It is starting to get cooler here, so I whipped up both the kids some fingerless mittens this week. Really there is not much simpler than a basic fingerless mitten. I confess, I don’t even bother to shape them… just crochet a rectangle and sew up the side leaving a thumb hole.
Here’s a quick tutorial so you can make some for a little person you know… or maybe even yourself! The owl – once again inspired by Jacqui – is a tiny version made mostly with half double crochets. For anyone bored of owls, I promise these will be the last ones – for a little while at least 🙂 If you fancy a pair of even easier rainbow mittens check out my other tutorial here.
Ingredients:
- Yarn in desired weight, with appropriate sized hook for the mittens… I used a light worsted merino and a 4mm hook. Any yarn and hook combination will work fine, just make sure the ‘fabric’ is soft and has a bit of give (not stiff and unwieldy).
- Small amount of 4 colors of yarn for the owls.
- Even smaller amount of white yarn for the eyes.
- 4 small buttons for eye centers.
First up, crochet a chain that will fit snugly around the largest part of the hand (ie. just under the thumb).
Using this as your guide for width, crochet back and forth (I use singe crochet) to create a rectangle that is the length you want to reach from just below the second knuckle to wrist. Remeber to add a chain 1 at the end of each row to keep everything square.
For Maia’s gloves (just as a guide) my foundation chain was 22, and they are 24 rows wide.
Sew up the short edge, leaving a small gap (about 1 inch) for the thumb hole:
Owl motif. This is a pretty cute but rather small owl (measuring 7cm (2 3/4inches) wide and 8cm (3 1/4 inches) tall).
1. Make a magic circle and chain 2, half double crochet (hdc) into the circle 11 times (12 hdc). Pull tight and join with a ss to complete ring: Fasten off.
2. Join new color and chain 2, hdc in same space. Crochet 2hdc in each space between around (12, 2hdc pairs): Fasten off.
3. Join new color; Crochet 3 hdc in each space between pairs around (12, 3hdc clusters): Fasten off.
You are now going to be crocheting the body of the owl; I apologize for not getting a picture of this; here’s the final product:
Body- in contrasting (brown) yarn:
4. In this round we will shape the owls head, the stitches of this round are worked into each of the stitches of the previous round (not between the clusters). Attach new color using a slip stitch and chain 2. In the next stitch make 2 hdc, then make 1 hdc in each of the next 2 stitches, then 2 hdc in the next stitch. 1 hdc in each of next two stitches, then 2 hdc in next stitch. 1 sc in next stitch and every stitch around… Slip stitch into initial 2 chain to complete the round.
5. Next round (same color do not fasten off) Chain 1 and work 2 hdc in next stitch. 1 hdc in next stitch, 1 sc in next stitch, 1 ss in each of next 3 stitches. Then 1 sc in next stitch, 1 hdc in next, 2 hdc in next and 1 sc. Chain 1, then slip stitch into next stitch and fasten off. Leave a long end to sew your owl to the gloves.
Eyes:
Make a magic circle and chain 2, hdc into the circle 7 times, pull tight and join with a slip stitch to finish. Fasten off leaving a long end to sew eye in place. Repeat three more times for other eyes.
Position eyes on owl and sew in place using long ends, then sew buttons (using black yarn). Sew beak carefully in between eyes using orange yarn (I find doubled thread works best). Once owl is assembled, sew onto outside of mitten, taking care because if one front has the thumb hole on the right, then the other one must have the thumb hole on the left 🙂 I chose to do this after the mittens were sewn up because it meant I could pin the owl in place when Maia had the gloves on to position them so it looked best.
Love love love these!! Definitely pinning!!
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Wonderful idea…
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Love them! Thanks for sharing the pattern
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Ah. So they were the little critters on your desk. They are really, really lovely.
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Lovely, it is just warming up here in England, but will be making them for next winter. Thanks for sharing! X
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Love them, thanks for sharing!
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So cute 🙂
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Omg! Simply adorable! It’s kinda warm where I come from so don’t think we will be needing the gloves. I wonder what other things we can adorn the owl with. I love them.
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beautiful!!! thank you for sharing these little beauties!!!!!
xxxx Ale
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Awesome. Thanks for sharing.
I am a new reader and wanted to let you know how much i enjoy your blog
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Really cute and easy to make. Thanks for sharing!
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AWESOMENESS 🙂 And perfect timing for me, getting damn nippy here in the mornings. Will post pics. I might stick hearts on mine, though, don’t have the patience for more owls right now 🙂 x
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I love them… I wonder if my daughter thinks she is already too old for them…..
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Really cute and simple 🙂 Thank you for sharing. I know my Facebook community will love this one.
