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Willow Mittens Crochet Pattern

Willow Mittens Crochet Pattern
3.9★ Rating
3-4 Hours Time Needed
1.4K Made This
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Intermediate Level

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

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Bite-Sized Project

Complete in under 2 hours—quick, fun, and perfect for a little creative escape.

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Snug Essential

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

About This Willow Mittens Crochet Pattern

Willow Mittens Crochet Pattern crochet pattern - detailed view of completed project

The pattern uses worsted weight yarn and a simple color palette, allowing you to customize your mittens with your favorite colors. The fan stitch creates beautiful texture while remaining soft and flexible for comfortable wear.

Why You'll Love This Willow Mittens Crochet Pattern

I absolutely love this pattern because it strikes the perfect balance between style and practicality. The fan stitch creates such gorgeous texture that elevates these mittens beyond basic cold-weather gear, making them look store-bought while being completely handmade. I appreciate how the pattern includes five different sizes, so you can make matching sets for everyone from babies to adults. The ribbed cuff adds professional polish and ensures they stay securely on your hands. What really makes me excited about this pattern is how quickly it works up—you can complete a pair in just a few hours, making them ideal for last-minute gifts or market projects. The combination of simple techniques with stunning results means you'll feel accomplished without spending days on a single project.

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

Switch Things Up

I love experimenting with this versatile pattern to create unique variations that suit different styles and occasions. One of my favorite modifications is working the mittens in color-blocked sections, alternating two complementary colors every few rounds for a modern, eye-catching look. You could also try using a self-striping or variegated yarn to let the colors do the work while the fan stitch adds beautiful texture.

For a more feminine touch, I sometimes add a decorative border at the cuff by working a round of picot edging or shell stitches before starting the ribbed section. You can also embellish finished mittens with small crocheted flowers, buttons, or embroidered details to personalize them. I've created holiday versions by using festive colors like red and white or adding tiny jingle bells to the cuff.

If you want extra warmth, consider making the mittens with two strands of lighter weight yarn held together, or line them with fleece fabric for ultimate coziness. For kids, I love adding a braided cord connecting the two mittens so they never get lost. You could even work the pattern in a lighter weight cotton yarn for spring fingerless mitts by stopping before the decrease rounds.

Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

✗ Not maintaining consistent tension when working the fan stitch can result in uneven texture throughout the mitten body ✗ Forgetting to use stitch markers when working in spiral rounds leads to losing track of round starts and misshapen mittens ✗ Skipping the gauge swatch causes sizing issues, making mittens too tight or too loose for the intended recipient ✗ Working the thumb opening on the wrong round creates awkward thumb placement that makes the mittens uncomfortable to wear ✗ Stuffing the mitten ends too tightly before gathering creates bulky fingertips instead of smooth, rounded closures

Willow Mittens Crochet Pattern

Create beautiful handmade mittens with this versatile crochet pattern that includes five different sizes from baby to large adult. The Willow Mittens feature an elegant textured fan stitch design combined with a cozy ribbed cuff for extra warmth and comfort. Perfect for keeping hands warm during chilly weather, these mittens work up quickly with worsted weight yarn and make wonderful handmade gifts for everyone in your family.

Intermediate 3-4 Hours

Materials Needed for Willow Mittens Crochet Pattern

— Main Fabric

  • 01
    Worsted weight yarn (weight #4) in your choice of colors: 120-180 yards depending on size
  • 02
    Suggested yarns: Loops & Threads Impeccable or Red Heart with Love

— Tools Required

  • 01
    Crochet hook size G-6 (4.25mm)
  • 02
    Tapestry needle for seaming and weaving in ends
  • 03
    Stitch markers to track rounds
  • 04
    Scissors
  • 05
    Measuring tape to check gauge

Progress Tracker

0% Complete

— CUFF :

Starting Chain :

Chain 8[9, 10, 11, 12], leaving a long tail (10 inches) 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])

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

Repeat Row 2

Info :

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

— BODY :

Round 1 :

