Luckyslip Mitts

Luckyslip is a delightfully snug and stretchy texting mitt that is quick to crochet and easy to customize, in two sizes (for luckymen and luckywomen). It satisfies my primary need for fingerless mitts: a comfortably snug fit at the finger opening and a stretchy cuff. I thought maybe I was just picky, but others who have tried them on mention the same features.

Luckyslip also reviews some key points from my Introduction to Slip Stitch Crochet classes. Also see Lucky Twist Mitts.

Skill Level

Easy Intermediate. The slip stitch is an elementary stitch, however, the basic shaping method used for the cuff is an Intermediate skill. The original blue one (originally called “Class Handout Mitt”) focused on coordinating four functions of a simple back loop slip stitch. This enhanced Luckyslip version includes striping steps, customizing options, and my class notes. It’s a great introduction to crocheting a fitted slip stitch ribbing project in lieu of taking one of my classes.

I’ve kept pattern abbreviations to a minimum. American terms with UK & Australian ones included.

After using this pattern you will know (if you didn’t already):

• How to crochet slip stitch ribbing for stretchy fingerless gloves.
• How to begin and end ribbed rows, and how to count them accurately.
• How to decide the front and back of this reversible ribbing.
• How to use the foundation row, seaming row, and turning chains in slip stitch crochet.
• How to shape slip stitch ribbing into a fitted cuff that retains its stretch.
• How to adjust both width and length of this type of fingerless glove.
• How simple color changes work for striped slip stitch ribbing.
• How to edge the ribbing with a Bosnian slip stitch and why.
• How to fasten off slip stitch rounds more smoothly than with a slip stitch join.

Finished Dimensions

The women’s Luckyslip Mitt size has trim dimensions for a quick project, however, it’s easy to customize everything about this design once you’ve made a quickie. Your first mitt comes in “handy” as a template for your own variations. Look for the italicized Customizing Tips within the pattern for changing the length from cuff to finger opening, placement of thumb opening, and width across palm.

Sizes are given for a luckywomen’s size with changes for the luckymen’s size in parentheses:

• Length of mitt from cuff to finger opening: 6.25 (8)” {15.75 (20.25) cm}
• Circumference of inside palm of mitt, unstretched: 6 (6.75)” {15.25 (17.25) cm}; almost doubles when stretched.
• Circumference of inside finger opening, unstretched: 5.25 (6)” {13.5 (15.25) cm}; stretches to about 7 (8)” {17.75 (20.25) cm}
• Circumference of inside wrist cuff opening, unstretched: 5″ {12.75 cm}; almost doubles when stretched.
• Circumference of thumb opening: 3.25″ {8.25 cm}
• Distance from thumb opening to top (finger opening) of mitt: 1.5 (2)” {3.75 (5.0) cm}
• Distance from thumb opening to cuff of mitt: 3 (4)” {7.5 (10.0) cm}

Materials

• Crochet Hook: Size K/US10.5/6.5 mm hook or size needed for gauge.
• Yarn: The best yarns for this project are wool or acrylic blends because they add squishy stretch. Choose a plump #4 medium-weight yarn that lists a crochet hook size range from US H/8/5mm-J/10/6mm on its label. These yarns may also be called Heavy Worsted, Aran, Afghan, and occasionally “Light Chunky” Weight.

Figure on each basic luckywomen’s mitt taking 20g of yarn at most, so a 50g ball would be enough for one pair. You might get five complete pairs from 200g of yarn.

Yarn Shown for luckywomen’s mitts, striped purple: Cascade Yarns 220 (100% Wool, 220yd/201m per 3.5oz/100g skein), color grape; contrast color in 220 Superwash Paints; half of a skein of the main color for a pair of women’s mitts or a full skein for a pair of men’s mitts; about 6 yds {5.5 m} for a contrast color. Yarn shown for blue mitts: Knitpicks Wool of the Andes (100% Wool; 110yd/101m per 1.75oz/50g skein), color Spruce: one skein for a pair of luckywomen’s mitts, or two skeins for a pair of luckymen’s mitts.

Figure on each basic luckymen’s mitt taking 44g of yarn at most, so a 100g ball would be enough for one pair. You’d get four complete pairs from 200g of yarn.

Yarn shown for luckymen’s mitts, shades of gray: Patons SWS (70% Wool, 30% Soy; 110yd/101m per 2.8oz/80g skein), color Natural Slate: one skein for a pair of women’s mitts or two skeins for a pair of men’s mitts. (Note that most yarns come in either 50g or 100g amounts, so one standard 100g skein would be enough for a men’s pair.) Yarn shown for black mitts: Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice (100% Acrylic; 170yd/155m per 3.5oz/100g skein), color 153 Black: half skein for a pair of luckywomen’s mitts or one skein for a pair of men’s mitts. Patons SWS was used for the luckystripes.

• Recommended: 3 stitch markers (until you can recognize the last slip stitch of each row).
• Yarn needle for weaving in ends.