Craft your own winter warmers with our free mitten knitting pattern for beginners

New to knitting? Try our quick and easy mitten knitting pattern for beginners! This fab free pattern uses only basic knitting stitches, so as long as you know how to knit and purl you can give it a go.

• Start knitting today! A complete guide to how to knit for beginners
• Boost your skills with our library of essential knitting techniques!

It’s a great pattern for learning how shaping knitted items works, as you’ll use both increase (M1) and decrease (k2tog) stitches – but don’t worry if you haven’t learn that yet, they’re simple techniques and you can always refer to our how to decrease in knitting and how to increase in knitting tutorials.

We love the simple two-tone colour block styling of these easy mittens, but you can always personalise your mitts by embroidering winter florals on the cuffs.

You will need:

• 1 ball x King Cole Merino Blend Chunky shade 918 Silver (50g)
• 1 ball x King Cole Merino Blend Chunky shade 922 Mint (50g)
• Size 5mm knitting needles
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

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Notes

This pattern uses standard UK knitting abbreviations. See our knitting abbreviations article for a full list.

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Free mitten knitting pattern

Step 1

Cast on 30 sts using the silver yarn and leave a 20cm long tail.

Work the first row in rib stitch: knit one, purl one – repeat until the end of the row. Knit in rib stitch for 11 more rows.

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Step 2

Switch to the mint yarn and knit in stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row or K1, P1) for 6 rows.

When knitting the first stitch, make sure to leave a 40cm long tail – you will use it at the end to sew up the seams.

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Step 3

Increase row: knit 2, make 1 (M1: pick up the strand that runs between the 2 stitches with your left needle and use your right needle to knit this new stitch through the back loop), knit to the last 2 stitches, M1, K2. Next row: purl.

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Step 4

Repeat these two rows 4 more times or until you have 40 sts.

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Step 5

Work in stocking stitch (knit one row, purl one row) for 8 rows.

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Step 6

Decrease row: knit 2, knit 2 stitches together (K2tog – Insert the needle through the first two stitches as if to knit, wrap the yarn as you would for a normal knit stitch and slide both loops off the needle), knit to the last 4 stitches, K2tog, K2. Next row: purl. Repeat these two rows 4 more times or until you have 30 stitches.

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Step 7

K2tog across the row, purl the next and finally k2tog across for one more row. You should have 8 sts left. Cut the yarn off, take the remaining stitches off the needle and use your tapestry needle to go through these stitches and create a loop. Weave in the end.

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Step 8

Using your tapestry needle and the silver yarn tail, work in mattress stitch to sew up the seams: place the two seams side by side with the right sides up. Insert your tapestry needle under the horizontal bar between the first two stitches of the mitten.

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Step 9

Pull the yarn through and insert the needle through the opposite bar on the other seam. Continue until your reach the mint section. Repeat the process using the mint tail until you reach the loop. Pull on the yarn to tighten up your stitches and weave in the ends.

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Step 10

Repeat steps 1-9 to make the second mitten. You’re done!

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Knit your own winter wardrobe

Now that you’ve made your mittens, it’s time to stitch up the rest of your warming winter accessories. Get inspired by these 17 cosy scarf knitting patterns you can make this weekend.