Quick and Easy Christmas Mitts with Clever Tricks

Big trouble asked me to make him some gloves. Which I did, because, as you know, I do as I am told. 

He wanted closed thumbs and flaps to cover his fingers.

I was quite please with my make-it-up-as-you-go-along chunky mittens so I tweaked the pattern to simplify them, and made some more which will be winging their way to little hands for Christmas. They are quick as a flash to make but have a couple of clever tricks that I am pretty pleased with. A good opportunity to add a stitch or two to your repertoire...

I made three sizes: ages 3-4, 5-6 and 9-10 because those are the sizes of the small people who's hands they will warm.

You will need:

Size 3-4 Chunky yarn in two colours and a 4mm hook.

Size 5-6 Chunky or super-chunky yarn in two colours and a 5mm hook.

Size 9-10 Super-chunky yarn in two colours and a 6mm hook. 

If you want to make some sized 7-8 I am guessing that super-chunky yarn and a 5.5mm hook would do the trick. The pattern is the same for all sizes. 

The pattern is written in English crochet terms.

I used: King Cole Comfort chunky in white, Stylecraft Life super-chunky in Cardinal and Charcoal and Stylecraft Life chunky in Teal.

Cuff:

The cuff is where the clever tricks lie. It is crocheted rib made flat and then sown into a ring.

I often find that the foundation chain lets down a project because it doesn't have the same stretch as the rest of a crocheted piece and then I discovered the stretchy foundation chain and it is a revelation! Actually it is a foundation chain and dc row all made at the same time.

***Clever Trick number 1: The stretchy foundation chain.***

Foundation chain and row 1: Make a slip knot and chain two.

Insert the hook into the second stitch from the hook (ie the loop part of the slip knot)

Yarn over hook (yoh), pull through 1 loop (two loops on hook), (this is the foundation chain part of the stitch) yoh, pull through 1 loop, yoh pull through two loops (this is the dc part of the stitch).

*Insert the hook into the foundation chain of the previous stitch,

yoh, pull through 1 loop, yoh, pull though 1 loop, yoh, pull through 2 loops.*
Repeat from * to * four more times until you have six stitches.

***Clever Trick number 2: Crochet rib.***

Ch1 and turn work.

Row 2: Insert the hook into the back loop only of the third stitch from the hook (this feels all wrong but stick with me). Make a dc (yoh, pull through 1 loop, yoh, pull through two loops).

dc into the back loop only of the next 4 stitches (5 stitches). To make the last stitch of the row, insert the hook into the back of the first stitch of the previous row, dc. (This is trickiest on this row but gets easier).

ch1, turn work.

Rows 3-22: Repeat row 2. Fasten off leaving a 30 cm tail.

You should be able to count 11 ridges.

Bend round to make a cuff and stitch the ends together using the tail. Weave in the other end. The point where the two ends join makes a 12th ridge.

Palm and fingers:

Round 1: Join your second colour into one edge of the cuff. ch 1 (counts as 1dc), 23 dc, join with a slst into 1ch. (24 stitches, two into each ridge/ditch)

Round 2-5: ch1, 23 htr, join with a slst into 1ch.

Round 6: 1ch, 8htr, 2ch, skip 6 htr, 9 htr, join with a slst into 1ch.

Round 7: 1ch, 9htr into htr of previous row, 2htr around 2 ch, 8htr into htr of previous row, join with slst into 1ch.

Round 8: 1ch, 19htr, join with slst into 1 ch. Fasten off.

Thumb:

Round 1: Join the yarn into corner stitch beside thumb opening, 1 ch,

 6htr in htr of previous round, 1htr in corner stitch, 2slst into join with fingers, slst into 1ch to join. (10 stitches)

Round 2 : 1ch, 7 htr into htr of previous round, 2 htr into 2 slst of previous round, slst into 1ch to join. Fasten off.

Edging: dc around edge of fingers and thumb. fasten off and weave in all the ends.

Happy hooking!

xx