P036 Felted Oven Mitts

How to Knit Felted Oven Mitts

Create cosy handmade oven mitts using Makr Cosy yarn and a felting technique to produce a thick, insulating finish. These intermediate-level knitted mitts are worked in the round using two strands of yarn held together, making them a quick and satisfying project.

The finished mitts are felted after knitting, creating a denser fabric that helps provide protection when handling warm kitchen items. The design includes a thumb opening, striped wrist detail and an i-cord hanging loop.

What You Will Need

Materials

• Makr Cosy Yarn – Main Colour (M): 4 x 100g balls
• Makr Cosy Yarn – Contrast Colour (C): 2 x 100g balls
• Waste yarn in a contrasting colour for thumb opening

Equipment

• 5mm circular knitting needle (80cm)
• Set of 5mm double pointed needles
• Stitch holders
• Wool needle for sewing in ends
• Laundry bag or zippered pillowcase for felting

Alternative Yarns

These oven mitts are designed specifically for felting using Makr Cosy yarn. For successful felting, choose a yarn with natural animal fibres that can felt when exposed to heat, moisture and agitation.

• 100% Wool Yarn – felts reliably and creates a dense, insulating fabric.
• Wool Blend Yarn – may felt depending on the fibre content.
• Non-superwash Wool – generally gives the best felting results.

Measurements

• Width: approximately 16cm
• Length: approximately 24cm

Tension

Tension is not important for this project.

Knitting Abbreviations

• K: knit
• K2tog: knit two stitches together
• Kfb: knit into the front and back of the stitch to increase
• Sl1: slip one stitch purlwise
• SSK: slip, slip, knit (left slanting decrease)
• St(s): stitch(es)
• LN: left needle

Construction Overview

The felted oven mitt is created in five stages:

1. Knit the fingertips and hand section in the round.
2. Create the thumb opening using waste yarn.
3. Add striped wrist detail.
4. Create the i-cord hanging loop.
5. Knit the thumb and felt the finished mitt.

Knit the Fingertips

1. Hold two strands of Main Colour yarn together.
2. Using the 5mm circular needle, cast on 22 stitches.
3. Join to work in the round, taking care not to twist.
4. Place a marker at the beginning of the round and after 11 stitches to mark the front and back.

Increase Shaping

1. Round 1: Knit all stitches.
2. Round 2: *K1, Kfb, K7, Kfb, K1, repeat from * once more.
   26 stitches.
3. Round 3: *K1, Kfb, K9, Kfb, K1, repeat from * once more.
   30 stitches.
4. Continue increasing following the pattern until:
   58 stitches remain.

Work the Hand

1. Continue knitting in the round without shaping.
2. Work until the piece measures approximately 20cm from the beginning.

Create the Thumb Opening

1. Choose the first 12 stitches for a right-handed mitt or the last 12 stitches for a left-handed mitt.
2. Work these stitches using a 30cm length of waste yarn.
3. Do not cut the working yarn.
4. Drop the working yarn inside the glove and continue with the waste yarn.
5. Pick up the working yarn again after the thumb opening is created.

Add the Wrist Stripe Detail

1. Work 6 more rounds in Main Colour.
2. Change to Contrast Colour and work 4 rounds.
3. Change to Main Colour and work 3 rounds.
4. Change to Contrast Colour and work 4 rounds.
5. Change back to Main Colour and work 6 rounds.

I-Cord Bind Off

1. Knit 2 stitches, SSK, then slip the worked stitches back to the left needle purlwise.
2. Repeat until 4 stitches remain.
3. Slip remaining stitches onto a double pointed needle.
4. Knit across and slide stitches to the opposite end of the needle.
5. Continue creating an i-cord until it measures approximately 18cm.
6. Knit 2tog twice on the final row.
7. Secure the remaining stitch and sew the loop into position.

Knit the Thumb

1. Remove the waste yarn carefully.
2. Pick up the thumb stitches using 5mm double pointed needles.
3. Pick up 2 additional stitches at each side to close gaps.
   28 stitches.
4. Join yarn and work in the round.
5. Continue without shaping until the thumb measures approximately 10cm.
6. Next round: K2tog around.
   14 stitches.
7. Cut yarn leaving a long tail and graft stitches together.

Felting the Oven Mitt

1. Ensure all ends are securely woven in before felting.
2. Place the mitt inside a laundry bag or zipped pillowcase.
3. Add approximately one teaspoon of washing detergent.
4. Run a short hot washing machine cycle.
5. Remove before the spin cycle begins to avoid permanent pleating.
6. Check the felting progress and repeat the cycle if required.
7. Roll in a dry towel to remove excess water.
8. Stretch into shape and insert a bottle inside to hold the shape while drying.
9. Dry flat in the shade.

Customisation Ideas

• Use contrasting colours for the wrist stripes.
• Create matching kitchen accessories using the same felted yarn.
• Add embroidery before felting for a personalised design.
• Make a matching pair using reversed colour combinations.
• Add a hanging loop in a contrasting shade.

Care

Felted wool items should be gently cleaned according to the yarn manufacturer's instructions.

Allow the mitt to dry completely after use and regularly inspect the felt for signs of thinning or damage.