Cable Knit Mittens
Learn step-by-step to read a knitting cable chart by creating a beautiful pair of fleece-lined mittens!
In this knitting tutorial, I take you through each one of the steps you need to knit a set of cable knit mittens! The main focus of this video is learning how to read a cable chart.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Gauge
• Ribbing on US 6: 6 sts x 7.5 rounds = 1” x 1”
• Cable Pattern on US 8: Cable Chart Repeat (20 stitches x 20 rounds) = 3.4” x 3”
Size: One Size
• Across Palm Unstretched: 3.75” (9.5 cm)
• Total Length: 9.75” (25 cm)
Materials
• Cable Needle Amazon
• Lykke US 6 Amazon
• Lykke US 8 Amazon
• Tapestry Needle Amazon
• Waste yarn to hold the thumb stitches
• 160 yds (146 meters) Brooklyn Tweed Tones (Worsted/Medium/#4 Weight Yarn) Loop Yarn
• Optional: sewing needle, thread, and fabric to add a lining!
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Cable Charts
Written Pattern
Use the size or color option that matches your project. The original PDF download remains available above.
Pattern directions - page 1
Cable Knit Mittens
YouTube Tutorial: https://youtu.be/-ENSFHDqVlY
Size: One Size
• Across Palm Unstretched: 3.75” (9.5 cm)
• Total Length: 9.75” (25 cm)
Materials (Video Time 2:09)
• 160 yds (146 m) worsted (#4) weight yarn
o Shown in Brooklyn Tweed Tones - Stonewash
• US 8 (5 mm) Circular Knitting Needle 32” (or longer)
• US 6 (4 mm) Circular Knitting Needle 32” (or longer)
o Note if you are not adding a lining, I would recommend using a US 7 and US 5
instead of the sizes suggested above
• Tapestry Needle
• Cable Needle
• Waste yarn to hold thumb stitches
• Scissors
• Ruler
• Optional: sewing needle thread, and fabric for lining
Gauge
• Ribbing on US 6: 6 sts x 7.5 rounds = 1” x 1”
• Cable Pattern on US 8: Cable Chart Repeat (20 stitches x 20 rounds) = 3.4” x 3”
KNITTING HOUSE SQUARE 1
Pattern directions - page 2
Left Mitten (Shown in Video)
Cast-On (Video Time 04:23)
Use the smaller knitting needle size to cast on 40 stitches using your preferred stretchy
cast-on method (some recommendations include: backward loop, long-tail, or German
twisted). Join in the round for magic loop.
Ribbing Repeat Round
Ribbing Repeat Round: Knit 2, Purl 2 repeat between *s for the full round
Work the Ribbing Repeat Round until the work measures 2” (5 cm).
Increase the Knitting Needle Size (Video Time 12:29)
Work one final Ribbing Repeat Round, increasing to the larger knitting needle size.
(Note: this is the first round labeled “Increase Knitting Needle Size” on the cable chart)
Left Mitten Cable Chart (Video Times 12:41 and 16:18)
The cable chart is worked on the first half of the stitches (first knitting needle in a magic
loop round), the second half of the stitches are all purled (second knitting needle in a
magic loop round).
Work rounds 1 – 20 of the left mitten cable chart. After completing the second MP* in
Round 5, I would recommend placing a stitch marker to make it easier to keep track of
the thumb stitches.
• Thumb Increases Video Time 24:13
• Placing the Thumb Stitches on Waste Yarn Video Time 29:34
Work rounds 1 – 20 one additional time. For this repeat of the cable chart, work only
the stitches within the bold vertical lines (no thumb increases). The stitches labeled as
MP within these bold lines (example Round 5 stitch 2) should be worked as a purl stitch,
NOT a MP.
Work the decrease rounds (Video Time 33:18) – labeled as D#. The chart shows only the
decreases on the cable side of the mitten. The same number of stitches must also be
decreased from the non-cable side of the mitten. Below are the instructions for the
decreases on the non-cable side of the mitten.
