It’s finally cold here!! Although I just spent several days in sunny, warm Phoenix, Arizona for the Creativation event, I’m so glad to be back home even though it’s freezing. Now I really need my Simple Driving Mittens!

I love making mittens. I’ve made several pairs of crocheted mittens, including the Basic Mittens, Hygge Mittens, Men’s Mittens, and Textured Hygge Mittens. (Can you tell I like Hygge yarn? haha)

But these are the first ones I’ve knit for myself. I wanted to spruce them up a bit so I decided upon some button accents. I also wanted them to be super functional, because let’s face it – driving in mittens can be tricky.

My hubs is really great about starting the car early and letting it warm up, but if he has to leave early or be out of town for work (or it’s cold after I get off work!) then I just usually start it up and go and it is cold sometimes!

So, to make these have some “grip” I took a couple of suede elbow patches and created a cutout that you can download FREE when you sign up for the resource library, as well as other great free patterns and printables.

The best part is, you can use the cutout to add this feature to ANY pair of mittens – even ones you have already made! You can sign up for the resource library at the end of this post.

MATERIALS

Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted (100% Wool; 210 yards [192 meters]/100 grams): #098 Tuareg, 1 ball

Needles: US sizes 8 (5.0 mm) DPNs; US size 9 (5.5 mm): DPNs

Notions: Tapestry needle; stitch marker; two Suede Cowhide Elbow Patches (4¾” x 6¼”) in Dark Brown; stitch holder or waste yarn; sewing needle; matching thread; six ½” buttons

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows = 4” [10 cm] in St st

Skill Level: Intermediate

Size: Hand Circumference 7”

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)

PATTERN

Mitten (make 2)

Ribbing

CO 36 sts on smaller needles. Divide evenly between four DPNs, mark beginning of rnd.

Work in K2, P2 Rib for 2½”.

Thumb Gusset

Change to larger needles.

Rnd 1: Slip last purl st from previous round 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 – 2 sts inc’d; 38 sts.

Rnd 3-4: P1, k to next purl st, p1, k to end.

Rnds 5-7: Rep Rnds 2-4 – 40 sts.

Rnds 8-10: Rep Rnds 2-4 – 42 sts.

Rnds 11-13: Rep Rnds 2-4 – 44 sts.

Rnds 14-17: P1, k to next purl st, p1, k to end.

Body

Rnd 1: M1R, slip next 12 sts to waste yarn or holder, CO 2 sts, k to end, M1L – 36 sts.

Rnds 2-24: Knit.

Top Shaping

Rnd 1 (Dec): Ssk, k14, k2tog, ssk, k14, k2tog – 4 sts inc’d; 32 sts.

Rnd 2: Knit.

Rnd 3 (Dec): Ssk, k12, k2tog, ssk, k12, k2tog – 4 sts inc’d; 28 sts.

Rnd 4: Knit.

Rnd 5 (Dec): Ssk, k10, k2tog, ssk, k10, k2tog – 4 sts inc’d; 24 sts.

Rnd 6: Knit.

Rnd 7 (Dec): Ssk, k8, k2tog, ssk, k8, k2tog – 4 sts inc’d; 20 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving an 8” tail. Graft mitten tops together using kitchener stitch.

Thumb

With larger needles, slip 12 sts from hold to a needle and knit.

Pick up 3 sts from thumb hole on hand. Mark beginning of round. Distribute 15 sts evenly on 3 DPNs – 15 sts.

Rnds 1-12: Knit.

Rnd 13: *K3, k2tog; repeat from * twice more – 12 sts.

Rnd 14: Knit.

Rnd 15: *K1, k2tog; repeat from * 3 more times – 8 sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Weave through remaining sts and pull tight to close.

Finishing

Weave in all ends.

Using provided template, cut palm patches out of suede. Sew to mitten as shown in photo with matching thread and sewing needle.

Attach buttons on ribbing under thumb area as seen in photos.

I hope you enjoy this free pattern for the Simple Driving Mittens. Be sure to check out my other Free Knitting Patterns!

Happy Knitting!
Amanda