Mittens galore!

Posted on December 4, 2022 by knitigatingcircumstances

It is that time of year again: time for my annual mitten post! This is the post in which I shower you with some great pattern ideas to keep your needles busy and your hands warm. When I started these posts, I tended more towards fingerless mitts than mittens. That trend is reversed here, perhaps due to the fact that like many others we are keeping our house colder this year. All the more reason to cast on a pair of mittens. I hope you find a pattern here which strikes your fancy.

Argyle style mittens by Lisa K. Ross

I thought I would start with a bang of colour! If you think argyle is old school and a bit staid, think again. Knit yourself a matching hat while you are at it and you will be set for anything winter throws at you.

Ruffletopia by Lisa Granick

I don’t often feature patterns with crochet, but these ruffled, colourful cuffs are hard to resist, maybe even enough for me to pick up a crochet hook. The ruffles are crocheted onto the knitted surface, and add a touch of fun to an otherwise understated glove.

Rabbity mittens & muffatees by bunnymuff – Mona Zillah

These are just too darn cute! I am sure you know someone who would be enchanted by these lovely rabbity mittens.

Jetson by Jo Shaw

I like the bold graphic of this design, and I’m particularly drawn to the purl welts around the cuffs and fingers. Can you see how the cuffs reference the old cartoon The Jetsons? (I am assuming this cartoon is in re-runs because you need to be at least as old as me to remember it otherwise.)

Underwood mittens by Virginia Sattler-Reimer

Over the years, I have featured quite a few of Virginia’s mittens. She never fails to make beautiful patterns and her use of colour is inspiring. Pair these with the fantastic matching tam and you will look super stylish for winters to come.

Timber by tincanknits

I am not sure why tincanknits chose to photograph their new collection in black and white. Yes, it looks cool and sophisticated, but this year I am yearning for colour. Use your imagination to supply the colour, however, and you will see this is a fantastic mitt pattern, which will be quick to knit and warm to wear.

Snowdrift Mittens by Wool & Pine

I just love this photo! There is something about the lovely rust-red mittens against the pine tree which shouts “holiday” and makes me think winter-y thoughts. (Good ones, like these mittens wrapped around a mug of mulled wine at a sparkling, snowy Christmas market.)

Jorvik mittens by Outi Kater

I love the juxtaposition of the blue and gold, and the combination of the geometric pattern and the stripes. It looks bold, cheerful, and stylish.

If you want to check out my previous mitten posts, here are the links!

Merry Mittenmas! (2014)

A dozen great patterns for fingerless mitts (2015)

Mittens! (2015)

To gusset or not to gusset (2016)

It’s mitten time again! (2017)

A show of hands (2018)

Warm hands, warm heart (2019)

Mittens Redux (2020)

My mitten post for 2021 (2021)

My Mitten post for 2021

Posted on December 5, 2021 by knitigatingcircumstances

It’s time for my annual post showcasing my favourite mitt and mitten patterns for the year.

Welsh Triads Collection by Sarah Monroe

These seven gorgeous mitten patterns are based on characters found in the Malbigoni, prose literature written in the 12th and 13th centuries in Middle Welsh. Having a daughter who is obsessed with early medieval Welsh history, these called out to me right away. I would also not be surprised if I am persuaded to knit one or more of these. I find them absolutely stunning.

Flora by Wenche Roald

I love this pattern; they are so cheerful. I can picture any young woman from a fairy tale wearing these while out taking a basket of goodies to grandma or gathering wood for the fire. I warn you: the pattern is written in Norwegian. But what experienced knitter couldn’t have a little fun and learn something new by reading a pattern in a different language? And if you already speak Norwegian, then you are ahead of the game!

Gran by Kajsa Vuorela Fredriksson

I love this simple but effective graphic design of spruce trees by Swedish designer Kajsa Vuorela Fredriksson. Gran means spruce in Swedish. Come on: you know you want a pair!

Wisp by Kerri Blumer

Sometimes, you need super warm and cozy mittens. These mittens are knitted with a strand of mohair held together with a DK weight yarn, to make a nice, fluffy fabric. There are so many combinations of yarns and colours that could be used to whip up a pair of these; I bet you have some sitting in your stash right now!

