Free Optimistic Mitt Pattern
OK, This is kind of a moment for me. This is the first time I’ve shared a knitting pattern. This definitely used my math skills ( or lack thereof?) a bit. If you find any errors, please let me know! If you are a member of Ravelry, please follow me as I put more patterns up.
Feel free to knit as many mitts from this pattern as you wish for yourself or gifts, but please don’t sell the finished product. Thanks!
Optimistic Mitt Pattern
Size: one size
Materials:
2 balls of Merino 5, superwash merino from Crystal Palace Yarns in Charcoal
set of DPN ( double pointed needles) size 5
Darning needle for finishing
scrap for contrasting yarn for making thumb
2 medium sized buttons
Gauge:
6 Stitches per inch on size 5 needles ( 3 3/4 mm) with Stockinette stitch
Abbreviations:
K -Knit
P-Purl
K2tog – Knit two together
Body of Gloves
Make 2. Both right and left gloves are worked the same.
With size 5 needles, cast on 45 stitches
Divide on three DPNs, join and work in round
Row 1: *K2, P1* 15 times to complete row
Row 2: Knit all stitches
( these two row make the “Broken rib stitch” you will need for bottom and top cuff of mitts.)
Repeat rows 1 and 2 (17 times)
Switch to Stockinette Stitch by knitting every stitch in the next 17 rows
Next row: With Scrap of contrasting yarn, knit 6 stitches, then slip those 6 stitches back ontp the left hand needle, and knit them again with working yarn. Continue in Stockinette for the rest of row. This will create a place for the thumb you will make later. Both right and left gloves are worked the same.
Next 12 rows: Knit all stitches in Stockinette
Top Cuff
Next row: *K2, P1* repeat between * for entire row
Next row: Knit all stitches
Repeat these two rows to make Broken rib stitch, 7 times
Bind off all stitches loosely
Thumb
Carefully remove waste yarn and place live stitches on two double pointed needles. There will be 6 below and 5 above the opening. Start knitting stitches off needle below the opening, and pick of 3 stitches in gap between needles. Knit the 5 stitches from the needles on top of the opening. Pick up three more stitches in the next gap. Divide resulting stitches between three DPNs, and join to work in the round
Knit 10 rows in Stockinette
Bind off all stitches off Thumb loosely
Decorative Button Strap
Cast on 7 stitches on US size 5 (3 3/4 mm) DPN needles
Row 1: K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1
Repeat row 1 , for 29 more rows, to form seed stitch
Row 30: K1, K2tog, P1, K2tog, K1
Row 31: K2tog, P1, K2tog
bind off
Finishing
Weave in all ends. Arrange finishing gloves so both thumbs are facing inward ( as if you are wearing them). Sew the straight edge of each decorative strap towards the side of the mitt where the thumb is, and sew the curved edge of the strap onto the outer edge of mitts. Sew on matching buttons of your choice to outer edge of strap. Wear your mittens!
Trackbacks
- Free Knitting Patterns of The Week – 3/21/2011 - Knitting News Cast
- What I’m Making Today « Now that Life has Begun…
- Vlog #4: Finished Objects! « effortphobic
- Knit Your Own Fingerless Mittens « Charity Chic
- Christmas roundup - julpyssel, stickat och virkat i sista minuten | Stickskolan
- “I Heart You” Fingerless Gloves | Sweetly Crafted
- 34 Knitting Patterns for Fingerless Gloves | Guide Patterns
- 48 Knitting Patterns for Fingerless Gloves | Guide Patterns
- Knitting: 48 Knitting Patterns for Fingerless Gloves – CrochetingHearts.org
For Making's Sake 
I really love these! Thanks for sharing the pattern!
What a lovely pattern. So simple yet so detailed, ah, very nice!
Thank you so much for sharing it!
These are beautiful in their simplicity- I want to try them out in a beautiful variegated yarn I have!
I hate to sound nit-picky, but you asked us to report errors. Under the thumb section, one spot says “Pick of” instead of “Pick up” : ) very minor!
Thanks for sharing this pattern~
Thanks a lot for this pattern. I’ve already made to pairs:)
Finishing up some Christmas gifts and was hunting for a nifty mitts pattern and found YOURS! Can’t wait to make these! Thank you so much for sharing….
I made 2 pairs of these as gifts and I’m uploading a vlog showing them off as I speak! 🙂 Check out my blog later on for the update!! (I had to find the link and wanted to comment to you before I forgot later!!)
These are absolutely lovely! I was wondering, could you make a top so that they become convertible gloves? I have a friend who wants some convertible gloves, but I have had no luck in finding some that are really pretty and feminine that are easy to make. These look easy, but they don’t have the top part that it need.
just what I was looking for~ perfect, thanks for sharing!
Thanks! I am always on the hunt for a fingerless mitten pattern. I am having lots of fun with this one. The button possibilities are endless. It was nice of you to share.
Tamara
Starting these tonight! So lovely! 🙂
Love this pattern, but, for some reason I can’t wrap my head around the instructions that create a place for the thumb that I will make later. I have been knitting for years, gloves, shoes, mitts, sweaters etc & why I’m having trouble understand this instruction baffles me.
It seems clear enough, but when I follow them I’m not left with opening for the thumb???
correction…..I’ve never knitted shoes, typo…..
I absolutely love these mitts. I rarely knit the same pattern twice, but have made two pairs of these. They just look so good and are such a quick knit! Thank you so much!
-blakdove on Ravelry
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did
you make this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for
you? Plz answer back as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. cheers
Greetings! Quick question that’s totally off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when browsing from my iphone4. I’m trying to find a theme or plugin that might
be able to correct this problem. If you have any suggestions, please share.
With thanks!
Hi there, I found your website via Google while looking for a related matter, your website came up, it seems good.
I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply turned into aware of your blog thru Google,
and found that it’s really informative. I am going to be careful for brussels. I will appreciate in case you proceed this in future. Many people might be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
Hello! I’m looking forward to knitting up these adorable mitts and just want to clarify something about the math.
Whenever you indicate “repeat” for either the Broken Rib or Stockinette stitch patterns, I’m assuming you mean to repeat it the number of times indicated PLUS the row just completed. For example, you would complete the two rows that comprise the Broken Rib pattern, and then repeat the stitch pattern 17 times, for a total of 18 times, yes? Or, did you actually mean to complete the stitch pattern just 17 times?
Thanks in advance for the clarification!
Hi, I desire to subscribe for this webpage to obtain newest updates, so
where can i do it please help.
Hi there. These are adorable and I was wondering if perhaps you sold completed sets of these? I am not a knitter but these are the exact kind of hand warmers/fingerless mitts I’ve been looking for. Thanks! 🙂
Would knitting this with a magic loop in place of double pointed needles work as well, or no?