Laura's Loop: Infant Mittens

Teeny tiny infant hands, chubby and clenched in a fist, gently jerking about, they are nearly heartbreaking. Seeing those pudgy little fingers wrapped around one of mine, I am constantly amazed and delighted by the difference in scale. And then inevitably, I have the same thought... Little ones make me want to knit little things!

Everything looks cuter in miniature, doesn't it!?! Plus, with the holiday season just around the corner, knitting little things is more appealing than ever. These Infant Mittens are this season's go-to project for new moms. 

I knit these little gems out of Jade Sapphire's 2 ply Cashmere, which is unparalleled in softness and loft, plus I doubled it for extra warmth and decadence. The sumptuous cashmere is playfully paired with vibrant hand-dyed Koigu Premium Merino Needlepoint Yarn.

To knit up some of these super simple, super sweet, itty bitty mittens for your favorite itty bitty person, you can find the full pattern, just below. -Laura

The Materials

• Main Color (MC): 1 skein of Jade Sapphire's 2 Ply Cashmere, 100% Mongolian Cashmere. I used the color Ivory. (One skein of Jade Sapphire 2 Ply is enough for 4 pairs of Infant Mittens.)
• Contrast Colors (CC1 and CC2): 2 skeins of Koigu's KPM Needlepoint Yarn, 100% Merino Wool For the Pink version I used 1155 (CC1) and 1209 (CC2); for the Yellow version, 2100 (CC1) and 2335 (CC2); and for the Teal version, 1500 (CC1) and 3011 (CC2).
• A set of US #2 double pointed needles
• A set of US #3 double pointed needles 

The Pattern

Gauge

7 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch, using the MC doubled and the larger needles

Size

To fit most 3 to 9 month olds

Finished Dimensions

4 inches from cuff to tip

4 3/4 inches in circumference

22 to 24-inch long I-cord

Pattern Note

For the Main Color, you will use the 2 Ply Cashmere doubled. The best way to do this is to pull one strand from the inside of the ball and one strand from the outside. If you don't have a swift and ball winder to wind a center-pull ball, never fear, you can do it by hand! Click here for a great video that shows you how! Otherwise, wind your skein into two as-even-as possible balls! 

Begin with the Cuff

With the first Contrast Color (CC1) and smaller needles, cast on 32 stitches.

Place marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Cut yarn. Change to MC (doubled!).

Knit one round.

Next Round: *K1 through the back loop (tbl), p1, repeat from * to end.

Repeat previous round 11 more times. 

Knit the Body of the Mitten

Change to larger needles and knit evenly for 15 rounds.

Next Round: With CC1, knit one round. Cut CC1 yarn.

Next Round: With MC, knit one round.

Next Round: With CC2, knit one round. Cut CC2 yarn.

Next Round: With MC, knit 3 rounds.

Shape the Mitten Top

Decrease Round: K5, ssk, k1, k2tog, k11, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to end. (28 stitches)

Decrease Round: K4, ssk, k1, k2tog, k9, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to end. (24 stitches)

Decrease Round: K3, ssk, k1, k2tog, k7, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to end. (20 stitches)

Decrease Round: K2, ssk, k1, k2tog, k5, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to end. (16 stitches)

Decrease Round: K1, ssk, k1, k2tog, k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to end. (12 stitches)

Decrease Round: Ssk, k1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit last stitch. (8 stitches)

Thread working yarn through remaining stitches.

Do it Again

Make a second mitten.

Connect the Mittens

With the larger needles and MC, pick up three stitches from the inside of the cuff. Work an I-cord for 22 to 26 inches, depending on how lanky your little one’s limbs are.

Bind off. Cut yarn leaving a 6-inch tail and thread it through the remaining stitch. Use the tail to sew the I-cord to the inside of the second mitten.

Weave in your ends and you're finished!

Comments

[Yvette]

These are the sweetest!!

[jen]

these are adorable, I'm casting on now!

[Julie]

Another beautiful, thoughtful exquisite gem from Laura... Your work is as grand as your heartfelt sharing and talents. Thank you... Again!

