She finished knitting her newest project and fetched a darning needle to sew up the last remaining threads while humming an oldie which has been stuck in her head for days. Her sister had moved with her family to Wisconsin and she knew all of the family would appreciate a present of warm and stylish pair of double layered mittens. It filled her heart with deep joy to be able to gift a loved one something precious and unique.

Construction: The mittens are worked in the round from the cuff to the tip starting with the outer mitten and a provisional cast-on. Once the ribbed cuff is completed the slip stitch pattern for the hand begins. The thumb increases are integrated in the pattern invisibly as you go. Stitches for the thumb are placed on hold on scrap yarn once enough stitches are increased. The fingertip shaping is worked with decreases to form a rounded shape. The thumb is worked in the round from bottom to tip using the same slip stitch pattern. The last stitches of the tips of the hand and the thumb are grafted with Kitchener stitch. Stitches for the inner lining of the mitten are picked up after unravelling the provisional cast-on. The inner mitten is worked in stripes throughout. Thumb and fingertip are placed and shaped the same way as for the outer mitten. After both linings are finished the outer mitten is put over the inner mitten to get a doubled fabric.

Design Elements: Outer mitten: A grid pattern motif is produced with an easy but effective 2-colored slip stitch pattern. Giving the impression of a long brushstroke, a two-stitch wide slip stitch column leads from the ribbed cuff on the side of the thumb over the top of the fist and down the side of the pinkie to the ribbed cuff there. On the inner side this column builds the center of the thumb stitches. Inner mitten: As a colorful surprise all-time favorite Stockinette stitch stripes are worked here but a single colored lining would be lovely as well if you like less fiddly knitting.

Skill level: Advanced beginner

SIZES
Size 1
Width of hand (unstretched): 8.5 cm / 3.25”
Length from base of hand to tip: 16.5 cm / 6.5”.

Size 1 fits a 4 to 8 years old kid’s hand with approximately 15-17 cm / 6-6.75” hand circumference. I recommend adding a bit of length to hand and thumb for an older child.

Size 2
Width of hand (unstretched): 10 cm / 4”
Length from base of hand to tip: 19.5 cm / 7.75”.

Size 2 fits an average woman’s hand with approximately 18.5-20.5 cm / 7.25-8” hand circumference which matches a women’s size M.

Size 3
Width of hand (unstretched): 12 cm / 4.75”
Length from base of hand to tip: 24 cm / 9.5”.

Size 3 fits an average man’s hand with approximately 23-25 cm / 9-10” hand circumference which matches a men’s size L.

The pattern provides instructions how to adapt the pattern to more sizes.

YARN
De Rerum Natura Ulysse
100% ecological Merino wool
185 m / 202 yds per 50 g ball

1 skein each of 4 colors

Or approximately 90 (127, 185) m / 99 (139, 203) yards of C1, 52 (65, 90) m / 57 (71, 99) yards of C2, 60 (97, 126) m / 66 (106, 138) yards of C3 and 60 (97, 126) m / 66 (106, 138) yards of C4.

GAUGE
26 sts & 44 rounds in stockinette stitch on smaller needles to 10 cm x 10 cm (4” x 4”) after blocking

27 sts & 56 rounds in basket rib stitch on larger needles to 10 cm x 10 cm (4” x 4”) after blocking

NEEDLES
2.25 mm / US 1 circular needle (for magic loop method) or DPNs or needle size needed to get gauge for ribbing and inner mitten

2.75 mm / US 2 circular needle (for magic loop method) or DPNs or needle size needed to get gauge for outer mitten