What if you were to knit a pair of mittens from the palm out? I’ve long admired the creativity so many Knitty designs, from Skew and Wraptor to Spatterdash and Longitudinal, where the designers have turned standard constructions entirely upside down (or sideways, or inside out). I wanted to challenge myself to rethink mitten construction in a similar way.
These mittens start with a flat garter stitch slab for the palm. Then, you pick up and knit around the palm, and work lots of increases to build the fabric around the hand. Next come lots of decreases, giving the mitten its distinctive ripples, inspired by the gathers on boxing gloves. Finally, you graft the back of the hand shut, and pick up and work the thumb and the cuff.

SIZE

Child 4-8 yearsAdult Small, Adult Large

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Circumference at Palm: 5.757.5, 9.75 inches/ 14.519, 24.5 cm
Hand Length (not including cuff: 6.07.25, 9 inches, 1518.5, 22.5 cm
Cuff Length: 1.52, 2.75 inches/ 45, 7 cm, or adjustable to preference

Choose the size closest to the wearer’s actual hand circumference. A little positive ease is good for extra warmth or growing room, but a little negative ease makes for better dexterity if you’re wrangling keys, dog leashes, and that sort of thing.

For hand length, measure from the very base of the palm to the tip of the longest finger.

The cuff length is easily adjusted, but changes will impact yardage needs. The cuff is intended to fit snugly to keep the mittens in place and keep snow from getting in!

MATERIALS

Yarn Characteristics: Using a handpainted yarn emphasizes the shifting directions of the stitches, as does working with a commercial variegated yarn. A long color-shift yarn or self-striping yarn would be another fun option. If working with solid-colored yarn, consider working the palm, the back-of-hand graft, and/or the bind-off in a contrast color, as shown in the large sample.

Sizing in this pattern is achieved by changing the yarn weight and needle size. Sport-weight yarn will achieve a child-sized mitten; worsted weight yarn will achieve a small adult mitten; and a chunky yarn will achieve a large adult mitten.

When choosing yarn and needles, bear in mind that mittens, like socks, get lots of wear. These mittens are worked at a tighter gauge than the yarn label might indicate, or than you might use for a hat or other accessory in the same yarn. Be prepared for an unusual row gauge!

Needles: I normally try to make my designs as needle-agnostic as possible, so that you can use whichever style of needles you prefer. However, there is a tricky maneuver at the back of the hand in these mittens. Even though you’re not working in the round at that point, either a long circular needle for magic loop or 2 circular needles (used as for knitting small circumferences) will make your life much easier. You can use your usual preferred method for working small circumferences in the round, including circs or DPNs, for the thumbs and cuffs.