Life & Style

Crocheted November Mittens

Wondering what to do with that single skein of leftover crochet yarn? Don’t let it sit idly in your closet—turn it into a pair of mittens for a lucky someone on your gift list.

These chunky mittens, from Brenda K.B. Anderson in Crochet One-Skein Wonders feature a ribbed cuff, and the hand can be lengthened or shortened for a custom fit. The addition of a strap attached with steampunk-style buttons makes this classic mitten very up-to-date.

From Crochet One-Skein Wonders

Finished Measurements: 8” (20.5 cm) in circumference and 10¾&#39′; (27.5 cm) inlength, or as desired

Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Bulky, 100% superwash merino wool, 137 yds (126 m)/3.5 oz (100 g), Brindle Heather

Crochet Hook: US K/10½ (6.5 mm) or size you need to obtain correct gauge

Gauge: 12 stitches and 12 rows = 4” (10 cm) in pattern.

Other Supplies: Two stitch markers, yarn needle, four ⅞” (22 mm) buttons, sewing needle and coordinating thread

Notes

The ribbed cuff is worked back and forth in rows and then slipstitched to form a tube. The body of the mitten is then worked in a spiral from the ribbing up to the top.
Right and left mittens are the same, except that the button straps are stitched onto opposite sides.
You will need to unravel your gauge swatch in order to have enough yarn to complete these mittens.

Crocheting the Cuff (make 2)

Chain 7.
Row 1: Working into the back bump of the chains, slip st in 2nd ch from hook, slip st in next 2 ch, sc in next 3 ch, turn. You now have 6 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, BLsc in next 3 sts, BLslip st in next 3 sts, turn.
Row 3: Ch 1, BLslip st in next 3 sts, BLsc in next 3 sts, turn.
Repeat Rows 2 and 3 thirteen more times.
Hold ribbing with crochet hook on the RS of your work as though you are about to work another row; fold first row of ribbing up in front so that short edges of ribbing are aligned; insert hook into back loop of foundation ch and through back loop of the next stitch on the previous row, yo and pull loop through both stitches and through loop on hook to slipstitch layers together; continue to slip st layers together across row. Do not fasten off. Turn ribbing inside out so that the slip-st row is on the inside. RS is now facing.

Crocheting the Mitten Body

Rnd 1: Ch 1, work 20 sc evenly spaced around top edge of ribbing tube; do not join. Place marker at the first st of the round and move up as you work the rounds. You now have 20 sts.
Rnds 2 and 3: BLsc into each st around.
Rnd 4: (BLsc in next 3 sts, 2 BLsc in next st) five times. You now have 25 sts.
Rnd 5: (BLsc in next st, 2 BLsc in next st, BLsc into next 3 sts) five times. You now have 30 sts.
Rnd 6: (BLsc in next 9 sts, 2 BLsc in next st) three times. You now have 33 sts.
Rnds 7–11: BLsc into each st around.
Rnd 12: BLsc in next 12 sts, skip next 9 sts (for thumb opening), BLsc in next 12 sts. You now have 24 sts, not including thumb.
Rnds 13–22: BLsc in each st around.
Rnd 23: (BLsc in next 2 sts, BLsc2tog) six times. You now have 18 sts.
Rnd 24: BLsc into each st around.
Rnd 25: (BLsc2tog, BLsc in next st) six times. You now have 12 sts.
Rnd 26: (BLsc2tog) six times. You now have 6 sts.
Fasten off, leaving an 8″ (20.5 cm) tail. Using yarn needle, thread yarn tail through the front loop of the remaining 6 sts and gather tightly to close top of mitten. Weave in ends.

Crocheting the Thumb

Rnd 1: Pull up a loop of yarn in any st at thumbhole, BLsc in each of the 9 skipped sts, adding 1 st at thumb crotch. (Let the beginning yarn tail dangle on the outside of your work. Later you can use it to stitch closed any small holes that occur.) You now have 10 sts.
Rnds 2–6: BLsc into each st around.
Rnd 7: (BLsc2tog) five times. You now have 5 sts.
Fasten off, leaving an 8″ (20.5 cm) tail. Using yarn needle, thread yarn tail through the front loop of the remaining 5 sts and gather tightly to close top of thumb. Weave in ends.

Crocheting the Button Strap (make 2)

Ch 8, making sure that the 8th ch st is loose enough to get your hook into it later.
Rnd 2: Sc in next 7 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc, 3 sc in next sc, slip st to next sc. Fasten off.

Finishing

Weave in ends. Use yarn tail to stitch closed the small hole between the thumb and the hand. Secure button straps in place (at wrists of mittens) by stitching a button to each end through both thicknesses.