A No-Swatch Design to Fit as you Knit, with replaceable Norwegian-style thumb. Any yarn, any gauge!

Maybe you cannot stand one more gauge swatch, or you want to try something new. Maybe you want to “make up” some mittens on the needles without a strict pattern. Toe-up Mittens are for you! (OK, tip down, but they start the same as my First-Time Toe-Up Sock pattern.)

Construction: Tip down on 4 double-pointed needles (3 holding, 1 working); begun with stockinette rectangle. Afterthought thumb.

Needle Size: At least one size smaller than the ball band of your yarn specifies, especially when using sweater yarns. I used a size 6 US with Nashua Vignette & Cascade Cloud 9 aran-weight yarns shown (blue/green stripe & solid green), size 5 with the Noro Silk Garden worsted-weight. I knit firmly, so you might choose a size smaller yet. Dense fabric wears longer.

You also need a set of DPNs two sizes smaller than used for the main fabric, for knitting the rib.

If in doubt, try size 2‑1/2 to 4 US (3—3.5mm) for DK weight; 3 to 5 US (3.25—3.75mm) for worsted weight; 4 to 6 US (3.5—4mm) for bulky. Adjust if you don’t have a comfortable yet dense fabric.

Yarn: Wool or wool-blend, or other warm yarn in DK, Worsted or Aran weight (ball band will specify 5.5 to 4.5 st/inch). 100gm is plenty up to Ladies’ Large. Larger sizes and thicker yarn take more yarn by weight. You want your actual gauge for the mittens to be at least .5 stitches per inch more than specified on the ball band. This blocks wind and increases durability.

Samples shown in greens/blues, Nashua Vignette (machine washable/dryable wool); in pink/purple, Noro Silk Garden (hand wash handspun wool/silk).

Extras: Large-eyed needle with sharp point. One yard of smooth, contrasting yarn in same weight.