STITCH ROUND Crochet mittens with a folded cuff and shaped thumb gusset
A folded-cuff mitten pattern with a separate thumb gusset, worked in rounds through Round 13 and finished with gingerbread-style
- Skill
- Intermediate
- Rounds
- 19 rounds
- Yarn weight
- Worsted
- Hook
- 4.5 mm
- Time
- 4-6 hours
Intermediate
What the original page called it. Nothing here is graded a second time.
19 rounds
Each one gets its own line, with a box beside it to tick as you go.
Worsted
What the sample was made in. Any weight works — the size moves with it.
About this pattern
This pattern builds a folded-cuff mitten with a separate thumb gusset and a shaped top, moving from flat rows into rounds. The cuff starts at a chain of 10 and repeats in rows until it hits the length given for adult or baby sizing, then folds in half and joins along the edge. Attaching yarn to the top edge and working 26 single crochets sets up the numbered rounds that follow, which run all the way through Round 13, giving a clear stopping point to check progress against before the gingerbread decorations are added.
The trickiest shaping happens across the Thumb Increase Rounds, where increases land at set points in Rounds 4 through 6 to widen the thumb before the thumbhole is worked across on Round 7 and closed up on Round 8. Slow down at the corners of the thumbhole in Thumb Construction, where two single crochets stitch into each corner before the round evens out, and again when closing the thumb tip by weaving the tail through the last stitches and pulling tight.
- Work a flat cuff in back-loop rows, repeating it until it reaches the wrist length wanted for the wearer.
- Fold the finished cuff in half and single crochet through both loops to form a doubled tube.
- Build the thumb separately with its own rounds of shaping, then join it into the mitten body at the thumbhole.
- Continue the mitten body in half double crochet rounds until it is ready to shape the top.
- Shape the final rounds to close the mitten top, then finish off and secure the last stitches.
- Add the gingerbread details: embroider a zigzag mouth, optionally add crocheted cheek circles and a chained mouth outline in red yarn, then sew on the button eyes.
What goes wrong
- Skipping the back loop on cuff rows Working into both loops flattens the ridge that gives the cuff its stretch and structure. Check that each row goes into the back loop only before repeating it to length.
- Miscounting the thumbhole corners Round 1 of Thumb Construction needs two single crochets in each corner to avoid gaps at the base of the thumb. Recount stitches before joining with the slip stitch.
- Misplacing the increases in Thumb Increase Rounds Each round has increases set a specific number of stitches in, and shifting them skews the gusset out of shape. Mark the increase points with a scrap of yarn before starting the round.
- Forgetting to chain one and turn Several rounds are worked back and forth with a turn even though they join with a slip stitch, and skipping the turn twists the fabric. Turn the work every time before starting the next round.
Yarn, hook and the rest
Copied from the source pattern's own materials list.
- Light brown and white yarn
- Four buttons for the eyes
- Scissors
- 4.5 mm crochet hook
- Two needles (one yarn needle, one sewing needle)
- Sewing thread
- Measuring tape
- Red yarn (optional, for cheek circles and mouth outline)
Progress tracker
0 of the 19 rounds on this page are ticked.
The pattern, round by round
Kept in the order and the wording the source used. Tick a round as you finish it; the ticks stay on this device.
Cuff Construction
Row 1
Chain 10 stitches. Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across to make 9 single crochets.
Row 2
Chain one and turn your work. Work single crochets in the back loop of each stitch across.Repeat until the cuff measures your desired length (4.5 inches for adults, 3 inches for babies).
Cuff Join
Fold the cuff in half and join the edges using single crochets through both loops.
Mitten Body
Attach yarn to the top edge of the cuff.
Round 1
Make 26 single crochets evenly around the top edge and join with a slip stitch.
Round 2
Chain one and turn. Make one half double crochet in each stitch around and join with a slip stitch.
Round 3
Repeat for another round of half double crochet.
Thumb Increase Rounds
Chain one and turn.
Round 4
Make 12 half double crochets, two half double crochets in the next stitch twice, one half double crochet in the remaining stitches, and join with a slip stitch (28 stitches).
