Briar Mitts

Briar Mitts by Fox and Folk

What is Being Made

The Briar Mitts are a pair of knitted mittens designed by Fox and Folk, available in two sizes: S-M and M-L. These are colorwork mittens that feature a multi-color design incorporating bone as the main color with accent colors in goldenrod, slate, and forest. The mittens are worked in the round using double-pointed needles, making them a classic construction method for hand-knitted mittens.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques. The mittens are constructed using the magic loop or DPN method, worked in the round to create seamless mittens. The pattern includes colorwork knitting, requiring the knitter to manage multiple yarn colors throughout the project. Shaping is achieved through strategic increases and decreases, including make-one increases (M1R and M1L) and knit-two-together decreases. The pattern uses a long tail cast-on to begin the project and a bind-off to finish the cuffs.

Stitches Used

The Briar Mitts utilize fundamental knitting stitches appropriate for an intermediate project:

• Stockinette stitch - forms the primary fabric and is used for gauge measurement
• Knit stitch (K) - the basic building block of the mittens
• Make 1 right (M1R) and Make 1 left (M1L) - invisible increase stitches used for shaping
• Knit two together (K2tog) - a right-leaning decrease for shaping the mitten cap
• Slip marker (SM) - used to track the beginning of rounds and pattern sections

Materials and Specifications

The Briar Mitts require 195 yards (178 meters) of worsted weight yarn in total. The yarn is distributed as follows: 95 yards of bone for the main color, 20 yards of goldenrod, 30 yards of slate, and 45 yards of forest. Knitters will need US 6 (4 mm) double-pointed needles for size S-M and US 7 (4.5 mm) double-pointed needles for size M-L, along with a yarn needle for weaving in ends and stitch markers for tracking rounds and pattern repeats.

The pattern emphasizes the importance of careful swatching to achieve proper gauge. Size S-M is worked at 11 stitches per 2 inches (10.5 stitches per 5 cm) in stockinette stitch, while size M-L is worked at 10 stitches per 2 inches (10 stitches per 5 cm). The mittens begin with a 40-stitch cast-on using the long tail method, worked in bone color, and are joined in the round with careful attention to avoid twisting the stitches.

Design Features

The pattern includes helpful color-coding in the written instructions: black font indicates directions applicable to both hands, blue font specifies right-hand-only instructions, and orange font denotes left-hand-only directions. This thoughtful organization makes it easy for knitters to customize each mitten appropriately. The intermediate difficulty level makes these mittens suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques and are ready to tackle colorwork and shaping in the round.