Classic Elite Yarns Akina Gloves Knitting Pattern

Classic Elite Yarns Akina Knitted Gloves

What Is Being Made

The Akina pattern creates a pair of extra-long fingerless mitts featuring interlocking rope cables bordered with ribbed detailing. These seamless mitts are worked in the round from the cuff down, with an afterthought thumb construction that allows for a custom fit. The design showcases sophisticated cable work across the length of the mitt, making them an elegant accessory suitable for intermediate knitters.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several advanced techniques to achieve its polished appearance:

• Seamless construction: The mitts are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a continuous, professional finish.
• Cable knitting: Interlocking rope cables form the primary visual element, created by slipping stitches to cable needles and crossing them over each other to produce dimensional, twisted patterns.
• Afterthought thumb: Rather than picking up stitches for the thumb during the initial knitting, waste yarn is used as a placeholder, allowing the thumb to be worked separately after the main mitt is complete. This technique provides superior fit and eliminates the need to calculate exact thumb placement in advance.
• In-the-round knitting: Working continuously in circular rounds prevents the need for seaming and maintains consistent tension throughout the project.

Stitches Used

The Akina pattern incorporates two primary stitch patterns that work together to create the finished design:

• 3 x 3 Rib: A multiple of 6 stitches worked as *P3, k3; rep from * across all rounds. This classic ribbed stitch creates the cuff and thumb opening, providing elasticity and a refined border that frames the cable pattern.
• Cable Pattern: A 24-stitch repeat worked over 24 rounds. The pattern alternates between 10 rounds of 3 x 3 rib and cable crossing rounds (rounds 11 and 23) where stitches are slipped to cable needles and crossed to create interlocking rope effects. The cable crossings are staggered across the repeat, producing a dynamic, flowing visual pattern.

Materials and Tools

This project requires Classic Elite Yarns Yuri yarn, described as soft, lightweight, and washable—ideal qualities for fingerless mitts intended for regular wear. The yarn works beautifully in the cable pattern while remaining comfortable against the skin. Double-pointed needles (dpn) in an appropriate size for your chosen yarn weight are essential for working in the round. Cable needles (cn) are required for executing the cable crossings that define the pattern. A stitch marker (pm) helps identify the beginning of each round.

Pattern Overview

The right and left mitts are worked identically until the afterthought thumb placement, which occurs at different stitch counts to accommodate hand shaping. Each mitt begins with 72 stitches cast on evenly across three double-pointed needles (24 stitches per needle). The cuff is worked in 3 x 3 Rib for 2½ inches, establishing the elastic border. The main body transitions to the Cable Pattern and continues for approximately 7½ inches until the mitt measures 10 inches from the cast-on edge. At this point, six stitches are replaced with waste yarn to create the afterthought thumb opening. The mitt continues in Cable Pattern until reaching 13 inches total length, then all stitches are bound off in pattern. The thumb is completed separately by removing the waste yarn, placing live stitches on needles, picking up additional stitches along the sides, and working in 3 x 3 Rib for approximately 1¾ inches or to desired length before binding off.