Mittens are a wardrobe must-have for babies. Having cold hands is no fun, and these jazzy mitts will keep fingers and hands warm and feeling comfy outdoors in the chillier weather. They're worked in fair isle and feature fun design details like zigzags, stripes and blocks. A snug fitting ribbed cuff will ensure wrists are toasty warm, too. Make them in bright, contrasting colours to fascinate babies' visual curiosity.
You will need
4-ply (fingering) weight yarn, 50g in cream x 1 ball - A
small amount of turquoise - B
small amount of violet - C
small amount of grey - D
2 stitch markers
Stitch holder
3mm (UK 11, US 2) double-pointed needles (DPNs) or circular needle
Tapestry needle
Measurements
To fit 0-3 (3-6: 6-12) months
Tension
32 sts and 36 rows to 10cm (4in) over Fair isle pattern using 3mm (UK 11, US 2) needles
MITTENS
Using 3mm (UK 11, US 2) DPNs or circular needle and yarn B, cast on 28 (36:40) sts then join in the round, taking care not to twist stitches.
Change to yarn A.
Round 1 (K2, p2) to end.
Repeat round 1, 6 (6:7) more times.
Next round Rib 9 (36:13), m1 (0:1), rib 10 (0:14), m1 (0:1), rib to end. 30 (36:42) sts
Continue in st-st for rest of pattern.
Next round Work Fair Isle chart 5 (6:7) times.
Size 0-3 months & 3-6 months only
Continue to work as set until 2 reps of the 13th round on chart are complete, and then work round 1 once more.
Work 0 (3) rounds in yarn A only.
Size 6-12 months only
Starting with round 2 of the Fair Isle chart, work 4 rounds of chart as set.
Next round Patt 21, pm, m1 in yarn A, pm, patt to end. 43 sts
Next round Patt to end, slipping markers and working sts between markers in yarn C.
Next round Patt to marker, sm, m1, k to marker in yarn A, m1, sm, patt to end. 45 sts
Next round Patt to end, slipping markers and working sts between markers in yarn A.
Repeat last 2 rounds until there are 13 sts between markers, working sts between markers in yarn A, except for chart rounds 1 and 7; these should be worked in yarn C to continue stripe. 55 sts
Next round K to marker, remove marker, place 13 sts from between markers on holder, k to end. 42 sts
Continue to work as set until 2 reps of the 13th round chart are complete, and then work rounds 1-7 once more.
Work 1 round in yarn A only.
All sizes
Continue in yarn A only.
Next round (K2tog, k2) to last 2 (0:2) sts, k2tog (0:k2tog). (22 (27:31) sts)
Next round Knit.
Next round (K1, k2tog) to last 1 (0:1), k1 (0:1). 15 (18:21) sts
Next round (K2tog) to last 1 (0:1), k1 (0:1). 8 (9:11) sts
Next round (K2tog) to last 0 (1:1), k0 (1:1). Break yarn, thread through stitches, fasten off tightly leaving a long tail to sew seam with mattress stitch.
Thumb
Size 6-12 months only
Place 13 sts from holder onto a 3mm (UK 11/US 2) needle.
With RS facing, using yarn A, pick up and knit 1 st from thumb gap before sts on needles, knit 13 sts from needle and arrange in the round. 14 sts
Work 5 rounds in st st.
Next row (Ssk) 3 times, (k2tog) 4 times. 7 sts
Break yarn and thread through remaining sts, pull tight and secure. Weave in ends.
