Last updated on December 26th, 2022 at 01:58 pm
These traditional two needle mittens work up quickly and suit everyone from child to adult. Use up your yarn stash and knit a pair of mittens in a different color for everyone in the family.
Basic Two Needle Mitten Pattern
Sizes: small child, medium child, large child, adult
Materials:
- #5 and #7 needles
- 200 yards of worsted weight yarn
- 1 stitch holder
- 2 stitch markers
- tapestry needle
Gauge: 5 sts = 1″ on #7 needles
Two Needle Mittens
Knitting Pattern Instructions:
Cuff: With smaller needles, loosely cast on 24(28-32-36)sts. Work *K1, P1,* ribbing until piece measures 2 1/2 (3 1/2, 4, 4 1/2)”. Change to larger needle.
Hand: Row 1 (right side): K2, inc in next st, K to last 3 sts inc in next st, K2. Row 2 Purl. Continue working in SS until piece measures 1″ (1 1/4, 1 1/2, 2″) from end of ribbing, ending with a P row. For the last 3 sizes only Work 2 more rows. (SS)
Thumb Gusset: Row 1: K12 (14-16-18), place marker on needle; inc in each of next 2 sts, place marker on needle: K12 (14-16-18) sts. Row 2: and all even rows Purl. Row 3: K to marker, sl marker, inc in next st; K to st before next marker, inc in next st, sl marker, K to end. Repeat Rows 2 and 3 until there are 8 (10-12-14) sts between the markers; end by working Row 2.
Divide for Thumb: K12 (14-16-18), drop marker; K8 (10-12-14)sts for thumb, and then place thumb sts on holder; K 12 (14-16-18) Work even in SS until work measures 4″ (5 1/2 -6-7″) from start of Hand, ending by working a purl row.
Top Shaping: Row 1: *K2, K2tog; rep from* across. Row 2: Purl. Row 3: *K1, K2tog, rep from * Row 4: Purl. Row 5: K2tog across; break yarn, leaving 18″ end. Thread yarn into tapestry needle, run needle through remaining sts. Slip sts off needle, pull yarn up tightly and fasten securely. leave yarn for sewing.
Thumb: Sl sts from holder to needle, purl one row. Work even in SS until thumb measures 1 1/4 ( 1 3/4-2-2 1/4″) ending with a purl row. Next Row: K2 tog, rep across row cut yarn leaving 12″ end finished the same as above. Fold mitten and sew seams.
Editor’s Notes:
These are just like the mittens that I remember my mother knitting for me as a child. Although she also made striped mittens on double pointed needles as well.
When I was very young, the two mittens were often attached by a long chain of yarn that allowed the mittens to be fed through the arms of my winter coat so that one, or the other, wouldn’t get lost if I took one off.
Does anyone else remember this? I’d love to hear your comments and memories!
If I was lucky, I’d get to choose what color yarn she used, although sometimes it wasn’t up for debate as my mum often unraveled old sweaters or other knits to reuse the yarn.
About the Contributor: Spinayarn.com is a family-owned yarn shop located in Edmonds WA, U.S.A.
I’m confused. Are both left and right mittens made the same? Please help,
Yes, they are, Sheila. You make two identical mittens and just turn one over to have a matching left and right pair.
what happens if I knit the cuff in a 4 or 4.50 mm needle
Love these mittens so easy made for my 3 granddaughters 6 8 and 8 I candy do circular or double pointed
Thanks
I have three pairs to make for my granddaughters too this year. I’m so glad that you found this pattern so useful and I’m sure your girls will love their new mittens.
Thank you
Hi so the pattern is the same for both mitts just the thumb is different. Correct
I love this pattern, but I can’t decide how to sew them together. How do you do it?
That’s hard to describe, Pat. I like the seams to meet tidily and securely. I tend to sew under the top thread of the right side then under the top thread that is just above it on the left side, and so on, checking my work frequently to make sure the seams lay flat.
I have been searching for this pattern for years. I learned on 2 needles as a child and always thought the thumb directions were best. Thank you!
Rose,
Your comment made my day! That’s how I learned to knit as child too. Smile.
Could you please send me a copy of the pattern for the 2 needle mittens? Really appreciate it and thanks Roberta
Roberta, the complete pattern for two needle mittens is on this page. You don’t need any other instructions because it is all here for you already!
Thank you so much
You are most welcome, Roberta. I’m just tickled pink when someone uses this pattern. When I see hand knitted mittens on someone when I’m out shopping, I sometimes wonder if the knitter used this pattern. I will probably never know, although I’ve had similar things happen with other crafts and patterns on my site. It’s a small world!
