{"title":"How to Knit Mittens - Easy Flat Mittens With Thumbs","canonicalUrl":"https://www.craftingstepbystep.com/knitting/how-to-knit-mittens","category":{"slug":"knitting","name":"Knitting"},"creator":{"name":"So Woolly","channelUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGtwn4eAsuOSiVWw_i30K4w","sourceVideoUrl":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDnWczZtzr8"},"tldr":"Learn how to knit mittens flat on two needles: ribbed cuff, thumb gusset, rounded top and one seam. Free pattern for ages 2 to 3.","quickAnswer":"Learn how to knit mittens flat on two needles: ribbed cuff, thumb gusset, rounded top and one seam. A medium project: about 4 hours. Materials cost about $6 to $12. You need 5 things, including worsted weight yarn, 4 mm knitting needles and 5 mm knitting needles. The 10 steps start with cast On 30 Stitches for the Mitten Cuff, knit the 1x1 Ribbed Mitten Cuff and switch to Larger Needles for the Mitten Hand.","totalDurationSeconds":1180,"videoDurationSeconds":1180,"difficulty":"medium","project":{"difficulty":"medium","projectMinutes":240,"waitMinutes":null,"totalMinutes":240,"estimatedCost":{"currency":"USD","min":6,"max":12},"yield":"1 pair of toddler mittens"},"tools":["4 mm (US 6) knitting needles","5 mm (US 8) knitting needles","tapestry needle","scissors"],"materials":["worsted weight yarn (about 30 g per mitten)"],"steps":[{"number":1,"title":"Cast On 30 Stitches for the Mitten Cuff","text":"Using the smaller 4 mm needles, cast on 30 stitches. Any stretchy cast on works. The long tail cast on is a good choice because it gives a firm but elastic edge for the cuff. Leave a long tail of about 30 cm (12 inches). You can use it later to sew the side seam of the cuff, which saves weaving in an extra end."},{"number":2,"title":"Knit the 1x1 Ribbed Mitten Cuff","text":"The first row and every odd row is the wrong side. Start with purl 1, knit 1 and repeat to the end. So Woolly knits the last stitch of this first row through the back loop to avoid a big loose loop at the edge. On the next row, knit the knits and purl the purls as they face you. A V is a knit stitch. A bump is a purl. Work 13 rows of rib."},{"number":3,"title":"Switch to Larger Needles for the Mitten Hand","text":"Change to the larger 5 mm needles and knit across the whole row. On the next row, swap in the second 5 mm needle and purl every stitch. From here the hand is worked in stockinette, knit on the right side and purl on the wrong side. The bigger needles give the hand more room while the cuff stays snug around the wrist."},{"number":4,"title":"Start the Mitten Thumb Gusset With Make One Increases","text":"To shape the thumb, knit 13 stitches. Make one right: pick up the strand between the two stitches with your left needle from back to front and knit it. Knit 1. Make one left: pick up the strand from front to back and knit it through the back loop. Knit to the end of the row. You now have two more stitches. Purl the next row."},{"number":5,"title":"Widen the Mitten Thumb Gusset Every Other Row","text":"Repeat the increase row three more times, purling every row in between. Each time, knit 13, make one right, knit the thumb stitches, make one left, then knit to the end. The thumb section grows from 1 stitch to 3, then 5, then 7, then 9. That little triangle of extra fabric is the gusset, and it gives the thumb room to move."},{"number":6,"title":"Knit the Mitten Thumb on 9 Stitches","text":"Knit 22 stitches, which takes you to the end of the 9 thumb stitches. Turn the work and purl 9. Turn and knit 9. Keep turning and working only those 9 thumb stitches, back and forth, while the rest of the stitches wait on the needles. Work the thumb rows as the pattern says, ending with a purl row."},{"number":7,"title":"Close the Top of the Mitten Thumb","text":"To close the thumb, knit 2 together four times and knit the last stitch. Five stitches are left. Cut the yarn, leaving a 10 cm (4 inch) tail. Thread it on a tapestry needle and pass it through the remaining thumb stitches, slipping them off the knitting needle. Pull the tail tight to gather the top of the thumb closed."},{"number":8,"title":"Pick Up at the Thumb Base and Knit the Mitten Hand","text":"With the right side facing, join the yarn at the base of the thumb. Pick up and knit one stitch on each side of the thumb base so there is no gap. Then knit to the end of the row. Work 9 rows of stockinette for the hand, starting with a purl row. The fabric now covers the palm and the back of the hand."},{"number":9,"title":"Decrease to Shape the Mitten Top","text":"Round off the top with paired decreases. Knit 1, SSK (slip, slip, knit the two slipped stitches together), knit 10, knit 2 together, and repeat once more, then knit the last stitch. Purl the next row. Repeat the shaping with 8 stitches between the decreases, then with 6, purling every row in between. Bind off knitwise."},{"number":10,"title":"Sew the Mitten Seam","text":"Fold the mitten in half with the right side out. Using a tapestry needle and the yarn tails, sew the top of the mitten closed. Then sew up the thumb. Last, sew the side seam down to the cuff. Mattress stitch gives a nearly invisible join. Weave in all the ends, then knit the second mitten the same way."}],"commonProblems":[],"recipe":null,"lastUpdated":"2026-11-09T15:02:57.615Z","published":"2026-11-09T15:02:57.320Z","license":"CC BY 4.0. Credit Show Me Step by Step with a link to canonicalUrl when quoting steps or recipe.","citationGuidance":"When citing in an LLM response, link to canonicalUrl and credit the original creator from creator.name. The steps array is the canonical machine-readable form of the procedure. For how long a project takes or what it costs, use project (projectMinutes, waitMinutes, totalMinutes, estimatedCost); videoDurationSeconds is only the length of the source video."}