Checkerboard Mitts

These cozy mitts are worked in the round, and feature a simple checked colorwork pattern. The patterning adds extra warmth, and is simple enough for a beginner. The mitts are designed in two sizes, to fit the average female and male hand. Perfect for last minute gift knits, they only take a few hours to make!

Sizes

Woman – to fit hand circumference of 7” (18cm)

Man – to fit hand circumference of 8” (20cm)

Yarn

Drops Karisma DK (100% wool; 109 yards [100m]/50 grams): 76 Dark Purple or 53 Anthracite Mix (MC), 1 (2) balls; 33 Pink or 52 Dark Mustard (CC), 1 (1) balls.

Needles

Size US 3 (3.25mm) and size US 6 (4mm): dpns

Notions

Stitch markers, tapestry needle.

Gauge

24 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] over pattern.

Abbreviations

Please see our standard abbreviations.

Chart

Pattern Notes

When carrying the contrast color across the back of the thumb gusset, catch the floats every few stitches to avoid snagging.

This pattern is fairly easy to adapt. If you want to adjust the length of the mitts, you can add or remove a few repeats of the pattern or work more or less rounds of rib.

Mitts

Using MC and 3.25mm (US 3) dpns, CO 40 (44) sts and join to work in the rnd.

Work 20 rnds of k2 p2 rib, starting with k2.

Change to 4mm (US 6) dpns, and work 1 rnd in st st, inc 4 sts evenly across the rnd with a m1 technique; 44 (48) sts.

Beg working in checkerboard pattern from chart, reading right to left, and rep across rnd.

Work 4 rnds.

Shape thumb gusset

Use MC only for all sts between markers, stranding CC across the back of the work.

R mitt only

Rnd 1: K22 (24) in patt, pm, m1, k3, m1, pm, k to end in patt.

Rnd 2: K22 (24) in patt, sm, using MC k to next marker, sm, k to end in patt.

Rep rnd 2 twice more.

Rnd 5: K22 (24) in patt, sm, m1, k5, m1, sm, k to end in patt.

Rep rnd 2 three more times.

Rnd 9: K22 (24) in patt, sm, m1, k7, m1, sm, k to end in patt.

Rep rnd 2.

Rep last 2 rnds until there are 17 (19) sts between markers.

 

Next rnd: K22 (24) in patt, remove marker, k 17 (19) across thumb sts in MC, remove marker, place the 17 (19) thumb sts on waste yarn, k1 in MC, turn work and CO 2 (4) sts, join to work in rnd; 20 (24) sts.

 

Change to 3.25mm (US 3) needles, and using MC, work 8 (10) rnds K2 P2 rib, starting with K2.

Bind off in rib.

L mitt only 

Rnd 1: K19 (21) in patt, pm, m1, k3, m1, pm, k to end in patt.

Rnd 2: K19 (21) in patt, sm, using MC k to next marker, sm, k to end in patt.

Rep rnd 2 twice more.

Rnd 5: K 19 (21) in patt, sm, m1, k5, m1, sm, k to end in patt.

Rep rnd 2 three more times.

Rnd 9: K 19 (21) in patt, sm, m1, k7, m1, sm, k to end in patt.

Rep rnd 2.

Rep last 2 rnds until there are 17 (19) sts between markers.

 

Next rnd: K 18 (20) in patt, k1 in MC, remove marker, k17 (19) across thumb sts in MC, remove marker, place the 17 (19) thumb sts on waste yarn, turn work and CO 2 (4) sts, join to work in rnd; 20 (24) sts.

 

Change to 3.25mm (US 3) needles, and using MC, work 8 (10) rnds K2 P2 rib, starting with K2.

Bind off in rib

Both mitts 

Rejoin yarn at base of thumb (before thumb sts), pick up thumb sts from waste yarn, pick up 2 (4) sts in patt, k to end; 44 (48) sts.

Work until there are 8 (9) complete rpts of patt from cuff- 32 (36) rnds total.

Change to 3.25mm (US 3) needles and work 8 (10) rnds K2 P2 rib, starting with a K2.

Bind off in rib.

Finishing

Sew in yarn ends.