Crochet Mittens for All: Free Easy Crochet Mittens Pattern for Kids, Women and Men
Every winter there is one pair of mittens that never seems to make it back into the drawer. In our house it is always the handmade pair, the one with a long ribbed cuff that tucks right inside a coat sleeve so not a single breath of cold air sneaks in. The Red Heart Crochet Mittens for All pattern gives you exactly that, in three sizes for children, women and men, using nothing more than single crochet in joined rounds. If you have been searching for crochet mittens you can make for the whole family before the first frost, this free beginner pattern is where I would start.
I made my first pair at the painted table by my window with a pot of tea going cold beside me, and I was honestly surprised by how quickly they came together. The cuff is a little strip of back-loop single crochet that you fold into a ring. From there you simply crochet around and around, adding a few stitches for the palm, leaving a chain gap for the thumb, then decreasing to a soft rounded top. There is no left or right hand to worry about, which means you can crochet two identical mittens without keeping notes.
Sarah’s Pattern Dossier
- DesignRed Heart Crochet Mittens for All by Nancy Anderson
- Skill LevelBeginner
- SizesChild 4/5 yrs, Women’s, Men’s
- Finished Size6 x 7.5″ (7.5 x 11.5″, 9.5 x 12″) around x long
- YarnRed Heart Super Saver, Medium #4
- Hook5.5 mm [US I-9]
- Gauge16 sc and 17 rows = 4″
- ConstructionRibbed cuff, then joined rounds, thumb added last
Why Crochet Mittens Are Trending This Winter
Searches for crochet mittens on Pinterest have more than doubled over the past month, and it makes complete sense. Mittens are small, portable and finished in an evening or two, which makes them the perfect project for holiday gifting. They also use very little yarn, so one skein of a sturdy worsted can turn into a pair for every child on your list.
What I love most about this particular design is how practical it is. The cuffs are extra long for warmth, but you can just as easily fold them back at the wrist for a cosier, chunkier look. The fabric is dense single crochet, so it blocks the wind far better than a lacy stitch would, and Red Heart Super Saver holds up beautifully to snowball fights, school bags and the washing machine.
Materials and Tools You Will Need
Basket Supplies & Hook Guide
- Red Heart Super Saver (solid colours 7 oz/198 g; 364 yds/333 m per skein)
- Child’s version: 1 skein each of Soft Navy (387) as B and Shaded Dusk (984) as C
- Women’s version: 1 skein each of Tea Leaf (624) as A and Soft Navy (387) as B
- Men’s version: 1 skein of Tea Leaf (624) as A
- 5.5 mm [US I-9] crochet hook, or any size needed to obtain gauge
- Stitch markers and a yarn needle
Red Heart Super Saver is a hard-wearing acrylic that comes in a huge range of colours, so it is easy to personalise each pair. If you would like softer mittens for little hands, any other Medium #4 yarn will work, as long as you match the gauge of 16 single crochet to 4 inches. A tight, even gauge is what keeps mittens warm.
Sizing at a Glance
| Size | Around | Length | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Child 4/5 yrs | 6″ | 7.5″ | 2-row stripes, 5 rounds of C at tip |
| Women’s | 7.5″ | 11.5″ | 1-row stripes, 7 rounds of A at tip |
| Men’s | 9.5″ | 12″ | Solid colour |
Directions are written for the Child’s size, with the Women’s and Men’s sizes in brackets, for example 15 (21, 24). When only one number is given, it applies to all three sizes.
Stitch Key
Stitch Key
| Ch | Chain. |
| Sc | Single crochet. |
| Sl st | Slip stitch, used to join each round. |
| Back loop | Working into the back loop only of each stitch creates the vertical ridges of the cuff. |
| Sc2tog | [Insert hook in next st, yo, draw yarn through st] twice, yo, draw yarn through all 3 loops on hook. |
Step-by-Step: How to Crochet the Mittens for All
Step 1: Crochet the Long Ribbed Cuff
Using C (B, A), ch 15 (21, 24). Row 1: Working in back loops only, sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across, ch 1, turn. Repeat Row 1 for a total of 18 (22, 24) rows. Fold the cuff in half and join the short ends with a slip stitch to form a ring. Do not fasten off.
Count your cuff rows in ridges: every 2 rows make one raised ridge. For the women’s size you are aiming for 11 ridges. If your cuff looks too narrow for the wearer’s wrist, add 2 more rows before joining; the hand rounds will still work out evenly.
