PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of getting this pattern out as quickly as possible, I have not had it tested yet. While every effort has been made to make this pattern free of mistakes, I know there may be some and I ask for your understanding and patience. Please let me know if you see mistakes, and I will be ready to fix them and add the revisions to the errata.

While the photos show a purple version, I am currently waiting on the correct brown colored yarns to be shipped and will post photos of those once they are complete.

Sizes: Small (about a 7” hand), Medium (about a 7 1-2” hand), Large (about an 8” hand)
Note: Hand measurements are from the bottom edge of palm to fingertips and are NOT the same as finished measurements. These mittens are meant to cover about 2” of the wrist, excluding the cuff, which can be knit as long as desired and then folded over the mitten or tucked inside your coat sleeve.

Finished Measurements from cast on edge to fingertips after blocking (does NOT include cuff): Small 9”, Medium 9 1/2”, Large 10”

Yarn: Medium Weight (Worsted or size #4) in the following seven colors for outer mitten:
Color A (Medium Brown) 60 yds
Color B (White) 60 yds
Color C (Light Brown) 30 yds
Color D (Dark Brown) 60 yds
Color E (Grey) 30 yds
Color F (Green) 30 yds
Color G (Navy) 60 yds

    Medium Weight Fluffy yarn (size #4) similar to 
    Red Heart Fleece Hugs for lining:
Navy 200 yds

Supplies: Straight Knitting Needles Sizes
US 3 (3.25 mm), US 6 (4 mm), and US 8 (5 mm)
Double Pointed Needles (or Circular Needle)
Size US 6 (4 mm)
Tapestry Needle
Stitch Markers
Stitch Holder (or waste yarn)

Gauge: On US 3 needles:
20 stitches x 30 rows = 4” in Stockinette Stitch
On US 6 needles:
20 stitches = 4” in Garter Stitch
(row gauge is not important)
On US 8 needles:
15 stitches x 20 rows = 4” in Stockinette Stitch

This mitten was directly inspired by the beautifully made upcycled mittens by Jen Ellis that Bernie Sanders wore to the 2021 U.S. Presidential Inauguration. A photo of Bernie wearing these warm Vermont mittens went viral on social media and many people have wanted a replica for there own. One of those people is my friend, who pleaded with me to make them as identical as I could to the originals. She sent me many pictures so that I could see both sides of Bernie’s mittens and design a pattern with a very close match.

The mittens that Jen Ellis generously gifted to Bernie were made out of old men’s wool sweaters, cut and then sewn back together as mittens. There are five main parts to this type of reconstructed mitten: the Back Hand, the Upper Palm, the Lower Palm, the Cuff, and the Inner Lining.
This pattern attempts to capture that same upcycled look by knitting each of these parts differently, with separate colors and gauges, as if they came from different sweaters. You will be knitting most of the mitten flat, picking up stitches in certain places and sewing the seams together in other places.
The Back Hand of the mitten is knit flat in stranded color work. Then you’ll pick up a few stitches along the side of the Back Hand to begin the Lower Palm stranded color work. Once that section is complete, you’ll seam the side using a tapestry needle.
Next, you’ll pick up more stitches on the side of the Back Hand and along the side of the thumb shape you created in the Lower Palm to create the Upper Palm. Both the Lower and Upper Palm are worked from side to side rather than bottom to top (cuff edge to finger tips).
The Upper Hand is then seamed to the other side of the Back Hand, along the upper edge of the Lower Palm, along the other side and top of the thumb shape, and along the top fingers.
The Inner Lining for the mitten is knit in a simple flat shape, seaming on the side opposite the thumb. It is then slipped into the outer mitten and basted to the bottom cuff edge.
At this point you’ll be picking up stitches for the cuff through both the Outer Mitten and the Inner Lining. It is knit in 1x1 ribbing for about 3 inches and then folded down over the mitten. You can choose to tack this ribbing to the mitten so that it stays folded over, but I chose not to, so that I could tuck the cuff into my sleeve for added warmth and protection from the cold.
There are charts provided for the color work and shaping, as well as row by row written instructions. If you are unfamiliar with stranded color work, I suggest looking for online tutorials. Color work is not difficult, but you should be familiar with holding and carrying the yarn on the back of your work.
I hope you enjoy making these mittens as much as I had fun creating the pattern for them. Regardless of the Bernie Mitten craze in early 2021, I think they are fabulous for cold winter weather and a truly unique way to knit a mitten!

So let’s get to it!

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