Family Fun Mittens

These textured, waffle-rib mittens will keep your family's hands nice and toasty this winter. Make a pair in each size to keep in the car for emergencies, or make a pair for your child's favorite teacher.

Design by Christine L. Walter

Skill Level

Intermediate

Sizes

Child's (woman's, man's) Instructions are given for smallest size, with larger sizes in parentheses. When only 1 number is given, it applies to all sizes.

Finished Measurements

Hand circumference: 6 (8, 9) inches

Materials

Plymouth Galway Worsted Marl 100 percent wool medium weight yarn (210 yds/100g per ball): 1 ball of salmon mix #602 (child's) or turquoise mix #603 (woman's/man's)
Size 6 (4mm) double-pointed needles or size needed to obtain gauge
Stitch markers (1 in CC for beg of rnd)
Tapestry needle

Gauge

23 sts and 30 rows = 4 inches/10cm in Waffle Rib pat (blocked)
To save time, take time to check gauge.

Special Abbreviations

M1L (Make 1 Left): Insert LH needle from front to back under the horizontal strand between the last st worked and next st on left needle. With RH needle, knit into the back of this loop.

M1R (Make 1 Right): Insert LH needle from back to front under the horizontal strand between the last st worked and next st on left needle. With RH needle, knit into the front of this loop.

Pm (place marker): Place marker on needle.

Inc1 (increase 1): Knit in front and back of st to inc 1 st.

Pattern Stitch

Waffle Rib (multiple of 5 sts)

Rnds 1 and 2: Knit.

Rnds 3-6: *K1, p3, k1; rep from * to end.

Rep Rows 1-6 for pat.

Mittens

Cuff

Cast on 30 (40, 50) sts. Distribute evenly on 3 or 4 dpns and join without twisting; pm between first and last sts.

Work in k1, p1 rib until cuff measures 2 1/4 (2 3/4, 3) inches.

Thumb Gusset

Work Rnd 1 of Waffle Rib across 15 (20, 25) sts, pm, k1, pm, continue in pat to last st, inc1. (31, 41, 51 sts)

Inc rnd: Work in pat to first marker, sl marker; M1L, knit to next marker, M1R, sl marker; work in pat to end of rnd.

Rep Inc rnd [every 3rd rnd] 2 (5, 7) times, then [every 4th rnd] 2 (1, 0) times. (11, 15, 17 sts between markers)

Next rnd: Work in pat to first marker, place sts between markers on a piece of waste yarn (removing markers), cast on 1 st over gap left by gusset, work in pat to end of rnd. (31, 41, 51 sts)

Hand

Next rnd: Work in pat as established, knitting the st cast on over gusset.

Next rnd: Work 15 (20, 25) sts in pat, k2tog, work in pat to end of rnd. (30, 40, 50 sts)

Work even until piece measures approx 3 1/2 (5 3/4, 6 3/4) inches from top of ribbing.

Next rnd: Work 15 (20, 25) sts in pat, pm, work to end of rnd.

Shape Top

Dec rnd: *Ssk, work in pat as established to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sl marker; rep from *. (26, 36, 46 sts)

Next rnd: *K1, work in pat to 1 st before marker, k1; rep from *.

[Rep last 2 rnds] 3 (4, 6) times. (14, 20, 22 sts)

Next rnd: *Ssk, knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog, sl marker; rep from *. (10, 16, 18 sts)

[Rep last rnd] 1 (2, 3) time(s). (6, 8, 6 sts)

Thumb

Place 11 (15, 17) gusset sts onto 3 dpns; pick up and knit 1 st over gap and join; pm for beg of rnd. (12, 16, 18 sts)

Work in St st until thumb measures approx 1 (1 3/4, 2) inches from pick-up rnd.

Next rnd: [K4 (5, 6), pm] twice, k4 (6, 6).

Shape Top

Dec rnd: [Knit to 2 sts before marker, k2tog] around. (9, 13, 15 sts)

Rep Dec rnd [every (every other, every other) rnd] 1 (2, 2) time(s). (6, 7, 9 sts)

Largest size only
Rep Dec rnd. (6 sts)

All sizes
Cut yarn, leaving a 5-inch tail.

Using tapestry needle, thread tail through rem sts and pull tight.

Finishing

Weave in ends.

Block lightly.