Frón by Kristin Ornolfsdottir

I’ve already shown you mittens from Norway and Sweden; here’s a pair from Iceland by designer Kristin Ornolfsdottir. She says: “Frón is the fifth of five mitten patterns where the inspiration comes from Icelandic cross-stitch patterns from 15th to 18th century.” I have a real thing for graphic mittens in black and white; if you go through my earlier mitten posts (see links below) there are quite a few other examples.

Noggin Cove by Jennifer Beale

Jennifer Beale does the most fantastic designs combining different styles and techniques in eye-catching ways. She is the knitting equivalent of fusion cooking. I am always excited to see a new design of hers. Note the traditional Shetland lace pattern which goes up the side of the thumb. These mittens are part of a set of five patterns using panels of Fair Isle in creative ways. My favourite is the cowl; while it is shown in the above photo, you can get a clearer picture of the cowl pattern here.

Jinkies by Kate Davies

These are part of a set of patterns which Kate has recently released based on experimentations with twisted stitches inspired by Norah Gaughan’s book, Twisted Stitch Sourcebook. Kate has written a number of interesting posts on the design process, showing how she has used the book to inspire new designs; she also interviews Thea Coleman regarding her use of Twisted Stitches in some recent design work. Fascinating stuff. You can find her blog here. I love the texture and structure in these mitts, which are showcased well by the longer length.

Dì-Shiopaich by Liz Corke

I admit to being completely fascinated by the technique employed here. She writes: “Meaning unzip in Scottish Gaelic, Dì-Shiopaich has the gusset on the back of the hand rather than around the thumb. This creates a split in the lace pattern which looks like a half unzipped zip!” Amazing! It’s such a neat idea and looks fantastic.

I hope you like these patterns as much as I do, and perhaps have found something to cast on your needles as we head into cold weather (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere).

I have been writing a mitten post every year (two in 2015!) for a long time now. Here are links to the earlier posts, in case you want to check them out:

Merry Mittenmas! (2014)

A dozen great patterns for fingerless mitts (2015)

Mittens! (2015)

To gusset or not to gusset (2016)

It’s mitten time again! (2017)

A show of hands (2108)

Warm hands, warm heart (2019)

Mittens Redux (2020)

Mittens redux

Posted on November 28, 2020 by knitigatingcircumstances

It’s that time of year again, when I show you some of the mitt and mitten patterns which have captured my attention this year. Casting on for a pair of mitts is fun, and more than that, it feels achievable. Big things are happening in the world this year, scary things; so in my sphere I like to have some little things happening, joyful things. A little piece of knitting, a cup of coffee, a technology-assisted talk with friends, warm hands. These things are good.

This is the 7th year I’ve been writing these mitten posts. I hope you find a pattern here to take your fancy. If not, scroll to the end to find links for each of my previous mitten posts. Note that pattern links are for Ravelry.

1. Nordwand by Birgit Grunwald

I love the ingenuity of these. You start at the thumb and work your way out. This feels really clever and different, and makes me want to cast on right away. I think these would be a brilliant pattern for using up small scraps of wool.

2. Radiant Star Mitts by Ella Gordon

These are beautiful mitts, which use traditional motifs and a “bright retro colour palette” inspired by jumpers from the 70s and 80s (from the pattern description). I love the pop of the orange and the turquoise paired with the charcoal black; they are very striking. Even more striking, due to the larger canvas, is the matching cowl which she designed for the Shetland Wool Week Annual 2020.

3. Ui Mittens by Ainur Berkimbayeva

I have a fondness for strong, simple geometric patterns in black and white. These mittens hit the right chord for me. The designer says: “ ‘Ui’ is a Kazakh word for ‘house’ and ‘home.’ The shapes and lines in these mittens reminded me of the cottage where I grew up.” If you like these, you should check out her newest mitten design, Herringbone Mittens for Purl Soho, which continue the Art Deco vibe.