Mittens were the first things I was taught to knit and they were in fairisle I was so proud of them but unfortunately was not told how to weave in the colours so inside were a load of loops but did nt stop me wearing them
Biddy, your story made me smile so much! If you’re still reading mitten patterns like this one, then your very first pair surely got your hooked (even if the loops were hidden)!
I have been knitting 2 needle mittens since I was 4. I always begin my thumb with markers and m1s I think it gives a better shaped thumb, anyway it’s how my mum taught me. I have never tried 4 needle ones, I never got the point.
I will have to try that. Thank you for the tip!
Do I knit the same mitten twice as I see there are only instructions for one.
i always knit both mittens at once…this pattern makes 2 mittens that look the same with the thumb on the outside if you notice in the picture of the finished mittens…it really is an easy pattern…i always knit both at once…i take the yarn from outside the skein and unroll it and use that for the second mitten..that way if you make a mistake it is in both mittens!! lol
This is new to me, Merrie. But it sounds like an intriguing technique!
Happy memories of mittens on a string but not for my husband who got stuck in the doors of the bus when he got off and was dragged along until the bus driver was alerted to his distress!!
Will be knitting these mitts for my daughter’s girlfriend with a note warning her of the dangers of getting off the bus!!
I had replied here but see it didn’t publish. Sorry about that!
Your bus story is scary! But I’m glad to hear you’ll be making this pattern. They are a lovely gift for anyone.
My grandmother knit a basket full of single mittens of various sizes, all battleship gray. if you lost one, you simply grabbed another from the basket. no strings attached!
I LOVE this idea! Such a wonderful family memory and so practical too!
What does ss mean in these mittens.
Hi, Pauline, SS is short for stocking stitch or stockinette stitch which means alternating rows of plain knitting rows with purl rows.
It depends on the size you are making.
I m confused on the Thumb Gusset where it says knit 12(14 16 18) does that mean to knit 12 and the 18 because if i do just 18 i have lots of stiches left
Help! I knitted a number of sweaters in the past, but feel like a newbie now. I need some clarification: At the point where I divide for thumb and place thumb sts on holder, I have my ball of yarn attached to the last st placed on the holder. Am I supposed totie that off for he time being? Am I supposed to use two balls of yarn to finish the hand in order to work around the thumb sts on holder? I hope you understand my question. Thank you~
The instructions say: “ Work even in SS until work measures 4″ (5 1/2 -6-7″) from start of Hand“. Where I’d the start of the hand? Where it switches from ribbing to stockinette? Where the thumb gusset starts? Just not sure where to start measuring
The start of the Hand is where it changes from ribbing to stockinette. Measure from there for the size that you’re working on and I’m sure you’ll do fine!
How many would you cast on for a large child if you only have size 9 needles?
Thank you
What does it mean ” For the last 3 sizes only Work 2 more rows. (SS) under the Hand directions? This is my first pair of knitting mittens. Thanks!
Hi, Lenore, I’m hoping that someone who has knitted these mittens will reply for you, as I haven’t knitted them myself, and I a bit mystified myself. Sorry I can’t be more helpful. 🙁
Say you have sizes 2 4 6 8 10. For sizes 6 8 10, you knit two, (2), more rows.
How do you inc? I just got done the rubbing part for cuff. I am not an experienced knitter..so I have no clue what all the abbreviations are.
I didn’t know a lot of the abbreviations either or how to increase but there are excellent resources online to decipher the abbreviations. YouTube is what I used to learn how to increase, etc.
It took a little while to fill in the gaps in my knitting skills, but if you research online, you CAN make these mittens and they turn out great!
Nice, easy to follow directions. Thank for sharing your pattern.
Your needle size are they mm or us
Sorry I don;t understand what you mean by continue working ss could you please explain so that I can make them for my grandchildren. Thanks You
Did you mean SSK? What does the ss mean please explain. This is my first pair of mittens I am knitting. Thanks
The ss stands for stocking stitch in this pattern. Stocking stitch is also known as: Knit one row, purl one row, or it might be abbreviated to St st in some patterns.
There’s an error in these directions. Look at row 1 for thumb gusset. Correct directions should be: K12 (14-16-18)………..
Oops. You are right, of course. I’ll fix it right now. Thanks for letting me know.
You’re welcome. These are nice mittens to work up. I’m making them for my grandkids for Christmas.