Hakone Bulky Knit Mittens

Hakone Bulky Knit Mittens by Northwind Knits

What is Being Made

The Hakone Bulky Knit Mittens are a pair of women's mittens available in two sizes: ladies small and medium/large. These mittens are designed as an accessible first project for beginner knitters who have basic double-pointed needle experience. The pattern produces colorful, quick-to-knit mittens using chunky yarn for a bold, textured finished garment.

Techniques Used

This knitting pattern employs fundamental mitten construction techniques suitable for beginners. The mittens are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, which is the traditional method for seamless mitten knitting. The pattern includes a thumb gusset opening created by placing stitches on a holder and using a loop cast-on method to close the gap, allowing the thumb to be worked separately after the main mitten body is complete. The pattern also demonstrates how to increase stitches evenly across a row to shape the mitten properly.

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch (K) – the fundamental stitch used throughout the mittens
• Purl stitch (P) – combined with knit stitches in ribbing
• K1, P1 ribbing – used for the cuff, creating an elastic, fitted opening
• Stockinette stitch – the main stitch pattern for the mitten body, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Increases – evenly distributed across rows to shape the mitten

Materials

The Hakone Bulky Knit Mittens require one hank of Noro Hakone yarn in 100% wool, with 100 grams and 100 meters of yardage. The yarn weight is chunky, which contributes to the fast knitting time and bold appearance. Knitters will need double-pointed needles in sizes 9 and 10, along with two stitch holders to manage stitches during thumb construction, a row marker to track rounds, and a tapestry needle for finishing. The recommended gauge is 3 stitches per inch when working stockinette stitch with size 10 needles.

Pattern Details

The cuff begins with a cast-on of 22 stitches for the small size or 24 stitches for the medium/large size, worked on size 9 needles in K1, P1 ribbing for 2.5 inches. The work is then switched to size 10 needles, and stitches are increased evenly across the row—2 stitches for the small size or 4 stitches for the medium/large size. The stockinette stitch body continues for an additional 2.5 inches (small) or 3 inches (medium/large). The thumb opening is created by placing 3 stitches (small) or 4 stitches (medium/large) onto a stitch holder at the beginning of a round, then using a loop cast-on to replace those stitches so knitting can continue seamlessly around the hand.