Easy beginner fair isle along with quick knitting super bulky yarn create the Anneli Mittens , a warm free beginner fair isle mitten knitting pattern that can be knit in a day! Scroll down for the full free knitting pattern or purchase the ad-free PDF here.
Find the FREE matching Anneli Hat Pattern here on the blog!
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Is Fair Isle Easy to Knit?
Fair Isle or Stranded Colorwork knitting is easier than it looks and can depend on the pattern. Some people are intimidated by colorwork. If this is you, these mittens are a great starting point. This pattern features only 2 colors per round and is written versus charted.
Anyone that can knit can knit these colorful mittens.
Find a printer-friendly PDF version of the Anneli Mittens here in my Etsy shop. The PDF version includes the full ad-free pattern that’s easy to print and stick in your project bag!
Keep scrolling for the FREE version of the Anneli Mittens Knitting Pattern.
Best Super Bulky Yarn for Fair Isle Knitting
I find that using wool fiber yarn is best when knitting fair isle and colorwork because the structure makes each color pop. Also, depending on what type of look you are going for, a solid color may be better than variegated yarn.
Solid color yarns allow the design to stand out, whereas variegated yarns can sometimes get lost or muddy. If you want to use a variegated yarn I recommend making sure it is very different than the other colors you are using in regards to it’s value. To understand this concept better I have a helpful video linked below.
VIDEO: Choosing Yarn for Colorwork Knitting
Understanding color value when selecting yarn for colorwork is very important to make sure the end result comes out how you want it to look.
I’ve included some of my favorite Super Bulky yarns to use for fair isle knitting below.
Budget friendly Super Bulky Yarn for Fair Isle Knitting
There is a wide variety of price points for super bulky yarn and sometimes it can get expensive. These are my favorite budget friendly super bulky yarn for mittens. For my sample, I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick as the main white color and Knit Picks Tuff Puff for the colorful contrasting colors.
Splurge worthy Super Bulky Yarn for Fair Isle Knitting
If you want something a little more on the luxury side here are my favorite splurge worthy super bulky yarns.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT OTHER FREE MITTEN PATTERNS
Anneli Mittens – FREE Beginner Fair Isle Mitten Knitting Pattern
Description:
The Anneli Mittens were designed to match the Anneli Hat pattern. They use super bulky yarn and a beginner friendly stranded colorwork design to create a quick and extremely warm knit for your hands. These mittens are knit in the round using the magic loop method. Stitches are increased for the thumb gusset, then thumb stitches are placed on waste yarn while the rest of the mitten is knit. Thumb stitches are then put back on the needles and knitted.
Helpful videos for knitting these mittens
Note: Contrasting Colors
Choose as many contrasting colors as you like to create a design all your own. If you use 1-2 different colors you can simply carry your yarn up along the inside of the mittens without cutting and weaving in ends. I have found that if you are using more than 2 contrasting colors you will want to cut your colors after each round and weave in the ends.
Note: Thumb
There is no colorwork on the thumb. When knitting thumb stitches during contrasting color round, make sure to trap your contrasting color as needed so there isn’t a long string inside the thumb.
Sizes: Adult S/M (Adult M/L).
Materials:
Super Bulky yarn in the following yardages
- MC: 26 (29) yds / 23.75 (26.5) m
- CC: 5 (6) yds / 4.5 (5.5)
SUGGESTED YARN
- Knit Picks – Tuff Puff (Contrasting color used in sample)
- Lion Brand Yarn – Wool-Ease Thick and Quick (Main color used in sample)
- Malabrigo – Rasta
- We Are Knitters – The Wool
- Blue Sky Fibers Woolstock North
- Madeline Tosh A.S.A.P
OTHER TOOLS NEEDED
- US 13/ 9mm: 32″ / 81cm long circular needle. – or size necessary to obtain gauge. (I use theseinterchangeable needles for all of my knitting and love them!)
- Tapestry Needle
- 1 Stitch Marker
- Scissors
- Pom Pom (Optional)
- The Knit Kit – My FAVORITE knitting tool. I keep one in each project bag! Click here and use my link for 10% off your order of $25 or more on The Knit Kit and Summer Camp Fibers entire shop!
Finished Measurements:
Adult S/M: 8″ Circumference
Adult M/L: 9″ Circumference
Gauge:
10 sts & 15 rows = 4”/10 cm Measured over colorwork pattern in the round.
Glossary:
BOR – Beginning of Round
CC – Contrasting Color
CO – Cast on
DPNs – Double Pointed Needles
k – Knit
k2tog – Knit the next two stitches together
m1L – Make 1 left leaning increase
m1R – Make 1 right leaning increase
p – Purl
pm -Place Marker
sl -Slip
ssk = Slip one stitch knit wise slip next stitch purl wise knit stitches together through the back loop.
Rep – Repeat
Rnd(s) – Round(s)
st/s – Stitch/es
Anneli Mitten Knitting Pattern Directions
Using US 13/ 9mm needles, CO 18 (20) stitches with MC, place stitch marker, and join in the round.
CUFF
Round 1: *K1, p1; Rep from * to end of round.
Repeat round one, 7 (9) more times.
HAND
Round 1: With MC, K all sts.
Round 2: *K1 with MC, k1 with CC; Rep from * to end of round.
Round 3 (Thumb Gusset Inc): With MC, k8 (9), pm, m1R, k1, m1L, pm, k to end of round.
Round 4: *K1 with MC, k1 with CC; Rep from * to next marker, sm, using MC only k to next marker, sm, *k1 with MC, k1 with CC; Rep from * to end of round.
Round 5 (Thumb Gusset Inc): With MC, k to marker, sm, m1R, k to next marker, m1L, sm, k to end of round.
Rep rnds 4 and 5 until there are 7 (9) sts between markers.
Rep rnd 4 once more.
Next Round (Place waste yarn for thumb) : With MC k to marker, remove marker, place 7 (9) thumb gusset sts onto waste/scrap yarn. Remove next marker. Cast on 1 st using backwards loop cast on, k to end of rnd. 18 [20] sts on the needles.
Rep rnd 2.
Rep rnds 1 & 2 until hand measures 5.75 (6.5) inches from top of cuff. Break CC.
DECREASES
With MC only.
Round 1: *ssk, k 5 (6), k2tog; Rep from * to end of round. 14 [16] sts.
Round 2: *ssk, k 3 (4), k2tog; Rep from * to end of round. 10 [12] sts.
Round 3: *ssk, k 1 (2), k2tog; Rep from * to end of round. 6 [8] sts.
Cut yarn, leaving an 8”/ 20cm tail. Using your tapestry needle, thread the tail through the remaining stitches and pull tightly to close the top of the mitten.
THUMB
Place 7 (9) sts from waste yarn onto needles. Pick up and knit 1 st from cast on edge across from picked-up sts. Pm to mark BOR.
With MC, k8 rnds.
Next Rnd: K2tog around.
Cut yarn, leaving an 6”/ 15.25cm tail. Using your tapestry needle, thread the tail through the remaining thumb stitches and pull tightly to close the top of the thumb.
FINISHING
Weave in all the ends and use them to sew up any thumb holes.
Repeat all steps for second mitten.
Now you have a warm and colorful free beginner fair isle mitten knitting pattern! Check out more of my FREE knitting patterns on the blog HERE.
I would love it if you took a moment to upload your projects to Ravelry or Pin this pattern to Pinterest so you can share it with friends! Also, don’t forget to share your knit hat on Instagram so I can see what you make! Us the hashtag #annelimittens and tag @whimsynorth
