Knitted mittens are warmer than gloves, quicker to make, and a great small project for cold evenings. Many knitters avoid them because of the thumb, but a mitten thumb is easier than it looks, and some patterns skip double-pointed needles completely.
This list has 11 free knitted mittens patterns we checked by hand. You will find flat mittens knit on two straight needles, chunky mittens that finish in a night, a pair with thrums for real winter, tiny baby mittens and a vintage pattern that has been around for decades.
Knitted Mittens Free Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- Worsted or bulky wool yarn
- Straight needles for flat mittens
- Double-pointed needles or a long circular for magic loop
- Stitch holders or scrap yarn for the thumb
- Stitch markers
- Tapestry needle
1. Easy Beginners Mittens – Flat Knitting!
Photo: George O
These are made for true beginners. You knit them flat on single-point needles, so there is no knitting in the round. The pattern uses knit and purl, double rib, garter and stockinette, which makes it a nice practice piece too. Chunky yarn means they grow fast. Sizes are small and medium.
- Designer: George O
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: Bulky (#5)
- Needle size: 6 mm (US 10)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. Easy Knit Mittens
Photo: Lion Brand Yarn
A two-needle stockinette mitten from Lion Brand with a wide size range: 2 years, child 7–8, adult medium and large. That makes it the one to bookmark if you are knitting for the whole family. Plain stockinette is a great blank space for embroidery or duplicate stitch if you want to add a heart or initials.
- Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Bulky (#5)
- Needle size: 4 mm (US 6) and 5 mm (US 8)
- Price: Free (on the Lion Brand site)
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Easy Flat Knit Mittens
Photo: Gina Michele
Another straight-needle option, this one in a soft, anti-pilling worsted yarn. The mittens are worked back and forth in rows and then seamed, so you can skip double-pointed needles. They are one size, which keeps the pattern short and simple. A good pick for a cozy everyday pair.
- Designer: Gina Michele
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Aran / worsted (#4)
- Needle size: see pattern
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Double Knit Mitts
Photo: Douglas King
These mittens use double knitting, which creates two layers of fabric at once. The result is thick, warm and reversible. They are worked flat and seamed, so there is no knitting in the round, which the designer says makes them a good fit for less experienced knitters. A fun way to learn a new technique.
- Designer: Douglas King
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Needle size: 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Twilight Chunky Bella Mittens, Knitted Flat
Photo: Nancy Fry
A quicker, flat-knit take on a popular cabled mitten, designed for charity knitting. A band of horseshoe cables runs up the back of the hand, with neat palm stitching and cross-stitch piping. Use bulky yarn or two strands of worsted. These are a great choice if you want pretty mittens without working in the round.
- Designer: Nancy Fry
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4) doubled, or bulky
- Needle size: 8 mm (US 11)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Easy Mittens Knitting Pattern (Knit in the Round)
Photo: Handy Little Me
Ready to try mittens in the round? These chunky mittens have a ribbed cuff, a smooth stockinette hand and a proper thumb gusset. One skein of super bulky yarn is enough for the pair. There is a free video for the thumb, which is the part most people worry about. Adult medium.
- Designer: Handy Little Me
- Skill level: Easy (advanced beginner)
- Yarn: Super bulky (#6), 1 skein
- Needle size: 10 mm (US 15), 16″ or 20″ circular
- Price: Free written pattern + paid ad-free PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Easy Mittens by Leelee Knits
Photo: Leelee Knits
These two-color mittens have a K2P2 ribbed cuff in one color and a stockinette hand in another. They are worked from the cuff up with magic loop, and the top is closed with Kitchener stitch. The designer wanted them to be easy for a first-time mitten knitter, and the length is simple to adjust. Sized for medium women’s hands.
- Designer: Leelee Knits
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Chunky (#5)
- Needle size: 4.5 mm (US 7), 24″ circular
- Price: Free written pattern + paid ad-free PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Simple Mittens
Photo: Julia Marsh
A quick, practical mitten knit in the round on double-pointed needles in DK yarn. DK makes a lighter, more fitted mitten that is easy to wear with a phone in your pocket. It comes in small, medium and large. Once you have one pair under your belt, this is a great everyday pattern to keep coming back to.
- Designer: Julia Marsh
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Needle size: 3.75 mm (US 5) and 4 mm (US 6) DPNs
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. Classic Mittens Pattern #615
Photo: Bernhard Ulmann (vintage), via Free Vintage Knitting
This vintage pattern from a Bernhard Ulmann booklet gives both a four-needle version in the round and a two-needle flat version. It covers children’s sizes and adult sizes, with a ribbed cuff and a thumb gore. Ideas include stripes, an embroidered snowman and a beaded trim. Vintage patterns are short, so read slowly.
- Designer: Bernhard Ulmann (vintage), via Free Vintage Knitting
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4)
- Needle size: Size 4 (vintage sizing, see pattern)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. Easy Mittens with Thrums
Photo: Debi Wilbur
Thrums are little tufts of wool roving knit into the fabric. They make a fluffy lining inside the mitten and a cute speckled look outside. This pattern is written for knitters who have never tried thrums, with clear placement for every thrum and decrease. Worked in the round, bottom-up. Women’s medium/large.
- Designer: Debi Wilbur
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Worsted (#4), plus wool roving
- Needle size: 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. Easy Knit Baby Mittens
Photo: Marianna Mel
Tiny newborn mittens that are fast to make and look sweet in all sorts of color combinations. They use DK yarn and very little of it, so they are perfect for leftovers. Knit a few pairs for a baby shower gift basket along with a hat.
- Designer: Marianna Mel
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Needle size: 4 mm (US 6)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
- First mittens ever? Start with #1, Easy Beginners Mittens. Flat knitting, chunky yarn, no double points.
- Knitting for the whole family? #2 Easy Knit Mittens goes from toddler to adult large.
- Ready for the round? #6 Easy Mittens has a free thumb video to walk you through it.
- Need serious warmth? #4 Double Knit Mitts and #10 Thrummed Mittens are the warmest here.
- Baby gift? #11 Easy Knit Baby Mittens uses tiny amounts of yarn.
FAQ
Can you knit mittens on straight needles?
Yes. Patterns #1, #2, #3, #4 and #5 above are all knit flat on two straight needles and seamed up the side. This is the easiest way to start if double-pointed needles feel awkward. The seam is small and sits on the side of the hand, so it does not bother you when you wear them.
What is the warmest yarn for knitted mittens?
Wool is the warmest choice because it holds heat even when it gets a little damp. Bulky wool or two strands of worsted held together make a dense fabric that blocks wind. For extra warmth, try thrums or double knitting, which add a second layer inside.
How do I know what size mitten to knit?
Measure around the widest part of your hand, just below the knuckles, without the thumb. Most adult mittens have about half an inch to one inch of ease. For length, measure from the wrist to the tip of your middle finger. Many patterns tell you when to start the top decreases based on this length.
Cast on a pair this week, and you will have warm hands long before the first snow.