4. Winglet Mitts by Sachiko Burgin

I love this dainty and whimsical design. The pattern description says: “These quick to knit, lepidoptera inspired mitts feature an embossed motif of an affable moth (not of the wool eating kind, promise!).” Better to have some moths on your knitting than moths in your knitting, no? And a pretty pair of mitts to boot.

5. Bramble by Diana Walla

I have always loved the pairing of pink and green, or of orange and green, but here the use of pink and green and orange against this fantastic wash of a brilliant orange coat, is fabulous. The pattern was designed by Diana Walla for amirusu, Fall/Winter 2020, Issue 21. If you don’t want to buy the whole magazine just for one pattern, never fear, it contains some lovely patterns including this gorgeous pullover. This photo not only makes me want to knit the mitts, but also to go out and buy this coat!

6. Pihta by Eeva Kesäkuu

I love these mittens by Finnish designer Eeva Kesäkuu. They are knit at a very tight gauge – 39st/10cm – so are sure to keep you warm and dry. I love the pinstripes, the dimensions, the fantastic gusset and thumb design, and the squared-off tops. Knitting them in red and white just adds to the appeal!

7. Dinkel by Simone Bechtold

Sometimes, simple is best. Dinkel means wheat and this lovely wheat pattern has a lot of impact despite being used so sparingly. The pattern description says: “Some yarns, especially rustic, breed-specific ones, have so much character and personality, you don‘t want to overpower them with a fancy pattern.” Don’t let the simple nature of the pattern fool you; these mitts have a fantastic thumb gusset!

8. Limn by Emily Greene

I adore these mitts! Modelled in the photo above by a man, they are a perfect unisex design. I think they are sinuous and interesting and sexy; they have rhythm and movement and texture, all on a base of luscious garter stitch. What more could you want?

I hope you’ve found something here to enjoy. If it’s put you in the mood for mittens, take a look at my previous mitten posts:

Merry Mittenmas! (2014)

A dozen great patterns for fingerless mitts (2015)

Mittens! (2015)

To gusset or not to gusset (2016)

It’s mitten time again! (2017)

A show of hands (2108)

Warm hands, warm heart (2019)

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!

Warm hands, warm heart

Posted on November 10, 2019 by knitigatingcircumstances

This time every year I write a post to showcase patterns for mittens, mitts, and gloves. This weekend it has been cold and blustery and definitely feels like winter is in the air. It’s a good time to be wearing (and knitting) warm, wooly mittens. Here is my roundup of eight great patterns that will keep your hands warm and stylish.

Oak Hollow by Dianna Walla

Dianna released this pattern last week, and I love the way it makes you think of beautiful, crisp fall days, and trees burnished in gold. It’s a really lovely pattern and I must admit that I have already been rummaging through my stash to try to find just the right shade of gold to knit up these beauties.

Prairie Star Gloves by Outi Cater

I’ve yet to knit a pair of gloves, but this design is enough to tempt me. The pattern is published in issue 143 of The Knitter magazine. The Ravelry project page states that: “The stitch pattern echoes the designs of traditional 19th century American patchwork quilts.” I love that she gets such a rich pattern with just four shades.

Jimi Hendrix by Lotta Lundin

I love these mittens. The reverse side is cool too (with peace signs). Doug saw Jimi live on September 7, 1968 at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver. Somewhere there are photos of Doug and friends from that concert. We saw Nigel Kennedy do a 40th anniversary tribute to Jimi at Ronny Scotts in September 2010 (Jimi played at Ronnie Scotts on the night he died). I wish I’d had a chance to see Jimi live, but I can wear the mitts as a consolation prize.

Hafgufa Mittens by Heather Desserud

This pattern is actually from 2018, but published in mid-December, after I did last year’s mitten round-up. I think these are so cute, with the giant krakens lurking beneath the waves and the unsuspecting Viking ships sailing above. I think Heather has made such a clever and whimsical design. “Hafgufa” is apparently an Icelandic name for an ancient sea monster.

Skog Mitts by Claire Walls

Sometimes simple is best. I really like the simple but elegant pattern and shape of these mitts. This pattern is from Making Magazine Issue 8/ FOREST. They would knit up really fast in DK yarn and be a great weekend project. I can imagine a pair to match every coat.

