Product Description
Two color felted mittens with ribbed cuff knit in after felting.
Mittens and cuffs are worked with worsted yarn held double. A bulky weight feltable yarn will also work.
When knitting in the round with two colors on DPNs hold the floating yarn close to the work at the corners to keep float the correct length. If there are a few long floats which feel tight on the inside of the mitten these can be cut after you've finished felting.
Vermont is a great place to be a knitter because winters in Vermont get very cold. My husband asked for a pair of thick, warm, durable, hand knit mittens. I decided some nice felted mittens would hold up to any abuse. The stranded colorwork adds thickness to these mittens and it all felts together wonderfully so there are no strands to get tangled in your fingers. But felted mittens aren’t very snug at the wrists. So I added a single row of non-felting stitches to the inside of the mitten and knit a ribbed cuff after felting. The cuff keeps
Amidon Mittens by BeckyinVT
What is Being Made
The Amidon Mittens are a pair of medium (large) knitted mittens designed for hand circumference of approximately 8 (9) inches / 20.5 (23) cm. These are advanced-level knitting mittens that incorporate felting as a finishing technique, resulting in warm, durable winter accessories. The final size is adjustable based on the intensity of the felting process applied after knitting.
Knitting Techniques and Construction
These mittens are constructed using several intermediate to advanced knitting techniques. The mittens are worked in the round from the cuff up, a common method for seamless mitten construction. A distinctive feature of the Amidon Mittens is the use of afterthought thumbs, which are added after the main mitten body is complete rather than being worked simultaneously.
The construction incorporates worsted yarn held double, meaning two strands of yarn are worked together simultaneously to create a thicker fabric suitable for felting. Before the felting process, a strand of non-felting yarn is worked along the inside of the mitten. This non-felting yarn serves as a guide and is later picked up to create structure or definition. The use of different needle sizes—larger US 11/8 mm double-pointed needles for the main body and smaller US 8/5 mm needles for the cuffs—demonstrates shaping through gauge adjustment.
Stitches Used
The mittens are primarily worked in stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic knit fabric. The gauge before felting is 12 stitches and 14 rows per 4-inch (10 cm) square in stockinette stitch. The cuffs are worked on smaller needles, which typically creates a tighter, more elastic ribbed or fitted section at the wrist opening.
Felting Process
A defining characteristic of the Amidon Mittens is the felting finishing technique. After knitting is complete, the mittens undergo a felting process that significantly alters their final dimensions and properties. The amount of felting performed is variable—less thickly felted mittens will be larger in finished size, while more intensive felting will shrink and densify the fabric. This technique transforms the knitted fabric into a more durable, windproof, and water-resistant material ideal for cold-weather wear.
Materials: Yarn and Needles
Yarn: The Amidon Mittens are knit using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, a 100% wool yarn in worsted weight. The pattern requires 3 skeins of the main color (MC) in Firecracker Heather and 1 skein of a contrasting color (CC) in Cloud. Each skein contains 110 yards and weighs 50 grams. Additionally, approximately 6 yards of non-felting yarn in a matching or coordinating color is needed for the interior construction detail.
Needles and Notions: The pattern calls for US 11/8 mm double-pointed needles (or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge) for the main mitten body, and US 8/5 mm double-pointed needles for the cuffs. Scrap yarn is used for the afterthought thumb technique.
Difficulty Level
These mittens are classified as an advanced knitting project. The advanced designation reflects the combination of techniques required: working in the round with double-pointed needles, managing double-stranded yarn, executing afterthought thumb construction, and understanding the felting process and its effects on finished dimensions.
Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | Worsted |
| Designer: | BeckyinVT |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Advanced |
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