Step 2: Work the Hand in Joined Rounds
Round 1: Working along the row ends of the cuff, slip stitch evenly around for 18 (22, 26) sts, then join with a slip stitch. Round 2: Ch 1, place a marker, [sc in next 8 (10, 12) sts, 2 sc in next st] twice, join with a slip stitch, giving 20 (24, 28) sts. Round 3: Ch 1, [sc in next 9 (11, 13) sts, 2 sc in next st] twice, join, 22 (26, 30) sts. Round 4: Ch 1, [sc in next 10 (12, 14) sts, 2 sc in next st] twice, join, 24 (28, 32) sts.
The Child’s size moves straight on. For the Women’s size, work one more round: ch 1, [sc in next 13 sts, 2 sc in next st] twice, join, 30 sts. For the Men’s size: ch 1, [sc in next 15 sts, 2 sc in next st] twice, join, 34 sts, then repeat as established, working 1 more sc before each increase, for 2 more rounds, reaching 38 sts.
Continuing in your stripe or solid pattern, ch 1, sc in each sc around and join with a slip stitch. Repeat for a total of 1 (3, 3) rounds. For stripes, change colour at the join: every 2 rounds for the Child’s mittens and every round for the Women’s.
Step 3: Make the Thumb Opening and Upper Hand
Thumb opening round: Ch 1, sc in next 20 (26, 32) sts, ch 4 (5, 6), skip the remaining sts and join with a slip stitch to the first st. That little chain bridge is all it takes to leave a neat gap for the thumb.
Upper hand: Sc in each st around for 8 (10, 12) rounds, giving 24 (31, 38) sts, and decrease 1 st on the last round for the Women’s size only, for 24 (30, 38) sts. Then shape the top:
Round 1: [Sc 10 (13, 17), sc2tog] twice, 22 (28, 36) sts. Round 2: [Sc 9 (12, 16), sc2tog] twice, 20 (26, 34) sts. Round 3: [Sc 8 (11, 15), sc2tog] twice, 18 (24, 32) sts. Round 4: [Sc 7 (10, 14), sc2tog] twice, 16 (22, 30) sts. For the Child’s size only, sc2tog around (8 sts) and fasten off, then go to the thumb. For the Women’s and Men’s sizes, Round 5: sc in each st around. Round 6: [Sc 9 (13), sc2tog] twice, 20 (28) sts. Next 2 rounds: sc2tog around, ending with 5 (7) sts. Fasten off at the end of the last round.
Remember to finish the Child’s mitten with 5 rounds of C and the Women’s mitten with 7 rounds of A at the fingertips. Before you fasten off, thread the tail through the last stitches with your yarn needle and pull gently to close the tip without a pucker.
Step 4: Crochet the Thumb
Round 1: Join yarn to the thumb opening at the stitch closest to the upper hand, ch 1, sc in each st around and join with a slip stitch, giving 8 (9, 12) sts. Sc in each st around for 4 (7, 8) rounds. Next round: sc2tog, sc to 3 sts from the last st, sc the last 2 sts together, leaving 6 (7, 10) sts. Sc2tog around, working the last st as a sc on the Women’s size, for 3 (4, 5) sts. Fasten off and weave in all ends.
Make a second mitten exactly the same way. Because there is no left or right, the pair will always match, and you can even crochet two at once from both ends of the same skein.
Caring for Your Mittens
Follow these care guidelines for Red Heart Super Saver yarn:
I pop each pair inside a mesh laundry bag so the cuffs keep their shape, then reshape the ribbing by hand while they are still slightly warm from the dryer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these mittens really beginner friendly?
Yes. The whole pattern uses chain, single crochet, slip stitch and a simple decrease. If you can crochet a straight row and join a round, you can make these.
How do I adjust the size for teens?
Work the Women’s size with one extra increase round on the hand, and add 1 or 2 rounds to the upper hand before shaping the top. Try it on as you go; mittens are very forgiving.
Can I make the cuff shorter?
The cuff length comes from the starting chain. Chain fewer stitches, for example 15 instead of 21 for the Women’s size, for a short wrist cuff, and keep the number of rows the same.
Tuck This Pattern Into Your Recipe Box
Bookmark this page or pin the Mittens for All pattern to your winter crochet board so all three sizes are ready when the gift list grows.
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Hi, I am Sarah. Once a week I send one cosy free pattern, one stitch tutorial and a little note from my crochet nest. Pull up a chair and join the circle.
Join the CircleI hope these mittens keep every hand in your family warm this winter. If you make a striped pair, I would love to know which two colours you chose.
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