Last December was not a good month for me and for the first time in over a decade, I didn’t publish a mitten post. Well, it’s time to get back on the wagon. There are so many new mitten patterns being published now, and I hate to say it, but many of them look samey-samey to me. To help cut through the mitten haze, here are some that stood out from the crowd for me.

Rosie Mittens by LE KNIT by Lene Holme Samsøe:

The Rosie sweater was a huge hit for Lene Holme Samsøe this year. While I think it is gorgeous, I am unlikely to knit it. The oversized, drop shoulder look isn’t so good on me. But these Rosie Mitts are charming! Here is a good way to knit the exceedingly pretty Rosie pattern in a smaller canvas. I can imagine these in so many different colour combos, some soft, some bold.

Skating Ring Mitts by Ainur Berkimbayeva:

One of the things that Purl Soho do so well is to make classic patterns with well-thought out design. This is a fairly simple concept, beautifully articulated. I am not exactly sure why I find these so appealing; nevertheless, appeal they do. Perhaps it is the matching set of hat and cowl, which while being matchy-matchy, is definitely not samey-samey.

On Two Wheels by Claudia Fiocchetti:

What can I say? These are fun! I am often critical of self-striping yarns, but I love how Claudia Fiocchetti has used them to great effect here. If you know anyone who cycles, this is a wonderful gift. If you cycle yourself, be indulgent and knit a pair for you!

Spot Mittens by Anne Ventzel:

I love these mittens, just like I love the sweater they are based on. I have really been enjoying Anne Ventzel patterns; I knitted both her Robinia sweater and Robinia mittens last year (blogged here and here). I like the crispness of the geometric pattern, particularly in this blue and white combo. Such a great photo, too. It not only makes you want to knit the mittens, but also to sit and have a coffee and chat with Anne.

Stanford – mittens by Sara Ottosson:

Oh my, look at the fantastic interplay between the garter and mosaic stitches! See how the garter on the thumbs continues up the side of the mittens, making a boxy structure? I love these so much! I would love them even if they weren’t in this eye-popping colour combo. But of course, they are, which makes them irresistible.

Grønmo by Lanja Khon-Engheim:

Sometimes, all it takes is a beautiful cable pattern. Knitted in this lovely natural shade, the cables pop, and look very intricate and organic. Non-knitters will be agog and won’t believe that you knitted these yourself. Just don’t knit them in front of the telly.

Juicy fruit short by knittinglotta:

These are Leah’s favourites. She sent me a link with some barely disguised hinting. It is such a pretty pattern, and extremely cheerful. It makes me think summery thoughts even in the midst of winter. I have a feeling these will end up on my needles sooner rather than later.

Underglow Mitts by Melanie Berg:

These are so dainty and elegant. It’s a very beautiful stitch pattern and Melanie Berg lets it do all the work. No need for any extra flourishes here. Just a soft yarn and a great stitch. The hemmed cuffs are a nice touch.

TractorBaby by Tonje Haugli:

In all of the time that I have been writing these mitten posts, I have never featured a baby mitten. But look at these! Aren’t they adorable? I love them! I could eat them up! They are so, so sweet. I dare you to look at them and not smile!

I hope you’ve found something you like. If you have another favourite, drop me a line in the comments. And, in case you are interested in the previous mitten posts, you can find them at the below 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)

Mittens galore! (2022)

You had me at mittens (2023)

It’s that time of year again, when the temperature drops and I start composing my annual mitten post. Below is a selection of the patterns for mittens, mitts and gloves that have caught my eye this season. I hope they tickle your inner knitter’s fancy. (If you are in the southern hemisphere, it gives you lots of time to prepare for your winter while knitting small things in the heat.)

Expo 67 Mittens by Espace Tricot

I love this pattern, which combines bold colour with an architectural feel. The latter is not surprising as the pattern is based on the architecture of the 1967 Montreal Exposition. Each time I look at them, my brain starts trying out colour combinations. I think I may need to knit more than one pair. And, since they are knitted with DK weight yarn, they should be pretty quick. There is also a matching hat pattern, and a cowl as well, if you are into the matchy-match look.

Snow Treasure Gloves by Mary Jane Mucklestone

This pattern can be found in the new book, Grand Shetland Adventure Knits, which Mary Jane has co-written with Gudrun Johnston. I try not to include too many patterns here which can’t be individually purchased, but if you like these, you might want to check out the other patterns in the book (my favourite is this stand-out vest, also by Mary Jane). I really love how these blues work against the red background, and also the juxtaposition of the three patterns (from the cuffs, the outside, and the inside of the hands). It makes for a really pleasing glove.

Pico Mitts by Belén Fernández

There is something so satisfying about these mitts. They have great lines, and the contrast of the rich earthy green and the pale lavender really works for me. This pattern also has a matching hat, and as you can see, they look smashing together. If you are looking for a mitt with a clean line, these may be for you.

Constellate Mitts by Hunter Hammersen

The first thing you notice here is the pretty stitch pattern in which the yellow pops against the background like fireworks. But then, the eye is drawn to the way that the increases are worked in the opposite direction of the thumb; taking a simple gusset and turning it on its head (or, in this case, its hand). It is so clever. I am really drawn to clever. You can make these in a single colour, but for me there is joy in the splash of yellow.

Sankta Lucia Mitts by Maria Björnståhl

Every once in a while, you need a bit of whimsy. I think these are adorable. In Sweden, the Feast of Saint Lucy (Sankta Lucia) is on the 13th of December; there is a procession and traditional foods and songs. Sankta Lucia wears a white dress and a crown of lighted candles. I love the expression on her face in these sweet mittens and the pretty yellow-topped candles.

Tak Six Kloos by Hazel Tindall

I do like clever, and these mitts are a very clever experiment. The description on Ravelry says; “Hazel has taken six colours to see how many handwarmers she could knit from the same pattern, using the colours differently each time.” Such a simple concept, and I imagine, a lot of fun to experiment with. “Tak” means take and “kloo” is a ball of yarn in Shetland dialect. You know you want to do it: how many different variations of the same six colours can you knit?

Bevel Mitts by Emily Greene

In this colour, these look more like spring mitts than winter ones, but they are sure to be cozy. I really like mittens knitted with twisted ribbing; they hold their shape well and hug your hands. Plus, the twisted stitches can be a lovely fabric for cables to jump and dance across.

Green Blue Lithuania Mittens by Donna Druchanas

Donna’s patterns always catch my eye. She uses traditional motifs and techniques and makes them feel fresh. I love the contrast between the cabled cuffs, the pretty star-like motif, and the checkerboard pattern. They work together really well. I also love the way that the motif fits so perfectly into the triangle at the top of the mitt; it has a very nice geometry. Like some of the other patterns here, there is a matching hat as well.

I hope you’ve found some inspiration. Mittens make a nice gift (for yourself as well!) and are fun to knit. 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)

Mittens galore! (2022)

Enjoy!

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)