These mittens take their name from the Sesame Street counting sketch about a ladybug picnic. In the XS child-size mitten, like in the song, there are twelve ladybugs, although the larger sized mittens have fifteen ladybugs. The mittens feature a picot cuff and red and black braid at the cuff, a peasant thumb, and a rounded top. The ladybugs are knitted into the mitten; however, the bugs’ spots and feet are duplicate stitched on afterwards.

Difficulty
Intermediate

Skills used
Reading a chart, using a provisional cast-on, knitting in the round, knitting with two colors, decreasing, picking up stitches, duplicate stitching.

Sizes
S (M, L)
Model shown in size S.

Finished measurements
Circumference: 7.25 (7.25, 8.5, 9.25)“
Length: 8 (9.25, 10.25, 10.75)”
Thumb length: 2 (2.75, 3, 3.25)“

Gauge
Sizes XS, S:
39 stitches and 40 rounds = 4” in blocked stranded pattern on US 1.5 (2.5 mm) needles

Size M:
33 stitches and 36 rounds = 4” in blocked stranded pattern on US 2.5 (3 mm) needles

Size L:
30 stitches and 34 rounds = 4” in blocked stranded pattern on US 4 (3.5 mm) needles

Yarn
Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport 100% wool; 184 yd (168 m); 50 g skein; colors: 144 Limestone (green), 1 (1, 2, 2) skeins, N46 Red Fox (red), 601 Pepper (black), 1 skein each.

Needles
Sizes XS, S:
US 0 (2 mm) DPNS or circular needle, 29” or 32” long
US 1.5 (2.5 mm) DPNS or circular needle, 29” or 32” long

Size M:
US 1.5 (2.5 mm) DPNS or circular needle, 29” or 32” long
US 2.5 (3 mm) DPNS or circular needle, 29” or 32” long

Size L:
US 2.5 (3 mm) DPNS or circular needle, 29” or 32” long
US 4 (3.5 mm) DPNS or circular needle, 29” or 32” long

Notions
Waste yarn
Spare DPN in a small size for picking up provisionally casted on stitches (I use a US 0 DPN)
Tapestry needle