Free Bernie's Mittens Pattern

Bernie Sander's iconic mittens stole the show of the 2021 US presidential inauguration, and now you can have your own pair inspired by the great man and his cosy style.

The free version of this pattern is written with basic knitting knowledge assumed and has not been extensively tested, currently only available in one size. An add free digital download PDF with further sizes can be purchase in my shop here for just £2.

Bernie's Mittens

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Yarn: Aran Weight in 4 colours

MC: approx. 50g

C1, C2, C3: approx. 20g each

Needles: 3.5mm & 4.5mm DPNs or circular needles with the magic loop technique

Gauge: 20 sts & 22 rows per 10cm/4"

Size: Pattern written for small-medium adult womens size

Pattern:

With smaller needles cast on 36 stitches and join to work in the round

K1 P1 ribbing for 16 rows or until the cuff measures 5 cm

Switch to larger needles and knit the colour chart (there should be 9 chart repeats per round) at the same time work the thumb increases as described below:

Note: Knit the thumb stitches in blocks of 3 rows of each of the colours in the order they appear in the chart.

Right Mitten:

1. On row 6 of the chart, knit to 1 stitch before the end of the round, place an additional marker, yo, k1, yo

2. On the next round knit the yo’s through the back loop

3. On the next round knit to the additional marker, slip marker, yo, knit to the end of the round, yo

4. On the next round knit the yo’s through the back loop

Repeat steps 3&4 until you have 11 stitches in the thumb section

Left Mitten:

1. On row 6 of the chart at the start of the round, yo, k1, yo, place an additional marker

2. On the next round knit the yo’s through the back loop

3. On the next round, at the start of the round yo, knit to the additional marker, yo, slip additional marker

4. On the next round knit the yo’s through the back loop

Repeat steps 3&4 until you have 11 stitches in the thumb section

Continue working the thumb stitches in 3 row coloured stripes without increases until the mitten measures 14 cm from the cast on edge.

Drop the 11 thumb stitches onto a spare cable or waste yarn, remove the additional marker and cast on one additional stitch in the body of the mitten

Continue to work the colour chart until the end or until your mitten measures 4 cm less than the length of your hand, place and additional marker 18 stitches from the BOR marker

Work the following decrease round every second round twice, then every round until there are a total of 12 stitches remaining:

Decrease round: k1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before the second marker, ssk, k1, slip marker, k1, k2tog, knit to 3 stitches before BOR, ssk, k1

Kitchener seam the remaining 12 stitches

Thumb: Pick up the 11 thumb stitches plus an additional 4 stitches spread across the opening, knit in stockinette stitch until the thumb measures 5cm or ½ cm less than your thumb length

In the next 2 rounds, k2tog all stitches, cut the yarn and thread the yarn tail through the remaining stitches, pull tight and weave in the ends.

Colour Chart: