Anyone know how to KNIT MITTENS?

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Well, I just started knitting my first pair of mittens the other day and it isnt going too well to say the least. I am using this pattern:
http://www.bevscountrycottage.com/the-mitts.html But the way it is worded is throwing me for a loop. I am very good at learning visually and I have a tough time reading some of these knitting patterns. Does anybody have a really simple pattern for mittens?
Thanks in advance.

 

[bluesub]

How much knitting have you done in the past?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Hopefully someone will have some suggestions for you. There are a lot of knitters on this site. I don't have any bookmarked on line. You could see what the Ravelry site has.

Is it the part where you have to start increasing for the thumb that's giving you trouble? Sometimes, I just have to go very slow and reread through more complicated parts, to get through them. I've also had times in the beginning when I did a little drawing or diagram for myself, so I knew how many stitches I did normally in a row, then showed the increases or decreases in between the other stitches.

There are now more knitting charts available. They show stitches on a gridded chart, instead of having the instructions written out in sentences. Those might be easier for you, if you could find one for mittens.

I wonder if anyone has any videos on knitting mittens that you could knit along with? That would be really perfect. You could try a search on Youtube or google it.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

I actually taught myself how to knit a couple of months ago. I have since knit 3 goat kids sweaters, and 2 hats. I know how to decrease, knit, purl and increase in knitting. I have read this pattern over and over again and for some reason I cannot figure it out. It is suppose to be one of the easiest patterns out there. But why I do not understand it is beyond me.

I will take your advice and look for some videos on the web. Thanks all!

 

[Carols Clucks]

I have made several sets of fingerless mittens (easy to do)

If you can't figure it out, I can explain up to the point you start reducing for the finger tips (fingerless and I do not do that but have in the past)

But what I did was search youtube til I found a video that made sense.

With the last 5 ones I made I used Patons Classic wool or the Vanna White yarn.

I cast on 12 stitches on each of 3 dp (double pointed) needles, total of 36

Once I get enough "wrist" knitted, I start the thumb (pretend stitch 6 on your needle). I pick a stitch, using the yard that goes between one stitch and the thumb base I take my needle, twist the yarn to make a loop and put on the left side needle to knit (just before the thumb base loop) and then do the same twisted yarn loop right after the thumb starting loop as well. (KKKKKVTVKKKKK k=kint V= added from yarn between stitches T=Thumb)Doing that I made 1 loop into 3 loops. I knit around and continued adding a stitch before and after until I reach 15 Thumb stitches. (KKKKKVTTTTTTTTTTTTTVKKKKK Like this with the Added stitches always starting at the last hand stitch)

When the thumb part reaches the top of my thumb to my hand, I use a crochet hook remove all the thumb parts on to a scrap section of yarn. I then skip all those thumb parts and keep on knitting the hard.

When I come back to the thumb, I slip 6 stitches on to a dp and pick up 3 more stitches from the section where I skipped the thumb and started knitting the hand. I then have 18 stitches for my thumb.

Beyond that and you just have to take in to cover the fingers.

If you don't get it, I will try and start a pair and take some pictures tomorrow night

 

[conny63malies]

last time i knit mittens i was in 4th or 5th grade, had to learn it in school.

 

[itsy]

Sunny, which part of the pattern are you stuck on, or which part is confusing to you

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

Which part is giving you problems?? I just knit up 2 pairs of mittens today and am starting on my 3rd set.


I'm casting on 36 stitches with size 5 needles using Cascade 220 wool (worsted weight). I put 12 stitches on each of 3 DPN (double pointed needles) and join in the round making sure the stitches are not twisted.

I knit a ribbed cuff using a K2, P2 all the way around for 10 rounds.

I switch to size 7 DPN and knit 20 rounds

Instead of making a thumb gusset, I make a thumb opening using a piece of 'waste' yarn.

For the right hand mitten, I knit 6 stitches with waste yarn. Then slip those stitches back on to the left needle and reknit them with the regular yarn.
For the left hand mitten, I knit around to the final 6 stitches in the round then knit 6 stitches with waste yarn. Then slip those stitches back on to the left needle and reknit them with the regular yarn.

