Baby It’s Cold Inside Mitts

Increased heating bill have driven us to turn down the thermostat in our house. It’s easy to put on sweaters, scarves, and wool socks, but that doesn’t keep my hands warm. I can’t get much done with my hands in my pockets, so I designed these fingerless mitts to wear while working at home. They are intentionally short to allow unrestricted finger movement.

The pattern is regular one-color brioche worked in rounds. It produces a thick, lofty fabric that traps lots of air. The fingering weight yarn makes for a non-bulky mitt and the addition of alpaca adds to the inherent warmth.

Finished Size: About 7 (71/2, 8)” (18 [19, 20.5] cm) hand circumference, 4” (10 cm) hand length for all sizes, and 6” (15 cm) overall length for all sizes from cuff cast-on to hand bind-off.

Yarn: (Fingering weight; #2 Fine) The Fibre Company Amble (70% wool, 20% alpaca, 10% nylon; 355 yards (325 meters)/100 grams): #AMB130 Isel (light gray), 1 skein is enough to make 2 or 3 pairs.

Needles: Sizes U.S. 3 and 2 (3.25 and 2.75 mm): set of 4 double-pointed or another method for working small circumferences in the round.

Notions: Stitch markers; small stitch holder or about 6” (15 cm) of smooth cotton waste yarn for holding thumb gusset stitches; tapestry needle.

Gauge: 11.75 sts and 34 rnds = 2” (5 cm) in brioche stitch, worked in rounds on smaller needles, after blocking (see Notes).