How To Crochet Chunky Mittens
Crochet mittens are a winter favourite of mine, and that includes super warm, chunky crochet mittens! Ordinarily, I prefer a lighter weight of yarn for handmade accessories, but for quick-fix crochet, this pattern is great.
These crochet chunky mittens are worked from the cuff up to the tips of the fingers. After a post-stitch ribbing, simple increases are made to incorporate space for a thumb. Then, the rest of the mitten is shaped with a couple of decreases. Because bulky weight yarn is used, they work up super fast, so they make ideal crochet gifts too.
In addition to the written crochet pattern below, I have also created a crochet tutorial on how to crochet mittens; check it out. Alternatively, you can also purchase a written PDF pattern that’s ad-free. It comes with both US and UK instructions. This super pattern is available on Ravelry or you can also buy the crochet pattern in my Etsy store.
Chunky (or Bulky) Yarn for Crochet Mittens
Chunky yarn and bulky yarn are the same weight of yarn. I believe that’s a size 5 (although I don’t use yarn sizes, so had to look it up!). It turns out that a chunky, or bulky yarn makes a great pair of mittens when using simple crochet stitches.
Of course, I tried a few different yarn brands and after a bit of research, my two favourite chunky yarns were West Yorkshire Spinners Re:Treat and Stylecraft Carnival Tweed. Also, it turns out, you can make one pair of chunky crochet mittens out of a single, 100-gram ball of yarn, which is just amazing!
Take a look at the video tutorial for how to crochet chunky mittens to see the leftovers from each 100 gram ball.
Things You Need To Crochet Chunky Mittens
- West Yorkshire Spinners Re:Treat, Chunky Roving, 100% Bluefaced Kerry Hill (100g/ 140m/ 153yds) x1 ball.
- Or, Stylecraft Carnival Tweed, Chunky, 30% Wool, 70% Acrylic (100g/145m/158 yds) x1 ball.
- 5mm hook (US H /8) for the cuff.
- 5.5mm hook (US I/9) for the mitten main sections. Please remember to change to the 5.5mm crochet hook once you have completed the cuff. I totally forgot when I filmed the tutorial and, when it dawns on me (after I’ve crocheted most of the mitten!), I show you at the end what difference it makes.
Crochet Stitch Abbreviations – US Terms
beg = beginning, bpdc = back post double, ch = chain, ch-sp = chain space, dec = decrease, fpdc = front post double, hdc = half double crochet, st(s) = stitch(es), sp(s) = space(s), sl st = slip stitch, rep = repeat, yrh = yarn round hook.
Stitch Tension
Tension isn’t necessarily essential but it could affect the fit of your mittens. And it could also affect the amount used. Basically, if stitches are too loose, it doesn’t matter, but it will mean you need more than one ball of yarn.
If you’re a stickler for gauge (and I am very much in support of meaasuring gauge), 8cm measures 11 stitches & 8 rows. I chose 8cm as a measurement because I could measure across the widest part of the mitten to check it. If it was the standard 10, I would have had to make a gauge swatch and honestly, I wasn’t up for that for crochet mittens!
Finished Mitten Size
The wrist circumference is 19cm / 7.5in. The mitten length is 24cm / 9.5 in. This means that the mitten will fit the average woman’s hand very nicely indeed. Comparatively, I think I have a pretty average hand size.
Adjusting a Crochet Mitten to Fit
If you wanted to adjust these chunky crochet mittens to make them a different size, it’s definitely possible. There are a couple of different places you could add or take away stitches and rows. So, here are three ways to make potential adjustments.
- To adjust the circumference, the stitch pattern is a multiple of two to accommodate the 1×1 post stitch ribbing. Therefore, take or add two stitches to the foundation round at the beginning. Surprisingly, just two stitches measure approximately 1.5cm! So bear that in mind.
- Each round of hdc stitches is 1cm in height. There are two places where you could add extra rows to make longer mittens, or indeed, take the away for shorter mittens. You might want to remove the first round on hdc (UK htr) stitches after the cuff. Then remove a further round after the thumb split. Or add them if you want larger/longer chunky crochet mittens.
