Crochet mittern

Author

Brenda K. B. Anderson

Introduction

My sister-in-law (who incidentally lives in Michigan, the nation's high-five) asked me for a no-frills mitten pattern using worsted weight yarn.  Finding one was harder than I thought, so I came up with this one.  It is quite simple, worked in single crochet only. I have included a pattern for an optional star appliqué, but feel free to experiment with other embellishments, such as crocheted flowers or beading.  Or not.  Sometimes less is more.

Materials List

• Size G - 6/4.00mm hook
• Approximately 200 yards of worsted weight yarn in color of your choice for Women's size.  (I used Ella Rae washable yarn in 75% Acrylic, 25% wool).  Approximately 150 yards of worsted weight yarn for Older Kid's size.  (I used Lion Brand "Vanna's Choice in "Magenta", 100% acrylic).  Approximately 100 yards of worsted weight yarn for Preschool size.  (I used Lion Brand "Vanna's Choice" in "Fern", 100% acrylic).
• Less than 10 yards of worsted weight yarn for a pair of stars (optional)
• Yarn needle

Finished Size

These mittens are patterned for preschool sized hands with older kids and women's sizes shown in parenthesis.

Preschool
These mittens measure approximately 6.5" in length, including ribbed cuff.  They measure about 6" around the hand (circumference was measured just above where thumb splits off).

 Older kids
These mittens measure approximately 8" from ribbing edge, to fingertip.  They measure about 7.25" around the hand (circumference was measured just above where thumb splits off).
 
Women's Size
These mittens fit most women's hands.  They measure approximately 10" from ribbing edge, to fingertip.  They measure about 9" around the hand (circumference was measured just above where thumb splits off).

Star measures 2 ¼" from tip to tip.

Gauge

17 sts and 18 rows worked in sc = 4" x 4"

Notes

Abbreviations and terms used in this pattern:
Ch = chain
Dc = double crochet (used in star pattern only)
Hdc = half double crochet (used in star pattern only)
sc = single crochet
sc2tog =  single crochet 2 stitches together.  This is a decrease stitch. (Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, pull loop through to the front of work, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over, pull loop through to the front, yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook.)
Sl st = slip stitch
st(s) = stitch (stitches)
Tbl = through back loop. When you sc tbl (single crochet through back loop) you will insert your hook under only the back loop of the next stitch, not under both loops like a normal single crochet stitch.

The back bump: 
This is also known as the back, backside, or butt of a chain stitch.  This is the part of the chain stitch that is opposite of the two loops (the ones that form the "v") that you would normally insert your hook under.  In other words, if you turn the chain upside down, so that you are looking at the bottom of it, you will see a line of dashes.  It is under each dash, that you would insert your hook if you were instructed to crochet into the back bump of each chain stitch.

Magic Ring:
The star pattern starts out with a magic ring.  If you are not familiar with this technique, I highly recommend typing "magic ring crochet" into your preferred search engine, to learn how to do it.  However, if you prefer not to use the magic ring method, you can chain 2 stitches, and then work into the second chain from the hook as directed.  For example, if the pattern reads: "make a magic ring, sc 5 times into ring..." you could instead: "ch 2, sc 5 times into the second ch from the hook".

The Pattern

Directions:
Directions are the same for right and left mittens; make 2. The ribbing band (at the wrist) is worked back and forth in rows and then slip stitched to form a tube.  The body of the mitten is then worked in a spiral from the ribbing up to the fingertips.  

Make the ribbing:
row 1.                   Using size G hook and main color yarn, Ch 7 (9, 11) sts.  Make 1 sc st into the back bump of the 2^nd ch from hook, make 1 sc st into the remaining 5 (7, 9) sts.  6 (8, 10) sts.
row 2.                   Turn, ch 1 (this is a turning chain, do not count as a stitch), 1 sc tbl into each st across.  6 (8, 10) sets

rows 3 through rows 23 (27, 31):   Repeat row 2, 19 (25, 29) more times.  6 (8, 10) sts in each row, 21 (27, 31) rows worked, not including the foundation chain).

Hold the ribbing so that your crochet hook is at the right side of your work (as though you are about to work another row).  Take the beginning edge of your ribbing (the foundation chain edge) and bring it in front of the last row that you worked.  In other words, fold the ribbing in half and line up the short edges.  Your crochet hook will be to the right, and in the row behind the beginning yarn tail.  Slip stitch these rows together by inserting your hook into the back loop of the foundation chain and then through the back loop of the stitch directly behind it (from the last row worked), yo and pull loop through to front of work and through loop on hook.  Repeat across row.  6 (8, 10) sl sts worked.  Do not fasten off!  Turn ribbing tube so that the sl st row is to the inside.  (The sl st row is on the wrong side of the cuff.)  You will now stitch into the edges of the previous rows.

