This mitten has no increases between cuff and body of the mitten. That, combined with the k3, p1 ribbing creates a wide cuff that is easy for small children to get on and off. Each mitten fits either hand which is also a big plus. Don't feel you must use the same 6 colors in the same order in both mittens. Use a different sequence of the same 6 colors in the second mitten to make it more interesting for you and more fun for the wearer. Tucking a packet of M&Ms into the mitten before you give them as a gift would be fun, too. :)
Size:
Child age 2 - 5 years of age
Gauge:
6 sts/inch in stockinette
Materials:
Size US 3 double pointed needles (dpn)
6 stitch markers
darning needle
50 grams of sport weight yarn in navy blue or black
8 yards each of 6 different colors of sport or light worsted weight
yarn (I used brown, orange, red, yellow, bright blue, and green).
scrap yarn (24") preferably light colored, preferably cotton
Pattern:
Cuff
Cast on 36 sts in main color. Divide equally onto 3 dpn. *K3, p1* around until cuff measures 2.75".
Body of mitten
Round 1: With main color, knit.
Round 2: Purl.
Rounds 3-7: With contrasting color (cc) #1, *k4, slip 2*
Round 8: Change to main color, Knit.
Round 9: Purl.
Rounds 10 - 14: With cc#2, k1 *slip 2, k4* end k3.
Round 15: Change to main color, Knit.
Thumb trick: Knit 6 sts onto a 12" piece of scrap yarn leaving a long tail of scrap yarn at the beginning and end. Slip the 6 sts back to the left hand needle and proceed with the next row.
Round 16: Purl.
Repeat rows 3 - 16 (excluding the thumb trick) using contrasting colors #3 and #4.
Repeat rows 1 - 16 (excluding the thumb trick) using contrasting colors #5 and #6.
Begin decreases: *k4, k2tog, place marker* around.
K 2 rounds.
*Knit to within 2 sts of the marker or the end of each needle, k2tog*.
K 1 round.
*Knit to within 2 sts of the marker or the end of each needle, k2tog* until 6 sts remain. Break yarn, thread darning needle with yarn tail, run yarn through remaining sts, darn into tip of mitten.
Thumb
Remove scrap yarn. Pick up the 13 live sts plus one additional stitch from either side of the opening twisting the sts picked up from the sides to reduce the "holes" (15 sts on needle). Knit around in the main color until the thumb measures 1" (approximately 9 rounds).
Decrease thumb
Round 1: K2tog, k5, k2tog, k to end of round.
Round 2: k2tog, k4, k2tog, k to end of round.
Round 3: K2tog, k3, k2tog, k to end of round.
Round 4: K2tog, k2, k2tog, k to end of round.
Break yarn, thread darning needle with yarn tail, run yarn through remaining sts, darn into tip of thumb. Now make another.