I love a good set. When I finished the Indira Cowl and held it in my hands, I already knew what I would be casting on next—I’d planned the mitts from the moment I chose that lovely deep red yarn, getting extra specifically for them.

Both the shawl and cowl had taught me a lot about what was quickly becoming my favorite lace stitch, the double-braided cable, and the fisherman’s rib that anchors them. I found myself wanting to use all three together again, but differently. Somewhere the wearer would see them constantly: their hands.

Similar shaping to the Novemberist Mitts felt like the right foundation, but what if I kept the stitch pattern continuous across the palm and thumb this time? And what if I moved the gusset shaping from the palm side to the top of the hand, where the straight cable panel could anchor it and make it all look cohesive and intentional? What detail would I use to make the break between the stitch patterns look deliberate? Lateral braids solved that beautifully, framing the edges and tying everything together.

Once I cast on, the mitts practically flew off my needles—instant gratification knitting at its best. The fingering weight held together with mohair created something airy and light, but when I slipped them on, they were remarkably warm. Beautiful and elegant, yet functional and practical.

If you’ve made the cowl or the shawl, the stitches will feel familiar in your hands. If not, these mitts are a beautiful introduction to the squishy textured lace, cable, and fisherman’s rib—and they’ll be finished in a fraction of the time. That’s what I love about a good set: these work just as well as the beginning as they do the finale.

What makes them special

• Squishy fisherman’s rib cuffs. The opening rounds use a brioche-like texture that’s luxurious and draws you into a rhythm. When you slip them on, the cuffs feel snug yet lofty against your wrists—depth and richness you don’t expect from such a small project.

• Continuous lace across palm and thumb, cable on the back. The cable takes a different role in this pattern, placed front and center instead of framing the edges.

• Lateral braids frame the visual breaks. The transition between the cuff ribbing and the lace/cable patterns looks intentional, not jarring.

• Fingering weight held together with lace-weight mohair/silk. This classic combination creates something that breathes while keeping your hands genuinely warm.

• Finished in a few focused sessions, not weeks. Once you’re past the cuff and into the rhythm of the lace and cable, these practically zip along and give you that sense of satisfaction quickly.

What you get

In the downloadable PDF you’ll find …

• Instructions for one size, individualized for each hand. So you don’t have to mentally swap directions. You get clear, specific steps for the right and left mitt. Scale the size by adjusting your gauge.

• Both written and charted directions for the lace and cable sections. Choose what works best for your knitting style. Follow the charts, follow the words, or flip between them as you knit.

• Specific directions for special techniques and finishing details. Written guidance for joining to knit in the round invisibly, making a lateral braid, and hiding the last bound-off stitch in the round.

I’ve also published video tutorials for the following key techniques:

• German twisted cast on
• Join to work in the round—invisibly!
• How to knit lateral braids
• Hide the last bind-off stitch in the round

The Knitty-Gritty

Description
The Indira Mitts shine beautifully when either worn as a standalone set or as the perfect complement to the Indira shawl or cowl. Featuring lateral braids and the same unique double‑braided cable, simple lace, and fisherman’s rib as the shawl and cowl, these mitts are just as classy as they are warm and functional.

Sizes
One size

Finished Measurements
3¼” (8 cm) wide, 7½” (19 cm) tall / 6½” (16.5 cm) circumference around knuckles when laid flat

Yarn
Approximately 168 yards (154 meters) of each a smooth, plied fingering weight yarn and a lace weight mohair blend.

Mitts pictured used the following yarns held together:

• La Bien Aimée Merino Super Sock fingering weight; 75% superwash merino, 25% nylon in colorway ‘Eric Northman’
• La Bien Aimée Mohair Silk lace weight; 70% mohair wool, 30% silk in colorway ‘Eric Northman’

Needles

• US 6 (4 mm) double pointed needles OR appropriate needle(s) for your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the round
• US 3 (3.25 mm) double pointed needles OR appropriate needle(s) for your preferred method of knitting small circumferences in the round

Gauge
23 sts and 30 rows = 4” (10 cm) in stockinette stitch using larger needles, unblocked

Notions

• Cable needle

• Crochet hook, size D (3.25 mm) or slightly smaller

• (1) Stitch marker

• Tapestry needle