Really Useful (Train) Engine Mittens by sowhynot

Really Useful (Train) Engine Mittens

Knitting
December 2024
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
36 stitches and 45 rows = 4 inches
in Stranded colorwork
US 1½ - 2.5 mm
150 - 200 yards (137 - 183 m)
Child - 2-4 years, 5.5" hand circumference
English
This pattern is available as a free Ravelry download

After searching for the perfect “train” mitten for a train obsessed toddler, I came across a pattern chart that no longer available and I had a holiday deadline! Reviewing a number of projects and spending way too much time playing around with charts I came up with these mittens with one train facing right - for the right hand - and one facing left.

The colors and numbers relate to the Thomas the Tank Engine family of trains. Blue (#1) for Thomas; Green (#3) for Henry and Red (#5) for James. Feel free to adapt this for your train-centric recipient!

There are right hand and left hand charts - with the train of right hand train facing to the right and, you guessed it, the left hand has the train to the left.

The thumb stitches are placed on waste yarn and picked up when the hand is complete. No gusset increases.

Make them in one color - or do like I did, and knit them in the child’s favorite train colors. Use up fingering leftovers from your stash. Each CC only requires about 30-40 yards. The MC takes less than 100 yards.

If you’d like a larger mitten (for a larger child) use Sport or DK weight and a larger sized needle.

This pattern has charts only. Requires some understanding of stranded colorwork.