Mitts So Easy Free knitting pattern

Featuring the Elizabeth Zimmerman afterthought thumb trick.

Mitts So Easy are just that, Easy. Great for last minute winter gifts or stash busting your chunky yarn hoard. I used Drops Nepal for their lovely colours and soft feel. They make for a great colour block style; you could go wild and make each section a different colour, or make a stack all different colours then if you lose one (heaven forbid!) you can say your mis-matched Mitts were intentional. (knit in the round)

What you will need:

• Set of 5mm double pointed needles
• 2 x 50g Drops Nepal
• Stitch marker

The gauge is 22 rows x 15.5 Sts = 10cm

• SMALL (S)
• Height 21cm (8 1/2″)
• Width 11cm (4 1/4″)
• MEDIUM (M)
• Height 24cm (9 1/2″)
• Width 11cm (4 1/4″)
• LARGE (L)
• Height 25.5cm (10″)
• Width 12cm (4 3/4″)

Cast on (S) 36 – (M) 36 – (L) 38 – stitches.

For each Mitt cast on 1 extra stitch to join in the round, do this by knitting the first and last stitch together, being careful not to twist your stitches.

Knit 1 round. Place the marker to show you the beginning of the round, slipping the marker onto the right hand needle at the end of each round.

• All sizes
• Purl one round
• Knit one round
• Purl one round
• Knit 20 (22) (23) rounds

Next divide your stitches evenly on your needles to represent the front and back of your Mitt and keep this combination going forward.

• Small: 9 Sts on each needle. (18sts front and 18sts back)
• Medium: 9 stitches on each needle. (18 Sts front and 18 Sts back)
• Large: 10, 9, 10, 9 stitches on your needles. (19 Sts front and 19 Sts back)

Now for the clever ‘afterthought thumb trick’ by the inimitable Elizabeth Zimmerman. Easy Peasy…..

Starting with the right hand thumb. With different coloured yarn, (approx 20cm) leave a tail and knit the next 7 (8)(8) stitches, then leaving the end hanging to the front, slip the stitches back onto the left hand needle. Now knit them again with the working yarn and continue the round. The spare yarn will stay in place until you come to knit the thumb, and that’s it….easy peasy.

For the left hand, work the Mitt exactly the same until you come the the thumb trick round. Here you will begin the round by knitting 11, (10), (11) stitches, then with different coloured yarn you repeat the above, slipping the stitches back to be knitted again by the working yarn. Complete the round.

Now to knit the rest of your Mitt. You can change colour here if you like, or at any time really. Make them your own design.

• Knit 18, (20), (22), rounds

Then begin the decreasing for the top. Here are some abbreviations to help you;

• K2tog. = Knit the next 2 stitches together
• SSK = Slip, Slip, Knit. Slip 1 then the next 1 as if to knit, then knit them both together.

• At the beginning of the round; K1, SSK, K12, (12), (13), K2tog, K2, SSK, K12, (12), (13), K2tog, K1.
• Knit round
• K1, SSK, K10, (10), (11), K2tog, K2, SSK, K10, (10), (11), K2tog, K1
• Knit round
• K1, SSK, K8, (8), (9), K2tog, K2, SSK, K8, (8), (9), K2tog, K1
• Knit round
• K1, SSK, K6, (6), (7), K2tog, K2, SSK, K6, (6), (7), K2tog, K1
• Knit round

Small Mitt has 20 stitches left

Medium Mitt has 20 stitches left

Large Mitt has 22 stitches left

To close the top of the Mitt you could use a 3 needle bind off, or cast off and sew together but better still, use Kitchener stitch. For an excellent tutorial I recommend VeryPink Knits on You Tube.

Thumbs Up ! ( see what I did there)

Look at the row of stitches that are held by the scrap yarn and see how each stitch is reserved for the thumb. (You can change colour here if you want to). If you are feeling brave you can carefully remove the scarp yarn and pick up the stitches that become available, top and bottom of the thumb opening. OR you can insert your needle into the right hand leg of each ‘held’ stitch. Turn the Mitt and do the same for the top of the opening, then remove the scrap yarn. To prevent a hole forming pick up one extra stitch each side. Do the same for both Mitts.

Small = 16 stitches

Medium = 18 stitches

Large = 18 stitches

Arrange the thumb stitches on your double pointed needles so that they are comfortable for you to knit. You may find it easier to knit with 3 instead of 4 needles.

Knit: Small 15 rounds –

Medium 15 rounds –

Large 16 rounds

Decrease for the top of the thumb:

• K2tog
• Knit round
• Small K2tog. Medium and large K1, k2tog
• Knit round
• Cut a long tail and thread it through the remaining stitches and sew in your ends
• (S – 4sts) (M – 6sts) (L – 6sts)

Do the same for both Mitts and enjoy. xx