Simple Sock Mittens

Needle: US 1

Yarn: Mischief Managed by Nomadic Yarns (or any sock/fingering weight yarn)

Using Judy’s Magic Cast On, cast on a total of 24 stitches (12 stitches on each needle). Knit across the stitches on each needle once. On the next round increase 4 stitches as follows,

Round 1: Needle 1: K1, M1, knit until the last stitch, M1, K1.

Needle 2: K1, M1, knit until the last stitch, M1, K1.

Round 2: Knit across the stitches on each needle.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 until you have 64 stitches total (32 on each needle)

Continue knitting in stockinette (knit every row) until the piece measures 7” from your cast on.

Cuff Ribbing

Work in K2, P2 ribbing for 2.5” or desired length.

Bind Off loosely using your preferred stretchy bind off (I use Jenny’s surprisingly stretchy bind off)

Thumb

Measure 4.5” from cast on. Using the KirbyWirby Afterthought Heel technique pick up the right leg of the FIRST 12 stitches (left mitten only). Continue in the same way on the second needle remembering to leave a row in between your needles. Snip the center stitch and begin to unknit until you reach the last stitch on either needle.

**Susan B Anderson also has a fantastic tutorial on afterthought heels for socks in her Smooth Operator pattern.

**Please note that you will pick up the LAST 12 stitches for the right mitten as it will be a mirror image of its mate.

Attach yarn and knit stockinette in the round until the thumb measures 2.5” (The thumb should just reach over your cuticle. Keep in mind the thumb decreases may need to be adjusted depending on your finger length.)

Thumb Decreases

Round 1: K2tog, knit until 2 stitches remain, K2tog, K1

Round 2: Knit across stitches on each needle.

Round 3: Knit across stitches on each needle.

Round 4: Repeat Round 1-3 until you have 6 stitches on each needle

Kitchener Stitch the thumb stitches.

** You can also simply weave your end through the final stitches and gather at the top of the thumb.

Repeat pattern for second mitten paying attention to picking up the thumb stitches for right mitten. Right mitten will pick up the LAST 12 stitches on each needle

Block lightly and enjoy!