Bernie-Inspired Knit Mittens
This knit mitten pattern is an interpretation of the iconic pair that Bernie Sanders wore to the 2021 presidential inauguration.
In an unanticipated move, the biggest fashion icon of the 2021 presidential inauguration was not a fashion-forward young woman, but a man with a pair of ridiculously cozy-looking mittens. While Jen Ellis is the original creator of the mittens, making them from sewn-together patches of wool sweaters, we can certainly try our hands at creating a hand-knit version! These Bernie-Inspired Knit Mittens take into account the four different kinds of 'sweaters' that were used to piece the original pair of gloves together.
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Knitting Needle Size8 or 5 mm, 9 or 5.5 mm, Double-Pointed Knitting Needles (DPNs)
Yarn Weight(4) Medium Weight/Worsted Weight and Aran (16-20 stitches to 4 inches)
Gauge18 sts x 20 rounds on size 9 needles in the round.
Finished SizeTo fit an average woman's hand.
Materials List
- Set of 4 size 8 double-pointed needles
- Set of 4 size 9 double-pointed needles
-
Aran weight yarn in the following colors:
- A: Maroon (approx. 40 yards)
- B: Medium brown (approx. 45 yards)
- C: White (approx. 35 yards)
- D: Deep teal (approx. 20 yards)
- E: Tan (approx. 20 yards)
- F: Navy (approx. 40 yards
- G: Dark brown (approx. 20 yards)
- Stitch marker for denoting the beginning of the round
- Tapestry needle for kitchener stitch and weaving in ends
Pattern
Notes
- Gauge as written will produce a pair of mittens that will fit an average sized woman’s hand. For larger mittens, try increasing needle size and/or yarn weight. Always swatch to check your gauge.
- Yarn used in the sample picture is Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice in the following colors:
- A: Burgundy (148)
- B: Honey (130)
- C: White (100)
- D: Orion Blue (116)
- E: Beige (123)
- F: Navy (110)
- G: Chocolate (126)
- As front and back of the mittens involve different sets of colors, you will have to carry more than 2 colors around the mitten most rounds. It’s important to catch your floats at regular, short intervals in order to keep them from getting large enough to snag fingers while wearing.
Right Mitten
-
Set Up:
Using smaller needles and A, CO 42 stitches longtail and join to knit in the round. Place a marker to denote the beginning of the round.
-
Cuff:
Round 1: *k1tbl, p1; rep from * around.
Repeat round 1 until cuff measures approximately 2” or desired length. -
Mitten Body:
Switch to larger needles.
Knit around using chart A.
When you reach round 16, bind off 10 stitches as marked in the chart.
On round 17, cast on 10 stitches where you had binded off in the previous round using G.
Continue knitting the chart.
When you reach round 36, begin decreases as marked in the chart.
After knitting the last round of chart A, divide remaining 22 stitches on 2 double-pointed needles.
Using E, graft remaining live stitches with kitchener stitch.
Weave in ends. -
Thumb:
Pick up and knit 20 stitches around thumb bind-off using first round of chart C. Be sure to begin at the first stitch of the thumb bind-off from round 15 of Chart A and not the cast on from round 16, or the thumb design will be flipped.
Knit around using chart C.
When you reach round 11, begin decreases as marked in the chart.
After knitting the last round of chart C, divide remaining 8 stitches on 2 double-pointed needles.
Using G, graft remaining live stitches with kitchener stitch.
Weave in ends.
Left Mitten
-
Set Up:
Using smaller needles and A, CO 42 stitches longtail and join to knit in the round. Place a marker to denote the beginning of the round. -
Cuff:
Round 1: *k1tbl, p1; rep from * around.
Repeat round 1 until cuff measures approximately 2” or desired length. -
Mitten Body:
Switch to larger needles.
Knit around using chart B.
When you reach round 16, bind off 10 stitches as marked in the chart.
On round 17, cast on 10 stitches where you had binded off in the previous round using G.
Continue knitting the chart.
When you reach round 36, begin decreases as marked in the chart.
After knitting the last round of chart B, divide remaining 22 stitches on 2 double-pointed needles.
Using E, graft remaining live stitches with kitchener stitch.
Weave in ends. -
Thumb:
Pick up and knit 20 stitches around thumb bind-off using first round of chart C. Be sure to begin at the first stitch of the thumb bind-off from round 15 of Chart B and not the cast on from round 16, or the thumb design will be flipped.
Knit around using chart C.
When you reach round 11, begin decreases as marked in the chart.
After knitting the last round of chart C, divide remaining 8 stitches on 2 double-pointed needles.
Using G, graft remaining live stitches with kitchener stitch.
Weave in ends.
Abbreviations
- k
- knit
- p
- purl
- k2tog
- knit next 2 stitches together
- ssk
- slip next two stitches onto righthand needle knitwise, then knit together (ssk)
- CO
- cast on
- A (B, C, D, E, F, or G)
- Using color denoted in materials section
- ktbl
- knit through the back loop
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