70 Yard Mitts

70 Yard Mitts by knitbot / Hannah Fettig

Project Overview

The 70 Yard Mitts are a pair of snack-size knitted mittens designed as part of the Snack Size Pattern Series. This downloadable PDF pattern creates finished mittens with a hand circumference of 7 inches, making them an ideal project for those seeking a quick, satisfying knit using minimal yardage. The pattern is classified as intermediate difficulty, suitable for knitters with foundational skills who are ready to work with double-pointed needles and basic shaping techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a complete pair of fitted mittens designed for small hands or as decorative accessories. The mittens feature a classic construction with a fitted palm and hand area, built using in-the-round knitting techniques. The finished mittens have a 7-inch hand circumference, making them appropriately sized for children or as novelty items.

Knitting Techniques Used

The 70 Yard Mitts employ several fundamental knitting techniques that make this project suitable for intermediate-level knitters:

• In-the-Round Knitting: The pattern uses double-pointed needles (dpns) to create seamless mittens worked in continuous rounds, eliminating the need for seaming.
• Increases: The pattern incorporates both M1L (Make One Left) and M1R (Make One Right) increases, which are worked by lifting the bar between stitches and knitting through the back or front loops to create new stitches without visible holes.
• Stitch Markers: Markers are used to denote the beginning of rounds and other key points in the pattern, helping knitters track their progress and maintain pattern accuracy.
• Stitch Holders: The pattern uses stitch holders to temporarily secure stitches, likely for thumb or cuff sections that may be worked separately or held for later completion.

Stitches Used

The 70 Yard Mitts are constructed primarily using Stockinette Stitch, which is created by knitting all rounds when working in the round. This classic stitch creates a smooth, flat fabric with a refined appearance ideal for fitted mittens. The pattern also incorporates M1L and M1R increases for shaping the hand and ensuring proper fit. These increases are worked by manipulating the bar between stitches, creating new stitches that blend seamlessly into the stockinette fabric.

Materials and Yarn Requirements

The 70 Yard Mitts require only 70 yards of yarn, making this an excellent stash-busting project or a way to create multiple pairs from a single skein. The recommended yarn is The Fibre Company Road to China, a luxury blend composed of 65% Baby Alpaca, 15% Silk, 10% Camel, and 10% Cashmere, available in 69-yard skeins per 50 grams. The pattern specifies the coral colorway, though any worsted weight yarn totaling 70 yards may be substituted.

Needles and Tools

This pattern requires two sets of double-pointed needles: US 3 needles for the ribbed cuff or initial cast-on sections, and US 6 needles for the main body worked in stockinette stitch. The gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows over 4 inches (10 centimeters) in stockinette stitch. Additional supplies include 2 stitch markers for tracking rounds and pattern sections, 2 stitch holders for securing stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Pattern Construction

The pattern begins by casting on 32 stitches onto a single US 3 double-pointed needle. The construction method uses the smaller needles initially, likely for a ribbed cuff or fitted opening, before transitioning to the larger US 6 needles for the main body of the mittens worked in stockinette stitch. The use of stitch markers and stitch holders indicates that the pattern includes shaping and potentially separate sections for the thumb or cuff that are worked independently or held for later completion.

Skill Development

The 70 Yard Mitts offer intermediate knitters the opportunity to refine their skills in working with double-pointed needles, which can feel challenging for those accustomed to circular needles. The pattern provides practice with directional increases (M1L and M1R), which are essential techniques for creating custom-fitted garments and understanding how different increase methods affect fabric appearance and structure. The small yardage requirement means mistakes are less costly in terms