Kitten mittens
Version One (for medium women’s hands 1 thumb gusset)
Yarn: either 1 ball Noro silkgarden (you will have related but not twin mitts)
Or 2 balls Noro silkgarden ( fraternal twins)
You will not get identical mitts, but that is part of the charm. Silk Garden has a reputation of being rough, but once you have washed it , you will see that it softens beautifully.
Needles: 1 set 3.25 dpns
1 set 4.5 dpns
Darning needle for sewing up
Knitting-in elastic (optional)
2 st markers
Gauge 18 sts x 28 rows on 4.5 needles
(do not fret too much about the gauge, silk garden has thick bits and thin bits, my tension ranged)
Important: if you note ( like I did, that, say, your wristband needed only 14 rows to match it's brother, because the length of Noro was very thick, thats fine, don't stick slavishly to my pattern, I don't, and the pattern is not exact. ( you could call this a "don't flame me" disclaimer!) try them on often while you are knitting.
Medium fit (Blaise’s hand is 20cm long, 17.5 cm around)
- With 3.25 mm needles, cast on 32 sts and work 16 rows K1P1 rib, use knitting 
– in elastic if desired, I like to use it for a snugger fit.
- Next row stst 4.5 mm needles. Knit 1 row, include 4 sts evenly 36sts
- Work 2 rows
- Thumb gusset, arrange sts on needles as shown in diagram.
- For R hand mitten K9, K18, K2, place marker, inc 1 st, K2, inc 1 st, place marker knit to end. (for L hand mitten K7, place marker, inc 1 st, K2, inc 1 st, place marker knit to end.)
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, slip marker, inc 1 st, knit to next marker, inc 1 st, slip marker, K to end of row.
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, slip marker, inc 1 st, knit to next marker, inc 1 st, slip marker, K to end of row.
- K to marker, place sts on holder, cast on 2 sts, check there are 36 sts. Knit to end of row.
- Knit 22 rows straight.
- Decrease:
K 4 K2tog (to end)
K 4 rows
K3 K2tog (to end)
K 3 rows
K 2 K2tog (to end)
K 2 rows
K 1 K2tog (to end)
K 1 row
K2tog (to end) 6 sts rem, cut yarn, thread through loops, pull tight,
Fasten on wrong side.
- Thumb
- Slip sts off holder onto 4.5 needle
- Pick up and knit 2 sts
- Pick up and knit 2 sts opposite holder sts, place marker, knit 2 sts
- Pick up and knit 2 sts
- Knit 6 rounds
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog
- K 3 rounds
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog
- K 2 rows
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog
- K 1 row
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog, slip marker, K2tog
- K 1 row
- 6 sts rem, break off yarn, draw yarn through sts, pull tight, and fasten off on wrong side.
Weave in ends, pull on and cuddle.
Blaise’s mittens were slightly felted, less than 5 minutes in a hot soapy wash, then a turn in the dryer, be vigilant, better to under - felt.
Version Two (for slightly bigger hands, better thumb fit with 2 gussets)
- With 3.25 mm needles, cast on 32 sts and work 20 rows K1P1 rib, use knitting – in elastic if desired, I like to use it for a snugger fit.
- Next row stst 4.5 mm needles. Knit 1 row, include 4 sts evenly 36sts
- Work 2 rows
- Thumb gusset, arrange sts on needles as shown in diagram 2
(PICTURE)
- For R hand mitten K9, K18, K2, place marker, inc 1 st, inc 1 st,inc 1 st place marker knit to end. 
(for L hand mitten K7, place marker, inc 1 st, , inc 1 st, place marker knit to end.)
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, slip marker, inc 1 st, knit to next marker, inc 1 st, slip marker, K to end of row.
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, slip marker, inc 1 st, knit to next marker, inc 1 st, slip marker, K to end of row.
- K to 1 st marker, knit 6 sts in smooth waste yarn, knit to end.(keep the markers on)
- K 1 row
- K to marker, ssk, K to last 2 sts before next marker, K2tog,slip marker, K to end.
- K 2 rows
- K to marker, ssk, K to last 2 sts before next marker, K2tog,slip marker, K to end.
- K 2 rows
- K to 1 st before ,slip marker off, ssk, K to last 1 st before next marker,slip marker off K2tog , K to end
- K 13 rows OR try the mitten on, you need to knit to a point 5 cms below the tip of your tallest finger. (lengthen , shorten here)
- The top shaping takes 5 cm.
- Decrease:
K 4 K2tog (to end)
K 4 rows
K3 K2tog (to end)
K 3 rows
K 2 K2tog (to end)
K 2 rows
K 1 K2tog (to end)
K 1 row
K2tog (to end) 6 sts rem, cut yarn, thread through loops, pull tight,
Fasten on wrong side.
-Thumb
- carefully remove smooth yarn , pick up 6sts below, 6 sts above, placing a marker between the 3rd and 4th st on the top sts, arrange on 3 needles.
- K 1st row, picking up a st at each end and knitting it together with the next st on the needle ( to close the hole that would otherwise form)
- K 9 rows
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog,slip marker, K2tog, K to end
- K 6 rows (vary length here)
- K to 2 sts before marker, K2tog,slip marker, K2tog, K to end
- K 1 row
- cut yarn, draw through sts and pull tight, bind off.
A mitten is really just a short sock with no heel, these are very basic instructions, use them as a guide to create your own custom- size mittens.
