Valley Yarns Felted Mittens Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Felted Mittens

What is Being Made

These are adult medium-sized felted mittens designed to keep hands warm during winter. The pattern produces a pair of mittens with a classic construction featuring a ribbed cuff, fitted gusset for the thumb, and a shaped hand section. An optional fleece lining is available to add extra warmth and comfort.

Craft and Construction Method

This is a knitting project worked using the bottom-up construction method. The mittens are worked in the round on double pointed needles, creating seamless tubular fabric. The finished knitted mittens are then felted in a washing machine to create a dense, warm fabric with a soft, finished appearance. This felting process is a key technique that transforms the knitted fabric into a more durable and insulating material.

Techniques Used

• Knitting in the round: The mittens are constructed circularly using double pointed needles, eliminating the need for seaming
• Ribbed cuff: A knit 2, purl 2 ribbing pattern is worked for 20 rows to create an elastic cuff that fits snugly around the wrist
• Gusset shaping: Strategic increases create a thumb gusset that provides proper fit and movement for the thumb
• Decrease shaping: Decreases at the top of the mitten create a tapered, fitted finish
• Felting: The completed mittens are placed in a pillowcase and machine washed in hot water on the longest setting to felt the fabric. The process may require resetting the washer to continue felting until the desired density is achieved
• Optional fleece lining: An additional technique involves creating a separate fleece lining that is sewn and inserted into the finished mittens for added warmth

Stitches Used

• Knit stitch: The primary stitch used throughout the mittens
• Purl stitch: Used in combination with knit stitches to create the ribbed cuff pattern
• Knit 2 together (K2tog): A basic decrease used to shape the top of the mittens and create the tapered finish
• SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit): A left-leaning decrease worked by slipping 2 stitches to the right hand needle as if to knit, inserting the left hand needle into both stitches, and knitting them together
• Increase (Kfb): Worked by knitting into the front and back of a single stitch to add stitches for the thumb gusset shaping

Materials and Tools

Yarn: Valley Yarns Stockbridge in the color Periwinkle, requiring 2 skeins total. The yarn is suitable for felting and creates a finished fabric with good drape and warmth.

Needles: US size #10 double pointed needles (or the size needed to achieve proper gauge). Double pointed needles are essential for working in the round without seams.

Gauge: 3.5 stitches and 4.5 rows equal 1 inch in unfelted stockinette stitch. Achieving proper gauge before felting is important for the mittens to fit correctly after the felting process shrinks the fabric.

Optional lining materials: ½ yard of fleece fabric can be used to create an insulated lining. The fleece is cut to match the mitten shape and sewn into place with a ¼ inch seam allowance.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the basic stitches are fundamental, the project requires comfort with working in the round on multiple needles, understanding and executing increases and decreases for shaping, and managing the felting process to achieve the desired finished size and density. The optional lining adds an additional skill component for those seeking extra challenge.