Noro Bobble and Vine Mittens Knitting Pattern

Noro Bobble and Vine Mittens

What is Being Made

The Noro Bobble and Vine Mittens are a pair of seamless, adult-sized knitted mittens designed for women. These mittens feature decorative bobble and cable vine details worked throughout the hand and cuff. The finished mittens measure 7 inches (18 centimeters) in hand circumference and 11½ inches (29 centimeters) in length, providing a comfortable fit for average adult hands.

Knitting Techniques Used

This project employs several intermediate knitting techniques to create its distinctive texture and appearance:

• Seamless construction: The mittens are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a smooth, continuous fabric.
• Bottom-up construction: The mittens are knitted from the cuff upward to the fingertips, allowing for easy adjustments to length.
• Cable work: Multiple cable techniques are incorporated, including right and left purl crosses (2-st RPC and 2-st LPC) and right knit crosses (3-st RC), which create the vine-like twisted stitch patterns.
• Bobble stitches: Make bobble (MB) stitches are worked into the pattern, creating three-dimensional textural elements that enhance the visual interest of the mittens.

Stitches Used

The Noro Bobble and Vine Mittens incorporate the following specific stitches and stitch techniques:

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch used for the main fabric, creating a smooth, classic knitted surface.
• Ribbing: A k1, p1 (knit one, purl one) ribbing pattern is used for the cuff, providing stretch and elasticity at the wrist opening.
• 2-st RPC (right purl cross): Slip one stitch to cable needle and hold to back, knit one, then purl one from cable needle.
• 2-st LPC (left purl cross): Slip one stitch to cable needle and hold to front, purl one, then knit one from cable needle.
• 3-st RC (right knit cross): Slip two stitches to cable needle and hold to back, knit one, then knit two from cable needle.
• MB (make bobble): A five-stitch bobble created by knitting into the front and back of a single stitch with yarn overs, then decreasing back down to one stitch, creating a raised, dimensional texture.
• Yarn over: Used to create new stitches and decorative holes within the pattern.
• Slip stitch: Used for joining rounds and creating smooth transitions in the knitted fabric.

Materials and Tools

The Noro Bobble and Vine Mittens are knitted using the following materials and equipment:

• Yarn: One skein of Noro Silk Garden Sock in colorway #269. This yarn is a blend that provides both durability and a subtle sheen suitable for a refined mitten project.
• Needles: Two sets of double-pointed needles—one set in US size 2 (2.75 millimeters) for the ribbed cuff and one set in US size 4 (3.5 millimeters) for the main body. The size difference between needle sets allows for proper gauge and fabric control.
• Additional notions: A stitch marker to denote the beginning of each round, and a cable needle for managing stitches during cable and cross techniques.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is designed to achieve a gauge of 21 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches (10 centimeters) when worked in stockinette stitch using the larger needles. Checking gauge before beginning is essential to ensure the finished mittens fit properly. The pattern is sized for adult women with the finished measurements noted above.

Pattern Difficulty

These mittens are rated as an Easy project, making them accessible to knitters with basic to intermediate experience. While the pattern includes cable and bobble techniques, the straightforward construction and clear instructions make it manageable for those ready to expand their knitting skills beyond basic stockinette and ribbing.