Playground Mittens
Last Updated Feb. 2008 to reflect a small correction. Thanks to all the Ravelry knitters who called it to my attention!
Playground Mittens, another XRK original
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
100 yds of worsted weight yarn (sample knitted with less than one skein of Noro Kureyon)
stitch markers
waste yarn
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.
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.
Thumb gusset increase round: K to first M, sl m, M1L, K to second m, M1R, sl M, knit to end.
To set up thumb gusset, K16 stitches, PM, M1L, K1, M1R, PM, knit to end of round. Knit two rounds even. Knit thumb gusset increase round every 3 rounds until you’ve made 9 gusset stitches, 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
K 2 rounds even.
Next round, K2, bind of 12 stitches, knit to end of round.
K2, K 12 flap stitches from holder 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.
Knit second mitten, being sure to reverse instructions to place flap on palm side of mitten.
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.
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
Playground Mittens, another XRK original
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
100 yds of worsted weight yarn (sample knitted with less than one skein of Noro Kureyon)
stitch markers
waste yarn
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.
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.
Thumb gusset increase round: K to first M, sl m, M1L, K to second m, M1R, sl M, knit to end.
To set up thumb gusset, K16 stitches, PM, M1L, K1, M1R, PM, knit to end of round. Knit two rounds even. Knit thumb gusset increase round every 3 rounds until you’ve made 9 gusset stitches, 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
K 2 rounds even.
Next round, K2, bind of 12 stitches, knit to end of round.
K2, K 12 flap stitches from holder 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.
Knit second mitten, being sure to reverse instructions to place flap on palm side of mitten.
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.
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
Labels: XRK Patterns
posted by Liz K. at
12:00 PM
14 Comments:
Great pattern! I could definitely use some sweet playground playin' mittens!
LOve those mittens! They look really cool in the Kureyon. Nice job!
Wow! Nice work. I'm impressed with my two designin' pals.
a pretty rosebud with her pretty mittens!
fabu!
anne marie in philly
I think N and R will be sporting these soon! Way to go Liz -- great pattern!
Very cool - thanks for the pattern and links!
Looks like a great idea... I may have to try some!
very cute; thanks for writing up the pattern for us!
Great idea! I'll have to try them for some of my little people. Also, your child modeling them is uber-cute.
I can't wait to make these! Is the M1R correct? I usually lift the strand from back to front, and then knit the front loop. This gives me a nice increase that mirrors my M1R (done same as yours).
Sorry...I meant "that mirrors my M1L", of course.
ok, now i just need some kids. one of these days ...
Quick question ... what size DPNS?
Thanks!
I've gotta try these, thanks!
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