Twist Collective Iznik Mittens Knitting Pattern

Iznik Mittens by Barbara Gregory

What is Being Made

Iznik is a pair of knitted mittens featuring stranded colorwork patterning. The design is available in two versions: a two-colour option using Natural and Navy, or a three-colour version that incorporates Harvest Orange as an accent colour worked in duplicate stitch. These mittens are sized to fit hand circumferences of 7 ¼" (18.5 cm) or 8" (20.5 cm), with total lengths ranging from 8 ¼" to 8 ¾" (21–22 cm).

Techniques Used

Iznik mittens are constructed using several advanced knitting techniques that create a seamless, polished finished garment:

• Bottom-up construction: The mittens are worked from the cuff upward, allowing for easy adjustments to length and a natural progression through the pattern.
• Seamless, worked in the round: Using either double-pointed needles, two circular needles, or one long circular needle for Magic Loop, the mittens are knitted continuously in the round without seaming.
• Stranded colourwork: The primary pattern is created using the stranded technique, where two colours are carried across the back of the work. Careful tension management is essential to prevent the fabric from pulling in; floats should be kept loose and caught when they extend beyond 3 stitches to avoid long, inelastic strands on the inside.
• Duplicate stitch: In the three-colour version, the third colour (Harvest Orange) is applied after the mittens are complete using duplicate stitch, a surface embroidery technique that adds detail without increasing complexity during the main knitting process.

Stitches Used

While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided pattern excerpt, the mittens employ fundamental knitting stitches combined with stranded colourwork techniques. The pattern is worked from charts that are read from right to left for each round. The construction includes a separate thumb section, indicating the use of standard increases and decreases typical of fitted mitten patterns.

Materials

Yarn: Valley Yarns Huntington is the suggested yarn, a blend of 75% Superwash Merino and 25% Nylon. Each skein contains 218 yards (199 m) and weighs 1 ¾ oz (50 g). For the two-colour version, knitters need 1 skein each of Natural #10 (main colour) and Navy #22 (contrast colour). For the three-colour version, 1 skein each of Natural #10, Navy #22, and Harvest Orange #26 is required. The Merino-Nylon blend provides durability and elasticity suitable for mittens, while the superwash treatment offers easy care.

Needles: For the 7 ¼" (18.5 cm) size, Size 1 US (2.25 mm) and Size 1 ½ US (2.5 mm) needles are used in the preferred style for small circumference knitting in the round. For the 8" (20.5 cm) size, Size 1 US (2.25 mm) needles are specified. The choice of needle style—double-pointed, two circular, or one long circular for Magic Loop—is left to the knitter's preference, offering flexibility for different skill levels and working styles.