Ah tulips, harbingers of spring! Here, the Winter Tulips mittens look forward to these blooms while exploring gradients in colorwork knitting. Tones range from white to deepest plum, passing through deepening shades of pink and dusky rose. Color charts for the cuff, right and left mittens, and thumb are provided in the pattern.

An optional cuff lining is knit is stockinette; the cuff itself is worked in corrugated ribbing. A brief reverse stockinette band transitions into the main body of the mitten.

The stems and leaves are worked in increasingly lighter shades before blooming into white tulips. Butterflies flutter on the tips of the mittens before they are closed with Kitchener Stitch.

A thumb gusset is combined with an afterthought thumb technique.

I’ve used Knit Picks Palette on 2.5mm needles. Any comparable light fingering weight yarn may be substituted. Yardage requirements:

• Stellar Heather #26053 – 1 skein
• Bouquet Heather #25091 – 7g
• Tea Rose #25997 – 7g
• Ice Lily #25999 – 10g
• Blush #23718 – 5g
• White #23728 – 15g

Gauge is as follows:

• Stockinette: 30 sts x 38 rows = 4” // 2.5 mm (US 1)
• Pattern: 36 sts x 36 rows = 4” // 2.5 mm (US 1)
• Ribbing: 30 sts x 36 rows = 4” // 2.5 mm (US 1)

This is an advanced beginner/intermediate knit. Required skills include:

• stranded knitting
• provisional cast on (as an option for the cuff lining)
• three needle join
• Kitchener stitch
• afterthought thumb

If some of these skills are new to you, no worries! Links to video tutorials are provided in the pattern.

Enjoy my pattern!

Special thanks to Soufanah for her help in testing and suggesting pattern tweaks.