During the 1960s and 1970s, every year my mother would knit a bunch of these mittens for the Annual Harvest Festival at Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf, on Long Island in New York. Sometimes I was pressed into service for this massive effort. We brought dozens of these mittens to the craft fair that was part of this festival. They were a popular item that sold out quickly.

These instructions, adapted from a long-lost commercially available kit, provide for multiple sizes, using different weight yarn and needle sizes.

Tiny: Fingering or Baby weight yarn, dp Needles #1 and #2
Small: Sport weight yarn, dp needles #3 and #5
Medium: DK or worsted weight yarn, dp needles #4 and #6
Large: Worsted weight yarn, dp needles #6 and #8

The photo represents a pair of mittens in Large, worked with Cascade 220 worsted weight yarn, and will work similarly with any worsted weight yarn.

The tiger puppet mittens have striped bodies, with mouth and tongue between fingers and thumb, and a braided tail at the top of the wrist cuff. Ears are sewn onto the top of the body around the knuckles, and buttons or embroidery for eyes.

The original design had seams on the mitten bodies. Mom adapted the original directions to a seamless design for the body and separately worked mouth and ears that are sewn to the body. The upper mouth and tongue are worked separately and are joined together by picking up stitches for the lower mouth. Mom also developed different sizes in response to calls for these adorable mittens in smaller sizes.

This pattern is a good way to use up small amounts of yarn in your stash. One skein of each of three colors of your choice, will easily create one or two pairs of mittens.

Proceeds from the sale of these instructions will be donated to Mill Neck Manor for their education ministries with children and adults.