This pattern grew out of a camping trip knitting lesson with my niece, Olivia. Olivia really wanted to make a pair of fingerless mitts.

We used a pattern out of a kid’s knitting book, but Aunt Janelle forgot to check the gauge and the mitts were HUGE.

So….

We made up our own pattern, using a strand of yarn for measurement instead of a tape meaure, which I inconveniently left at home. The result was perfect anyway and the mitts fit her nicely. She is very proud of them.

This pattern is for a VERY new (and younger) knitter, and can be used by an adult looking for a way to teach a younger child how to knit a first project once they know how to perform basic knitting motions.

This project will reinforce the basic skills and hopefully help the child feel like they actually got to make something. They also will get an object lesson on gauge and fit, even though no measuring (in numbers) is required.

This pattern is knit entirely in garter stitch. The size is determined by the recipient’s hand circumference/length and is easily changed. There is no right or left specific mitt.

Skills reinforced/learned include: simple measuring for a beginning garment; knit stitch/garter stitch; that knitting makes a fabric; sewing up a seam; casting on/casting off; following a pattern/tutorial.