material grrrl mitts
material grrrl mitts for all! knit them, crochet them, use one of our colorwork charts or create your own design (blank chart below). make a matching pair or a dozen of variations to mix and match! they’re the perfect quick project for gifts and an instant winter staple with a touch of personality:)
FINE PRINT: COPYRIGHT © 2023 ALEXA KARI DESIGNS. FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. READER/ PURCHASER MAY NOT COPY, RESELL, OR REDISTRIBUTE ANY PART OF THE PATTERN WITHOUT PERMISSION. READER/PURCHASER MAY NOT SELL ANY GARMENTS CREATED FOLLOWING THE PATTERN. 
knitting pattern
measurements
9.5 in/24 cm (total length), 7.5 in/19 cm (top of wrist to top of mitten), up to 10 in/25.5 cm (wrist circumference with stretch)
materials
4mm circular needles 5mm circular needles (optional needles: you may choose to use double pointed needles instead of using the magic circle method with circular needles)
size 4 yarn - originally created with 50g/100m (1+ base colors & yarn scraps for color work)
3 stitch markers
stitch holder
gauge
15 sts by 20 rows, knit stockinette stitch on 5mm needles
technique
these mittens are knit from the bottom up. you will begin with ribbing for the wrist cuff, then size up needles and increase stitches to create a thumb hole. thumb stitches will be left on a stitch holder while you finish the body of the mitten, then picked back up to finish the piece.
abbreviations
st(s) - stitch(es)
rep - repeat
k - knit
p - purl
pm - place marker
sm - slip marker
rm - remove marker
m1L - make 1 left leaning stitch
m1R - make 1 right leaning stitch
k2tog - knit two stitches together
ssk - slip, slip, knit
begin by knitting the cuff
optional - for the cuff only, hold a strand of mohair double with your yarn to create a fuzzy effect.
using 4mm needles, cast on 26 sts (using any stretchy cast on method). cast on one extra st and use it to close the round. place a marker at the beginning of the round (tie something to it so you can differentiate this from other markers you will later place around the round).
knit 1x1 ribbing (repeat k, p) for 15 rounds
knit the body
switch to 5mm needles
rows 1-5 - k
row 6 - k1, m1L, k11, pm, m1R, k2, m1L, pm, k to marker, m1R
row 7 - k all sts, sm as you reach each one
row 8 - k1, m1L, k to marker, sm, m1R, k to marker, m1L, sm, k to marker, m1R
row 9 - k all sts, sm as you reach each one
row 10 - k1, m1L, k to marker, sm, m1R, k to marker, m1L, sm, k to marker, m1R
row 11 - k all sts, sm as you reach each one
row 12 - k1, m1L, k to marker, sm, m1R, k to marker, m1L, sm, k to marker, m1R
row 13 - k all sts, sm as you reach each one
you should have 10 sts between markers for the thumb
row 14 - k to marker, rm, place 10 sts on holder, rm, k to end
you should have 32 sts remaining for the body of the mitten. you will now work the front and back of the mitten body flat and then seam them together. you will begin with the front of the mitten body. on row 15, you will place a marker on either side of your color work sts to section off the area of your stitch chart and begin your color work design. you will knit 16 sts before turning your work to continue working flat.
row 15 - k2, pm, k12 (this is the first row of your color work design), pm, k2
row 16 - p2, sm, p12 (this is the second row of your color work design), sm, p2
continue alternating k & p rows, following your color work design for the sts between the two markers, for another 16 rows to complete your design.
row 33 - ssk, rm, k to marker, rm, k2tog
row 34 - p2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog
row 35 - ssk, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2tog
row 36 - rep p2tog
row 37 - cast off
reattach yarn to the back of the mitten body, starting on the right side
row 1 - k
row 2 - p
rep rows 1 & 2 for 16 more rows.
row 19 - ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog
row 20 - p2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog
row 21 - ssk, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2tog
row 22 - rep p2tog
row 23 - cast off
seam it up
seam the two sides of the mitten body together using either an invisible vertical seam or a single crochet seam with contrasting color.
create the thumb
place 10 sts from the stitch holder on to 5mm needles. pick up 1 st from body. you should have 11 sts total.
place marker at the beginning of the round.
rows 1-6 - k (to make thumb longer, k more rows here)
row 7 - k, rep (k2tog) through rest of round (6 sts)
row 8 - k
row 9 - rep k2tog through entire round (3 sts)
cut your yarn, leaving a long tail, and use a tapestry needle to pull it through the 3 remaining sts. pull closed tightly and weave in the end on the inside of your work.
make it a pair
for the second mitten, follow the same steps through row 14
you should have 32 sts remaining for the body of the mitten. you will now work the front and back of the mitten body flat and then seam them together. you will begin with the back of the mitten body. on row 15, you will knit 16 sts before turning your work to continue working flat.
