We all have small amounts of precious yarn—bits too beautiful to get rid of but too small to complete a project. These basic crocheted fingerless mitts are a great backdrop to showcase those little bits of special yarn. You can use a combination of contrasting yarns for a variety of flora, or you can make all the foliage from a single skein for a more unified look. In this example, I used a lovely color-changing yarn from Anne Merrow’s personal stash to keep the same texture but to allow a variety of colors. These flowers and leaves will look great in varying sizes. You can use a thinner yarn (and smaller hook) to create smaller motifs; if you're using a heavier yarn for embellishment, consider making just one flower per mitt and coiling the petals in a larger circumference to keep the flower from getting too bulky. There are endless ways to personalize these mitts!
Left: Photo by George Boe. Right: Photo by Harper Point Photograpy
Fine-Tune Your Crochet Gauge
Because worsted-weight yarns can vary greatly in gauge and grist, this fingerless mitten pattern has been written for three possible gauges. Changing hook size will change your gauge as well, but what if you like the fabric that results from a certain hook size and the gauge doesn’t match?
For example, say you made a swatch to check your gauge and found that your swatch was too small. You could use a larger size hook to obtain the given gauge, but the resulting fabric might be too loose and the gaps between your stitches too large. (See swatch A below.) This is especially problematic if you are trying to make something to keep out the cold wind.
On the other hand, what if you made the swatch to check your gauge and it turned out too big? You could certainly use a smaller hook to obtain a tighter gauge, but this could result in a fabric that is too stiff for your liking. (See swatch B below.) For these mitts, I wanted the fabric to be warm (no big holes between stitches) but have a little bit of drape and softness. (See swatch C below.) The Marigold Mitts pattern is written for three similar but slightly different gauges, making it easier to create mitts that are a perfect fit for your handspun worsted-weight yarn.
Photos by George Boe
Materials
Fiber 2½ oz Sheep Feathers Farm dark gray Cotswold x CVM pin-drafted roving and 2 oz SweetGeorgia Bluefaced Leicester top for flowers.
Yarn MC (gray): 3-ply; 124 yd (113 m); 650 ypp; 8 wpi; heavy worsted weight. CC (variegated red, orange, yellow, and green): 2-ply; 84 yd (77 m); 688 ypp; 10 wpi; worsted weight.
Hook Size H/8 (5 mm) hook for mitts, F/5 (3.75 mm) hook for appliqué pieces. Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Notions Markers (m); tapestry needle; quilter’s pins.
Gauge 11 (12, 13) sts and 9 (9½, 10¼) rnds = 4" in esc with larger hook and MC. Sample shown: 12 sts and 9½ rnds of esc = 4" with larger hook and MC yarn. Leaf measures 1" wide and 1½" long worked in CC yarn with smaller hook.
Finished Size Pattern is written in three different
worsted-weight gauges to fit average-size women’s hands. Mitts shown measure about 7¾" hand circumference, not including thumb, and about 8½" long, including cuff.
Notes
- Don’t worry about row gauge because it can vary greatly. The pattern has checkpoints where you can add or subtract rounds to get the desired length.
- Gauge is not important for the embellishment pieces. Make one leaf and one flower to decide which hook will yield the size and look you want.
- Right and left mitts are worked the same. Sew the embellishments onto the mitts so that there is a right and a left mitt.
Visit https://spinoffmagazine.com/spin-off-abbreviations/ for terms you don’t know.
We all have small amounts of precious yarn—bits too beautiful to get rid of but too small to complete a project. These basic crocheted fingerless mitts are a great backdrop to showcase those little bits of special yarn. You can use a combination of contrasting yarns for a variety of flora, or you can make all the foliage from a single skein for a more unified look. In this example, I used a lovely color-changing yarn from Anne Merrow’s personal stash to keep the same texture but to allow a variety of colors. These flowers and leaves will look great in varying sizes. You can use a thinner yarn (and smaller hook) to create smaller motifs; if you're using a heavier yarn for embellishment, consider making just one flower per mitt and coiling the petals in a larger circumference to keep the flower from getting too bulky. There are endless ways to personalize these mitts!
Left: Photo by George Boe. Right: Photo by Harper Point Photograpy
Fine-Tune Your Crochet Gauge
Because worsted-weight yarns can vary greatly in gauge and grist, this fingerless mitten pattern has been written for three possible gauges. Changing hook size will change your gauge as well, but what if you like the fabric that results from a certain hook size and the gauge doesn’t match?
For example, say you made a swatch to check your gauge and found that your swatch was too small. You could use a larger size hook to obtain the given gauge, but the resulting fabric might be too loose and the gaps between your stitches too large. (See swatch A below.) This is especially problematic if you are trying to make something to keep out the cold wind.
On the other hand, what if you made the swatch to check your gauge and it turned out too big? You could certainly use a smaller hook to obtain a tighter gauge, but this could result in a fabric that is too stiff for your liking. (See swatch B below.) For these mitts, I wanted the fabric to be warm (no big holes between stitches) but have a little bit of drape and softness. (See swatch C below.) The Marigold Mitts pattern is written for three similar but slightly different gauges, making it easier to create mitts that are a perfect fit for your handspun worsted-weight yarn.
Photos by George Boe
Materials
Fiber 2½ oz Sheep Feathers Farm dark gray Cotswold x CVM pin-drafted roving and 2 oz SweetGeorgia Bluefaced Leicester top for flowers.
Yarn MC (gray): 3-ply; 124 yd (113 m); 650 ypp; 8 wpi; heavy worsted weight. CC (variegated red, orange, yellow, and green): 2-ply; 84 yd (77 m); 688 ypp; 10 wpi; worsted weight.
