Classic Elite Yarns Kinlough Mittens Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Kinlough Mittens

What Is Being Made

The Kinlough mittens are classic hand coverings designed by Edith Murphy and originally published in Emerald Isle 1508, a printed collection of designs. These mittens are worked seamlessly in the round from the cuff down, featuring a thumb gusset construction that allows them to fit either hand interchangeably. The design includes decorative slip stitch patterning at the cuff and upper hand sections, combining both functional warmth and visual interest.

Techniques Used

The Kinlough mittens employ several key knitting techniques to achieve their construction and appearance:

• Bottom-up construction: The mittens are worked from the cuff upward toward the fingertips, allowing for easy length adjustments before binding off.
• Seamless, worked in the round: Using circular needles or double-pointed needles, the mittens are knit continuously in rounds without seaming, creating a smooth, finished appearance with no side seams.
• Thumb gusset shaping: A structured gusset is incorporated at the side of the hand using paired increases (m1-r and m1-l) on alternating rounds, creating room for the thumb while maintaining the mitten's overall shape.
• Slip stitch patterning: Decorative slip stitches worked purlwise with yarn in front create a textured, reversible pattern in the cuff and upper hand sections.
• Strategic decreasing: Crown shaping is achieved through paired decreases (ssk and k2tog) positioned symmetrically on either side of a center marker, tapering the top of the mitten to a finished point.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches combined to create texture and structure:

• Knit stitch (K): The primary stitch used throughout the stockinette stitch sections of the hand and upper mitten.
• Purl stitch (P): Used in ribbed cuff sections and as part of the slip stitch pattern for dimensional texture.
• Slip stitch (sl): Worked purlwise with yarn in front (wyif), slip stitches create the decorative slip stitch pattern that appears in the cuff and upper hand areas, adding visual interest without increasing bulk.
• Make one right (m1-r) and make one left (m1-l): Paired increases used in the thumb gusset to add stitches while maintaining a balanced, nearly invisible increase line.
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used in the crown shaping.
• Slip, slip, knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used in the crown shaping to create symmetrical decreases on either side of the mitten top.
• Ribbing (K1, P1): Used in the cuff and as a transition section to create elasticity and a fitted wrist opening.

Materials and Construction Details

The Kinlough mittens are designed to be worked with yarn on circular needles or double-pointed needles (3 or 4 needles are referenced for distributing stitches). The pattern provides two sizes, with cast-on counts of 32 and 36 stitches, allowing for customization based on hand size. Stitch markers are essential for tracking the beginning of rounds and marking the gusset placement. A small amount of waste yarn is needed to hold the thumb stitches temporarily during construction. The pattern specifies measurements in inches, with the finished cuff measuring approximately 3¼ inches from cast-on, the hand section reaching about 6 inches before thumb separation, and the total length ranging from 10½ to 11½ inches depending on size.

Design Features

The mittens feature a sophisticated slip stitch pattern that creates visual texture in the cuff and upper hand sections. The pattern alternates between slip stitch rows and stockinette sections, creating a subtle striped effect. The thumb gusset is positioned at the side of the hand and incorporates slip stitches within the gusset itself, maintaining design continuity. The crown decreases are worked symmetrically on both sides of a center marker, ensuring even shaping and a professional finish. Because the thumb gusset is positioned at the side, these mittens are ambidextrous and will fit either the left or right hand.