I’m giving these sweet little mittens to my youngest for Christmas this year. He loves animals, so these sweet polar bear mittens are perfect for this little animal-loving kiddo!

This Christmas is going to be so fun at our house. Our youngest little guy just turned two at the end of November, so all the boys will really be into opening gifts and making cookies.

I’m trying to start more traditions with our kids this year. I didn’t get the advent calendar I was hoping to do, but we have seen the Dancing Lights of Christmas again this year, decorated cookies, and got our tree up the day after Thanksgiving.

With four kiddos, Christmas Day is always an exciting time at our house. I am so looking forward to it! I’ll also be sure to get some pictures of the little guy wearing these. But, until then… they’re a secret. 😉

Polar Bear Mittens

What You’ll Need

Yarn: Lion Brand Feels Like Butta (100% Polyester; 218 yards [199 meters]/100 grams): #100 White (MC, 1 skein) and #153 Black (CC, 1 skein)

Needles: US sizes 8 (5.0 mm) DPNs, US sizes 6 (4.0 mm) DPNs

Notions: Tapestry needle, waste yarn or stitch holder, marker (optional)

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: 4.5” hand circumference

Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st with larger needles

SPECIAL STITCHES

Make One Right (M1R): Insert left needle from back to front under horizontal bar joining last st on right needle to last stitch on left needle. Knit through the front loop. (1 stitch made)

Make One Left (M1L): Insert left needle from front to back under horizontal bar joining last st on right needle to last stitch on left needle. Knit through the back loop. (1 stitch made)

K2 P2 Rib

Rnd 1: *K2, p2; rep from * around.

Rep Rnd 1 for patt.

PATTERN

Ribbing

With MC, CO 24 sts on smaller needles. Divide evenly between four DPNs. Mark beginning of rnd.

Work in K2 P2 Rib for 1.5”.

Thumb Gusset

Change to larger needles.

Rnd 1: Slip last purl st from previous rnd to working needle. This will be the first outside gusset st, k2, p1, k to end.

Rnd 2 (Inc): P1, M1R, k to next purl st, M1L, p1, k to end. (26 sts)

Rnds 3-5: P1, k to next purl st, p1, k to end.

Rnds 6-9: Rep Rnds 2-5. (28 sts)

Rnds 10-11: P1, k to next purl st, p1, k to end.

Body

Rnd 1: M1R, slip next 8 sts to waste yarn or stitch holder, CO 2 sts, k to end, M1L. (24 sts)

Rnds 2-11: Knit.

Top Shaping

Rnd 1: *K4, ssk; rep from * around. (20 sts)

Rnd 2: *K3, ssk; rep from * around. (16 sts)

Rnd 3: *K2, ssk; rep from * around. (12 sts)

Rnd 4: *K1, ssk; rep from * around. (8 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread tapestry needle with tail and draw through remaining sts.  Pull closed.

Weave in end.

Thumb

With larger needles, slip 8 sts on stitch holder or waste yarn to a needle and knit.

Pick up 3 sts from thumb hole on hand. Mark beginning of rnd. Distribute 11 sts evenly on 3 DPNs.

Rnds 1-6: Knit.

Rnd 7: *K2, k2tog; rep from * around to last st, k1. (9 sts)

Rnd 8: Knit.

Rnd 9: *K1, k2tog; rep from * around. (6 sts)

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.

Weave through remaining sts and pull tight to close.

Of course, be sure to make two mittens – these are interchangeable to there isn’t a right and left mitten at this point. Once you put the ears on, though, there will definitely be a right and left, so keep that in mind when you are planning your ear placement – you wouldn’t want to end up with two right or two left mittens!

Ear (make 8)

With MC and larger needles, CO 6 sts.

Row 1: Knit.

Row 2: Purl.

Row 3: K1, ssk, k2tog, k1. (4 sts)

Row 4: P2tog twice. (2 sts)

BO all sts.

Finishing

Sew two ear pieces together to make ear. Sew in place using photos as guide.

Embroider face using CC. Take care to create a right and left mitten.

Weave in all ends.

I love how these sweet little mittens turned out. I can’t wait to see my little guy wearing them!! We don’t usually get our coldest weather until January and February, so he will have plenty of time to wear them.

I’m so excited to add the pictures of him out in the snow in his mittens. Well, if we get any snow this year, that is!! We live in Tennessee, so winter does not always equal snow. Last year we went without any at all!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this free pattern for the Polar Bear Mittens and will be making a pair for a little one in your life.

Be sure to check out all of my free knitting patterns here!

Happy Knitting!
Amanda