Tidal Ridge

Tidal Ridge Mitts by Anneknitty

What is Being Made

Tidal Ridge Mitts are a pair of hand-warming mittens designed by Annette Traves. These mitts measure 22cm long by 8.5cm wide when finished, making them a practical accessory for keeping hands warm during colder months. The pattern is described as simple and suitable for a quick gift knit, combining functional design with textural interest inspired by coastal memories.

Design Inspiration and Concept

The Tidal Ridge Mitts draw inspiration from beach trips along the Queensland coast. The designer captures memories of waves affecting the sand on the beach through a mix of simple textures, creating visual and tactile interest in the finished mittens. This thematic approach transforms a basic accessory into a wearable memory piece that evokes warm thoughts of summer during winter wear.

Knitting Techniques Used

The pattern employs several fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginner-level crafters. The mitts are constructed using the magic loop technique on circular needles, which allows for seamless knitting in the round without requiring multiple needles. Alternatively, knitters may use double-pointed needles (dpns) if preferred. The construction involves increases using make one left (m1l) and make one right (m1r) techniques to shape the mittens appropriately.

Stitches Used

The Tidal Ridge Mitts feature a combination of two primary stitch patterns that work together to create the textural design:

• Stocking stitch – the foundational smooth texture created by alternating knit and purl rows
• Moss stitch – a textured stitch pattern that adds visual and tactile variation to the design

Additional stitch abbreviations used in the pattern include knit (k), purl (p), through the back loop (tbl), slip stitch (sh), and slip marker (sm). These basic stitches are combined to create the finished texture.

Materials and Tools

The Tidal Ridge Mitts pattern calls for worsted weight yarn, with the original design worked in Rowan Pure Wool Worsted in the Mineral colorway. One skein of yarn is sufficient to complete both mitts. Knitters will need 4.5mm circular needles measuring 80cm in length for the magic loop technique, or alternatively 4.5mm double-pointed needles (dpns) if using that method instead. The pattern also requires two stitch markers to track pattern repeats and construction points throughout the knitting process.

Pattern Details

The pattern instructions begin with casting on 36 stitches and joining in the round to start the cuff. The design is worked in the round from cuff to fingertips, with the pattern indicating that two mitts should be made. The beginner-friendly difficulty level makes this an accessible project for knitters new to mittens or those seeking a straightforward pattern with meaningful design elements.