Whip up a pair of easy crochet mittens to customize with this free crochet mittens pattern. Simple enough for a beginner with a free video tutorial.
Whew, we just wrapped up a whirlwind of gifts around here – a lot of them handmade! We always like to give our sons’ teachers handmade gifts and every year I try to knit or crochet an item for each of them.
My husband is really good at woodworking and also went to culinary school for baking so we often do a small wooden basket with baked goods and the knit/crochet gift inside. These always turn out really well and are also well received by the teachers.
Design Story and Inspiration for the Basic Crochet Mittens
I usually do mostly hats for the teacher gifts, but this year I decided to make a pair of mittens for my eldest son’s teacher and came up with these basic mittens for winter – these are even great for a beginner!
I made one mitten to try out my pattern and then did a video of the construction of the second mitten just in case someone got stuck or something didn’t make sense. I wanted these to be as beginner-friendly as possible and a video tutorial just made sense.
Now it is only 8 days until Christmas and we are finishing up last-minute holiday shopping (I’m sure I’m not the only one – right??). We are letting our kiddos pick out gifts for each other and have a few stocking stuffers to pick out. Other than that we are done!
Now for the wrapping part… it’s pretty hard to find time to wrap when the kids are out of school and you crash right when they do thanks to having a newborn in the house! *sigh*
About the Yarn
I am totally in love with Malabrigo yarns!! The subtle color variations and array of colors available are amazing and this yarn really made some warm mittens.
I had some of this color left over from the Colors of Fall Vest and thought it would be perfect for a pair of mittens.
This yarn is soft next to the skin, easy to work with and changes color beautifully.
If you don’t have Malabrigo Worsted or don’t want to use it, these have been made with many different worsted yarns and turn out well as long as you can get gauge.
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How to Crochet Mittens for Beginners
There are two main ways to crochet mittens, and it doesn’t matter if you are using single crochet, double crochet or any other stitch. The two ways to crochet mittens are from the top down or from the cuff up (much like socks!).
This pattern is worked from the ribbed cuff up. You work the mitten cuff using the single crochet stitch in the back loop only, then work the body of the mitten up from there, leaving a thumb hole. After finishing the hand and the top shaping of the mitten, you come back and crochet the thumb.
The basic crochet stitches you will need to know to complete this pattern are the chain stitch, single crochet stitch, how to work in the back loop only and the single crochet 2 together decrease stitch. Don’t worry if you are unfamiliar with any of these, there is a video tutorial below (and even a left handed version link!). Even absolute beginners have made this pattern following the video. 😀
Buy the ad-free pdf so you can crochet on the go here!
Pattern Details
These cozy crochet mittens are made slightly different for the right and left hands, so be sure you make both a right and left mitten. 🙂
They are worked cuff up by working the cuff in rows, then joining and working the mitten body. The thumb is worked last.
See the video (both right and left handed versions are available) if you need help with this free crochet mitten pattern.
When working in the back loops only, make sure to in between the and only work in the back loop.
Basic Crochet Mittens
What You’ll Need
Yarn: 1 skein Malabrigo Worsted in Sealing Wax (worsted weight yarn #4)
Crochet Hook: US H (5.0mm) and I (5.5mm)
Notions: Yarn needle, stitch marker, tape measure
Gauge: 13 sts and 16 rows = 4″ in sc using larger hook
Finished Size: Approximately 7″ hand circumference (fits average woman’s hand)
Need a men’s pattern? See the Basic Men’s Mittens
Stitch Abbreviations
Chain (ch)
Slip Stitch (sl st)
Single Crochet (sc)
Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog)
Basic Crochet Mittens Pattern
RIGHT MITTEN
Cuff:
With smaller hook, ch 13, leaving a long tail for sewing up seam.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and each ch across; turn – 12 sts.
Row 2: Ch 1, working in back loops only, sc in each st across; turn.
Repeat row 2 until piece measures, when slightly stretched, 7″ from beginning, ending with a WS row.
Change to larger hook. Ch 1, turn to long side edge of cuff.
Next row: Work 27 sts evenly spaced along edge of cuff. Place a st marker in first st to mark beg of round.
Work 5 rows more in sc without turning or joining.
Thumb Shaping:
Round 1: Sc 15, 2 sc in next st, sc, 2 sc in next st, sc 9 – 29 sts.
Round 2: Sc 15, 2 sc in next st, sc 3, 2 sc in next st, sc 9 – 31 sts.
Round 3: Sc 15, 2 sc in next st, sc 5, 2 sc in next st, sc 9 – 33 sts.
Round 4: Sc 15, 2 sc in next st, sc 7, 2 sc in next st, sc 9 – 35 sts.
Round 5: Sc 15, 2 sc in next st, sc 9, 2 sc in next st, sc 9 – 37 sts.
Hand:
Round 1: Sc in first 16 sts, ch 1, skip next 11 sts for thumb hole, sc in last 10 sts – 27 sts.
Rounds 2-18: Sc evenly around.
Top Shaping:
Round 1: Sc 5, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog sc 9, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 3 – 23 sts.
Round 2: Sc evenly around.
Round 3: Sc 4, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 7, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 2 – 19 sts.
Round 4: Sc evenly around.
Round 5: Sc 4, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, sc 5, sc2tog, sc, sc2tog – 15 sts.
Fasten off. Sew top seam.
Thumb:
Join yarn in ch-1 space from hand.
Round 1: Ch 1, sc st in ch-1 space and each skipped stitch around thumb opening – 12 sts. Place marker in first st to mark beg of round.
