Great White Mitts by Maureen Foulds

Great White Mitts

Knitting
June 2016
DK (11 wpi) ?
26 stitches and 34 rows = 4 inches
in stocking stitch
US 6 - 4.0 mm
110 - 120 yards (101 - 110 m)
Teen/Adult, adjustable
English
This pattern is available for $5.00 USD buy it now

Great White Mitts are a fun way to take a bite out of cold weather. Or, in the off season use them as hand puppets to entertain the youngsters (and young at heart) in your life.

The pattern photos show two of the suggested methods for finishing the mitts: needle-felting the teeth and eyes, or using craft felt and buttons. The teeth can also be sewn on using white yarn. The only limit is your imagination.

Starting at the thumb, the mouth of the shark is created by joining the red yarn and carrying the two strands of yarn (grey and red) as you knit each round, catching the floats as needed. This has the added benefit of making the mitten thicker and warmer.

Sizing
These mittens are knit from the cuff to the tip of the hand. While the pattern is written for DK weight yarn, you can also use a worsted weight like Cascade 220 for a looser fitting mitten. The mitten should fit most teens to adults, with guidance for adjusting the length of the mittens to fit the recipient’s hand.

Gauge
Approx. 24 sts x 34 rows in stocking stitch, using a US6/4.0mm needle

Yarn Requirements
1 pair of mittens requires approximately:
130-150 yards of Dragonfly Fibers Traveller DK in District 12
25-30 yards of Dragonfly Fibers Traveller DK in Dragonberry
(I was able to get 2 pairs of mitts out of 1 skein of grey District 12, plus a partial skein of Dragonberry.)

Other Materials

  • US #6 (4.0 mm) needles for working in the round: DPNs, 1 long circular or 2 short circular, as you prefer, or size needles required to obtain gauge.
  • Tapestry needle, stitch markers.
  • scissors

Notion Options:

  • Small amounts of white and black wool for needle-felting the teeth and eyes. Felting needle and foam.
  • OR: white yarn for embroidering the teeth and eyes on.
  • OR: white crafting felting to cut into a row of teeth, sewing thread to sew felt in place
  • OR: buttons for eyes.

Skills Needed

  • knitting in the round

  • stranded knitting, including working with long floats (link to tutorial provided)

  • increasing, decreasing

  • confident in adjusting length of mittens to suit recipient (achieved by adding knit rounds)

  • optionally: needle-felting, sewing on buttons and/or teeth.