*: P2T, purl until 2 stitches remain, P2T
**: P2T, P2T, purl until 2 stitches remain, P2T, P2T
Break the yarn leaving an 18” (46 cm) tail. Cast-off the remaining 12 stitches (6 stitches on each
knitting needle) using the Purl Side Kitchener Stitch.
KNITTING HOUSE SQUARE 2
Pattern directions - page 3
Right Mitten
Cast-On
Use the smaller knitting needle size to cast on 40 stitches using your preferred stretchy
cast-on method (some recommendations include: backward loop, long-tail, or German
twisted). Join in the round for magic loop.
Ribbing Repeat Round
Ribbing Repeat Round: Purl 2, Knit 2 repeat between *s for the full round
Work the Ribbing Repeat Round until the work measures 2” (5 cm).
Increase the Knitting Needle Size (Video Time 12:29)
Work one final Ribbing Repeat Round, increasing to the larger knitting needle size.
(Note: this is the first round labeled “Increase Knitting Needle Size” on the cable chart)
Right Mitten Cable Chart
The cable chart is worked on the first half of the stitches (first knitting needle in a magic
loop round), the second half of the stitches are all purled (second knitting needle in a
magic loop round).
Work rounds 1 – 20 of the right mitten cable chart. Before completing the first MP* in
Round 5, I would recommend placing a stitch marker to make it easier to keep track of
the thumb stitches.
Work rounds 1 – 20 one additional time. For this repeat of the cable chart, work only
the stitches within the bold vertical lines (no thumb increases). The stitches labeled as
MP within these bold lines (example Round 5 stitch 19) should be worked as a purl
stitch, NOT a MP.
Work the decrease rounds – labeled as D#. The chart shows only the decreases on the
cable side of the mitten. The same number of stitches must also be decreased from the
non-cable side of the mitten. Below are the instructions for the decreases on the non-
cable side of the mitten.
*: P2T, purl until 2 stitches remain, P2T
**: P2T, P2T, purl until 2 stitches remain, P2T, P2T
Break the yarn leaving an 18” (46 cm) tail. Cast-off the remaining 12 stitches (6 stitches on each
knitting needle) using the Purl Side Kitchener Stitch.
KNITTING HOUSE SQUARE 3
Pattern directions - page 4
Purl Side Kitchener Stitch (Video Time 41:56)
Set Up 1: Thread the tapestry needle knitwise through the first stitch on the front
needle, leave the stitch on the needle
Set Up 2: Thread the tapestry needle purlwise through the first stitch on the back
Repeat Step 1: Thread the tapestry needle purlwise through the first stitch on the front
needle, slide the stitch off of the needle
Repeat Step 2: Thread the tapestry needle knitwise through the new first stitch on the
front needle, keep the stitch on the needle
Repeat Step 3: Thread the tapestry needle knitwise through the first stitch on the back
Repeat Step 4: Thread the tapestry needle purlwise through the new first stitch on the
back needle, leave the stitch on the needle.
Continue working Repeat Step 1 through 4 until all stitches are cast-off.
Thumb – Both LEFT & RIGHT Mitten (Video Time 45:08)
Place the mitten on a table with the thumb increases towards the left. Use one of the
larger knitting needle points to pick up the first 6 stitches going from right to left
(starting where the thumb meets the mitten). Once the first 6 stitches are picked up,
pull on the knitting needle so the stitches end up on the cord. Turn the work over and
use the same knitting needle to pick up the second half of the stitches going from right
to left (going towards where the thumb meets the mitten). Slide your other knitting
needle onto the first half of the stitches and turn your work to begin magic loop. When
you begin working the thumb you will be beginning each round where the thumb meets
the mitten.