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Reblogged this on Crochet Cricket and commented:
The Green Dragonfly has done it again! Another Fun, Easy, Free Pattern. I can’t wait to make these :D.
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Oh these are the cutest thing ever! And they look do-able!
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Brilliant – that’s Christmas presents for my friends children sorted! (It’s good to be organised!) I just need to get that initial magic circle part worked out… Thank you very much 🙂
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These are just fabulous, I know four little grand girlies who would love a pair of these each………thanks for the tutorial.
Kim
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Absolutely adorable! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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I must put these on my to do list for the winter. Great looking owls 🙂
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Ooh! These look fab and quite straight forward to construct:)
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Um, will I be making these for my niece? HECK YEAH! Too damn cute!
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They are really lovely. I always like your creations!
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These are great, and simple enough even for me.
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OOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo I love them and will certainly be making some .. thank you!! x
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These are adorable…thank you for sharing!
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excellent c’ est adorable des mains bien au chaud, et bien animés bravo biz
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Lovely colours. Hopefully I will have to wait 6 months for cooler weather!
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Absolutely adorable mittens 🙂
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Brilliantly easy pattern to follow – thank you for posting it 🙂
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Love this!!! Excited to try!
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Love them ♥
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It’s spring here, but I may just make these for autumn and put them away. These are beautiful!
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Wow! Super cute.Thanks!!Have almost finished making a pair for my daughter.Will post a pic on FB when done.
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Those are great! I just love all things owl . . . maybe I will have to make a set just for me 🙂
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Hi I am a new reader of your blog and I just love it.I am a kiwi living in Melbourne and I have just retired and I am learning to crochet
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Welcome Tricia!!!
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http://jillgoldberg19.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/owl-mitts/
Thanks 🙂
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I love these! Thanks for sharing the pattern. So much one could do with those cute owl ornaments; put one on a tuque, a bag, at each end of a scarf . . . there would be a whole set. Even knit the basics and use the crocheted owls to decorate . . . ~ Linne
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Thanks Linne, so glad you like them! Xx
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Love these – so great! I featured a link to the pattern this morning on Moogly: http://www.mooglyblog.com/crochet-owl-patterns-free/
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Great, I’ll o over and check it out. Thanks for linking up! Xxx
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What do think about these…?
http://lyralyradesign.wordpress.com/
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bellissimi li sto facendo per una bimba, grazie mille.
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Oh I love these! I know a little girl who is owl mad. You have given me a great idea. 🙂
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Super Cute, making some for my niece
how did you make the beak?
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Found under, “putting all together”…Sew beak carefully in between eyes using orange yarn (I find doubled thread works best).
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Gorgeous owl mittens 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing the excellent DIY – and for giving me loads of inspiration 🙂
Wishing you a wonderful pre-Christmas time 🙂
Greetings from Norway
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This is my very first *pin* on here and I printed the pattern off….only to find how simply beautiful and clearly photographed the instructions are….thanks so much for giving me inspiration to start busying my fingers!
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How exciting, I hope your mitts turn out lovely! xx
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Thank you for the lovely pattern, it was so easy to follow and the photos helped too. I love the way they have turned out and hope to sell them to raise some money for a charity that is close to my heart. xx
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Thank you exciting to make
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Hope they turn out well!
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They are adorable thanks for sharing the photos and pattern, I will be making some.
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My pleasure, thanks for stopping by 🙂
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Thank you! These are adorable, and perfect for last-minute presents for my sister and daughter. In school colors for my daughter. I think I’ll make a pair for myself, too! And my secret pal! Wow! Who would not love these? I could use some today, it is so cold!
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These are way too cute!! Have pinned and now I MUST learn to crochet!
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Love these my daughter who is 31 found these she loves owls she doesn’t crochet but I do can you make these in adult mitts
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Love these could you tell us how to do the beak
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Found under, “putting all together”…Sew beak carefully in between eyes using orange yarn (I find doubled thread works best).
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Thanks so much for sharing I have made these not once but many times for my grandaughters and their friends
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That’s lovely to hear, thank you for letting me know! Xx
>
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Like these OWL mittens would you have directions forvadult OWL mittens thanks
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Love these OWL mittens my daughter OES owls would you ave the directions forvadult OWL mittens thanks
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LOVE this pattern, and thanks for sharing! Wish I knew how to show you pictures of my mittens from this pattern!
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My grandchildren have requested fingerless gloves so I’ll be making some thru the summer. They live 1500 miles away though so all I have is drawings of their hands to go by so I was wondering how old Maia is so that I can use your pattern as a guide for size also. I will also be making some of these for my dd who, altho she is 44, loves owls and would like these
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I have been looking for unusual things to make for animal charity tombolas I run with my sister. These will be absolutely perfect for next autumn. Thank you so much!
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