Hook Size H/8 (5 mm) hook for mitts, F/5 (3.75 mm) hook for appliqué pieces. Adjust hook size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.
Notions Markers (m); tapestry needle; quilter’s pins.
Gauge 11 (12, 13) sts and 9 (9½, 10¼) rnds = 4" in esc with larger hook and MC. Sample shown: 12 sts and 9½ rnds of esc = 4" with larger hook and MC yarn. Leaf measures 1" wide and 1½" long worked in CC yarn with smaller hook.
Finished Size Pattern is written in three different
worsted-weight gauges to fit average-size women’s hands. Mitts shown measure about 7¾" hand circumference, not including thumb, and about 8½" long, including cuff.
Notes
- Don’t worry about row gauge because it can vary greatly. The pattern has checkpoints where you can add or subtract rounds to get the desired length.
- Gauge is not important for the embellishment pieces. Make one leaf and one flower to decide which hook will yield the size and look you want.
- Right and left mitts are worked the same. Sew the embellishments onto the mitts so that there is a right and a left mitt.
Visit https://spinoffmagazine.com/spin-off-abbreviations/ for terms you don’t know.
[PAYWALL]
Mitts
Cuff
With MC and larger hook, ch 7.
Row 1 Working in bottom of ch, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each rem ch across, turn—6 sts.
Rows 2–16 (18, 20) Ch 2 (does not count as st), hdc blo in each st, turn.
Sl st seam cuff: Fold cuff in half, bringing foundation ch edge directly in front of last row worked. Working through both thicknesses, crochet through back lp of each edge as foll: ch 1, * insert hook through back lp of foundation row and then through back lp of st directly behind, yo, and draw lp through to front of work and through lp on hook, rep from * across. Turn cuff so that sl st seam is on inside of cuff. Do not fasten off.
Mitt body
Using st markers, divide the top edge of cuff into 4 equal sections. Work around top edge of cuff in row-ends, spacing your sts as foll:
Rnd 1 Ch 1, 5 (5, 6) esc in first section, 5 (6, 6) esc in second section, 5 (5, 6) esc in third section, and 5 (6, 6) esc in last section—20 (22, 24) sts.
Do not join but continue working in a spiral.
Rnds 2–7 (7, 8) Esc around.
Piece should measure about 4¼" long from bottom cuff edge. Work more or fewer rnds to lengthen or shorten wrist section of mitt.
Gusset
Rnd 1 (inc) Esc in next 9 (10, 11) sts, 2 esc in next 2 sts, esc in rem 9 (10, 11) sts—22 (24, 26) sts.
Rnd 2 Esc around.
Rnd 3 (inc) Esc in next 10 (11, 12) sts, 2 esc in next 2 sts, esc in rem 10 (11, 12) sts—24 (26, 28) sts.
Rnd 4 Esc around.
Rnd 5 (inc) Esc in next 11 (12, 13) sts, 2 esc in next 2 sts, esc in rem 11 (12, 13) sts—26 (28, 30) sts.
Rnd 6 Esc around.
Rnd 7 (thumb opening) Esc in next 10 (11, 12), sk next 6 sts, place st marker in first skipped st, esc in next 10 (11, 12) sts—20 (22, 24) sts rem, not including sts for thumb.
Upper hand
Rnds 8–10 Esc around. Work more rnds to lengthen upper hand, if desired. Do not fasten off.
Edging
Note: Work edging loosely to avoid constricting the opening too much. Switch to a larger hook if you are having trouble.
Rnd 1 Sc in first st, insert hook in blo of next st, drop MC, yo with CC and draw up lp and through st on hook, cont with CC only, sl st blo loosely around. Fasten off.
Thumb
Rnd 1 With MC and larger hook, join yarn in marked st at thumb opening, ch 1, esc in same st, esc in next 5 sts around opening, work 2 (2, 3) extra esc where thumb meets hand—8 (8, 9) sts.
Rnd 2 Esc around. Work more rnds to lengthen thumb, if desired. At end of last rnd do not fasten off.
Edging:
Work as for upper hand edging.
Repeat to create second mitt.
Finishing
Leaf (make 6)
With CC and smaller hook, ch 6.
Rnd 1 Working in bottom of ch, sl st in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, dc in next ch, 2 dc in next 2 ch, with same side facing, rotate work 180 degrees to work across opposite side of foundation ch as foll: 2 dc in same ch as last st worked, 2 dc in next ch, dc in next ch, sc in next ch, sl st in next ch. Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing.
Flowers (make 6)
With CC and smaller hook, ch 13.
Row 1 (RS) Working in bottom of ch, [hdc, ch 1, hdc] in 2nd ch from hook and in each rem ch across, turn—36 sts.
Row 2 (WS) Ch 1, [sl st, ch 1, 4 dc, ch 1, sl st] in each ch-1 sp across, sl st in last st—12 petals made. Fasten off, leaving long tail for sewing.
Block mitts and leaves. With RS facing, coil up each flower and use yarn tails to stitch through all layers and secure flower into shape. Pin flowers and leaves to mitts as shown in photos and stitch in place using yarn tails and yarn needle. Using CC and tapestry needle, embroider stems onto mitts using chain stitch embroidery technique.
Weave in ends.
Brenda K. B. Anderson crochets and knits on her end of the couch after her kids have gone to bed. She is the author of Beastly Crochet and Crochet Ever After and just can’t seem to resist starting new yarn-y projects. You can find her on Ravelry as yarnville.
This pattern was originally published in the Spring 2019 issue of Spin Off.