I knit 20 more rounds, then begin decreasing for the top.

Make sure you have 18 of the stitches on one needle and 9 stitches on the other two needles.

The decreases are: (first needle with 9 stitches) K1, SSK, knit to end of needle. (2nd needle with 9 stitches) Knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1. (needle with 18 stitches) K1, SSK, knit to last 3 stitches, k2tog, k1.

Continue doing the decreases until you have a total of 12 stitches left. You can then either do the kitchner stitch to close or thread yarn through all stitches and pull to close.

Thumbs:
Pick up 12 stitches from waste yarn (6 stitches from bottom on one needle & 6 stitches from top on a 2nd needle) I usually pick up and knit a couple stitches between the 2 needles giving me a total of 16 stitches. On the first round, decrease at least 3 stitches (k2tog) on the inside of the thumb (13 stitches). The next round, decrease 1 or 2 more stitches (k2tog) on the inside of the thumb (11 - 12 stitches). Knit to the length of your thumb, then k2tog around (if you have an extra stitch, just knit that one), then k2tog around again. Thread yarn through all stitches and pull to close.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

I want to thank all of you for helping me out.
Copy and pasted from the website:

Ladies MITTENS: Make 2 the same
Start at the cuff and cast on 32 sts. Now work in a ribbing of k2, p2 for 18 rows.
Knit across the next row, increasing 4 sts evenly across the row. What do they mean by evenly? Do they mean two on one side of row two on the other?
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row
Purl 1 row
Start Increases for the THUMB
Knit 17 sts, place a marker on needle, increase 1 st in each of the next 2 sts, place a marker on needle - 4 sts between markers, knit to end of row. I had to read this part at least 10 times and I still do not understand it. How many markers do I place on the needle?
Purl 1 row.
Continue in stockinette st, (knit one row, purl one row) increasing For how long?
1st after 1st marker and before 2nd marker on knit rows only until there are 14 sts between markers, knit to end of row. No idea what they are saying here.
Purl 1 row
Knit 1 row without increasing.
Next row: Purl 18 and slip these sts onto a stitch holder, purl next 12 sts of thumb, slip rem. 18 sts onto a 2nd stitch holder-- Whats 'Slip rem' mean?

THUMB
Work in stockinette st for 10 rows.
(do just 5 rows, and then 5 rows of ribbing, k1,p1- for FINGERLESS VERSION - bind off) So 5 rows of just knitting and then 5 rows of K2 P2 (Ribbing)?
Next row knit 2 tog. across row. What does '2 tog' mean?
Cut yarn leaving a 6" tail of yarn. Weave the yarn through the remaining thumb sts and fasten. Sew the thumb seam.

Rest of hand: Attach yarn at beginning of 2nd sts holder on wrong side of work and purl to the end of the row.
Next row: Knit across 18 sts, knit the 18 sts from the 1st st holder (36 sts on needle)
Knit across row (decreasing 2 sts on this row only.)
Purl across row
Continue in stockinette st for 22 more rows (or your desired hand length)
(do just 5 rows, and then 10 rows of ribbing, k1,p1- for FINGERLESS VERSION - bind off)

DECREASE TOP OF MITTEN
Row 1: *Knit 2sts together , knit 2, repeat from * across row, ending
knit 2 sts together.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: *Knit 2 sts together, knit 1, repeat from *across row, ending
K1.
Row 4: Purl 2 together across row. Cut yarn leaving 12" yarn for seaming the mitten. Draw yarn through remaining sts and sew seam at side.
Make mitten #2 the same way.


I kind of like this video that I found: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3AG8bakV4s

By the way, I do not knit with DPNs instead I use 2 regular needles or circulars.​

 

[Carols Clucks]

Can I suggest you try the DP needles?

MUCH easier

MUCH faster (no turning it and purling the back side)

and I think that you can find a pattern that makes more sense because this one has to make two flat things for you to stitch together.