Berroco Cendrars Mittens Knitting Pattern

Berroco Cendrars Mittens

What Is Being Made

The Berroco Cendrars mittens are a pair of intermediate-level knitted mittens designed by Emily Nora O'Neil. These mittens feature finished measurements of approximately 7½" around the hand and 9½" in length, making them a standard adult size. The pattern includes shaping for a fitted hand and a structured thumb opening.

Techniques Used

These mittens are constructed using several key knitting techniques that create a polished, professional finish:

• Worked in the Round: The mittens are knitted circularly using double-pointed needles, which eliminates the need for seaming and creates a seamless construction throughout the hand and cuff.
• Bottom-Up Construction: The mittens are built starting from the cuff and working upward toward the fingertips, allowing for easy adjustments to length during the knitting process.
• Seamless Construction: By working in the round from cast-on to bind-off, these mittens require no seaming, resulting in smooth, comfortable wear with no bulky seams on the palm or back of the hand.
• Striped Colorwork: The pattern incorporates stripes using five distinct colors from the Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky yarn line, creating visual interest and dimension throughout the mittens.

Stitches Used

The Cendrars mittens primarily utilize stockinette stitch, worked in the round by knitting every round. This fundamental stitch creates a smooth, classic fabric that showcases the yarn's texture and color variations beautifully. The pattern also incorporates knit two together (k2tog) decreases for shaping the top of the mittens, which creates a tapered crown that fits snugly at the fingertips. Strategic decreasing in the final rounds ensures a neat, secure finish at the mitten top.

Materials and Yarn

The Cendrars mittens are designed to be worked in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Chunky, a premium yarn made from 100% alpaca. The pattern calls for one hank each (100 grams) in five coordinating colorways: Steel Cut Oats (A), Chianti (B), Winter White (C), Tiger's Eye Mix (D), and Light Gray (E). This chunky-weight yarn creates a warm, luxurious fabric with excellent drape and softness.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires one set of four size 10 (6.00 mm) double-pointed knitting needles, which are essential for working small circumferences in the round. Additional notions include three stitch markers (with one in a contrasting color to mark the beginning of rounds), a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and closing the top, and waste yarn for temporarily holding thumb stitches during construction.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 14 stitches and 20 rounds over 4 inches in stockinette stitch when knitting every round. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the proper finished measurements, and knitters are advised to knit and measure a gauge swatch before beginning the mittens.

Skill Level

Rated as an Intermediate project, the Cendrars mittens are suitable for knitters with foundational skills in circular knitting, basic shaping, and color changes. The straightforward stitch patterns and clear construction method make this an accessible project for those ready to move beyond beginner patterns.