Monday, 25 June 2012

Baby Mittens Knitting Pattern

Hi everyone, Here is another free knitting pattern for you!
You can tell we have been having really rubbish weather here in the UK as I'm still in winter mode with baby mittens! However, I've had a few customers like the idea of knitting something to go with a baby hat, so I thought the mittens would be ideal for this. Even in summer some babies need to wear scratch mittens, and these would do the job perfectly if knitted in cotton.
                                
They are knit on two needles and seamed. They are not knit in the round.
They are designed to go with my double knit weight hat patterns which are for sale on  etsy and craftsy
The first two sizes (0-6 months and 6-12 months) are thumbless mittens. The third size (1 – 2 years) has thumbs.
Instructions for the larger thumbless size are in brackets ( )

Materials needed:
25 g double knit /light worsted/8 ply yarn. (11wpi) for one pair of thumbless mittens
35g double knit /light worsted/8 ply yarn. (11wpi) for one pair of mittens with thumbs
Pair of 3.25mm (US size 3) knitting needles
Pair of 4mm (US size 6) knitting needles (main needles)

Gauge/Tension
22sts and 30 rows to 10x10cm (4x4”) square in stocking (stockinette) stitch on 4mm
(US Size 6) needles
Please take a little time to knit a tension square. If your square is too small, try knitting again using a bigger pair of needles. If your square is too big, try knitting again on smaller sized needles.

Abbreviations
K= Knit
K2tog = knit two stitches together
m1 = make one stitch – pick up the loop between the last and the next stitch and work into the back of this loop
P= Purl
tbl= through back loops
st(s) = stitch (es)
stocking st (stockinette)= 1 row knit, 1 row purl (knit row is the front of the work)
[ ] = work the instructions in the brackets by the number of time indicated

Instructions for thumbless mittens (0-6 months and 6-12 months)  (make 2)
Using 3.25mm (US size 3) needles, cast on 30(30) sts
1st Row: K2, [P2, K2] to end
2nd Row: P2, [K2, P2] to end
These two rows form the 2x2 rib pattern for the cuff. Repeat these two rows 10 times
Repeat the first row once more
Next Row: Rib to end, decreasing 1 st evenly across row for 1st size and increasing 1st  evenly across row for 2nd size    29(31sts)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                               
Change to 4mm (US Size 6) needles and starting with a knit row work in stocking stitch for 16(20) rows.
Shape top
Next Row: K2tog tbl, K10(11), K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K10(11), K2tog    25(27)sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K2tog tbl, K8(9), K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K8(9), K2tog            21(23)sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K2tog tbl, K6(7), K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K6(7), K2tog            17(19)sts
Next Row: Purl
Cast off
                              
Sew up top and side seam. Fold back cuff.
                              
nstructions for Mittens with Thumb – Size 1 – 2 years
Right Mitten
**Using 3.25mm (US size 3) needles, cast on 30 sts.
1st Row: K2, [P2, K2] to end
2nd Row: P2, [K2, P2] to end
These two rows form the 2x2 rib pattern for the cuff. Repeat these two rows 11 times (24 rows in total)
                              
Change to 4mm needles (US Size 6) and starting with a knit row, work 2 rows stocking st.**
Shape thumb
Next Row: Knit 16, m1, K1, m1, knit 13                                       32 sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 16, m1, K3, m1, knit13                                         34sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 16, m1, k5, m1, Knit 13                                        36sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 16, m1, k7, m1, knit 13                                        38 sts
Next Row: Purl
Thumb
Next Row: K25, turn
Next Row: P9, turn
Working just on these 9 sts, work 6 rows in stocking st
Next Row: K2tog 4 times, K1                                                            5sts
Cut yarn, draw up through remaining sts and secure.
                             
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the base of the thumb. Pick up and knit 2 sts (one either side of the base of the thumb), knit to end.                                                        31sts
                             
Starting with a purl row, work 9 rows stocking st.
Shape top
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K10, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K10, K2tog, K1   27sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K8, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K8, K2tog, K1       23sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K6, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K6, K2tog, K1       19sts
Next Row: Purl
Cast off
                                

Left Mitten
Work as for right mitten from ** to **
Shape thumb
Next Row: Knit 13, m1, K1, m1, knit 16                                                 32sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 13, m1, K3, m1, knit 16                                                 34sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 13, m1, k5, m1, Knit 16                                                 36sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: Knit 13, m1, k7, m1, knit 16                                                  38sts
Next Row: Purl
Thumb
Next Row: K22, turn
Next Row: P9, turn
Working just on these 9 sts, work 6 rows in stocking st
Next Row: K2tog 4 times, K1                                                                   5sts
Cut yarn, draw through remaining sts and secure.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn to the base of the thumb. Pick up and knit 2 sts (one either side of the base of the thumb, knit to end.                                                                 31sts
Starting with a purl row, work 9 rows stocking st.
Shape top
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K10, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K10, K2tog, K1  27sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K8, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K8, K2tog, K1      23sts
Next Row: Purl
Next Row: K1, K2tog tbl, K6, K2tog, K1, K2tog tbl, K6, K2tog, K1      19sts
Next Row: Purl
Cast off
Join top and side seams. Turn back cuffs.
                                
I haven't given instructions for knitting a cord to attach these to each other, as many people consider them dangerous. You can buy clips in many baby stores to attach the mittens to cardies and coats, which is much safer.
If you do want to make a cord however, I estimate it should be about 70 cms for 0-6months size, 80 cms for 6-12 months size and 90 cms for 1 – 2 year size.

If you want this as a pdf you can download it here
Happy knitting!

27 comments:

  1. I love these! I will for sure be making some for my baby that is due soon. We have cold witners in Utah!!

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    1. Ah, hope the pregnancy is going well :) Make sure you post photos of what you make on my FB page

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  2. A friend of mine is due with a baby soon, and I am going to make her little one a pair of the thumb-less mittens. Can't let those precious little hands get cold, now can we? :)

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  3. Good idea. I'm sure she/he will appreciate them.

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  4. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  5. This is exactly the pattern I've been looking for so I can make mittens for my grandbabies! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  6. Thank you. These are ideal to make for my little grandson - I'll make several pairs in varying colours to go with hats and jumpers already made.

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  7. Hi, i plan to make the thumbless mittens as a gift for a newborn, however all i have on me is the DK 4ply yarn which goes with 4mm needles. Can i continue the same pattern in that size?
    also i need a clarification, on the 22nd row, after i'm done with the ribbing, you've written rib to end, decreasing 1st evenly across for size 0-6 months - how do i do that? 22nd row is p2, (p2,k2), where do i k2tog?

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  8. Just K2tog anywhere in the middle where you would have just K2

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  9. The only way to know if your yarn is suitable is to knit a tension square and count the stitches

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  10. To the anonymous blogger who complained that you got all the comments as well when you printed the pattern: If you look at the top of the page on my blog there are tabsjust below the header. One of them is "Knitting Patterns". If you click on that it will take you to the download links where you can get all the patterns as PDF files to store on your computer and print just the pattern in proper format.

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  11. Thank you for taking the time to make & post your patterns! I don't know any babies but I think I will see if this can work for little dog booties!

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  12. Hi, thanks for the free pattern. I am a beginner in knitting and would be grateful if you can explain the cuff pattern in detail. when you say "K2, [P2, K2] to end" does it mean knit 2 sts together? cos then it decreases the no. of stitches in the row.

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    1. No, it means knit 2, then repeat the instructions in brackets to the end of the row i.e purl 2, then knit 2, then purl 2, then knit 2, all the way to the end of the row

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  13. This is just what I was looking for! Thanks... I'll be sure to post the results...

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  14. Great little pattern thank you! Just whipped up a pair of thumbless mittens for my 10 month old son :-)

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  15. Thank you for being so informative and for writing the abbreviations as I find that most people don't write those. Great for beginners like myself. Lovely pattern thanks! :)

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  16. Thank you for being so informative and for writing the abbreviations as I find that most people don't write those. Great for beginners like myself. Lovely pattern thanks! :)

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  17. Hi, thanks so much for this pattern. I knitted a pair of mitts for my son's newborn and have been asked for another pair as they are the only ones that stay on! You have made a new mother very happy !

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  18. Can these be done in the round?

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    1. You would need to be used to converting patterns to knit in the round, if you wanted to do so.

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  19. hi i was wondering what you mean by increasing 1st evenly across row for 2nd size 29(31sts)

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    Replies
    1. Make the increase somewhere in the centre, not at one end.

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  20. Great easy pattern and its free thank you so very much kirky

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  21. Hi, thank you for this pattern! I'Ve just tried knitting the 6-12m size thumbless mitten but it feels like it's coming up really small - not sure I'll be able to get it on my baby's hands. Is there something I'm doing wrong? I have to admit to not doing a tension square before I started...

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