SweetGeorgia Matilda Mitts Gloves Knitting Pattern

SweetGeorgia Matilda Mitts: Fingerless Mitts with Cables

What is Being Made

The Matilda Mitts are a pair of fingerless mitts designed by Liisa Nieminen for SweetGeorgia Yarns. These mitts offer the perfect balance of warmth and hand exposure, making them an ideal accessory for fall and transitional seasons. The fingerless design allows for full finger mobility while keeping the palm, back of hand, and wrist warm. Available in two sizes—adult small/medium and medium/large—the mitts are designed to fit with 0.5" (1.25 cm) of negative ease for a snug, comfortable fit.

Techniques Used

The Matilda Mitts are constructed using several key knitting techniques that make them accessible to intermediate-level knitters:

• Seamless, worked in the round: The mitts are knitted in the round using either double-pointed needles (DPNs) or the Magic Loop method on a 32" (81 cm) circular needle, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a polished, professional finish.
• Cable knitting: The design features an eye-catching cable pattern that is simple enough for knitters with less cable experience, making this project an excellent introduction to cable work without overwhelming complexity.
• Clever thumb construction: The pattern includes an innovative thumb design that provides a great fit with minimal effort, using techniques such as picking up live stitches from waste yarn and unraveling waste yarn to create the thumb opening.
• Increasing and decreasing: The pattern incorporates shaping through increases and decreases to achieve the proper fit around the palm and wrist.

Stitches Used

The Matilda Mitts employ fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable techniques:

• Stockinette stitch: The primary stitch used for the base fabric, creating a smooth, classic knit surface.
• Cable stitches: Twisted stitches created by crossing groups of stitches over one another to form the distinctive cable pattern.
• Knit and purl stitches: Used in combination to define and frame the cable design.
• Knit two together (k2tog): A right-leaning decrease used for shaping.
• M1L (Make One Left): A left-leaning increase created by inserting the left needle from front to back under the strand of yarn between stitches and knitting through the back loop.

Materials and Specifications

The Matilda Mitts are designed to be knitted with SweetGeorgia Yarns Tough Love Sock yarn, a high-quality blend ideal for wearable accessories. One skein of yarn is required for the project, with each skein containing 420 yards (400 meters) and weighing 4 ounces (115 grams). The yarn composition is 80% superwash merino wool and 20% nylon, providing durability, softness, and easy care. The pattern is available in two beautiful colorways: Mulberry and Deep Cove.

The recommended needles are Size 1 US (2.5 mm) double-pointed needles or a 32" (81 cm) circular needle for the Magic Loop method. Additional notions include a cable needle for manipulating cable stitches, two 15" (38 cm) lengths of contrasting waste yarn for the thumb construction, stitch markers to denote the beginning of round and pattern repeats, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Gauge and Finished Measurements

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 28 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch. Knitters should adjust needle size as necessary to obtain the correct gauge, as this affects the final fit and yardage requirements. The finished measurements are 7.75 inches (20 cm) in length for both sizes, with palm circumference above the thumb measuring 6.25 inches (16 cm) for the small/medium size and 7.5 inches (19 cm) for the medium/large size. Note that row gauge is not crucial for this project, though it will affect yardage and the final length of the mitts.

Skill Level and Requirements

The Matilda Mitts are rated as an Intermediate skill level project. Knitters should be comfortable with knitting in the round, working with double-pointed needles or the Magic