Make the body of each mitten:
Round 1.             Make 23 (28, 33) sc sts, equally spaced, around top edge of ribbing.  (23, 28, 33 sts)
Round 2.             1 sc into each of the next 10 (12, 15) sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 9 (12, 14) sts.  25 (30, 35) sts
Round 3.             1 sc into each st around.  25 (30, 35) sts
Round 4.             1 sc into each of the next 11 (13, 16) sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 10 (13, 15) sts.  27 (32, 37) sts
Round 5.             1 sc into each st around.  27 (32, 37) sts.
Round 6.             1 sc into each of the next 12 (14, 17) sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 11 (14, 16) sts.  29 (34, 39) sts
Round 7.             1 sc into each st around.  29 (34, 39) sts.
Round 8.             1 sc into each of the next 13 (15, 18) sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 12 (15, 17) sts.  31 (36, 41) sts.
Round 9.             1 sc into each st around.  31 (36, 41) sts.
Round 10.          1 sc into each of the next 14 (16, 19) sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 13 (16, 18) sts.  33 (38, 43) sts.  For Preschool size only: skip to round 16 after completing this round.
Round 11.          1 sc into each st around.   (Older kids-38, Women-43) sts.
Round 12.          1 sc into each of the next (17, 20) sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next (17, 19) sts.  (Older kids-40, Women-45 sts). 
Round 13.          1 sc into each st around.  (Older kids-40, Women-45 sts).  For older kids size only: skip to round 16 after completing this round.
Round 14.          1 sc into each of the next 21 sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 2 sts, 2 sc into the next st, 1 sc into each of the next 20 sts  (Women-47 sts).
Round 15.          1 sc into each st around (Women-47 sts).
Round 16.          1 sc into each of the next 12 (14, 17) sts, skip the next 10 (12, 14) sts (for thumb), 1 sc into each of the next 11 (14, 16) sts.  23 (28, 33) sts around hand, not including thumb.
Round 17.          1 sc into each st around.  23 (28, 33) sts.
Repeat round 17 until the measurement from the thumbhole, up, is 2 (2 ¾", 3 ½").  [Approximately 9 (12, 15) more rounds]

For Preschool Size only:
Next round:       [1 sc into each of the next 6 sts, sctog] 2 times, 1 sc into each of the next 5 sts, sc2tog (20 sts).
Next round:       [1 sc into each of the next 3 sts, sc2tog] 4 times (16 sts).
Next round:       1 sc into each st around (16 sts).
Next round:       sc2tog 8 times (8 sts).
Fasten off with a 10" tail.  Using yarn needle, thread yarn tail through the front loop of the remaining 8 sts and pull tight.  Weave in ends.

For Older Kid Size only:
Next round:       [1 sc into each of the next 5 sts, sc2tog] 4 times (24 sts).
Next round:       1 sc into each st around (24 sts).
Next round:       sc2tog 12 times (12 sts).
Next round:       1 sc into each st around (12 sts).
Next round:       [1 sc into the next st, sc2tog] 4 times (8 sts).
Fasten off with a 10" tail.  Using yarn needle, thread yarn tail through the front loop of the remaining 8 sts and pull tight.  Weave in ends.

For Women's Size only:
Next round:       [1 sc into each of the next 9 sts, sc2tog] 3 times  (30 sts).
Next round:       1 sc in each st around (30 sts).
Next round:       [1 sc into each of the next 3 sts, sc2tog] 6 times  (24 sts).
Next round:       1 sc into each st around (24 sts).
Next round:       sc2tog 12 times (12 sts).
Next round:       1 sc into each st (12 sts).
Next round:       [1 sc into the next st, sc2tog] 4 times (8 sts).
Fasten off with a 10" tail.  Using yarn needle, thread yarn tail through the front loop of the remaining 8 sts and pull tight.  Weave in ends.

Thumb:
Join yarn to any thumb stitch and make 10 (12, 14) sc stitches around.
1 sc into each st around until thumb measures 1 ½" (2", 2 1/2") from crotch (about 5, 7, 9 more rows).
Next row:  sc2tog 5 (6, 7) times  (5, 6, 7 sts left).
Fasten off with a 10" tail.  Using yarn needle, thread yarn tail through the front loop of the remaining 5 (6, 7) sts and pull tight.  Weave in ends.

Optional Star Appliqué:
Round 1.             Make a magic ring, 5 sc into ring, pull on beginning yarn tail to tighten ring.  (5 sts)
Round 2.              2 sc into each stitch around.  (10 sts)
Round 3.              [Chain 4, 1 sc into the back bump of the second chain from the hook, 1 hdc into the back bump of the next chain, 1 dc into the back bump of the next chain, skip the next stitch from round 2, 1 slip st into next st] 5 times.
Fasten off with long yarn tail.  Use this yarn tail to stitch the star onto the mitten.