The Ruby mittens are a quick and easy make, so it’s the perfect gift project. I feel that best gifts for your loved ones are woolly warm wearables like these.

The mittens can come in 5 sizes, ranging from 3-year-old to an extra-large grown-up size, so I’m making these for literally everyone this Christmas! You can make them using only 2 colours or switch it up and use multiple colours for colour B, so lots of room for colour play and if you go multicolour it’s perfect to use up your scraps! I love the retro look of the Ruby mittens and am having an absolute blast making these. I sure hope you will too.

Yarn

Pernilla from Filcolana
(100% wool, 175 m = 50 g)

You will need 1 skein each of color A and B for all sizes up to Large, 2 skeins of each color for size Extra Large. For XS and SMALL you can make 2 pairs with the pair of skeins if you switch the colors.

You can use other type of sports weight yarn of course and
These mittens are a perfect stash buster too, so before buying yarn you can raid your stash and even use up some of your scrap yarn if you go for multi-coloured mittens!

Furthermore, you can also use thicker yarn and go down in size, or finer yarn and go up in size. I took care to have the pattern in 5 sizes, so this would be a viable option!

Hooks

If using the recommended yarn, either Pernilla or Jamieson, you will need a 3.5 mm hook, or a size of hook you need to get approx. the correct gauge.
Otherwise use a hook that suits your yarn.

Gauge in Pernilla
25 rows & 25 ST in basic mosaic stitching = 10 cm
20 rows and 22 ST in the ribbing = 10 cm

Abbreviations (US terms)

ST = stitch/stitches
CH = chain stitch
SS = slip stitch
SC = single crochet
HDC = half double crochet
DC = double crochet
DC 2tog = work 2 DC’s together

Sizes

The RUBY mitten pattern comes in 5 sizes: (XS) S (M) L (XL)

Sizes XS & SMALL are kiddie sizes, XS approx. for 3-5 years old & SMALL for 8-10 years old.
Sizes M & L should suit most grownups, both sizes are the same length, but L is a wider fit than M.

Total length from tip of the mitten to the end of ribbing: approx. (17) 21 (25) 25 (30) cm long.
Length of ribbing: approx. (4.5) 5 (6) 6 (7) cm long.
Circumference of ribbing: approx. (15) 17 (19) 22 (25) cm wide

Note that all sizes given here are according to gauge using Pernilla.

You can then use other weight of yarn as well, to get bigger or smaller sizes, and mix up the sizes by following the stitch count (width) for one size and the round count (length) for another.

General instructions & colours

The mittens are worked from the ribbing up. You start by working the ribbing flat, back and forth, with the back loop single crochet texture that looks like ribbing. Then you join the ribbing into a circle on the short ends with slip stitches. From there on you work the mitten in the round, joining at the end of each round.

Once you get up to where the thumb will be added you simply skip a few stitches, leaving a hole there where the thumb will be added later, and continue all the way up to the top. There you make an easy decrease and close the mittens off. Then you work the thumb in the round into the stitches you skipped for the thumb hole and close that off with decrease as well. Easy-peasy!

The mittens are crocheted in the round. At the end of each round, you connect with a slip stitch. Once the mosaic pattern starts, work one round in colour A (main colour) and then one round in colour B (pattern colour, that’s the little crosses here), alternating with each round.

There’s no need to cut the yarn between rounds, just carry it up on the backside, but each round is worked with only one colour at a time. I recommend using contrasting colours. You can work the mittens either with just 2 colours, or with multiple colours for either or both colours A and B.