The Owlery Mittens

The Owlery Mittens by Petra Lassen

What is Being Made

The Owlery Mittens are a pair of women's mittens featuring a colorwork design created by knitting designer Petra Lassen. These mittens are constructed using the two-at-once method on a long circular needle, though knitters may adapt their preferred technique. The design showcases an owl-themed pattern worked in contrasting green and blue colorways, with optional beaded embellishments to enhance the owl motif.

Techniques Used

This advanced knitting project employs several intermediate to advanced techniques. The mittens are worked in the round using circular needles, which allows for seamless construction. The pattern incorporates stranded colorwork (also called fair isle), where two colors are carried across rounds to create the owl design. The pattern uses slip stitches as a structural element within the colorwork repeats. Knitters working both mittens simultaneously on one long circular needle will use the magic loop or two-at-once technique, requiring coordination of multiple active stitches. The cuff begins with a provisional cast-on in green yarn, followed by purl rounds to create texture before transitioning to the main colorwork pattern.

Stitches Used

The Owlery Mittens pattern relies on fundamental knitting stitches executed with precision. The primary stitches include:

• Knit stitch (k) – forms the base fabric throughout the mittens
• Purl stitch (p) – used in the cuff ribbing and as accent rows within the pattern
• Slip stitch (sl) – creates visual texture and structure within the colorwork pattern, appearing in the repeating motif

The pattern repeats a six-stitch sequence (*k3, sl2, k3*) across multiple rounds, with strategic color changes and purl rows creating the owl design. The sample mittens feature 4½ pattern repeats in the cuff section.

Materials

The Owlery Mittens require fingering or light fingering weight yarn, with approximately 290 yards total yardage needed. The sample mittens shown in the pattern were knit using Malabrigo sock yarn in two colorways: Lettuce (green, approximately 20 grams) and Impressionist Sky (blue, approximately 45 grams). The yarn choice provides the appropriate weight and elasticity for fitted mittens that maintain their shape through wear and washing.

Needle sizes vary based on the intended fit. Women's small/medium mittens require 2.5 mm needles, while women's medium/large mittens use 2.75 mm needles. Petra Lassen recommends using one long circular needle to knit both mittens simultaneously, though knitters may substitute double-pointed needles, two short circular needles, or other preferred methods. Optional owl beads may be added to embellish the design and enhance the owl motif.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as advanced, making it suitable for experienced knitters. The complexity stems from managing stranded colorwork while maintaining even tension across two colors, coordinating the two-at-once construction method, and executing slip stitches within the pattern repeats. Knitters should have solid experience with circular needle techniques and colorwork before attempting this project.