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WILLOW Mittens Pattern

WILLOW Mittens Pattern
4.9★ Rating
2-4 Hours Time Needed
4.2K Made This
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Intermediate Level

Ideal for those with basic crochet experience, featuring slightly more advanced stitches and techniques to expand your skills.

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Bite-Sized Project

Finishes in 2-4 hours—perfect for an afternoon of creative relaxation.

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Snug Essential

Everyday comfort with practical charm, designed for both functionality and style through changing seasons.

About This WILLOW Mittens Pattern

These Willow Mittens are a textured, cozy pair featuring a ribbed cuff and a fan stitch body for a warm, stylish finish. The pattern includes instructions for five sizes from Baby to Large Adult and shows how to add a thumb opening and finish the thumb. You will work the cuff flat and then pick up stitches to work the mitten body in the round.

WILLOW Mittens Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn and a G-6/4.25mm hook and includes clear notes about stitch placement, thumb shaping, and finishing. Make two mittens exactly the same way; the baby size is thumbless.

Why You'll Love This WILLOW Mittens Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because the fan stitch creates beautiful texture with very little fuss, making each mitten look special and handmade. I enjoy that the cuff is worked flat for a neat ribbed finish and then transformed into a round mitten body for a professional look. The pattern is versatile across five sizes, so I can make matching mittens for family members easily. I also love how the thumb opening is worked directly into the rounds, which simplifies shaping and keeps the mitten tidy.

WILLOW Mittens Pattern step 1 - construction progress WILLOW Mittens Pattern step 2 - assembly progress WILLOW Mittens Pattern step 3 - details and accessories WILLOW Mittens Pattern step 4 - final assembly and finishing

Switch Things Up

I love customizing these mittens by changing yarn color to create stripes or contrasting cuffs — try a two-tone cuff for extra visual interest.

I sometimes use a bulky yarn and a larger hook to create a chunky, cozy version; this makes the mittens quicker to make and super warm.

If you want mini versions for keychains, use fingering yarn and a much smaller hook to scale the pattern down.

I like to swap the fan stitch for a simple shell or puff stitch if I want a different texture while keeping the same construction.

For a dressier look, I add a small embroidered motif on the back of the hand using duplicate stitch in a contrasting color.

I often line the mittens with a soft fleece cut to the inner shape for extra warmth — just sew the fleece in before closing the mitten top.

To make the thumb more flexible, stop decreasing one round earlier and reduce stuffing at the thumb tip before closing.

I sometimes add a button tab at the cuff to attach mittens together for storage or to the coat sleeve to prevent loss.

Try pairing these with a matching headband or cowl worked in the same fan stitch to create a coordinated set.

I also experiment with slightly different stitch counts at the base of the cuff to tailor the fit for narrow or wide wrists; small adjustments can improve comfort.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Skipping stitch markers while working the body in spiral can cause losing the start of rounds; place and move a marker at the beginning of each round to stay oriented. ✗ Not folding and joining the cuff correctly will result in an uneven seam; fold the cuff exactly in half and join with a slip stitch matching the last stitch of Row 1 to form a neat seam. ✗ Forgetting to leave a long tail when chaining the cuff prevents neat seaming; leave the 10-inch tail when chaining to seam the cuff edges securely. ✗ Not counting stitches after increases around the cuff edge causes incorrect stitch counts; count your SCs after Round 1 to ensure you have the correct total before proceeding. ✗ Overtightening the ribbing or fan stitches can make the mitten too stiff; keep a consistent, slightly relaxed tension for a comfortable, flexible mitten. ✗ Not securing weave-in tails properly at assembly may result in unraveling; use whipstitch seaming and weave in ends securely, and gather mitten ends through front loops only for a tidy finish.

WILLOW Mittens Pattern

Create cozy, textured Willow Mittens with a ribbed cuff and fan-stitched body. This pattern guides you through three simple sections—cuff, mitten body, and thumb—so you can make a matched pair with neat shaping. Perfect for gifting or keeping your hands warm on chilly days.

