Valley Yarns Color Pop Mittens Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Color Pop Mittens

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Color Pop Mittens are a pair of warm, fitted mittens designed by Kirsten Hipsky for women's sizes Small, Medium, and Large. These mittens feature a distinctive two-color design with a neutral base and a vibrant contrasting pop of color at the cuff, creating a modern and playful aesthetic. The mittens are sized to fit hand circumferences of 8½, 9, or 9½ inches respectively.

Techniques Used

These mittens are worked in the round using the circular knitting method, which creates seamless tubes perfect for fitted garments. This technique is ideal for mittens as it eliminates the need for seaming and ensures a smooth, comfortable fit. The pattern includes fundamental knitting techniques suitable for beginners, including casting on, joining in the round, working stockinette stitch, and basic decreasing methods to shape the mitten top and thumb.

Stitches Used

The Color Pop Mittens utilize several essential knitting stitches:

• Knit stitch (k) – the primary stitch forming the main fabric
• Purl stitch (p) – used in the ribbed cuff for elasticity and texture
• Stockinette stitch (St st) – the primary stitch pattern for the hand and thumb sections, creating a smooth, classic knit fabric
• Knit 2 together (k2tog) – a basic decrease used throughout for shaping the thumb and closing the mitten top
• Slip 1, knit 2 together, pass slipped stitch over (sl1-k2tog-psso) – a double decrease used for more pronounced shaping at the mitten crown

The cuff features a k2, p1 ribbed pattern that provides stretch and recovery, ensuring the mittens stay securely on the wrist while remaining comfortable to wear.

Materials and Yarn

These mittens are crafted from Valley Yarns Berkshire, a premium blend of 85% wool and 15% alpaca. Each mitten requires one 100-gram skein (141 yards) each of two colorways: Color A in Lt Gray Heather for the main body and Color B in Turquoise for the contrasting cuff accent. This fiber blend provides warmth, softness, and durability while maintaining excellent stitch definition.

Needles and Notions

The mittens are worked on a set of four US size 6 (4.00mm) double pointed needles, which allow for seamless circular knitting in the round. The pattern also requires a stitch holder to temporarily secure the thumb stitches while working the hand section. The recommended gauge is 5 stitches and 7 rows per inch in stockinette stitch, ensuring proper fit and fabric density.

Design Details

The construction begins with the thumb, which is worked first and then held while the main hand is completed. The cuff measures 2 inches in the ribbed k2, p1 pattern before transitioning to stockinette stitch for the hand. After the hand reaches approximately 2½ to 3 inches, the thumb stitches are picked up and worked to completion. The mitten top features a two-stage decrease sequence that gradually tapers the crown, with the color transition to Turquoise occurring after 2 inches of stockinette stitch in the main hand section. This creates a striking visual contrast while maintaining structural integrity throughout the garment.