Set-Up Round 1: Purl 6, turn work, Purl 6, pick up and purl one stitch from the inner
corner, turn work
Set-Up Round 2: Pick up and purl one stitch from the inner corner, Purl 6, turn work,
Purl 7 (14 stitches total – 7 on each knitting needle)
Purl Repeat Round: Purl all stitches
Continue working the Purl Repeat Round until the thumb measures 2” (5 cm)
Thumb Decrease Round 1: P2T, Purl 1 repeat until 2 stitches remain, Purl 2
Thumb Decrease Round 2: Purl all stitches
Thumb Decrease Round 3: P2T across the round (5 stitches remain)
Cut your yarn leaving an 8” (20 cm) tail and use the tapestry needle to thread the tail
through the remaining stitches. Weave in all the ends.
Optional: After blocking your mitten – add a lining! For more details see Video Time 49:17
KNITTING HOUSE SQUARE 4
Pattern directions - page 5
Left Mitten
** SK2P SK2P D10
* D9
* D8
* D7
* D6
D5
Note: there are 2 decreaserows labeled "D5" this was
a mistake. I decided to leave them labeled this way
* D5 since I used this chart in the video and I referred to
D4 specific decrease rows by name, I wanted them to still
match up.
D3
They are two separate decrease rounds. There are 11
D2 decrease rows total (D1 through D10 with two D5s)
D1
17 Place the first 12 stitches on waste yarn, cast on 2 stitches
MP* MP* 15
MP* MP* 13
MP* MP* 11
MP* MP* 9
MP* MP* 5
1 ←
↑
← Increase Knitting Needle Size
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Pattern directions - page 6
Right Mitten
** SK2P SK2P D11
* D10
* D9
* D8
* D7
D6
* D5
D4
D3
D2
D1
Place the 12 thumb stitches on waste yarn, cast on 2 stitches 17
MP* MP* 15
MP* MP* 13
MP* MP* 11
MP* MP* 9
MP* MP* 5
1 ←
↑
← Increase
Knitting
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Needle Size
Pattern directions - page 7
Legend
Knit
Purl
Slip 2 stitches from the left knitting needle onto a cable needle and hold it in the front of work, purl the next stitch on the left
knitting needle, knit the two stitches being held on the cable needle
Slip 1 stitch from the left knitting needle onto a cable needle and hold it in the back of the work, knit the next two stitches from
the left knitting needle, purl the stitch begin held on the cable needle
Slip 2 stitches from the left knitting needle onto a cable needle and hold them in the back of the work, knit the next two
stitches from the left knitting needle, knit the two stitches being held on the cable needle
Slip 2 stitches from the left knitting needle onto a cable needle and hold them in the front of the work, knit the next two
P2T (Purl 2 together): Insert the right knitting needle through 2 stitches on the left knitting needle as if to purl, purl the two stitches
together
K2T (Knit 2 Together – right-leaning decrease): Insert the right knitting needle through 2 stitches on the left needle as if to knit, knit the two stitches
SSK (Slip, Slip, Knit – left-leaning decrease): Slip one stitch as if to knit from the left to right needle, slip another stitch as if to knit from the left to
right needle, pass the two stitches back over to the left needle, knit the two stitches together through the back loop
SK2P SK2P: Slip one stitch as if to knit from the left to right knitting needle, K2T, pass the previously slipped stitch up-over-and off of the
right knitting needle (2 stitches decreased)
*
* On the second half of the stitches, work a P2T, purl until 2 stitches remain, P2T
** On the second half of the stitches, work a P2T, P2T, purl until 4 stitches remain, P2T, P2T
MP* Make 1 Purlwise (MP): Use the left knitting needle to pick up the bar in-between the stitch that was just worked and the stitch that is
about to be worked from back to front, purl into the front of this bar (1 stitch increased)
Note: the MP are worked only during the thumb increases. For the second repeat of the cable chart, work only the stitches within the
bold vertical lines, the stitches labeled as MP within these bold lines (example Round 5 stitch 2) should be worked as a purl stitch, NOT
a MP
Cable Charts
Left Mitten Cable Chart
Right Mitten Cable Chart