Foxes have been one of my favourite animals ever since reading Fantastic Mr Fox as a child. My Fantastical Fox Mitts are a homage to the humble fox.

The mitts are fingerless with a flip top to keep your fingers warm whilst keeping them accessible for when you need them. The pattern includes instructions for both short and full thumbs. The mitts are knitted in the round starting with the top flap, which is then joined in as the main mitt is knitted. A waste yarn thumb gusset is used, and the mitts themselves are completely seam free as they start with Judy’s magic cast on, which means you don’t have to go back at the end to join the top of the flap. The flap can be buttoned down using either a short crocheted chain or i-cord loop buttonhole; instructions are provided for both options.

The main part of the fox’s face is knitted using intarsia in the round, then the nose is added by picking up stitches and knitting a shaped piece that is stitched down. The ears are knitted separately, then stitched in place, and the eyes and nose tip are added using black buttons.

The mitts are knitted in a DK-weight yarn at slightly tighter tension than usual to make the mitts hard wearing. The sample is shown in Debbie Bliss Rialto DK (DK weight, 105 m [114 yds] per 50 g ball, 100% merino wool) in Burnt Orange (043, MC) and Ecru (002, CC), in size M.

This pattern is written for DPNs, however, you may wish to use a long circular needle and the magic loop technique.

Sizes
S (M, L, XL): palm width 8.5 cm 3.25 in, 9 cm 3.5 in, 9.5 cm 3.75 in, 10 cm 4 in

The mitts are designed to fit with approximately 1 cm [0.5 in] negative ease. Choose a mitt size that is approximately 1 cm [0.5 in] smaller than the palm circumference.

Tension
24 sts and 30 rnds = 10 cm (4 in) in stocking stitch after blocking on a 3.5 mm (US 4) circular needle, or size needed to obtain correct tension.

Materials
DK weight yarn (ideally a tightly plied wool or wool blend) in each of the following colours:
MC (orange): 155 (170, 205, 225) m 170 (190, 225, 250) yds
CC (cream): 15 (15, 20, 20) m 20 (20, 25, 25) yds
6 x 11 mm 0.5 in black buttons for eyes and noses
2 x 14 mm 0.5 in orange buttons for holding down mitt flaps
Coordinating thread for black buttons

Tools
3.5 mm (US 4) DPNs
3.5 mm (US 4) crochet hook (optional)
Stitch holder
Length of waste yarn
Stitch markers x 2
Tapestry needle
Embroidery needle

Difficulty:
Intermediate (knitting, purling, simple increases and decreases, simple intarsia in the round, picking up sts)

Pattern Style: Mitt pattern is written using abbreviations (all abbreviations are given).