Easy Mitten Knitting Pattern

I recently shared a post all about mitts and mittens to knit using sock yarn leftovers. I know using sock yarn for mittens makes it sound like they will take forever, and maybe not even be that warm because the yarn is so thin.

I can tell you that mittens and gloves made with fine yarn are warm because they stay close to your skin, but it is true they can take a long time to knit.

If you want to go in the other direction in terms of yarn weight and speed, you can’t go wrong with some bulky yarn. And using heavier weight yarn is a great way to learn how to knit mittens because you’ll get all the techniques down in a jiffy.

Leelee Knits has a great free pattern for a pair of two-color chunky mittens worked using the magic loop method, which she prefers because she doesn’t like working with double pointed needles (I don’t mind double points but magic loop is a great technique to know — I’m actually knitting a sock using it right now!).

The contrasting color is fun, and great for using up stash, but of course you can make them a solid color if you like. Or go the other way and make them striped. No judgement here.

You’ll work a simple gusset for the thumb, and there is shaping at the top of the mitten and the top of the thumb, but it’s all really easy and these are a great first mitten project, or even a first knitting in the round project if you haven’t tackled that skill before.

And once you’ve got the pattern down, you just might want to knit mittens for everyone on your holiday list. Which is good because everyone can use warmer hands in the winter!

Get the free pattern from Leelee Knits.

[Photo: Leelee Knits]

Free Knitting Pattern – Seedless Columns Mittens

Mighty Mittens: A Choose Your Own Mitten Adventure

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Blankets are a great blank slate project that you can change up in a million different ways. From color to stitch pattern to size, the possibilities are almost endless.

Jared Flood, the designer behind Brooklyn Tweed, was inspired by a log cabin quilt his mother made in 1995 to re-create that design in knitting, which led to more blankets and ultimate Brooklyn Tweed’s Knit and Crochet Blankets, which includes 25 patterns from an array of designers using different skills and techniques to make cozy, pretty blankets.

The patterns are divided into three aesthetic themes: traditions, minimalism and colorplay. The patterns are rated on a scale of one to five, with one being the easiest, and there aren’t any pieces rated five. Two blankets are rated one, 14 are two, eight are three and one is four.

In addition, three of the 25 patterns are crocheted, but they either use single crochet or granny stitch, so they are pretty easy even if you don’t do a lot of crochet. You can see all the patterns on Ravelry.

Some of my favorites include Rattan by Rastus Hsu, a chunky blanket worked in knits and purls with simple crossing stitches to make a raised woven look; Homewood by Seth Richardson, covers in dramatic, loopy cables; Ainur Berkimbayeva’s Tessellate, one of the beginner projects that doesn’t really look beginner but is totally worked in knit and purl stitches; Warp + Weft by Aist? Butkevi?ien?, which is mostly knits and purls but makes a fun woven look fabric that blew my mind a little bit; and the same designer’s Canyonland, a multicolored blanket with wavy stripes.

The patterns tell you how to resize them for different dimensions and include information on pattern repeats where it is possible to make a totally custom size.

Many different techniques are included here such as cables, lace, shadow knitting, intarsia and other colorwork techniques, as well as modular knitting and lots of sewing pieces together. The patterns are all presented with charts, but there are line by line written instructions available on the Brooklyn Tweed website if you need them.

The book ends with a deep dive into log cabin knitting, telling the story of the quilt Jared’s mom made and how he made it in knitting, as well as the multitude of variations you can make if you want your own log cabin style design.

The back of the book includes a little written information about some of the special techniques needed, but there are no photos.

This is a lovely book full of inspiration for knitting and crochet blankets for any skill level. If you like to make blankets as gifts or aspire to have a handmade blanket in every room of the house, these designs would be a great place to start.

About the book: 192 pages, paperback, 25 patterns. Published 2024 by Abrams Books, suggested retail price $24.99.

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