Is it a mitten? Is it a glove puppet? It’s a little bit of both, of course. These mousey mitts make it as easy as pie to persuade little ones to put on their gloves when the mercury dips, so you won’t hear complaints about freezing little fingers. I’ve chosen to knit these mice in off-white—but I think little mice in gray, or in pastel shades of pink or blue, would be just as cute. So take your pick.
YARN AND OTHER MATERIALS
Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK
(75% merino wool, 20% silk, 5% cashmere; 127yd/116m per 1.oz/50g ball) light worsted (DK) yarn
1 ball of shade 048 Cheeky (A) (pink)
1 ball of shade 344 Little Linen (B)
(off -white)
Very small amount of any light worsted (DK) yarn in black
NEEDLES AND EQUIPMENT
US 3 (3.25mm) knitting needles
US 6 (4mm) knitting needles
Yarn sewing needle
Large-eyed embroidery needle
GAUGE (TENSION)
22 sts and 28 rows in stockinette stitch to a 4-in (10-cm) square on US 6 (4mm) needles.
MEASUREMENTS
To fit an average 12–18 month old toddler. The palm of the mitten is 4(4½)in/10(11.5)cm) from the top of the rib section to the end of the mitten and is 4.(5.)in/12(13.5)cm) around the hand.
ABBREVIATIONS
beg begin(ning)
k knit
k2tog knit two stitches together
LH left-hand
inc increase
inc pwise increase on a purl row
m1 make one stitch
p purl
p2tog purl two stitches together
rep repeat
RH right-hand
RS right side(s)
ssk slip one stitch, slip one stitch, knit slipped stitches
together
st(s) stitch(es)
st st stockinette (stocking) stitch
WS wrong side(s)
[ ] work instructions within square brackets as directed
* work instructions after/between asterisk(s) as directed
Mittens
RIGHT MITTEN
Using US 3 (3.25mm) needles cast on 28(30) sts in A.
Size 12–18 months only
Row 1: [K2, p2] to end.
Row 2: [K2, p2] to end.
Rep rows 1–2 four times more.
Size 2–3 years only
Row 1: [K2, p2] to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: [P2, k2] to last 2 sts, p2.
Rep rows 1–2 four times more.
Both sizes
Break A, join in B and switch to US 6 (4mm) needles.
Beg with a k row, work 2 rows in st st.*
Row 13: K15(16), m1, k1, m1, k to end. (30(32) sts)
Row 14 and every WS row unless otherwise stated: P.
Row 15: K15(16), m1, k3, m1, k to end. (32(34) sts)
Row 17: K15(16), m1, k5, m1, k to end. (34(36) sts)
Row 19: K15(16), m1, k7, m1, k to end. (36(38) sts)
Row 21: K24(25), turn.
Row 22: P9, turn. Beg with a k row, work 6 rows in st st on 9 sts just worked.
Next row: [Ssk] twice, k1, [k2tog] twice. (5 sts) Break yarn and thread it through rem sts. **With RS of work facing, put the last st on the RH needle (the st nearest the center) onto the LH needle. Rejoin yarn to sts on LH needle.
Next row: [Inc] twice, k to end. Now work across all 29(31) sts. Beg with a p row, work 13(17) rows in st st.
Next row: K2, ssk, k7(8), k2tog, k3, ssk, k7(8), k2tog, k2. (25(27) sts)
Next and every WS row unless otherwise stated: P.
Next RS row: K2, ssk, k5(6), k2tog, k3, ssk, k5(6), k2tog, k2. (21(23) sts)
Next RS row: [K2tog] 5(6) times, k3(1), [k2tog] 4(5) times. (12 sts)
Next row: [P2tog] 6 times. (6 sts) Break yarn and thread through rem sts.
LEFT MITTEN
Work as for right mitten to *.
Row 13: K12(13), m1, k1, m1, k to end. (30(32) sts)
Row 14 and every WS row unless otherwise stated: P.
Row 15: K12(13), m1, k3, m1, k to end. (32(34) sts)
Row 17: K12(13), m1, k5, m1, k to end. (34(36) sts)
Row 19: K12(13), m1, k7, m1, k to end. (36(38) sts)
Row 21: K21(22), turn.
Row 22: P9, turn.
Beg with a k row, 6 rows in st st on 9 sts just worked.
Next row: [Ssk] twice, k1, [k2tog] twice. (5 sts) Break yarn and thread it through rem sts. Work as for right mitten from ** to end.
EARS
(make 4, 2 for each mitten)
Using US 3 (3.25mm) needles, cast on 4 sts in B.
Row 1: [Inc, k1] twice. (6 sts)
Beg with a p row, work 3 rows in st st.
Row 5: Ssk, k2, k2tog. (4 sts)
Row 6: [P2tog] twice. (2 sts)
Row 7: [Inc] twice. (4 sts)
Row 8: [Inc pwise, p1] twice. (6 sts)
Beg with a k row, work 3 rows in st st.
Row 12: P2tog, p2, p2tog. (4 sts)
Bind (cast) off .
MAKING UP AND FINISHING
Join thumb and mitten seams using mattress stitch.
Fold ears so that the right sides are on the inside and oversew round curved edges, leaving the lower edges open. Turn the right way out and slip stitch the lower edge together, then pinch them in half and secure. Oversew in position using the photograph as a guide.
Using A, work a small coil of chain stitch for the nose. Using the black yarn, work two large French knots for the eyes.
Weave in all loose ends.
This project is from Knitting Stashbusters by Fiona Goble. To get more free projects like this one - direct to your inbox - sign up to our mailing list here.