Ch 1, working in row-end stitches of cuff, work evenly SC around the cuff edge to obtain 21[24, 27, 33, 36] SC total. Baby/Toddler: SC in each of the next 5(4) sts, 2SC in the next st, repeat around. Child/Teen-Adult: 1SC(2SC) in first st, (SC in next 3sts, 2SC in next st) x 5(6) times, SC in last st. Large Adult: (SC in next st, 2SC in next st) x 2 times, SC in next 3 sts, 2SC in next st, repeat around. Join with SlSt in Ch1

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 (7[8, 9, 11, 12] Fan)

— Baby Size Only :

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)

Info :

Fasten off, leaving a 5-6 inch tail for weaving in. The Baby mitten is now finished

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

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

Repeat Round 3 (8[9, 11, 12] Fan)

Round 6[7, 8, 8] - Thumb Opening :

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 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)

Info :

Fasten off, leaving a 5-6 inch tail for weaving in

— THUMB (Toddler, Child, Teen/Adult, Adult L) :

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)

Info :

Do not join, the next rounds are worked in spiral

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

Info :

Fasten off, leaving a 4-5 inch tail for weaving in

Assembly Instructions

  • Using the long tail from the cuff section, seam the edges of the cuff by whip stitching through the single crochet stitches and the base of the starting chain
  • Use a tapestry needle to gather the end of the mitten closed by going through the front loops only of every stitch around
  • Pull the yarn tail gently to cinch the opening closed and create a rounded mitten top
  • Secure the tail by weaving it through several stitches on the inside of the mitten
  • For sizes with thumbs, gather and close the thumb opening using the same technique as the mitten top
  • Weave in all remaining yarn ends securely on the wrong side of the work
  • Block mittens gently with steam if desired to even out the fan stitch texture

Important Notes

  • 💡Maintain consistent tension throughout the project, especially when working the fan stitch pattern for even texture
  • 💡Use stitch markers to track the beginning of rounds when working in spiral to avoid losing your place
  • 💡The gauge is important for proper fit, so make a gauge swatch and adjust hook size if needed before starting
  • 💡Leave long tails at the beginning for seaming the cuff edges together securely
  • 💡When working the thumb opening, count carefully to ensure you skip the correct number of stitches
  • 💡The baby size mittens do not include a thumb opening as they are designed for very young children
  • 💡Pin or mark the position before gathering the mitten tops to ensure they close evenly and look symmetrical

The Willow Mittens pattern brings together classic ribbed cuff styling with an elegant fan stitch texture that creates beautiful dimension and warmth. With five size options ranging from baby to large adult, you can create matching sets for the entire family or make perfect handmade gifts for any age. The pattern works up quickly with simple techniques that produce impressive results, making it ideal for both gift-giving and personal projects. The combination of practical warmth and decorative appeal means these mittens will become treasured cold-weather accessories that get worn season after season. 🧶 Happy crocheting! 🧵✨

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FAQs

What yarn weight works best for this mitten pattern?

This pattern is designed for worsted weight yarn (category 4). The pattern recommends Loops & Threads Impeccable or Red Heart with Love, but any worsted weight yarn with similar gauge will work beautifully.

How do I know which size to make?

The pattern includes five sizes: Baby (thumbless), Toddler, Child, Teen/Adult, and Large Adult. Measure the hand circumference and length to determine the best size. The baby mittens are designed without thumb openings for very young children.

Why is my fan stitch looking uneven?

Uneven fan stitches usually result from inconsistent tension. Make sure you're working each fan (SC, DC, DC) into the single crochet of the previous round's fan, and maintain the same tension throughout. Using a stitch marker helps track your rounds accurately.

Can I make these mittens in different colors or stripes?

Absolutely! The fan stitch pattern looks beautiful in solid colors, but you can easily add stripes by changing colors at the beginning of any round. Just remember to carry your yarn up the inside if alternating colors.

What does working in spiral mean and why is it used?

Working in spiral means you continue crocheting in rounds without joining with a slip stitch at the end of each round. This creates a seamless appearance without the visible jog that occurs when joining rounds. Use a stitch marker to track where each round begins.

How do I adjust the mitten length if needed?

To make the mittens longer or shorter, simply add or remove rounds in the main body section before starting the decrease rounds. Each fan stitch round adds about half an inch to the length.