Intermediate 2-4 Hours

Materials Needed for WILLOW Mittens Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Any worsted weight yarn (#4): 120[130, 150, 170, 180] yards for sizes Baby [Toddler, Child, Teen/Adult, Large Adult]
  • 02
    Suggested yarn: Loops & Threads Impeccable (or Red Heart With Love)
  • 03
    Use contrasting or matching colors as desired; yardage above is per pair

— Tools Required

  • 01
    G-6 / 4.25mm crochet hook
  • 02
    Tapestry needle for weaving in ends and finishing
  • 03
    Scissors
  • 04
    Stitch marker (to mark the start/end of rounds)
  • 05
    Measuring tape or ruler to check gauge
  • 06
    Pins (optional) for blocking or holding seams

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— Materials & Gauge :

Info :

any worsted weight yarn/# 4: 120[130, 150, 170, 180]yds. Suggested yarn: Loops & Threads® Impeccable™, Red Heart with Love. G-6 /4.25mm crochet hook. Gauge: 15SC/4" - Adjust your hook sizes to meet the gauge if needed.

Info :

Legend: Ch-chain, St(s)-Stitch(es), SlSt-Slip stitch, SC-Single Crochet, DC-Double Crochet. SC2tog= SC decrease : insert hook into next st, YO and pull through st (2 loops on hook), insert hook into next st, YO and pull through st (3 loops on hook), YO and pull through 3 loops. Fan = (SC, DC, DC) all in the same stitch. Number within < > shows the total number of stitches/ fan you should have after that row/round. 5 SIZES: Baby, Toddler, Child, Teen/ Adult, Large Adult.

— Introduction :

Info :

These mittens are worked in 3 steps - the pattern contains three sections: 1- the cuff- is worked flat 2- the body of mittens - worked in the round -is started along the edge of the cuff 3- the thumb (the baby mittens are thumbless). Make 2 mittens: both mittens are worked in the exact same way, including the thumb shaping.

— Cuff :

Info :

-Directions are given for size Baby and the changes for Toddler, Child, Teen/Adult, Adult L are in parentheses, so: Baby [Toddler, Child, Teen/Adult, Adult L].

Row 0 :

Chain 8[9, 10, 11, 12], leaving a long tail (10inches) to seam the edges.

Row 1 :

SC in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across, turn. <7[8, 9, 10, 11]>

Row 2 :

Ch 1( does not count as a stitch), SC in first st, BLSC in each of next 5[6, 7, 8, 9] sts, SC in last st, turn <7[8, 9, 10, 11]>. To obtain a nice edge, I prefer to make a standard SC( under both loops) in first and in the last st.

Rows 3 - 18[ 20, 22, 26, 28] :

Repeat Row 2. You must have 18[ 20, 22, 26, 28] Rows. Fold cuff in half and join with a slip stitch, the last stitch with the first stitch of Row 1, to form the cuff. Do not cut the yarn. Continue with the body of mitten - in the top side of the ribbing.

— Body :

Info :

- worked in the round, onto the edge of the ribbed cuff. - do not turn at the end of the rounds.

Round 1 :

Ch 1, working in row-end stitches of cuff, work evenly SC around the cuff edge, to obtain a total of 21[ 24, 27, 33, 36]SC, as follow: Baby ( Toddler) size: ch1, *SC in each of the next 5 (4) sts, 2SC in the next st*, repeat from *-* around, join with a Slst in Ch1. <21(24) SC>.

Round 1 :

Child ( Teen/ Adult) size: ch1, 1SC ( 2SC) in first st, (SC in the next 3sts, 2SC in the next st) x 5(6) times, SC in last st, join with a Slst in Ch1. < 27(33) SC>.

Round 1 :

Large Adult size: ch1, (SC in next st, 2SC in the next st)x 2 times, *SC in the next 3 sts, 2SC in the next st*, repeat from *-*around, join with a Slst in Ch1. <36 SC>.

Info :

The next rounds are worked in spiral (no slip stitch at the end of the round). Use stitch marker to keep track of start/end of rounds.

Round 2 :

Fan in first st, skip 2sts, * Fan in next st, skip 2 sts* repeat *-*around, < 7[8, 9, 11, 12]) Fan>

Round 3 :

Fan in first SC of previous round (move st marker up as you work), skip next 2 DC. Continue with Fan in each SC of next fans. ( make a fan in SC and skip the 2DC, around). < 7[8, 9, 11, 12]) Fan >

Info :

From now on, - each Fan is worked in SC of Fan of previous round, and the DC are skipped, unless otherwise specified. Continue depending on size:

— Baby size :

Round 4-10 :

Repeat Round 3. <7 Fan>

Round 11-12 :

SC2tog around, in continuous rounds. Join with a slip st at the end of last row. < 6 SC>. Fasten off, leaving a 5"-6" tail for weaving in. The Baby mitten should now be finished.

