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Universal Mittens Recipe

(3 customer reviews)

Universal Mittens Recipe

(3 customer reviews)

No Swatch, Any Stitch Count & Yarn

This is an interactive pattern that helps you make a perfectly fitting pair of mittens of any size with any yarn without swatching and it doesn’t require you to do any math either. I hope it inspires you to try some new yarns and make warm gifts for the important people in your life!

The pattern consists of a collection of interactive patterns that will do the math for you. The mittens you knit with this pattern are worked top-down. You can select from 3 different top and thumb patterns and mix and match them as you like.  

Sizes

Sizes

With this pattern, you can make a pair of basic mittens of any size. You can make them based on your own measurements or this hand size chart for knitting.

Gauge, Notions, Needles

Gauge

This pattern works for any gauge.

Notions

Tapestry needle, scissors, mitten blockers (optional), stitch markers (optional)

Recommended Needles

This pattern is written for the magic loop method (for long circular needle) but you and adjust it for the double pointed needles as well.

The pattern guides you through needle selection.

Yarn

recommended yarn

This pattern works for any yarn. Here’s a guide that helps you to select suitable yarn for your mittens .

yardgage

Here’s a guide that helps you to buy the right amount of yarn based on your hand size and yarn thickness.

1. Taking measurements

In this section, I explain how to measure your hand (or how to estimate the measurements based on age or gender) and then decide what size mittens you should make.

If you are not able to measure the circumference or the length of the hand (for instance because you are going to gift the mittens) you can use the size chart for knitting mittens to determine the average size of mittens based on age and gender.

Measure your hand circumference: Take the measurement above the base of the thumb.

Measure the base of the thumb to tip of the finger: The second measure you need is from the base of your thumb to the tip of your longest finger.

Calculate the dimensions of your mittens

If you are going to make a peasant thumb without a gusset or if you wish to wear something (gloves or thinner mittens) underneath your pair I suggest that you make your mitts wider and a bit longer than your hand. Otherwise, for a close-fitting mitten, the circumference of your hand and the mitten can be the same.

2. Selecting the needles and the yarn

Yarn

I prefer making mittens with wool or wool and nylon blend. The yarn used for mittens does not have to be as durable as the yarn you use for socks. In addition, mittens don’t need washing quite as often as socks which make non-superwash wools a good option.

See this article for a few tips on what kind of material to use and how thick should the yarn be.

Needles

After you have picked your yarn it is time to pick the needles. This pattern is written for the magic loop method (for long circular needle) but you and adjust it for the double pointed needles as well. The important thing here is to find needles that get you a good gauge. I like to make my mittens with quite dense fabric and basically with the same gauge that I knit my socks with.

The gauge is, however, a matter of taste and you may also knit with a looser gauge if you prefer softer fabric over more long-lasting and warmer mitten. Usually, fabric knitted with wool also relaxes a bit after you have given it a soak and dry so knit rather with a bit too tight gauge than a bit too loose.

Below you can find the most common gauges mittens are knit with. The more stitches there are / 4″ or 10cm the more durable and warmer the mitten will be

For instance, I knit my mittens usually with gauges 32 sts (Fingering), 28 sts (sport), 23 sts (DK) and 21 sts (Aran), 20 sts (Chunky) / 4″ (10cm).

Yarn weightStitches / 4″ (10cm)
Fingering30-36
Sport24-30
DK22-28
Worsted, Aran19-23
Chunky17-21

From the table below you can check the typical needle sizes that are used to knit mittens. If you are a loose knitter you should select a smaller needle size than if you are a tight knitter.

Yarn weightUSmm
Fingering0-2.52-3
Sport1-32.25-3.25
DK1.5-42.5-3.5
Worsted, Aran2.5-63-4
Chunky6-84-5

3. Making the top

Select a top shaping you like and then work your mitten until it covers your hand from the tip of your longest finger to the base of the thumb or according to the measurement A on the size chart.

The top is your swatch!  If the fabric seems too loose frog your work and take smaller needles or if on the other hand your fabric seems too dense frog your work and take bigger needles (if you are unsure about the fabric density read the previous article).

Triangle

The increases are worked every round on both sides of the mitten creating a knit stitch band on each side.

You can find the triangle top pattern here.

Triangle top for top down mittens

Star

The increases are distributed evenly around the mitten in four sections and worked every round until you reach the desired width. Increase lines form a star-like shape.

You can find the star top pattern here.

Round

The increases are distributed evenly around the mitten in eight sections and worked every other round until you reach the desired width.

You can find the rounded top pattern here.

Round top for top-down mittens

4. Thumb and hand

Your mitten should now cover the top of your hand from the tip of your longest finger to the base of the thumb (see image) or if you are using the size chart the measurement should equal to the measurement A on the schematics.

Peasant thumb without a gusset

This is probably the easiest thumb pattern. Because there’s no gusset for the thumb your mitten should have some positive ease meaning that the circumference of your mitten should be larger than the circumference of your hand.

You can find the peasant thumb pattern here.

Novita Isoveli

Basic triangle gusset

This is the most commonly seen thumb gusset on basic mittens. It looks like a small triangle. The gusset decreases are made every other round on both sides of the thumb.

You can find the pattern for the thumb with a basic triangle gusset here.

Novita Nordic Wool

Arched gusset

The decreases are worked only on the other side of the thumb every round. The gusset follows the form of the “lifeline” of your hand.

If you use arched gusset you can make quite close fitting mitts.

You can find the pattern for the thumb with a arched gusset here.

Novita Natura

5. Cuff and finishing

The mitten should now cover your whole hand from the tip of your longest finger to the beginning of the wrist or according to measurement B on the schematics . Now you are ready to make the cuff.

I usually knit the cuff of my vanilla mittens with 1 by 1 ribbing and then I bind-off using the tubular bind off method. You can use also 2 by 2 ribbing. Work ribbing according to the measurement D or desired length and bind-off. See this article for elastic bind-off methods.

Your pair is now ready but I suggest that you use a bit extra time for finishing and block them. Blocking makes the fabric usually softer and more even. See instructions on how to do it here. For the blocking process you can use specifically designed mitten blockers but you can do it also without them.

Share your finished object!

I would be happy to see your version! You can share it with me on Instagram by tagging me @knitgrammer or leaving a review with an image below.

3 reviews for Universal Mittens Recipe

    EllyStu
    April 10, 2023
    This is brilliant! The pattern is the Full Meal Deal : ) Thank you so much for all the work you put into it. I do not need any more mittens, but this is so inspirational that I just might jump in and use up some of the oddments in my stash.
    Universal Mittens Recipe photo review
    Universal Mittens Recipe photo review
    Universal Mittens Recipe photo review
    +1
    Sonya Carlson
    November 30, 2022
    I love this pattern! A rainbow wool with rainbow sock yarn for me. Then thick wool on small needles for my mom.
    TRIXIE PETTMAN-SOUTH
    November 10, 2022
    THANK YOU FOR THE PATTERN, I WILL GIVE IT A GO. I HAVE NOT DONE ROUNDS BUT I DO KNIT STRAIGHT FROM ROUND NEEDLES, THIS IS A VERY DETAILED PATTERN, I APPRECIATE THIS SO MUCH. I AM KNITTING FOR UKRAINE AND I HAVE A GOOD SUPPLY OF YELLOW AND BLUE WOOL. BLESSINGS. TRIXIE. SOUTH AUSTRALIA.
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