Playground Mittens

Last Updated Nov. 2008

As a mother of small children, I know that while mittens keep small hands warm, kids need their fingers available. It is hard for small fingers to zip jackets or tie shoes, and it is practically impossible to cross monkey bars with mittened hands. Most children solve this problem by simply removing their mittens, and this is how many mittens get lost. Moms have responded to this by threading mittens on string through coat sleeves, or clipping mittens to the wrists. I came up with a different solution. I started with a regular convertible mitten, but decided that it was too much bulk for tiny hands and too much effort for a busy preschooler. Playground mittens are mittens with a slit, so that kids can slip their fingers or even their entire hands out of their mittens without actually taking them off. Adding a flap keeps the palm completely covered for warmth without adding too much bulk.

Playground Mittens are a modification of any basic mitten pattern, for any size or gauge. I used Ann Budd’s The Knitter’s Handy Book of Patterns (Interweave Press, 2002) as my source, but any basic recipe would do*. At the end of this pattern is a list of links for such basic mitten patterns available online.

This is my first pattern, and while I have knitted it twice, it has not been test-knit by other knitters. Please feel free to contact me with errors and constructive suggestions, and send any pictures of finished Playground Mittens!

Playground Mittens, To fit sizes 4-6 years/about a 6” hand circumference
Gauge: 5 stitches = 1”
Finished mitten circumference = about 7”

Supplies: 5 dpns (US6 or whatever size to get correct gauge) 100 yds of worsted weight yarn (sample knitted with less than one skein of Noro Kureyon) stitch markers waste yarn

Abbreviations: M1L: Left leaning raised increase: with left needle, lift strand between the needles from front to back. Knit this loop TBL. M1R: Right leaning raised increase: with left needle, lift strand between needles from back to front. Knit this loop TBL.

Pattern for LEFT Mitten**:

First, knit the flap. CO 12 stitches. Using two dpns, knit back and forth in K2,P2 rib for 4 rows. Set aside completed flap on one dpn.
CO 32 stitches. Divide evenly over three dpns and join for working in the round, being sure not to twist your stitches. To make cuff, knit K2, P2 rib for 2”.
Switch to stockinette stitch and increase one stitch in the first round for 33 stitches.

Next, knit the thumb gusset:

To set up thumb gusset, K16 stitches, PM, M1L, K1, M1R, PM, knit to end of round. Knit two rounds even.

Then, knit gusset increase round as follows: K to first M, sl m, M1L, K to second m, M1R, sl M, knit to end.

Repeat the last 3 rnds until you have 9 gusset stitches between the markers, 41 stitches total.

On next round, place gusset stitches on waste yarn, remove markers, and CO1 stitch over gap using backward loop method, and place marker to mark the beginning of the round. 33 stitches total

Next, you'll make the slit in the palm of the mitten, and attach the flap.
K 2 rounds even. Next round, K2, bind of 12 stitches, knit to end of round. This forms the slit.
K2, then K12 flap stitches from the set-aside dpn over bound-off sts, K to end of round.
K even for 3”, then decrease 1 stitch evenly. 32 stitches.

Decrease for top of mitten as follows:
(K6, k2tog) to end.
K 1 round even.
(K5 k2tog) to end.
K 1 round
(k4, k2tog) to end.
K 1 round.
(k3, k2tog) to end.
K 1 round.
(k2 , k2tog) to end.
(K1, k2tog) to end.

Break yarn. Using darning needle, thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull to gather closed.

To finish thumb, take 9 stitches off waste yarn, and pick up 1 stitch from the gap. 10 stitches.
K 6 rounds even.
k2tog, K1 to last 4 stitches, k2tog, k2.
K 1 round.
K2 tog, K1.

Break yarn. Using darning needle, thread yarn through remaining stitches and pull to gather closed. Using darning needle, weave in all the ends. Pay special attention to tacking down the top edges of the flap to ensure a gapless fit.

**PLEASE NOTE: THESE MITTENS ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. You must make a LEFT and RIGHT mitten. This pattern will make a LEFT mitten. In other words, you knit the flap with the thumb stitches facing to the left. To make the RIGHT mitten, simply reverse the placement of the flap on the second mitten by knitting the flap with the thumb stitches facing to the right.

This pattern is easily modified to fit your child or use any yarn. Simply estimate the number of stitches required for about 3/4 of the palm, and make your flap and slit accordingly.

*Other Basic Mitten Patterns:
Basic Cuff-Up Mitten from P2 Designs (.pdf)
Basic Four Needle Mitten Pattern from Knitlist
Generic Mitt Building Template from Knitty, Fall 2005