Lakrits Mittens by Emilia Jensen

I have a thing for black and white geometrical designs (there are quite a few in these mitten posts). I love this bold design and how it pops out at you. I also love the bright colours at the cuffs. There is a matching hat, too, with a fantastic crown so be sure to check it out.

Brackthaw Mittens by Faye Kennington

I think these are completely lovely mittens. They remind me so much of the Pacific Northwest, and long walks through the snow-covered forest. The designer lives in a remote corner of Vancouver Island, and she has really captured that part of the world with this design. Stay with me while I go turn on the fireplace and get some hot chocolate….

Chardon Mittens by Virginia Sattler-Reimer

Virginia has been turning out some lovely mitten and hat patterns the past few years. I love the colours in this – three shades of purple and three of green really make the pattern pop. I think it would also look good in greys and yellows. There is a matching hat as well, so you can keep your hands and your ears warm, and look great at the same time.

That’s all for this round-up, but if you want to go back and look at previous years’ mitten posts, you can find them here (not in order):

Here’s wishing you a happy weekend, good knitting, and warm hands.

A show of hands

Posted on December 15, 2018 by knitigatingcircumstances

It has become a custom around here to write a yearly post about mitts (mittens, gloves, etc). This post is a bit late, but I have been in the Southern Hemisphere for much of the last month and so have not had to deal with cold hands. Now that I am back home and it is frosty, warm mitts are back on my radar. So, let’s see a show of hands!

Tettegouche Mittens by Virginia Sattler-Reimer

by ginni Flickr

I am currently obsessed with fair isle knitting, and these mittens are just divine. The colours are so rich and gorgeous. Susan pointed out to me on Ravelry (Hi, Susan!) that the Tattegouche State Park is amazing, and having looked it up, I would agree and can see the inspiration. Virginia designed these to match a hat pattern which she contributed to Kate Davies’ new collection; so you can make a matching set.

Muhu Gloves by Anu Pink

I love Muhu designs. The description on it’s Ravelry pattern page says: “The gloves knitted in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries on the tiny Estonian island of Muhu were exquisitely flamboyant and knitted at a very tight gauge. This project invites you to knit an authentic pair of Muhu gloves at the traditional gauge.” (The gauge is 64 stitches and 66 rows = 10 cm, so be fortified before you cast on!) These are published in Piecework by Interweave Knits.

Amazing Grace by Jana Huck

Jana recently published five patterns for fingerless mitts in a collection called A cuff of Cheer. I like them all and had a hard time deciding which to put here. One of the things I like about these is the small lines of colour which run across the pattern; I think this opens up endless possibilities for adding some pops of colour and experimenting with shades and combinations. Like the name of the collection, I find these very cheerful.

Bromont Mitts by Dianna Walla

These mitts (and the matching hats) make me think of snow ball fights and long walks in the woods, sledding and hot chocolate. I love them in this combo of pink and grey and natural white, but of course the possibilities are endless. Dianna spent a few years in Norway, and has clearly been influenced by Norwegian knitting traditions. This is a simple design, but clean and fun.

Underground by Skeindeer Knits

I love a bit of fusion, both in cooking and knitting. These mittens take inspiration from two sources. As Eli says in the Ravelry pattern description: “I was inspired by the London public transport system, as well as my own Norwegian knitting heritage. These mittens feature patterns from the local-to-me Selbu mitten tradition, as well symbolism well known to all London residents.” I really love the way these two have combined in this design. They manage to be both striking and charming, and a lot of fun as well.

Happy Glamper mittens by Keri Malley

I love these mittens! I cannot overstate how happy they make me. Keri has only published two patterns, but I hope she does more. They are so whimsical, and nostalgic, and absolutely perfectly framed. It’s almost enough to make me want to go camping (and that’s saying something)! I dare you to look at these and not be charmed.

That’s all for this round-up, but if you want to go back and look at previous years’ mitten posts, you can find them here:

Here’s wishing you a happy weekend, good knitting, and warm hands.

It’s mitten time again!

