Variaatio-Handschuhe Mittens Knitting Pattern

Variaatio-Handschuhe in Novita Veljes

What Is Being Made

The Variaatio-Handschuhe are a pair of intermediate-level knitted mittens designed by Ronja Södersved. These mittens feature customizable cable pattern options on the back of the hand, allowing crafters to choose from five different cable designs to personalize their finished mittens. The pattern includes instructions for both right and left mittens, with integrated thumb construction.

Techniques Used

This knitting project employs several key techniques suitable for intermediate knitters:

• Circular knitting: The mittens are constructed in the round using a needle set, creating seamless fabric
• Cable patterns: Five distinct cable motif options (labeled A, B, C, D, and E) are incorporated on the hand back, adding texture and visual interest
• Twisted ribbing: Twisted rib edging is worked at the cuff using twisted stitches for a refined finish
• Thumb gusset: A thumb is constructed separately by picking up held stitches and adding extra stitches to prevent gaps
• Decreases: Strategic decreases including slip-slip-knit (ssk) and knit-two-together reductions are used to shape the mitten crown and thumb tip
• Stockinette stitch: Smooth stockinette stitch forms the base fabric in the round

Stitches Used

The Variaatio-Handschuhe pattern incorporates the following stitches:

• Knit stitch (rechts): The primary stitch forming the smooth stockinette base
• Purl stitch (links): Used in the twisted ribbing pattern
• Twisted knit stitch (Maschen rechts verschränkt): Created by knitting through the back loop of the stitch for a refined twisted appearance in the ribbed cuff
• Slip-slip-knit (ssk): A left-leaning decrease used during crown shaping
• Knit two together (2 M re zusammen): A right-leaning decrease for shaping
• Cable stitches: The five cable pattern options (diagrams A, B, C, D, and E) create textured designs on the mitten back

Materials

The Variaatio-Handschuhe are worked in Novita 7 Veljestä yarn, a fingering-weight wool blend. The pattern requires 100 grams of yarn total for the completed pair of mittens. Five color options are provided:

• Color A (102): Blaustern (blue star)
• Color B (060): Sand
• Color C (691): Torf (peat)
• Color D (039): Halm (straw)
• Color E (010): Naturweiß (natural white)

Knitters should use 3.5 mm needles or the appropriate needle size to achieve the correct gauge. A needle set (Nadelspiel) is required for working in the round, and an auxiliary cable needle (Hilfsnadel) is needed for manipulating the cable pattern stitches. The gauge is 22 stitches and 30 rows over 10 centimeters in stockinette stitch.

Pattern Construction Details

The mittens begin with 44 stitches cast on and distributed evenly across the needle set (11 stitches per needle). After working the twisted ribbing cuff for 3 centimeters, the main mitten body is worked in stockinette stitch in the round. Crafters select one of the five cable pattern options for the hand back while the remaining sections continue in smooth stockinette. The thumb is worked by picking up 14 held stitches and adding 3 additional stitches for a total of 17 stitches, distributed across three needles. Decreases are worked at the crown and thumb tip until 8 stitches remain, then the yarn is drawn through the final stitches to close the opening. The thumb is completed when it reaches approximately 5 centimeters in length or covers half of the thumbnail.