— Toddler [Child, Teen/Adult, Adult L] sizes :

Info :

-The following directions are given for size Toddler and the changes for Child, Teen/Adult, Adult L are in parentheses, so: Toddler [Child, Teen/Adult, Adult L].

Round 4- 5[ 6, 7, 7] :

Repeat Round 3 < 8[ 9, 11, 12] Fan >

Info :

In next round, make the opening for the thumb:

Round 6[7, 8, 8] :

Fan in first SC of previous round, skip the 2 DC, SC in the SC of the next fan, chain 3, skip the 2 DC and the next 2 Fan ( for thumb hole), continue with Fan in each SC of next fans. < 5[ 6, 8, 9] Fan and 1 SC before the Chain3>

Round 7[8, 9, 9] :

Fan in first SC of previous round, skip the 2 DC, Fan in the in the SC before the Chain3, Fan in the second chain of Chain3, Fan in each SC of next fans. < 7[8, 10, 11] Fan>

Round 8[9, 10, 11]-12[14, 17, 18] :

Fan in each SC < 7[8, 10, 11] Fan>

Round 13[ 15, 18, 19]-14[ 16, 19, 20] :

SC2tog around, in continuous rounds. Join with a slip st at the end of last row. 6[ 6, 8, 9 SC]. Fasten off, leaving a 5"-6" tail for weaving in. See thumb instructions below.

— THUMB :

Round 1 :

Pull up a loop on the mitten side of the hole, ch1 and SC in the same space, 4[4, 5, 5]SC across the top of thumb hole, 1SC into the space on the other side of thumb hole, 4[5, 5, 6]SC across the bottom of thumb hole. <10[11, 12, 13]SC> Do not join, the next rounds are worked in spiral (no slip stitch at the end of the round).

Round 2 - 5 [6, 9, 10] :

SC in each SC around. <10[11,12,13]SC>.

Round 6 [7, 10,11] :

SC2tog around, SC in last stitch for sizes Child and Adult L. Join with a slip st. Fasten off, leaving a 4"-5" tail for weaving in.

— ASSEMBLY :

Info :

Using the long tail of the cuff section, seam the edges of the cuff by whip stitching through the SC and the base of the starting chain. Secure and weave in ends. Use a tapestry needle to gather the end of the mitten and the end of the thumb closed: go through the front loops only of every stitch around and weave in. Secure the tail.

Info :

Congratulations! You have your WILLOW mittens!

Assembly Instructions

  • Fold the cuff in half and join the last stitch of Row 1 to the first stitch of Row 1 with a slip stitch to form the cuff seam.
  • Using the long tail from the starting chain, seam the cuff edges by whip stitching through the SC and the base of the starting chain, then secure and weave in ends.
  • Position the thumb and gather the top of the mitten and the thumb using a tapestry needle, passing through the front loops only of every stitch, pull to close and weave in the tail.
  • Weave all remaining ends neatly on the wrong side of the mitten and block gently if desired to even out the fan stitch texture.

Important Notes

  • 💡Use a stitch marker when working the body in spiral to keep track of the start/end of each round.
  • 💡Leave a long tail (about 10 inches) when chaining the cuff to provide enough length for seaming the cuff edges.
  • 💡Work the cuff flat, fold and join before continuing onto the body to ensure a neat ribbed finish.

These Willow Mittens combine a stretchy ribbed cuff with a pretty fan stitch body for cozy warmth and visual interest. The pattern includes five sizes and clear instructions for thumb shaping and finishing. Perfect for gifts or keeping hands warm this season. 🧶🧤

You ask,

we answer.

FAQs

What size will the finished piece be?

The pattern provides five sizes (Baby, Toddler, Child, Teen/Adult, Large Adult) and finished size will vary depending on yarn and tension; follow the gauge of 15 SC = 4 inches to match intended sizing.

Can I use a different yarn weight or hook size?

Yes, you can use a different yarn weight but your finished mitten size will change; adjust your hook size to meet the gauge or accept the altered finished dimensions.

Do I need to know how to work in spiral rounds?

This pattern for the mitten body and thumb uses spiral rounds (no slip stitch at the end of each round), so experience or comfort working in continuous rounds is recommended.

How long will this project take?

Most crafters finish a pair of these mittens in about 2-4 hours, depending on experience and size; baby mittens are quicker while adult sizes take longer.

Is the baby size thumbless?

Yes, the baby mitten instructions produce a thumbless mitten; the other sizes include thumb shaping instructions.