This is an ideal beginner’s pattern for Norwegian mittens, or colourwork mittens in general. It has row-by-row instructions not typically offered in most colourwork mitten patterns. Once you have made these, you should be able to knit colourwork mittens from a chart. I’m happy to offer pattern support, so please don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Hello fellow knitter! I designed these mittens for my classes on Norwegian Selbu mittens. For that purpose I needed a pattern that would be easy to follow and quick to knit up, whilst also incorporating the techniques that defines a Selbu mitten. The result was these mittens, which only have a short rib so that you can get straight into the colourwork! Although, traditionally, women’s mittens only had rib or lace cuffs. Many thanks to Anne Bårdsgård for putting together the masterpiece ‘Selbuvotter’, which greatly informed and influenced the construction of this pattern.

Following my mitten classes, I have changed and improved the pattern instructions so that even knitters who have never done colourwork mittens before should be able to make a pair on their own. Thus, this is the perfect beginner’s Selbu Mitten pattern.

I hope you will enjoy this pattern, and if you need any help or have any suggestions, this thread is the best place to get help! Happy knitting!

Yarn
Susan Crawford’s Excelana DK (100% British wool, 125m / 136 yds, 50g)
50g of Natural Ablaster (main colour)
50g of Persian Grey (contrast colour)
See alternatives here

Needles
Gauge-size needles and 0.5 mm below gauge-size needles for working small circumferences in the round.
The grey sample was made using 4 mm (US 6) and 3.5 mm (US 4) mm needles.

Notions
Stitch marker, waste yarn

Gauge
26 (24) 22 (20) sts = 10 cm / 4” in stranded colourwork

Sizes
1 (2) 3 (4)
The grey sample was made in size 2, and the burgundy sample in size 3.
Different sizes are achieved with different gauges by using bigger needles for bigger sizes and smaller needles for smaller sizes.

Finished measurements
Mitten circumference: 20 (21.7) 23.6 (26) cm / 7.75 (8.5) 9.25 (10.25)”
To be worn with 3 cm / 1.25” positive ease