row 15 - k 16
row 16 - p
rep rows 15 & 16 for 16 more rows.
row 33 - ssk, k to last 2 sts, k2tog
row 34 - p2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog
row 35 - ssk, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2tog
row 36 - rep p2tog
row 37 - cast off
reattach the yarn to the other side of the mitten body, starting on the right side. on the first row, you will place a marker on either side of your color work sts to section off the area of your stitch chart and begin your color work design. you will knit 16 sts before turning your work to continue working flat.
row 1 - k2, pm, k12 (this is the first row of your color work design), pm, k2
row 2 - p2, sm, p12 (this is the second row of your color work design), sm, p2
continue alternating k & p rows, following your color work design for the sts between the two markers, for another 16 rows to complete your picture.
row 19 - ssk, rm, k to marker, rm, k2tog
row 20 - p2tog, p to last 2 sts, p2tog
row 21 - ssk, ssk, k to last 4 sts, k2tog, k2tog
row 22 - rep p2tog
row 23 - cast off
seam using the same method as you did with the first mitten.
knit the thumb with the same method as the first mitten.
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crochet pattern
measurements
9.5 in/24 cm (total length), 7.5 in/19 cm (top of wrist to top of mitten), up to 9 in/23 cm (wrist circumference with stretch)
materials
3.75mm hook
size 4 yarn - originally created with 50g/100m (1+ base colors & yarn scraps for color work 2 stitch markers)
gauge
15 sts by 15 rows, using single crochet stitch and 3.75mm hook
technique
these mittens are crocheted from the bottom up. you will begin by creating a ribbed effect for the wrist cuff by making single crochet stitches through the back loop only. you will continue with normal crochet stitches and increases to create the bottom body of the mitten before working up the thumb. reattach yarn to crochet each side of the body flat and then seam together.
abbreviations
rep - repeat
pm - place marker
ch - chain
sc - single crochet
blo - back loop only (so the direction “sc blo” means to make a single crochet stitch through the back loop only)
begin by crocheting the cuff
optional - for the cuff only, hold a strand of mohair double with your yarn to create a fuzzy effect.
ch30. close the round and place a marker at the beginning of the round.
rep (sc blo) for 9 rounds
shape the palm
row 1 - 1sc in next 2 sts, rep (2sc in next st, 1sc in next 3 sts) for the rest of the round (36 sts)
row 2 - sc
row 3 - 1sc in next 2 sts, rep (2sc in next st, 1sc in next 2 sts) for the rest of the round (46 sts)
rows 4-10 - sc
row 11 - sc in 14 sts. put your hook back in the first st of the round
you will now work only these sts to create the thumb
create the thumb
rows 1-6 - sc
row 7 - rep (sc in one st, skip 1 st) to end (7 sts)
row 8 - sc in first st, rep (sc in one st, skip 1 st) to end (4 sts)
cut your yarn, leaving a long tail and pull it through the last st to tie off. weave the tail through the other sts and pull to close the opening. weave the end in on the inside of your work.
crochet the body
reconnect your yarn to a st near the thumb.
this is the first row of your colorwork image. you will insert markers on either edge of the image. you will work each side of the mitten body flat and then seam them together.
row 1 - sc in first st, sc & pm in next st, now begin your color work chart: sc in next 12 sts, sc and pm in next st, sc in next st, ch1 and turn
continue working flat for 17 more rows. this will complete your color work pattern.
row 19 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 12 sts, ch1 and turn
row 20 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 8 sts, ch1 and turn
row 21 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 4 sts, tie off
reconnect your yarn to the other side of the mitten.
row 1 - sc in next 16 sts, ch1 and turn
continue working flat for 17 more rows.
row 19 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 12 sts, ch1 and turn
row 20 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 8 sts, ch1 and turn
row 21 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 4 sts, tie off
seam it up
seam the two sides of the mitten body together using either an invisible vertical seam or a single crochet seam with contrasting color.
make it a pair
for the second mitten, follow the same steps through the creation of the thumb, then:
reconnect your yarn to a st near the thumb.
row 1 - sc in next 16 sts, ch1 and turn
continue working flat for 17 more rows.
row 19 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 12 sts, ch1 and turn
row 20 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 8 sts, ch1 and turn
row 21 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 4 sts, tie off
reconnect your yarn to the other side of the mitten.
this is the first row of your colorwork image. you will insert markers on either edge of the image. you will work each side of the mitten body flat and then seam them together.
row 1 - sc in first st, sc & pm in next st, now begin your color work chart: sc in next 12 sts, sc and pm in next st, sc in next st, ch1 and turn
continue working flat for 17 more rows. this will complete your color work pattern.
row 19 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 12 sts, ch1 and turn
row 20 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 8 sts, ch1 and turn
row 21 - skip first 2 sts, sc in next 4 sts, tie off
This pattern was originally published in the Nov/Dec 2023 issue of Material Grrrlz
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