Warm your hands with a pair of Maple Bourbon Mitts! These unisex fingerless gloves are knit in the round from wrist to fingers, using less than 200 yards of worsted weight yarn. The Mitts are ambidextrous, so they can be worn interchangeably on either the left or right hand. Follow the instructions to knit your first Mitt, then repeat the pattern for the second one. Choose from three sizes and knit yourself a pair this winter!
Where can you purchase the printable PDF pattern? Click the link to your favorite shop below, or save to your Pinterest board for later.
- Shop on Ravelry
- Shop on Etsy
- Shop on LoveCrafts
Want the FREE version instead? Find it here on the blog, plus read more about the design and inspiration, and yarn choice below.
The pattern was tech edited by Joy Friedman – joy@topoftheworldknits.com
The pattern was also test knit. To see my testers’ Maple Bourbon Mitts, check out the ‘testers’ highlight on my Instagram page.
Design & Inspiration
Years ago, my husband gifted me a pair of handknit fingerless mitts that he purchased from a small shop that sells artwork and handmade items by local artists and crafters. I LOVED those mitts so much, I wore them all the time. And of course, as you know me, I studied them up and down to figure out how they were made. It’s because of these mitts that I always had it in the back of my mind to design my own pair.
And I finally did it!
While designing the Maple Bourbon Mitts, I thought it would be really cool if they were ambidextrous so that they could be worn on either hand. Which is why I decided to design them in the Simple Seed Stitch pattern. The detail of the little bumps are all around the Mitts, rather than just on the back.
Size inclusivity was also really important to me while designing. I tend to have a smaller hand than most, so I knew that, while my prototype fit me perfectly, it would most likely be too small for many others. Thankfully, my mom was willing to try on the prototype so that I could get a better judgement for different measurements and size options (thanks Mom!!!).
I love that these Mitts are unisex, and some of my testers proved that to be a fact as they made theirs for their male significant others.
Yarn Choice
I chose Lion Brand’s Wool-Ease in Natural Heather for the Maple Bourbon Mitts. I didn’t want the Mitts to be too bulky, but also didn’t want them to be too thin. Otherwise, what’s the point of wearing mitts if they aren’t going to keep your hands warm. So I went for the middle ground and chose the ever-popular worsted weight CYC category 4 yarn.
Although, I have to say, a bulkier version may be fun too. Perhaps in Wool-Ease Thick & Quick? Hmm…
Skill Level
Adventurous Beginner best describes the skill level for knitting the Maple Bourbon Mitts.
Skills you’ll need to know:
- Knit in the round on either circular knitting needles or double pointed needles
- Purl stitches
- Knit increases using the following methods:
- M1Bl – make 1 with backward loop
- M1L – make 1 left
- M1R – make 1 right
- Place live stitches on hold with either a stitch holder or scrap yarn with a tapestry needle
- Pick up stitches
- Finish off by using a tapestry needle to join the beginning & end of the round
Pattern
MATERIALS
- 1 skein of Lion Brand Wool-Ease or 197yds/180meters of worsted weight CYC category 4 yarn
- Size US 4/3.50mm circular knitting needles with 16” to 20” cord or DPNs
- Size US 5/3.75mm circular knitting needles with 16” to 20” cord or DPNs
- 3 Stitch markers (1 in a different color for BOR marker)
- Stitch holder or scrap yarn
- Tapestry needle
- Tape measure
- Row counter (optional)
FINISHED SIZE
Small (Medium, Large)
- Small: 8″/20cm length x 7.5″/19cm circumference
- Medium: 8.5″/22cm length x 8″/20cm circumference
- Large: 9″/23cm length x 8.5″/22cm circumference
GAUGE
24 sts x 32 rnds = 4″ square in Simple Seed Stitch Pattern
worked in the rnd on US 5/3.75mm circular knitting needles
or DPNs
CHOOSING YOUR SIZE
Hold your dominant hand flat with the palm facing upwards. Wrap a tape measure around the widest part of your palm, excluding your thumb. This will determine your hand circumference. Next, measure from your wrist to your fingertips. This will determine your hand length. Choose the size that matches closest with your hand measurements. If you’re between sizes, choose the smaller size. For reference, the model’s hand measures 6.5″/17cm in length x 7.5″/19cm in circumference. She’s wearing a size Small using Lion Brand Wool-Ease in the Natural Heather colorway.
ABBREVIATIONS
*Pattern is written in standard US terms*
Notes: K in the rnd from wrist to fingers, the pattern is written in 3 sizes – Small (Medium, Large). It’s recommended that you highlight your size so that you know which st count to follow. The wrist cuff is worked for 9 rnds for all sizes (1″/2.5cm) in K2, P2 ribbing using smaller needles. The hand and fingers are worked in the Simple Seed Stitch Pattern using larger needles. The thumb gusset is also worked in the round in Stockinette Stitch using larger needles.
