How to Crochet Mittens

Crochet mittens for friends and family members this winter.

If you can crochet, you can use your skills to make heartfelt homemade gifts for family members and friends. Crochet up a pair of mittens for yourself or a loved one and you will keep their hands and hearts warm all through the winter months. You can crochet the mittens using any combination of crochet hook and a suitable yarn, though wool works best for keeping hands dry on snowy or wet days.

Things You'll Need

• Yarn
• Crochet hook
• Scissors
• Large-eye blunt needle

Instructions

1. Make a starting chain. Chain the number of stitches that it takes to match the width of the widest part of your palm minus 1 inch. Turn and make a single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in every chain across.

2. Make one chain stitch and turn your work. Single crochet in every single crochet stitch across. Increase the width of the next row by making two single crochets in the first and last stitches and one single crochet in each stitch across the center of the row. Repeat this to increase one more time, then single crochet evenly across the following row. Continue to crochet evenly until the mitten is long enough to reach the length from the tip of your tallest finger to the base of your palm where it meets your wrist. Fasten off and cut your working yarn, leaving a 10-inch tail. Repeat the process to make the other half of the mitten.

3. Place the two pieces together with right sides facing and use your large-eye blunt needle and the extra length of your yarn to whipstitch around the outside edges of both pieces. Leave a hole in one side where your thumb will go; simply do not stitch this portion of the seam. Leave the bottom edges unstitched entirely. Fasten off and turn the mitten body right side out.

4. Attach your yarn with your crochet hook to the bottom opening of the mitten by making a slip stitch. Chain one and make one single crochet evenly in the edge of every row around, joining at the end with a slip stitch to form a circle. Chain one and single crochet in the front loops only of every stitch around; repeat this until the cuff is as long as you would like it to be, or approximately 3 inches. Fasten off and weave in your loose ends.

5. Attach your yarn with a slip stitch in the thumb hole opening. Make a round of single crochet stitches evenly around the opening and join with a slip stitch. Chain one and single crochet in every stitch around; repeat this step until the thumb is long enough to cover your actual thumb. For the next round, single crochet two together all around. Cut your working yarn and thread it onto a large-eye blunt needle, then pull tightly to close the opening at the tip of the thumb and weave in the loose ends on the inside of the mitten.

6. Repeat the process to make a second mitten.

References

• Crochet Pattern Central: Mittens and Gloves