When I was a child, someone once described a mitten to me as "a pocket that holds your hand." That description has stuck with me over the years for its total aptness and whimsy. In the dead of winter, when retrieving mail from my driveway seemed like an Arctic trek, holding hands with a pocket made the whole endeavour seem less daunting and more like an adventure. Even now, years later, when I wear my mittens I imagine that we're braving the cold together, hand in hand.

The medallion mittens are a fun pair to knit. They're designed to snugly fit the average woman's hand. Both mittens follow almost identical instructions, with the exception of the setup round. When knitting the left mitten, follow the setup round for the left mitten; when knitting the right mitten, follow the setup round for the right mitten. The rest of the instructions can be worked as is for both mittens. However, please note that for the left mitten, the “second marker” refers to the marker that’s placed at the beginning of the round. Thus, on Round 3 of the left mitten, after working M1R, the round is complete and there will be no more stitches left to knit.

Click here for a larger image of the medallion mittens.

Materials
• 130 metres (1 skein) of Berroco Ultra Alpaca, 198 m (215 yd), 100 g (3.5 oz), colour #6201
• Set of 4.5 mm double-pointed needles
• Stitch markers
• Scrap yarn
• Stitch holder or extra double-pointed needle
• Tapestry needle

Tension
20 sts and 29 rnds = 10 cm (4 inches) in stockinette stitch
 
Finished measurements
18 cm (7 inches) in width; 21 cm (8.5 inches) in length. Fits an average-sized woman's hand.

Pattern notes
1x1 Twisted Rib: *K1TBL, P1* repeat from * to end of round

Knit as set: Knit the knit stitches and purl the purl stitches. No increases or decreases made.

M1L is a left-leaning increase: Insert the left-hand needle, from front to back, under the strand of yarn between the stitch just worked and the next stitch on the left-hand needle. Knit this stitch through the back loop. One stitch increased.

M1R is a right-leaning increase: Insert the left-hand needle, from back to front, under the strand of yarn between the stitch just worked and the next stitch on the left-hand needle. Knit this stitch through the front loop. One stitch increased.
   
Stockinette stitch: Knit all stitches.

Abbreviations
CO: cast on
DPN(s): double-pointed needles
k: knit
k2tog: knit 2 sts together
KFB: knit through the front and back of stitch
M1L: make a left-leaning increase
M1R: make a right-leaning increase
p: purl
pm: place marker
sl: slip
sm: slip marker
st(s): stitch(es)
St st: stockinette stitch
SSK: Slip the first stitch as if to knit, slip the second stitch as if to knit, knit the two stitches together

Directions
CO 36 sts and join in the round, pm, making sure not to twist stitches.

Knit in 1x1 rib for 14 rounds.

Setup round for left mitten: KFB, k2, p2, k2, KFB, k3, KFB, k2, KFB, p2, k2, KFB, k3, KFB, k3, KFB, k3, KFB, k2, KFB, pm, k1 (45 sts).

Setup round for right mitten: K2, KFB, p2, k2, KFB, k3, KFB, k2, KFB, p2, k2, KFB, pm, k1, pm, k2, KFB, k3, KFB, k3, KFB, k3, KFB (45 sts).

Rounds 1 and 2: K4, p2, k13, p2, k to end.
Round 3: K4, p2, k13, p2, k to marker, sm, M1L, k to second marker, M1R, k to end (47 sts).
Round 4: K4, p2, sl next 3 sts to DPN and hold in front, k3, k3 from DPN, k1, sl next 3 sts to DPN and hold in back, k3, k3 from DPN, p2, k to end.
Round 5: Repeat Round 3 (49 sts).
Round 6: Knit as set.
Round 7: Repeat Round 3 (51 sts).
Round 8: Knit as set.
Round 9: Repeat Round 3 (53 sts).
Round 10: Knit at set.
Round 11: K4, p2, sl next 3 sts to DPN and hold in back, k3, k3 from DPN, k1, sl next 3 sts to DPN and hold in front, k3, k3 from DPN, p2, k to marker, sm, M1L, k to second marker, M1R, k to end (55 sts).
Round 12: Knit as set.
Round 13: Repeat Round 3 (57 sts).
Round 14: K4, p2, k13, p2, k to marker, sm, transfer next 13 sts to scrap yarn. Set aside 2 markers. (For right mitten, knit to end of round.)

Mitten body
Join in the round and work one more repeat of the Medallion Cable by knitting Rounds 1 to 14.

On Round 3, do not increase between markers; simply knit to end of round after last p2.

Two repeats of Medallion Cable worked.

Medallion cable decrease
Work a third repeat of the Medallion Cable, knitting Rounds 1 to 8. Then, decrease as follows:

Round 9: K4, p2, SSK, SSK, k5, k2tog, k2tog, p2, k to end (40 sts).
Round 10: K4, p2, k9, p2, k to end.
Round 11: K4, p2, sl next 2 sts to DPN and hold in back, k2, k2 from DPN, k1, sl next 2 sts to DPN and hold in front, k2, k2 from DPN, p2, k to end .
Rounds 12 to 15: K4, p2, k9, p3, k to end.
Round 16: K4, p2, sl next 2 sts to DPN and hold in front, k2, k2 from DPN, k1, sl next 2 sts to DPN and hold in back, k2, k2 from DPN, p2, k to end.
Rounds 17 to 20: K4, p2, k9, p3, k to end.

Final decrease
Next Row: *K2, k2tog* repeat from * to end (30 sts).
Next Row: Knit all sts.
Next Row: *K2tog* repeat from * to end (15 sts).
Next Row: *K2tog* repeat from * to last stitch, k1 (8 sts).

Cut yarn, weave through remaining 8 sts and secure to inside of glove.

Thumb
Place 13 sts from scrap yarn onto DPNs, spreading them evenly across needles. Pick up 2 stitches in the gap where thumb joins body of mitten (15 sts).

Join in the round and knit in St st until thumb measures 4.5 cm (1.75 inches) or desired length. Then, decrease as follows:

Next Round: *K1, k2tog* repeat from * to end (10 sts).
Next Round: *K2tog* repeat from * to end (5 sts).

Cut yarn, weave through remaining 5 sts and secure to inside of thumb.

Stay warm this winter by knitting one of these cozy patterns.

Looking for knitting tips? Check out Sheep & Stitch's guide on how to knit.