Follow the instructions for your size when it’s time to BO as the length for each size varies. For all sizes, there will be 17 sts in total for the thumb gusset. Use st markers to differentiate the thumb gusset sts from the rest of your work and be sure to K the increase sts, using M1L or M1R between the markers during the increase rnds.
For all sizes, the thumb gusset sts are to be placed temporarily on either a st holder or scrap yarn. Follow the steps in the All sizes section for picking up and finishing the thumb gusset after the hand and fingers rnds are completed.
Simple Seed Stitch Pattern – an eight-round repeat, worked over an even number of stitches, using Stockinette Stitch with alternating rounds of purl stitches, worked as follows:
Rnd1: K3, P1, rep from * to end.
Rnds2-4: K
Rnd5: K1, P1, K2, rep from * to the end.
Rnds6-8: K
PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS
On US 4/3.50mm needles, CO 44 (48, 52) sts, using your preferred CO method.
Join for knitting in the Rnd, being careful not to twist sts. Place BOR marker.
Work wrist cuff ribbing as follows:
Rnds1-9: K2, P2, rep from * to end.
Change to US 5/3.75mm needles.
Rnds10-12: K
Work Simple Seed Stitch Pattern as follows:
Rnd13: K3, P1, rep from * to end.
Rnds14-16: K
Rnd17: K1, P1, K2, rep from * to end.
Rnds18-20: K
Rnds21-44: rep Rnds13-20 three more times.
Begin thumb gusset increases as follows:
Rnd45: K3, P1, rep three more times (stopping after the 16th st), PM, M1L, K1, M1R, PM, K2, P1, K3, P1 rep from * to end. -46 (50, 54) sts.
Rnd46: K
Rnd47: K to marker, SM, M1L, K to marker, M1R, SM, K to end. -48 (52, 56) sts.
Rnd48: rep Rnd46.
Rnd49: K1, P1, K2, rep from * to marker, SM, M1L, K to marker, M1R, SM, P1, K2, K1, P1, K2, rep from * to end. -50 (54, 58) sts.
Rnds50-51: rep Rnds46-47. -52 (56, 60) sts.
Rnd52: rep Rnd46.
Rnd53: K3, P1, rep from * to marker, SM, M1L, K to marker, M1R, SM, K2, P1, K3, P1, rep from * to end. -54 (58, 62) sts.
Rnds54-60: rep Rnds46-52. -60 (64, 68) sts.
Rnd61: K3, P1, rep from * to marker, RM, place 17 sts for thumb gusset on to either a st holder or scrap yarn, RM, M1Bl, K2, P1, K3, P1, rep from * to end. -44 (48, 52) sts.
Rnds62-64: K
Rnd65: K1, P1, K2, rep from * to end.
Rnds66-68: K
Rnd69: K3, P1, rep from * to end.
Size Small only
BO 44 sts. Using a tapestry needle, join the beginning & end of the rnd. Refer to the All sizes section on page 5 for instructions on how to complete the thumb gusset.
Size Medium only
Rnd70-73: rep Rnd62-65.
BO 48 sts. Using a tapestry needle, join the beginning & end of the rnd. Refer to the All sizes section on page 5 for instructions on how to complete the thumb gusset.
Size Large only
Rnd70-77: rep Rnd62-69.
BO 52 sts. Using a tapestry needle, join the beginning & end of the rnd. Refer to the All sizes section on page 5 for instructions on how to complete the thumb gusset.
All sizes
Pick up the 17 thumb gusset sts and 3 additional sts to close the gap for the thumb crease. 20 sts total. Don’t knit the sts as you pick them up. They will be knit in Rnd 1.
Rnd1: K
Rnd2: K3, P1, rep from * to end.
BO & use a tapestry needle to join the beginning & end of the rnd.
Weave in any remaining ends.
Rep pattern instructions for the second Maple Bourbon Mitt.
Contact
Please email me at gourdgeousknits@gmail.com if you have any questions about the pattern. Feel free to send and tag me in any photos of your works in progress and finished projects with #MapleBourbonMitts and #gourdgeousknits. I love seeing your knits and sharing them on my social media sites.
The patterns and photographs are the property of Kristin Strecker-Kellogg of gourdgeous knits and are for personal, non-commercial use. The selling or distribution of these patterns physically or electronically are not permitted. Please credit gourdgeous knits when sharing on social media with #gourdgeousknits.
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