I conceived of these mittens because I wanted something that would keep me warm and dry on a long hike in cold and snowy conditions, allowing me to rapidly use my camera while exposing a minimum of bare flesh.

I generally need only a free index finger on each hand to manipulate dials and lenses; the gloved thumb is sufficient as a stabilizer. The problem with other convertible designs I’ve found is that the holes and flaps invariably wind up leaving significant gaps for cold and precipitation when used as normal mittens. In this design, the finger slit is constructed like a pocket, providing full coverage when not in use.

This pattern is a knit-to-fit, top-down formula, and is therefore designed to be adaptable for any hand size, in any gauge of yarn. Since its purpose is to allow brief finger use without sacrificing warmth and snow resistance, I would suggest worsted to bulky weight wool as being most practical. I would also suggest knitting at a tighter gauge than called for by the ball band, to enhance longevity and resistance to the elements.

The pictured version was knit for my size 6 ½ woman’s hands (which it fits reasonably generously,) and took the better part of two skeins of Noro Kureyon (aran weight wool), knit at 5 stitches to the inch on 4 mm (US 6) dpns.

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