Mucha Mittens Gloves Knitting Pattern

Mucha Mittens in Malabrigo Mechita

What is Being Made

The Mucha Mittens are a pair of knitted mittens designed by Maria Levine and available in Malabrigo Mechita yarn. These mittens feature an advanced level of complexity and are knitted in the round from the cuff to the fingers. The finished mittens measure 13¾ inches (35 centimeters) in length and 4 inches (10.5 centimeters) in width, making them a standard adult mitten size.

Techniques Used

The Mucha Mittens employ several advanced knitting techniques that elevate this project beyond beginner level work. The mittens are constructed using the magic loop method or two-at-a-time technique, allowing knitters to create both the left and right mittens simultaneously on a single circular needle or pair of double-pointed needles. This approach is efficient and ensures both mittens remain consistent in size and gauge.

The pattern incorporates cable knitting as a primary design element, which requires the use of a cable needle to manipulate stitches and create the characteristic twisted rope-like texture. The design features multiple cable variations that add visual interest and structural integrity to the mittens.

Additional techniques include increases using the make-one method (M1) to shape the mittens appropriately, and decreases using slip-slip-knit (SSK) and knit-two-together (k2tog) techniques for proper mitten shaping. Knitters must also be comfortable with working in the round using either circular needles with the magic loop method or double-pointed needles, maintaining stitch markers throughout the construction process.

Stitches Used

The Mucha Mittens pattern utilizes a foundation of stockinette stitch, which serves as the base fabric and is worked at a gauge of 26-30 stitches and 44 rows per 4 inches (10 centimeters). This smooth, classic stitch creates an elegant background for the cable work.

Cable stitches form the decorative and structural elements of the mittens. The pattern includes the following cable variations:

• 6-stitch right cable (6-st RC): Created by slipping 3 stitches to a cable needle and holding them in back, knitting the next 3 stitches, then knitting the 3 stitches from the cable needle
• 6-stitch left cable (6-st LC): Created by slipping 3 stitches to a cable needle and holding them in front, knitting the next 3 stitches, then knitting the 3 stitches from the cable needle
• 6-stitch right cable with purl-knit-purl (6-st RC PKP): A variation that combines cable techniques with purl stitches for textural contrast
• 6-stitch left cable with knit-purl-knit (6-st LC KPK): Another cable variation incorporating knit and purl stitches
• 3/1 left purl cable (3/1 LPC): A narrower cable combining purl and knit stitches
• 3/1 right purl cable (3/1 RPC): The mirror variation of the left purl cable

The pattern also employs purl stitches strategically to create definition and contrast within the cable design, enhancing the visual complexity and sophistication of the finished mittens.

Materials

The Mucha Mittens pattern calls for 1 skein of Malabrigo Mechita yarn in colorway #35 Frank Ochre. Malabrigo Mechita is a premium merino wool blend yarn known for its softness, elasticity, and vibrant color options, making it an excellent choice for detailed cable work.

Needles required include US 1-2 / 2.25-2.75mm circular needles or double-pointed needles (dpns), or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge. The pattern also requires a cable needle for manipulating stitches during cable work, a crochet hook for finishing, and 2 distinct stitch markers to track pattern repeats and construction progress while working in the round.