Make your own mittens to keep your child's hands warm in this snowy weather

December 16, 3:07 PMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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Charlotte checking out a pair of gloves
made by her grandmother Susan Ross

Need a low cost way to make something just for your baby or toddler to keep his or her hands toasty when it's chilly outside? How about making a custom pair.

Here are some instructions from Susan Ross, who made these mittens for her granddaughter Charlotte (seen wearing the mittens in the photo, right). Susan recommends the string to keep them together too, so you don't end up with only one of those mittens you worked so hard on. Susan has been knitting for over 35 years, since her grandmother taught her, she's also working on a book about hand-making custom things for babies and toddlers.

Susan's instructions are for those of you with the knowledge and talent to knit. (Something I really want to learn how to do!)

Supplies needed:

• 1 pr knitting needles size 6
  
• 1 pair knitting needles size 8
  
• 2 double pointed needles, size 8
  
• 1 small stitch holder or large safety pin
  
• 1 large eyed darning needle
  
• 1 skein (3.5 oz) Knitting worsted weight yarn-can be 100% wool, a synthetic or a blend.
  

For each Mitten:
Cuff: With size 6 needles, loosely cast on 28 sts. Work in ribbing (K1; P1 across) until piece measures 2 “.

Hand: Change to size 8 needles, K1; inc in next st; K to last 3 sts; inc in next st; k 1 (30 sts) Continue working the 30 st in SS until piece measures 1” past the ribbing, ending in a P row.

Thumb gusset: (row 1) K 14; place marker on needle; inc 1 st in each of next 2 sts; place marker on needle; k 14. (32 sts) (row 2) P next row; (row 3)K next row to marker; slip marker; inc in next st; K to st before next marker; inc in next st; slip marker; K to end of row. Repeat rows 2 and 3 until there are 10 sts between the markers. End with a P row. (38 sts)

Divide for thumb: K 14; drop marker; K sts for thumb; drop marker; place the 10 sts on a stitch holder; K 14. Work even in SS until work measures 4 1/2” from start of hand; End with a P row.

Top shaping: Row 1: K 2; K 2 together; repeat across. Row 2 P across. Row 3 K1; K 2 tog; repeat across. Row 4, P across. Row 5, K 2 together across. Cut yarn leaving an 18” tail. Slip st onto other needle and slip tail of yarn through sts, removing them from needle. Pull yarn tightly and fasten securely, leaving end for sewing mitten together.

Thumb: Slip stitches from holder to needle. Work in SS until thumb measures 2” from beginning of thumb gusset. End with a P row. Next row: K2 together across row; cut yarn leaving 12”. Slip stitches to other needle and finish as for the top of mitten.

Steam lightly before folding mitten and hand sewing seams of mitten and thumb.

For string, cast on 3 stitches onto double pointed needle. K across the 3 stitches; move stitches to opposite end of needle and continue knitting across, continue knitting the 3 stitches and moving stitches to opposite end of needle, until the tube is about 36” or your desired length. Sew the ends of the tube to the mittens and slip through the child’s coat.


Sts = stitches
SS = stockinette stitch: knit a row; purl a row