Like everyone else in the world I was quite taken with the sight of Bernie Sanders sitting at the Inauguration. While the eye-catching warm bulky mittens he wore were made by a Vermont artist who uses felted sweaters and fleece to make her creations, of course I decided I wanted to do a crochet version.
Definitely these are inspired by, certainly not a line by line recreation. But they echo the colors and the chunky texture. I used worsted weight yarn held double, and they are definitely long and toasty warm.
Finished Size:
13” long from top of mitten to bottom of cuff x 10” in circumference at palm, 12 in circumference at widest part of thumb gusset.
Materials:
I used Worsted Weight (CYCA 4, Medium) held double but a bulky might also work. Model shown in Red Heart Super Saver in Coffee (A), Café Latte (B), Buff (C) and Aran (D).
Crochet hook size L/11/8.0mm or size needed to obtain gauge
Tapestry Needle
Stitch marker
Gauge:
8 sts x 9 rows = 4″ in sc with yarn held double
Notes:
Yarn is held double throughout.
The palm of the mitten is worked in rounds but is join and turn. I did this so the colorwork wouldn’t spiral.
Because it’s join and turn and the beg-ch-1 does not count as a stitch, the first st of the new rnd is in the last st of the previous rnd.
Abbreviations:
Beg – beginning
BLO – back loop only
Ch – chain
Rnd – round
Rep – repeat
Sc – single crochet
Sl st – slip stitch
St – stitch
Cuff:
NOTE While I did 7 sc in the photo model I think I should have knocked it down to 5, just because the mitten is so long. Adjust as needed!
With A, ch 8.
Row 1: Sc in in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. Ch 1, turn. 7 sc
Row 2: ScBLO in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.
Rep Row 2 for pattern until work measures 9” slightly stretched, making sure you have worked an even number of rows. After the final row, do not turn the work but ch 1 and rotate it so you can work across the long side.
Lower Palm:
Rnd 1 (RS): Continuing with A, work 20 sc evenly spaced across long end of cuff. Change to B, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Mark beg of round. Ch 1, turn. End off A. 20 sc
Rnds 2 – 3: With B, sc in each sc around. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 4: Sc in each of first 3 sc, with D sc in next sc, *with B sc in each of next 3 sc, with D, sc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 5: With D, sc in each of first 2 sc, with B, sc in next sc, *with D, sc in each of next 3 sc, with B, sc in next sc. Rep from * around, with D sc in last sc. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. End off D.
Rnd 6: *With D, sc in each of next 3 sc, with C, sc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 7: With C, sc in each of first 2 sc with D, sc in next sc, *with C, sc in each of next 3 sc, with D, sc in next sc. Rep from * around, with C, sc in last sc. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. End off D.
Rnd 8: *With C, sc in each of next 3 sc, with A, sc in next sc. Rep from * around. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 9: With A, sc in each of first 2 sc, with C, sc in next sc, *with A, sc in each of next 3 sc, with C, sc in next sc. Rep from * around, with A sc in last sc. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. End off C.
Begin Thumb Gusset:
Rnd 1: With A, 2 sc in first sc, sc in each sc around to last sc, 2 sc in last sc. Change to B, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. End off A. 22 sc
Rnd 2: With B, sc in first sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each sc around to last 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. 24 sc
Rnd 3: With B, sc in each of first 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in each sc around to last 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc,place marker in the first of those 2 sc, sc in each of last 2 sc. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. End off. 26 sc
Upper Palm:
Rnd 1: With RS facing, join B with sc in the marked st. This is now the first st of the rnd. With D, sc in next sc, (with B, sc in each of next 3 sc, with D, sc in next sc) 4 times, with B sc in each of next 2 sc. Join rnd with sl st in first sc, skipping the 6 extra sts of the thumb gusset. Ch 1, turn. 20 sc
Rnd 2: *With B, sc in next sc, with D, sc in each of next 3 sc. Rep from * around, change to B, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 3: With B sc in next sc, with D, sc in next sc, *with B, sc in each of next 3 sc, with D, sc in next sc. Rep from * around, with B, sc in each of last 2 sc. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. End off D.
Rnd 4: Sc in each sc around. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 5: Sc2tog, sc in each of next 8 sc, sc2tog, sc in each sc to end. Change to A, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. 18 sc
Rnd 6: Sc2tog, sc in each of next 7 sc, sc2tog, sc in each sc to end. 16 sc
Rnd 7: With A, sc in each of first 2 sc, with C, sc in next sc, *with A, sc in each of next 3 sc, with C, sc in next sc. Rep from * around, with A sc in last sc. Change to C, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 8: *With C, sc in each of next 3 sc, with A, sc in next sc. Rep from * around, change to C, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. End off. A
Rnd 9: With C, sc in each of next 2 sc, with D sc in next sc, *with C, sc in each of next 3 sc, with D, sc in next sc. Rep from * around, with C, sc in last sc. Change to D, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 10: *With D, sc in next 3 sc, with C, sc in next sc. Rep from * around. Change to D, join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnd 11: With D, *sc2tog. Rep from * around. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Finishing: Fold top in half, sl st across to join front to back. End off.
Thumb:
Rnd 1: With C and Right Side facing, work 1 sc in each sc across 6 thumb gusset stitches and add 2 additional sc across base of Upper Palm. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn.
Rnds 2- 4: Sc in each sc around. Join rnd with sl st in first sc. Ch 1, turn. End off after Rnd 4, leaving a long tail to sew.
Finishing:
Thread tail from Thumb through the tapestry needle, weave in and out of top 8 sts, draw up tight to close the thumb. End off and weave in end.
Sew up beginning of cuff to end of cuff.
Weave in all ends.
