If you have been wanting to learn how to crochet mittens that are full of texture and style then you are in the right place!
These mittens for children and adults are oh so cozy and absolutely perfect for keeping little (and large!) hands warm during the winter.
For this crochet mittens pattern, you will need any #3/DK/Light weight yarn in one or more colors – I did a solid and a striped version so have a scroll to see which one you prefer.
This mittens pattern is written for 8 sizes from Baby up to Adult XL, so it’s absolutely perfect for handmade gift making 🙂
I absolutely adore the texture in these mitts thanks to the front post and back post stitches. These crochet stitches might take a little getting used to (as instead of working into the top of the stitch below, we’re going to be working around the post of it instead). But after a little bit of practice you’ll be flying along (and you’ll have mastered 2 new stitches!)
The pattern also comes with a full step-by-step video tutorial (below).
How to get this pattern:
Option 1: Scroll on down to get this pattern for free!
Option 2: Purchase the easy-to-read, print-friendly PDF:
What you’ll need for this free crochet mittens pattern
Yarn
This pattern calls for any #3/DK/Light weight yarn.
For my mittens I used WeCrochet Alpaca Cloud DK, which made from 100% premium grade alpaca. This means that is deliciously warm and cozy, and perfect for cold weather accessories like these mitts 🙂
(This yarn was very generously provided by WeCrochet for this design.)
Some great alternatives (in a selection of different fibers) for your crochet mittens include:
- Paintbox Yarns Simply DK (100% Acrylic)
- Swish DK (100% Fine Superwash Merino Wool)
- King Cole Baby Alpaca DK (100% Baby Alpaca)
Hooks
For my mittens, I used two different hook sizes. For the ribbed cuff I used a 3.5mm (E-4) crochet hook, and for the main body of the mitten I used a 4.5mm (US 7) crochet hook.
You can use any hooks that allow you to meet the gauge listed in the pattern 🙂
Do I need to make a gauge swatch?
For a smaller project like this, you may be able to get away without making a gauge swatch (don’t tell anyone I just said that!). The ribbing is pretty easy because you just need to crochet (with the smaller hook) until it reaches a certain length.
For the body of the mitten, you will switch to the larger hook; after 4-5 rounds of this you should be able to get a good idea of whether you are on the right track tension-wise.
If you have too many sts in 4”/10cm, then you may need to go back to Round 1 of the Body section and try with a larger hook. Conversely, if you have too few stitches in 4“/10cm you will need to try with a smaller hook.
Crochet Mittens Sizing
I wanted to be able to make these mittens for all the members of my family – from the babies to the toddlers to the adults – so I decided to include a total of 8 sizes in the pattern!
How to decide which size mittens to make
As with all custom made crochet projects, the measurements are more important than the name on the size when deciding which size to make. So, if you have a child with very petite little hands, then it is absolutely fine to make the toddler size for them!
To determine the size you are going to make, you will need to measure the hand circumference – measure around the widest part of the fingers, but not including the thumb (this bit is important!). The only exception is the Baby* size – when measuring a baby’s hand, you should measure around the widest part of the entire hand (including the thumb).
*The Baby size does not have a thumbhole so that’s why we include the thumb in the circumference measurement.
Once you have this measurement then you are good to go! Just find the size in the pattern with the Mitten Circumference that corresponds to the hand measurement.
For this pattern, I used the Craft Yarn Council standard hand measurements as follows:
| Size | To Fit Hand Circumference |
|---|---|
| Baby | 5.5″ / 14cm |
| Toddler | 5.5″ / 14cm |
| Child | 6″ / 15cm |
| Tween | 6.5″ / 16.5cm |
| S | 7″ / 18cm |
| M | 7.5″ / 19cm |
| L | 8″ / 20.5cm |
| XL | 9″ / 23cm |
How do I make these crochet mittens longer/shorter?
Once you have decided the size you are going to make (based on the hand circumference mentioned above), you can just follow the pattern until after the “Split for Thumbhole” section.
After this you will work in even rounds (meaning no increases or decreases) until you are almost at the tip of the fingers. For this section, you can work the number of rounds in the pattern, as these are based on average hand length measurements. But if you need to work some extra rounds before you being the finger shaping then this is absolutely fine.
I made the Adult Small size for myself but in the process I discovered that I actually have quite long fingers, despite having very small hands! I needed to work some extra rounds in this section so that the mittens would fit properly.
How to crochet mittens like these
This pattern is for crochet mittens worked all in one piece, which means minimal seaming at the end – yay!
The mittens are worked from the bottom up starting with the easy-peasy hdc ribbing.
- You will work the ribbing in a long strip, then seam the edges and work the “body” of the mitten in the round.
- For the first section of the body, you will work some increase rounds – this is to make the mitten a little wider as it approaches the thumb. Once it is wide enough to accommodate the thumb you will skip some stitches to create the thumbhole, and then work the top section.
- Finally, you will come back and work the thumb rounds.
Left and Right Mittens
For this pattern, I wanted the seam to be very inconspicuous, so I designed the left and right mittens to be slightly different. On both mittens, the “seam” at the start/end of each round is positioned on the palm, so when you are looking at the outer surface of the mittens you can’t see it at all 🙂
In practical terms, this means that the “seam” on the left mitten will be to the right of the thumbhole, and on the right mitten it will be to the left of the thumbhole. (Don’t worry, this will all make perfect sense once you get going.)
And now, without further ado, let’s get crocheting!
