We would just love to get these lovely mittens as a birthday present! This is the first pattern published by Icelandic engineer Arndís Ósk Arnalds and Knitting Iceland is proud to present her work to knitters near and far!

Download the free pattern

About Beta’s  mittens
Arndís says: “I made these mittens when I was invited to my friend Beta’s birthday party and only had a day to make a nice present. Of course I didn’t manage to finish the mittens in time but Beta finally got them, although 2 months late! My grandmother Lilla was the one who taught me to knit at the age of five. She is such a source of wisdom when it comes to knitting. You could say she’s my knitting hero!

Sjónabók/ Ornaments and Patterns found in Iceland is an amazing book on patterns from the 17th, 18th  and 19th  century in Iceland.  This pattern is inspired by one of the many beautiful patterns in the book.  For the mittens I used the wonderful and sometimes underrated Kambgarn, merino wool produced in Iceland by the Ístex spinning mill. This yarn that is perfect for mittens, warm and soft. Here´s a tip from my grandmother: if you want them extra warm you can felt them just a little bit.”

About the methods and techniques
The mittens are worked in the round from cuff to fingertips.  Use double pointed needles, the magic loop method or your favorite method to knit small diameters. The thumb stitches are knit with scrap yarn while the mitten is worked and finished in the front, the scrap yarn is pulled out to reveal stitches for knitting the thumb, and the thumb is finished last.  Pattern is worked in cross-stitch after washing and drying the mittens.

Ssk: slip two stitches knit wise, one at a time, knit together through the back loops.

Sizes and materials
Sizes: Women’s small (medium) large.
Materials: 75g/2.65oz (1.5 skeins) of Kambgarn, colorway 0059, black, 50g/1.76 oz, approx. 75m/82yd, and a little bit of Kid Silk Haze by Rowan, 25g/0.88oz, 209m/229 yd or other lace weight leftover yarn
Needles: 2.5mm/US1, long circular or double pointed.
Other: scrap yarn for the thumb, two stitch markers and darning needle for weaving in the ends.
Gauge: 28 stitches x 40 rows = 10x10cm/4×4”

Measured in stockinette stitch using 2.5mm/US1 needles.