Naarden Mittens

On a chilly winter morning you wrap your hands around a warm cup. While the steam rises in front of your face, you look forward to something new. The Naarden Mittens are a twist on stranded colorwork with the floats as the main event! Sloping bands of contrasting yarn highlight this simple yet engaging feature.

You can choose between the classic mitten shape or the fingerless version. This is a quick and easy way to try a new technique. Pair the mittens with a matching hat and cowl for a stylish winter set.


NAARDEN COLLECTION

Knitters spend a lot of time thinking about floats - the ever-present companions to colorwork. We focus so much on tension and color dominance to make sure that the building blocks of the pattern remain invisible.

But what would happen if the float was allowed to come forward?

The Naarden Collection celebrates floats by making them the focal point of the design. The result is a panel of spirals that, like intricate brickwork, create visual richness through the repetition of a simple detail. It’s a pleasure to give this rarely-seen but frequently admired aspect of knitting its time to shine.  

This pattern is part of a collection of 3 patterns: a hat (slouchy or fitted), a cowl (single or double wrap) and mittens (full or fingerless).

If you love this unique stitch as much as I do, get the full collection here and get all three patterns for €15!


SIZES

8 sizes: Baby (Toddler, Child S, Child L) (Adult S, Adult M, Adult L, Adult XL)
2 versions: mittens (closed top and thumb) and fingerless mitts

See photos for measurement details.

CONSTRUCTION

Naarden mittens are knit in one piece starting with a (half-)twisted rib cuff, then continuing with a colorwork motif spiralling around the hand. The mittens feature a thumb gusset for a comfortable fit, except for the smallest size (Baby). After the gusset you set the thumb stitches aside, finish the hand and then come back to finish the thumb.

PATTERN TECHNIQUES

Classic Long Tail (or Old Norwegian / German Twisted) and Backwards Loop cast-on methods
Knitting in the round
1x1 twisted rib (only knits through the back loop)
Simple colorwork with floats behind and in front of the work
Twisted stitches (knitting through the back loop)
Reading charted instructions (optional)
Increases: make 1 left, make 1 right
Decreases: knit 2 together, slip-slip-knit
Grafting stockinette with Kitchener (only for mittens)
For Fingerless Mitts only: Stretchy bind-off of your choice (e.g., Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, Russian Bind Off, Traditional Bind Off on a larger size needle, etc.)
GAUGE (per 4” / 10cm)

Colorwork: 34 sts by 37 rnds on Needle B
Stockinette: 30 sts by 40 rnds on Needle C

YARN

Heavy fingering to sport (~330-385 yd / 300-350 m per 3.5oz / 100g) merino (or other soft wool with high definition) in 2 colors.

See photos for yardage details.

NEEDLES

The pattern is written assuming you are working either on ~32” / 80 cm circular needles or on five DPNs.

Needle A (for twisted rib):
Suggested size US 2 / 2.75 mm (or two sizes/ 0.5 mm smaller than Needle B)

Needle B (for colorwork):
Suggested size US 3 / 3.25 mm

Needle C (for stockinette, only used for mittens):
Suggested size US 2.5 / 3 mm

NOTIONS

1 regular stitch marker, 1 locking stitch marker, waste yarn, tapestry needle, scissors.


Pattern co-authored by Olga Barshai

Ravelry: GingerHandcrafts
IG: @Ginger_handcrafts
Email: olga.barshai@gmail.com

Copywriting by Katherine Majka

Raverly: Kasia-Knits
IG: @kasiaknits


I would love to see your versions of the Naarden Mittens! Feel free to tag me (@saltandstoneknits) and add these hashtags to your photos on Instagram! #naardenmittens #naardencollection #saltandstoneknits

If you have any questions about the pattern, please contact me at mieka@saltandstoneknits.com.