Round 5
Make 13 half double crochets, increase twice, finish the round, and join (30 stitches).
Round 6
Make 14 half double crochets, increase twice, finish the round, and join (32 stitches).
Thumbhole Creation
Chain one and turn.
Round 7
Make 12 half double crochets. Chain 3 stitches, skip the next 8 stitches, and make a half double crochet in the 9th stitch. Continue half double crochets until the end and join with a slip stitch (24 stitches plus 3 chains).
Mitten Body (Post-Thumbhole)
Round 8
Chain one and turn. Make 12 half double crochets, one half double crochet in each chain stitch, finish the round, and join (27 stitches).
Rounds 9–11
Chain one and turn. Make one half double crochet in each stitch and join with a slip stitch at the end of each round.
Mitten Top Shaping
Round 12
Chain one and turn. Work a sequence of three half double crochets, then two half double crochets together (decrease) around.
Round 13
Chain one and turn. Work a sequence of two half double crochets, then two half double crochets together (decrease) around.Cut the yarn and leave a long tail. Use a yarn needle to weave the tail through the remaining stitches and pull tight to close the top.
Thumb Construction
Attach yarn to one corner of the thumbhole.
Round 1
Make two single crochets in the corner, one single crochet in each chain stitch, two single crochets in the other corner, and one single crochet in each remaining stitch. Join with a slip stitch.
Round 2
Chain one and turn. Make decreases by crocheting two single crochets together around the thumb. Join with a slip stitch.
Rounds 3–4
Chain one and turn. Make one half double crochet in each stitch and join with a slip stitch at the end of each round.Cut the yarn and leave a long tail. Weave through the remaining stitches and pull tight to close the top.
Gingerbread Decoration
Using white yarn, embroider a zigzag mouth on the mitten.
Cheek Circles (Optional)
Optional: Use red yarn to crochet two small cheek circles using a magic ring with 6 single crochets.Sew two buttons onto the mitten for the eyes.
Mouth Outline (Optional)
Optional: Chain 7 stitches with red yarn to create a mouth outline and sew it onto the mitten.
Arrange and securely sew all decorative elements in place.
Check your count
- Cuff Construction · Row 1: 9 sts
- Mitten Body · Round 1: 26 sts
- Thumb Increase Rounds · Round 4: 28 sts
- Thumb Increase Rounds · Round 5: 30 sts
- Thumb Increase Rounds · Round 6: 32 sts
- Mitten Body (Post-Thumbhole) · Round 8: 27 sts
Finish
- Weave in yarn tails left at the cuff join, the thumb closure, and the top shaping round before wearing the mittens.
- Close the thumb tip by pulling its woven tail tight through the last stitches, then knot and trim.
- Sew the four buttons on with sewing thread and the sewing needle for eyes, placing them after all rounds are complete.
- Embroider a zigzag mouth with white yarn, and if desired, add crocheted cheek circles and a chained mouth outline in red yarn for the gingerbread look, then arrange and securely sew all decorative elements in place.
Bigger or smaller
- Larger
- Work the cuff to the 4.5 inch adult length instead of the 3 inch baby length, and pair it with a slightly heavier yarn on the same 4.5 mm hook to loosen the fabric and grow every round worked from it.
Photographs of this one
Every photograph on this page was taken by whoever published the pattern, and they are printed in the order the source listed them.
FAQs
Asked and answered
These answers came from whoever first published the pattern, kept word for word.
Can the same pattern make both adult and baby mittens?
Yes, the cuff rows set the sizing. Repeat them until the cuff measures 4.5 inches for adult hands or 3 inches for baby hands, then continue the same rounds either way.
Why fold the cuff before joining it?
Folding the cuff in half and single crocheting through both loops creates a double-thick ribbed band that holds its shape at the wrist.
When does the thumb get worked?
The thumb is built separately through Thumb Construction and Thumb Increase Rounds, then rejoins the main body once Round 8 works across the thumbhole.
What are the buttons for?
The four buttons are sewn on with sewing thread as decorative eyes once all the crochet rounds are finished and the ends are woven in.