Posted on November 10, 2017 by knitigatingcircumstances

Yesterday a fantastic anthology of craftivism mittens and mitts popped up in my pattern highlights section on Ravelry. It is a collection of designs called Join Hands, and as I was savouring the patterns, I realised that it was time for another post about great mitten patterns (previous posts include Merry Mittenmas!, A dozen great patterns for fingerless mitts, and Mittens!). This seems to be becoming an annual feature on the blog, one which I am more than happy to continue. So, without further ado, here are my picks of the season.

We must do better by Dianna Walla

I like all of the patterns in the Join Hands pattern ebook, but this is one of my favorites. I love anything Dianna Walla designs (she is a fantastic blogger as well; check her out here). These mitts really speak to me, both for their meaning and for the great lines of the design and the very simple but bold patterning. The proceeds from the ebook will be split equally between the American Civil Liberties Union and the Southern Poverty Law Center, two worthy organisations! The phrase “We must do better”, knitted around the cuffs, is taken from the book We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Iznik by Barbara Gregory

Crissy Jarvis © Barbara Gregory

Barbara Gregory’s designs are nearly always winners in my book. I love her use of colour and whimsy. (I knit one of her sweaters which I blogged about here.) She puts out great mitten patterns every year. This year I was taken with the design called Iznik. I am a big fan of tiles, and the Iznik tiles and pottery from Turkey are very distinctive and beautiful. She uses duplicate stitch for the third colour, so these are not as difficult as they appear, using two-colour stranded knitting throughout.

Petronela Mittens by Anna Lipinska

This year I seem to be attracted to big, cosy mittens. I have a cold right now, so perhaps that factored into my selection, but it seems to be a trend on this list. These mittens are very spare but look like just the right thing to wear for a brisk winter walk. In fact, these mittens are almost enough to make me wish to take a brisk winter walk, which is saying a lot. I like these in natural colours but could imagine making them in almost any shade. Make them for your teenagers and watch them not be able to text.

Herati by Sari Nordlund

I like almost anything from the Pom Pom Quarterly. This pair of mittens really caught my eye (not hard to do with this sumptuous shot – all those beautiful reds and golds). These are knit with Quince & Co Finch, a favorite yarn, and I just might have these very colours in my stash! I hesitate to knit mittens without a gusset (see my post To gusset or not to gusset) but these have been circling around in my brain and could very well end up on my needles.

Black and White Mittens by Carolyn Vance

These mittens are published in a journal called Cast On, The Educational Journal for Knitters, Winter 2017/18; it is published quarterly by The Knitting Guild Association, a non-profit organization. This suggests that this pattern is educational; I just think it’s cool. I am attracted to geometrical prints and also to black and white patterns. These are knit in sport weight yarn on tiny needles, to get a gauge of 10 stitches to the inch in pattern. The design uses a technique called twined knitting – I don’t know it (I guess that is what makes this educational), but can also be knit with traditional stranded stockinette.

Lines Mittens by tincanknits

I love what tincanknits do with colour, but this pattern shows how great they are with natural shades as well. I really like these mittens – I love how the grey and white play against each other, I love the geometry of the lines, and I especially love the photo. If I had these, I would hang around on cliffs all day waiting for someone to photograph my hands artfully arranged against the rocks. These are knit in a cashmere blend, by the way, which makes me want them even more.

Tveir Fingerless Gloves by Ella Gordon

I had to include this very Christmas-y design here. These fingerless gloves are so cheerful and pretty. They make me think of eggnog and gingerbread and wrapping paper and Christmas tree ornaments. It’s a very sweet pattern, from the Shetland Wool Week Annual 2017.

Pink Pine Pair by Nataliya Sinelshchikova

These are fantastic mittens with a super interesting construction. I covet these, in the exact colours. I want this pop of pink! And then maybe I would make a pair with a pop of red! Or a pop of orange! Or a pop of purple! Maybe I need many pairs! I have never heard of this designer and this is her only pattern on Ravelry, but if this is the first she is off to a good start.

I hope this post inspires you to knit a pair of mittens. I believe there should be a design for everyone in this selection (including all of those on your gift list). Happy knitting!

Mittens!

Posted on November 7, 2015 by knitigatingcircumstances

Shortly before Christmas last year, I published a post with great mitten patterns (you can find it here). Last week, I received a lovely mitten pattern in the mail. As part of her Seven Skeins Club, Kate Davies recently released this pattern, called Kokkeluri:

I think these are beautiful, and if I ever get my hands back to knttting shape, I plan to make a pair. (I already have the yarn!) This pattern is only available to subscribers of the Seven Skeins Club until its general release in 2016. If you are not part of the Club, never fear! I have another seasonal round-up of great mitten patterns for you here.

I just love these Medusa Mittens by Annie Watts. It is one pair in a trio, which includes the Mitts of Sysiphus and the Pandora Mitts. They are all good, but these are my favorites.

They can’t be properly appreciated without seeing the back (or the front as the case may be). What would Medusa be without snakes?

While I love fun mittens, and I love colourful mittens, I also have a fondness for geometrical patterns, and love the spare lines and muted colours of these, Midtown by Spilly Jane. She was inspired by the subway ventilation gratings in New York City.

My mitten post last year had a couple of red and white themed mittens. This seems to be a favorite of mine, as witnessed by this pair, the Celtic Inspired Mittens, by Janet Welsh Knits.

The Melancholy Thistle pattern by Pinneguri is pretty in this green and white colourway, but make sure you check out the projects on Ravelry. There aren’t too many yet, but the variations in the colourways are really striking. Check them out. Aren’t the thumbs fabulous?

Weeds by Lynn Manderville is a lovely pattern. I find these really appealing; the colourwork is great but I especially love the cuffs. I am a sucker for seed stitch, and this green is gorgeous.

I love these Telšiai Mittens by Donna Druchunas. These are based on a pair of Lithuanian mittens knitted in the town of Telšiai, and photographed in a Lithuanian knitting pattern book from 1933 (details at Ravelry link above). The original photo is in black and white, but I think this blue and yellow combination is fabulous.

I really love Metasequoia, by Kristen Kapur (what a great name, too!). I’m not even sure why I find them so appealing but their simple folksiness with a touch of whimsy, is really great.

Last but not least, I ‘m crazy about the Calaveras Mittens by JennyPenny:

In case you’re not convinced, just tlook at the reverse side.

The weather is going to get cold and frosty any day (at least for us in the Northern Hemisphere). It’s the perfect time to cast on a pair of mittens. Enjoy!

Merry Mittenmas!

Posted on December 23, 2014 by knitigatingcircumstances

I was sitting around thinking about mitten patterns (as one does) and listening to Christmas carols. My head filled in the following lyrics:

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me

Twelve great mitten patterns…

So, without further ado, I present to you twelve great mitten patterns (in no particular order; all links are to Ravelry pattern pages.)

1. Newton’s Mittens, designed by Emily Bujold:

2. Deep in the Forest mittens, designed by Tuulia Samela:

by Tuulia

3. Perfect Storm mittens, designed by Kimberly Voisin:

4. 4-11 Mittens, designed by Anna Zilboorg:

5. Paradoxical mittens, designed by Lucy Neatby:

by LucyN

6. Blomst mittens, designed by Tori Seierstad:

by Torirot

7. Wallpaper Mittens, designed by Veronik Avery:

by Veronik

8. Stay Puft mittens (Ghostbuster tribute), designed by Therese Sharp:

9. Golden Light Mittens, designed by Spilly Jane:

10. Freja mittens, designed by Emmy Petersson:

11. Lotus Mittens, designed by Heather Dessurud:

12. Fishbone Mittens, designed by Marit Trudvang:

by yarnjungle

Looking over this list, I can see a number of dominant themes:

Colourwork. Every single one of these patterns utilizes colourwork. No Plain Jane mittens for me!
Whimsy. It is clear that I have a finely tuned sense of the ridiculous.
Black and white geometrics. Three out of twelve fall into this category; clearly, this is an appealing theme for me.

Happy Holidays!

Knitigating Circumstances

Because knitting is excuse enough

Tag Archives: mitten patterns

Mittens galore!

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My Mitten post for 2021

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Mittens redux

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Warm hands, warm heart

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A show of hands

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It’s mitten time again!

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Mittens!

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