[Mandi]

These are incredibly cute. I would love to knit them for my friend who is having twin girls and lives in cold country. I, however, am not from cold country and I'm having a hard time reconciling the strings and how safe they are. I probably just don't understand how they work. Do the strings run inside the clothing with the mittens coming out the sleeves so as not to get lost if they fall off?

[lindsay]

beautiful! thank you for such wonderful projects!
Q: do you think this pattern would produce similar sized results using jade sapphire 4-ply (not doubled) instead of the doubled 2-ply?

[bbade]

Can these be knitted on circular needles? Like the small ones used for socks? Would love to knit them but dont like using double points. Thank you.

[purl bee]

Hi Mandi-

The string threads through the back of the baby's coat and along the back of each sleeve to keep the mittens from falling off and getting lost. It's a very traditional way to keep track of both mittens. As always babies should not be left unsupervised when wearing anything with a string on it. And you are also welcome to knit a pair without the string.

Thanks so much for writing in!

Molly

[Celine]

MERCI BEAUCOUP pour ce tres joli modele !!!!
Je commande et je commence :-)

[Rebecca]

Oh, sounds like it would make a wonderful "kit" for sale! Have two mommies in mind for these as gifts.

[amanda]

Though these are super cute, the only thing I could think when I saw them was "never use white for baby things!". Maybe a nice earthy taupe instead? lol.

[Katie]

These mittens are so gosh darn adorable. Just finished a pair for a gift. Plus it knitted up quite quickly, even for a very slow knitter like myself. Thank you for sharing this pattern.

[purl bee]

Lindsay,
Great question. Yes. 4ply would be perfect for these.
Laura

[purl bee]

Hi bbade,
Theoretically, yes, these can be knit on very short circular needles. The finished circumference is shy of 5-inches, so the needles would have to less than that length. We don't sell circulars that are shorter than 8-inches and I'm not sure anything shorter exists.
Laura

[Kathy]

Pretty nice mittens! Thank you for sharing with us! I will surely try to knit them soon :-)

[shannon]

Is it terrible that I'm totally making one of these for the ice-cold knob of my car's gear shifter? (Then I'll probably make a passel for all the tiny tots in my life, since it seems that everyone had or is having a baby this year!...but first, my own comfort!!)

[Tiffany]

Just finished my first set! I learned a TON from this project! I'm working on the i-cord now and it says, "Work an I-cord for 22 to 26 stitches". Do you mean 22-26 inches? I'm assuming so, but just wanted to check! Thanks!

[purl bee]

Hi Tiffany.
You are totally correct! It should read "...22 to 26 inches." I have fixed the pattern. Thank you so much for writing in.
Laura

[DD]

just responding to Mandi's concerns about the strings--i've knitted a pair of infant mittens for my little guy, and instead of attaching the string directly (permanently) to the mittens, i made little yarn loops for them and sewed buttons on both ends of the i-cord. i button the string on when we're out and about, and leave them unbuttoned when we're at home. (of course, you could also put a little buttonhole in the cuff instead of yarn loops!) best of both worlds.

[Beth]

I love these mittens and have made three pair. However, I had trouble making the join for the color stripes and nothing I tried made the stripes go around smoothly without a jog and mostly losing the the white stripe at the middle point. What is the correct way to do this? Thank you so much for inspiration!

[purl bee]

Hi Beth,
Unfortunately, when working stripes in the round, there will always be a jog.

A good way to hide it, is to do the decreases in line with the color change, this will put the color change on the side of the mitten, rather in the center. The Decrease Rows would go as follows:

Decrease Round: K1, k2tog, k11, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to last two, ssk. (28 stitches)

Decrease Round: K1, k2tog, k9, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to last two, ssk. (24 stitches)

Decrease Round: K1, k2tog, k7, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to last two, ssk. (20 stitches)

Decrease Round: K1, k2tog, k5, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to last two, ssk. (16 stitches)

Decrease Round: K1, k2tog, k3, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit to last two, ssk. (12 stitches)

Decrease Round: K1, k2tog, k1, ssk, k1, k2tog, knit last two, ssk. (8 stitches)

Beth, please let me know if you have any more questions! I am thrilled to hear you have made so many pairs.
Laura

[Jennifer]

To bblade: you could probably use the magic loop method to work this pattern on circulars :)