely on the hand. The main body is worked using the stranded colorwork pattern, which creates the sunflower design through the strategic placement of two contrasting colors. The pattern includes decrease rounds worked with ssk (slip, slip, knit) and k2tog (knit two together) decreases to shape the mitten top as the hand narrows toward the fingertips.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The mittens are designed to be worked in worsted weight yarn, a medium-weight yarn that knits up quickly and provides good warmth and durability. The pattern calls for Nash Island Light yarn, which is 100% Maine island wool. The color palette consists of two colors:

• Main Color (MC): Driftwood (gray) – 1 skein or approximately 160 yards (146 meters)
• Contrast Color (CC): Finch (yellow) – 1 skein or approximately 28 yards (25.5 meters)

The small yardage requirement for the contrast color makes this an excellent project for using up yarn scraps or trying a new color without committing to a full skein.

Needles and Gauge

The pattern requires double-pointed needles (DPNs) in two sizes to achieve proper gauge and fabric density. US 5 (3.75 mm) DPNs are used for the ribbed cuff section, while US 7 (4.5 mm) DPNs are used for the main colorwork pattern. The gauge is 22 stitches and 22 rounds over 4 inches (10 cm) in the colorwork pattern on the larger needles, measured after blocking. Achieving proper gauge is essential for ensuring the mittens fit correctly and that the stranded colorwork pattern displays as intended.

Difficulty Level

These mittens are rated as an intermediate project, making them suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle stranded colorwork. While the peasant thumb construction keeps the overall complexity manageable, the two-color stranded knitting technique requires attention to tension and color management, offering a rewarding learning experience for intermediate-level crafters.