Kotona is a Finnish word that means “at home.” The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the definition of “at home” for most of us, hasn’t it?

In June 2020, the language-learning platform Duolingo announced the addition of Finnish to its course catalog. For whatever reason, I jumped in and completed all the available lessons. While the number of lessons is quite small, and the breadth of my Finnish mastery is laughable, I’ve found comfort in the daily routine and mental challenge.

The Kotona mittens are worked in worsted weight yarn in a unique 1x2 ribbing that features the knit 3 below stitch. This special stitch is simpler than it sounds—you merely work into the center, or “heart,” of the stitch you made three rounds before the stitch on the needle. (Don’t worry if this is new to you; I’ve made a video to help.) The resulting ribbing is delightfully squishy and stretchy. The heart-shaped knit stitches become more pronounced, echoing the adage, “home is where the heart is.” Wherever “at home” is for you, I hope you find much warmth and “heart.”

To fit 6 (7, 8, 9) in. 15 (18, 20.5, 23) cm hand circumference
Choose a size 1-1.5 in. (2.5-4 cm) smaller than your hand. Between sizes? Choose the smaller size.

158 (205, 268, 340) yd. 144 (188, 245, 311) m of worsted weight yarn
The Chain Rib Stitch pattern uses more yarn than stockinette or standard ribbing. The two largest sizes will use more than one skein of yarn.

Both written instructions and charts are provided.