Rounds 2-10: Sc evenly around.
Round 11: (Sc2tog) six times – 6 sts.
Fasten off. Draw yarn through remaining 6 sts and pull tight to close.
Finishing:
Weave in ends. Sew seam in ribbing.
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Click here for left handed video tutorial (includes the cuff)
LEFT MITTEN
Work cuff as for right mitten.
Thumb Shaping:
Round 1: Sc 9, 2 sc in next st, sc, 2 sc in next st, sc 15 – 29 sts.
Round 2: Sc 9, 2 sc in next st, sc 3, 2 sc in next st, sc 15 – 31 sts.
Round 3: Sc 9, 2 sc in next st, sc 5, 2 sc in next st, sc 15 – 33 sts.
Round 4: Sc 9, 2 sc in next st, sc 7, 2 sc in next st, sc 15 – 35 sts.
Round 5: Sc 9, 2 sc in next st, sc 9, 2 sc in next st, sc 15 – 37 sts.
Hand:
Round 1: Sc in first 10 sts, ch 1, skip next 11 sts, sc in last 16 sts – 27 sts.
Rounds 2-18: Sc evenly around.
Work top shaping and thumb same as right mitten.
Finishing:
Weave in ends. Sew seam in ribbing.
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Today we learned how to create a pair of easy crochet mittens. I hope you have enjoyed this free crochet pattern! Head over here to check out the library of other free crochet patterns.
Happy Crocheting!
Amanda
Basic Crochet Mittens
Learn how to make these easy crochet mittens - so easy even a beginner can do it!
Materials
- Worsted weight yarn
Tools
- Hook: US H (5.0mm) and I (5.5mm)
- Notions: Yarn needle, stitch marker, tape measure
Instructions
- Work cuff by chaining 13 and working sc rib until ribbing measures 7" when slightly stretched.
- Continue with shaping for thumb opening.
- Work body of hand, closing hole for thumb.
- Shape top of mitten.
- Join yarn at ch-1 at base of thumb and work thumb, including shaping at top.
Notes
Gauge: 13 sts and 16 rows = 4″ in sc using larger hook
Finished Size: Approximately 7″ hand circumference (fits average woman’s hand)
Be sure to make both a left and right mitten as they are slightly different!
Can not print this pattern for some reason. Would like to do a couple for the homeless for next year since time this year isn’t possible.
this is a problem on lots of free patterns, they want you to download the doc to pdf thing then it still doesn’t work or it takes so long to figure it out. I just high lite the part for the instructions and copy and paste in my word processes or what ever you use. You can delete the comments if you don’t want them. I love to read them. I hope I was not out of place by putting this comment on here, but know how you feel about printing. Dorthy
Work 5 rows more in sc without turning or joining: How do you do this?
Couldn’t find the video…. Do you join the cuff first?
Hi Claudia!
I have finished the video and am in the process of getting it up on youtube. You just sc into the first sc of the last row without joining. I hate that it takes SO long for me to upload a video – this one is an hour long so it takes youtube hours and hours to upload it. Not sure if my internet at home just stinks or if it normally takes that long! It should be up really soon.
Thank you Amanda! the video really helps 🙂
I have made the mitts but they are quick big. The cuff I have to fold over because it’s so long. And the mitt pet it about an inch longer then my hand. In your picture the cuff is not folded over. Is this maybe because you washed and dried them and they shrunk?
Hi Jodi! I didn’t wash my mittens. Are you sure you are getting the same gauge?
Amazing pattern! So cute and works up super quick!
I used red heart super saver and did 30 rows for the cuff. Not to big for me at all! I have long fingers though.
Awesome!! I’m glad it worked out well for you. I love seeing all the different variations people make from this pattern. 🙂
I love this pattern! It looks very beginner-friendly. My son is a super Trekkie and I’d love to make a pair of mittens to fit his hand when doing Spock’s ‘Live Long and Prosper.’ The only patterns I can find are for knitting. Do you have any suggestions on how to achieve the results I’m looking for? I’ve never made mittens, so I’m not exactly sure how to do it. Thanks!
Hi Donna! I’ve never made mittens like that before but as someone who has seen every episode of Star Trek TNG (and a lot of the original!) I know what type of mitten you are talking about. You would make a mitten just as written in the pattern until you get to the base of the fingers (you would need to try it on for this). Then you would need to divide – I would probably ch 2 for the space in between the fingers and then work each section around until you shape the top (refer to the original pattern for how many rows/length until the top shaping occurs). Looks like a cool idea and great gift for a Trekkie 🙂
do you have a pattern for child size mittens? I’d like to do some for homeless children
I’m hoping to come out with a basic child’s mitten really soon! Right now I just have the women’s and men’s patterns on the blog.
Does it have to be the malabrigo twist yarn or can it be a different yarn? If so what gauge would it be?
Hi Ruthie!
You can substitute any yarn that will give you the same gauge. Gauge is something you don’t want to change or you will change the entire measurements of the pattern.
Love the video! Is there a video tutorial for the right mitten?
There is not, but the only part that is different is how many sc you work before you do the thumb shaping (it’s reversed). Other than that it’s the same. 🙂
Great pattern and easy to follow. Worked up quick to replace the old mittens I’d worn out. Thank you for sharing!
So happy to hear you enjoyed the pattern! 🙂
Just finished my first pair with your pattern! So easy to follow and the videos were great. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks. I’ve KNIT many mittens..this was my first attempt at crocheting a set and it was super easy with your instructions.
Yay! I’m so glad that you enjoyed this pattern. 🙂