- If you had exceptionally slender thumbs, you could, perhaps, lose a stitch either by dropping the final increase on round 12 and skipping 7 titches rather than 8 for the thumb split. But I wouldn’t advise on reducing them too drastically. An extra stitch can be incorporated by adding one more increase on round 12 if you wanted larger thumbs. If you do this, skip 9 stitches at the split, not 8.
- You could also make cosy crochet wrist warmers by not working the thumb and finishing after 5 or six round after the split!
Notes For Chunky Crochet Mittens
- As nearly always, the 1ch at the beginning of rounds is not counted as a st.
- When changing colour, cut the old yarn and pull through the new yarn on the last yarn over of the previous round before slip stitching to join the round.
- For Round 1, close up the open start by popping in a few firm stitches to sew closed, it’s OK to leave this until the end.
- If in doubt check out the video tutorial. It has timestamps for the main sections.
- I know this is obvious, but make two mittens to get your pair!
Special Stitches
Foundation double (fdc).
This is an alternative to beginning with a foundation chain. It creates a neater edge that’s less likely to be tighter than the rest of your stitches.
Ch4 (counts as a st), yrh, insert hook in 4th ch from hook, yrh, draw through, yrh, draw through 1 loop (this creates the space you’ll work the next stitch into), yrh, draw through 2 loops, yrh, draw through 2 loops. Work the next fdc (foundation double) into the created space and loop behind it.
Decreases (dec).
Yrh and insert hook into st, yrh and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), insert hook into next st, yrh and pull up a loop, yrh, pull through all 4 loops on hook.
Chunky Crochet Mittens Pattern
Main Hand Section
Rnd 1 (r/s): With 5mm hook, 26fdc, join with sl st, turn. [26 sts]
Rnd 2 – 5: 1ch, *1fpdc, 1bpdc; rep from * around, join with sl st, do not turn (here & throughout).
Rnds 6 – 7: Change to 5.5mm hook, 1ch, hdc around.
Rnd 8: 1ch, starting in the first st [1hdc, 2hdc in next st] twice, hdc to last st, 2hdc in last st, join with sl st to first st, turn [29 sts]
Rnd 9: As Rnd 6
Rnd 10: As Rnd 8. [32 sts]
Rnd 11: As Rnd 6.
Rnd 12: 1ch, 1hdc, 2hdc in next st, hdc around, join with sl st to first st, fasten off. [33 sts].Â
Separate for Hand and Thumb
With loop on the hook, insert hook into first st, skip 8 sts, insert hook into back of next st, sl st through both sts, turn work to continue working on hand.
Rnd 1: 1hdc in same stitch as sl st just made, hdc around, join with a sl st to the first st. [25 sts]
Rnds 2 – 5: 1ch, hdc around, join with sl st.
Rnd 6: 1ch, 1hdc, 1dec, hdc around, join with sl st. [24 sts]
Rnd 7: As Rnd 2.
Rnd 8: 1ch, 1hdc, 1dec, 8 hdc, 1dec, hdc to end, join with sl st, turn. [22sts]
Rnd 9: As Rnd 2
Rnd 10: 1ch, 1hdc, 1dec, 7hdc, 1dec, hdc to end, join with sl st, turn. [20 sts]
Rnd 11: As Rnd 10. [18 sts]
Fasten off, leaving a tail.Â
Crocheting the Thumb
Rnd 1: Join yarn to any st, 1ch, hdc around, join with a sl st to first st, turn. [8 sts]
Rnd 2: 1ch, hdc around, join with sl st to the first st, turn.
Rnd 3: 1ch, 1hdc, 1dec, hdc around, join with sl st to the first st, turn. [7 sts]
Rnds 4 & 5: As Rnd 2.
Fasten off, leaving a tail.Â
With the right side out, use a darning needle to weave the tail through each front loop of the top of the mitten. Gently pull to close. Sew in the end to secure. Rep for thumb.
Sew in all other ends.
And there you have it! Really easy crochet mittens using bulky yarn, my chunky crochet mittens! What do you think? How quickly do you think you’d be able to make a pair? I bet you could do it in a day without a hitch! Let me know!
If you enjoyed this free crochet pattern, please feel free to peruse the rest of my blog. I have some other fabulous free crochet patterns, or I have a page that gathers some excellent resources for crochet tips and tricks. You’ll find some brand new crochet ideas to add to your repertoire!
But for now, thank you for stopping by and I’ll be back soon. Cheers! x
