Crochet is having a moment and with the weather turning cold it’s the perfect time to make your own crochet mittens from one of these free patterns!
Despite being a fairly regular crocheter, it never occurred to me to make crochet mittens until I saw a pair that I had to have, and by that I mean I had to make.
Most yarn mittens are knit, which is a skill I will never master. Knit fabric has more stretch and it’s great for a garment where mobility is needed.
That said, there are a lot of genius crocheters out there who have put together incredible patterns that make the most of crocheted fabric.
Best Yarn for Crochet Mittens
Without getting into specific yarns (because there are too many and they seem to change every 3 seconds) there are a few things to look for when you’re planning out your yarn purchases or searching your stash.
Number one, avoid cotton. The purpose of mittens is to keep your hands warm and dry. Cotton is great, as a quilter my home is stuffed with it, but it’s super absorbent, and wet mittens aren’t what anyone wants.
Wool is an obvious choice, it’s water-repellent and super warm but it can also be pricey. If you’re going with wool, look for a superwash or washable yarn so you don’t accidentally end up with felted doll mittens.
If you don’t like the way wool feels, alpaca has similar warming and moisture-wicking abilities along with a super soft texture. Of course, it also tends to be pretty pricey!
When it comes to crafting I try really hard to stick with eco-friendly materials that won’t outlive me by 10,000 years but acrylic yarn is one of my big exceptions.
Yarn is expensive and one of the best ways to make this hobby affordable is by using acrylic yarn. It might not be as warm as wool but it’s almost always washable and it’s not going to soak up the snow and turn your fingers to icicles!
I tried to find patterns that used different weights of yarn, including worsted and bulky so fingers crossed you find something that works with your stash!
When it comes to colors, pick your favorite or whatever coordinates with your winter gear. My personal guideline is to stick to simple yarn for complex patterns and pull out the fun multi-color yarns for simple patterns where your work doesn’t get lost.
If you’re looking to buy some yarn (and aren’t we all?) here are a few options you can find at Michael’s:
- Lion Brand Wool-Ease (medium weight, washable acrylic/wool blend)
- Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (super bulky, acrylic/wool blend)
- Lion Brand Heartland (medium weight, acrylic)
- Loops & Threads Impressions (bulky, acrylic)
- Loops & Threads Charisma, Charisma Tweed (bulky, acrylic)
- Caron Cinnamon Swirl Cakes (medium, acrylic)
- Caron Cloud Cakes (medium, polyester)
- Caron Macchiato Cakes (bulky, acrylic/wool blend)
Or if you prefer to shop online:
- Wool of the Andes Superwash Worsted (medium, wool)
- Wool of the Andes Superwash Bulky (bulky, wool)
- Brava, Brava Tweed, Brava Recycle, Brava Speckle (medium, acrylic)
- Brava Bulky (bulky, acrylic)
The Patterns
The patterns I’ve collected here are all free, but some have an optional paid PDF which can come in handy if you’re on the go or just looking for everything in one place uninterrupted with ads.
Free Crochet Mitten Patterns
From classic designs to whimsical patterns and intricate textures, you'll find something to suit every skill level and style! Grab your yarn and pick up a hook, as we dive into the enchanting realm of crochet mittens where comfort and fashion effortlessly intertwine!
Starting things off with the mittens that initially grabbed my attention! The Wanderlust Mitten pattern includes two sizes, S/M and L/XL and were originally written for large hands.
These alpaca mittens feature the Wrapped Arrow Stitch which gives them their amazing texture and the pattern includes 3 sizes! It is available for free or as an ad-free PDF
If you're short on time, grab some chunky yarn and this pattern! It uses the Waistcoat Stitch which mimics the look of knitting with a crochet hook! There is even a video that walks you through mastering the waistcoat stitch technique.
It's a fingerless glove, it's a mitten, it's BOTH! This pattern uses worsted-weight acrylic yarn in a checkered fair isle design to keep your hands warm in style!
This gorgeously textured pattern is worked from the wrist up, making them the perfect pattern for customizing to the perfect length! The mitten pattern features the Herringbone Moss Stitch which adds an amazing cozy texture and comes in 6 sizes from baby to large adult
Crocheted cables are stunning and hurt my brain. Fortunately for all of us, this pattern includes a lot of pictures to walk you through the process and because they're mittens, it's a fairly small project to get started with!
These mittens were made with Scarfie, the same yarn I fell in love with when I made my super squishy around-the-post scarf. I just know these mittens are super soft and warm!
I would never have guessed these mittens weren't knit, even after adding them to this list I had to go back and double-check! !
The Friday Mittens are made with thick chunky yarn and come in 4 sizes. You could easily whip up new mittens for the whole family in a weekend using this quick pattern!
The gorgeous texture on the Pemba mittens is hard to pass up! The original mittens were made from Ancient Arts yarn that includes Manx Loaghtan fiber.
You don't need to track down rare fiber to make your own but it is a fun and unexpected intersection of two of my loves (crafting & heritage livestock!)
These are possibly the most gorgeous mittens I've ever seen and they're another one that I had to double-check for secretly being knitting.
This is likely the most complex pattern on this list and I hope that someday I'll be able to pull off something half as cool!
I love the way the colors in the mittens are mismatched, it's the sort of fun detail you can't really plan for when working with color-changing yarn but takes the project to another level without adding any extra work!
This pattern is a great example of letting a smooth and simple yarn shine and show off the special stitches.
The Watson Waffle family has a new member and now you can make a squishy pair of waffle stitch mittens to match your socks, hat & cardigan!
The pattern comes in 6 sizes (baby, toddler, kids & 3 adult sizes) and includes an optional cuff
Another mitten with a whole family of coordinating patterns (including socks, a headband, cup cozies, Christmas stockings, a beanie and a cowl) this one would be perfect for a holiday gift!
The texture is beautiful in solid yarn and I think it would be just as stunning in a heathered or tweed colorway.
This pattern uses worsted weight yarn in two colors for a cool zigzag effect and includes 5 sizes from kid to adult
Check out my Crochet page for more projects or start here:
