Rowan Haakon Mittens Knitting Pattern

Rowan Haakon Mittens by Arne & Carlos

What Is Being Made

The Rowan Haakon pattern creates a pair of knitted mittens featuring colorwork design. These mittens are constructed using the seamless, in-the-round method, resulting in a finished garment with no seams. The mittens incorporate a shaped thumb gusset for a custom fit and are worked primarily in stockinette stitch with stranded colorwork patterning throughout.

Craft & Construction Method

Haakon is a knitting project designed by renowned knitwear designers Arne & Carlos. The mittens are worked in the round using sets of double-pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming. This seamless construction method creates a smooth, professional finish. The pattern employs a bottom-up construction approach, beginning at the cuff and progressing toward the fingertips.

Techniques Used

This pattern showcases several intermediate knitting techniques:

• Stranded colorwork (Fair Isle): The mittens feature patterned sections worked using the Fair Isle technique, where multiple yarn colors are carried across the rounds to create intricate designs from a provided chart.
• Stripes: Color changes are incorporated throughout the design, adding visual interest and dimension to the finished mittens.
• Thumb gusset shaping: The pattern includes strategic increases (M1R and M1L) to create a shaped thumb opening that accommodates the thumb comfortably while maintaining the overall mitten structure.
• Decreases for shaping: Slip stitch decreases (sl 1, K1, psso) and knit two together (K2tog) are used to shape the hand and reduce stitches as needed.

Stitches Used

The Haakon mittens are primarily constructed using fundamental knitting stitches:

• Ribbing (K and P): The cuff begins with 5 rounds of rib stitch worked in yarn A, creating an elastic edge that hugs the wrist.
• Stockinette stitch (st st): The main body of the mittens is worked entirely in stockinette stitch (knit every round), creating a smooth, classic fabric ideal for displaying colorwork patterns.
• Increases: M1R (make one right) and M1L (make one left) are used to shape the thumb gusset symmetrically.
• Decreases: Slip stitch decreases and knit two together reductions shape the hand sections and close the mitten top.

Materials & Yarn Specifications

Rowan Haakon is worked in Rowan Alpaca Soft DK, a DK-weight yarn that provides excellent stitch definition for colorwork patterns. The yarn palette consists of four coordinated colors:

• Yarn A – Deep Rose 206: 1 x 50gm
• Yarn B – Clover 215: 1 x 50gm
• Yarn C – Simply Black 216: 2 x 50gm
• Yarn D – Simply White 201: 1 x 50gm

Needles & Tension

The pattern requires two sets of double-pointed needles in different sizes. The cuff ribbing is worked on 3mm (US 2/3) double-pointed needles, while the main body is worked on 3¼mm (US 3) double-pointed needles. The recommended tension is 28 stitches and 31 rows to 10 centimeters measured over the patterned stockinette stitch using the 3¼mm needles. Achieving correct tension is essential for proper fit and appearance of the stranded colorwork design.

Pattern Overview

The Haakon mittens begin with a ribbed cuff worked in Deep Rose, establishing elasticity at the wrist. The knitter then transitions to the larger needles and begins working from a colorwork chart using the Fair Isle technique, carrying unused colors inside the mitten to maintain even tension. The thumb gusset is shaped through a series of paired increases worked at intervals, creating space for the thumb. After the gusset reaches its full width, stitches are divided