Calida Crochet Mittens
Video Tutorial
Calida Crochet Mittens
Written Crochet Pattern
Finished Measurements
Child Sizes
| Size | Wrist Circumference | Mitten Circumference | Mitten Length (excl. cuff) | Cuff Length (folded) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baby | 4.5″ / 11.5cm | 5.5″ / 14cm | 3.75″ / 9cm | 1.5″ / 3.5cm |
| Toddler | 5.25″ / 13cm | 5.5″ / 14cm | 4.25″ / 11cm | 1.75″ / 4.5cm |
| Child | 5.75″ / 14.5cm | 6″ / 15cm | 5.25″ / 13.5cm | 1.75″ / 4.5cm |
| Tween | 6.25″ / 15.5cm | 6.5″ / 16.5cm | 6″ / 15cm | 1.75″ / 4.5cm |
Adult Sizes
| Size | Wrist Circumference | Mitten Circumference | Mitten Length (excl. cuff) | Cuff Length (folded) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | 6.25″ / 15.5cm | 7″ / 17.5cm | 7″ / 17.5cm | 2″ / 5cm |
| M | 6.75″ / 17cm | 7.5″ / 19cm | 7.75″ / 19cm | 2″ / 5cm |
| L | 7.5″ / 18.5cm | 8″ / 20cm | 8″ / 20cm | 2″ / 5cm |
| XL | 8″ / 20cm | 8.5″ / 21.5cm | 8.75″ / 21.5cm | 2″ / 5cm |
Notes
Please read through the entire pattern before beginning.
Skill Level
Construction
- These mittens are worked in the round from the cuff upwards.
- Right and Left mittens are different in that the thumb gusset increases and thumbs are on opposite sides. The seams for both mittens will be on the palms, ensuring it is not visible on the outer part.
- For the Left mitten, increases are made at the start of the round.
- For the Right mitten, increases are made at the end of the round.
- Each mitten is worked in 3 sections as follows:
- CUFF: Work the cuff in rows, then fold in half and seam.
- BODY: Work the body in rounds, beginning with a round worked into the edge of the ribbing. Do not turn at the end of the Body rounds. You will first work a number of increase rounds until the mitten is wide enough to accommodate the thumb and hand. Next, you will skip a number of stitches to create the thumbhole, and then continue working the top section of the mitten.
- THUMB: Join yarn to the thumbhole and work additional rounds to cover the thumb. (Note: you will skip this step if making the Baby size as it does not have a thumb.)
General Pattern Notes
- The stitch count for each row/round is given in [ ] at the end of the row/round.
- If no stitch count is given, then the count is the same as the previous row/round.
- Ch 1 at the start of a row/round does not count as a stitch.
- When working the BODY section, you may find it helpful to mark the first stitch of each round with a stitch marker.
- For the Child sizes, instructions are written for multiple sizes as follows: Baby (Toddler, Child, Tween)
- For the Adult sizes, instructions are written for multiple sizes as follows: S (M, L, XL)
- If an instruction does not apply for a particular size, then an “x” is used as a placeholder for that size: e.g. “Sizes x (x, Child, Tween) only” indicates that the next instruction is not worked for sizes Baby, Toddler.
- Before you start, go through the pattern and highlight/mark the stitch counts and row/rounds that correspond to the size you are making (this will make your life much easier!).
Adjustments
To make the mittens longer, work extra rows just before the “Top of Mitten” section. Ensure to end on an odd numbered row.
Gauge
Body: 16 sts x 12 rows = 4″ x 4″ / 10 cm x 10 cm measured over patt (using larger hook).
Cuff: 11 sts x 7 rows = 2″ x 2″ / 5 cm x 5 cm measured over hdc (third loop) (using smaller hook).
Materials
Yarn
The amounts given here are for WeCrochet Alpaca Cloud DK (123yds/112m per 50g skein; Weight: #3/DK/Lightweight; 100% Baby Alpaca).
| Size | yds/m | Size | yds/m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby | 105 yds / 96m | S | 265 yds / 242m |
| Toddler | 145 yds / 133m | M | 300 yds / 274m |
| Child | 180 yds / 165m | L | 325 yds / 297m |
| Tween | 205 yds / 187m | XL | 360 yds / 329m |
Hooks
Ribbed Cuff: 3.5mm (E-4) crochet hook
Body: 4.5mm (US 7) crochet hook
(or hooks required to meet gauge)
Other items
- Yarn needle
- Stitch markers x 3
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch = chain
- st = stitch
- sk = skip
- hdc = half double crochet
- FPdc = Front Post double crochet (see Special Stitches)
- BPdc = Back Post double crochet (see Special Stitches)
- hdc2tog = half double crochet two together (see Special Stitches)
- dec = decrease
- beg = beginning
- rem = remaining
- pm = place marker
- patt = pattern
- RS = Right Side
Special Stitches
Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc)
Step 1: Yarn over, insert your hook from front to back to front around the post of the indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop.
Step 2: [Yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.
Back Post Double Crochet (BPdc)
Step 1: Yarn over, insert your hook from back to front to back around the post of the indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop.
Step 2: [Yarn over, pull through 2 loops on hook] twice.
Half Double Crochet Two Together (hdc2tog)
Step 1: Yarn over, insert hook into indicated st, yarn over and pull up a loop. [3 loops on hook]
Step 2: Yarn over, insert hook into next st, yarn over and pull up a loop. [5 loops on hook]
Step 3: Yarn over and pull through all 5 loops.
Half Double Crochet / hdc (third loop)
This stitch is a regular half double crochet (hdc), but worked into the extra or “third” loop behind the front and back loops. When working in rows (as for the ribbing in this pattern), this “third loop” will be the front of your work.
Written Pattern
If you wish, you can purchase an inexpensive, ad-free PDF version of this pattern through Ravelry, Etsy or LoveCrafts.
I hope you have enjoyed this pattern, if you have questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me. And be sure to tag your finished project on Instagram or Facebook using @nedandmimi or #nedandmimi!
Happy crocheting!
Sarah
