Simple Bulky Fingerless Mitts

I created this fast and easy mitt pattern for super-bulky weight yarn.  Fits an average adult-size hand, or slightly loose on a tween or teen age hand. (I have a 12 year old who enjoyed how they fit!) This has not been tested or professionally edited so please contact me if you notice any errors or have any issues! Thanks!

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick, or similar weight yarn. Uses less than a full skein. Also need a small amount of scrap yarn of similar thickness in a different color for making the thumb hole.

Needles: US13 long circular needle for magic loop (my preferred method, but you can use 4 dpns for the whole project) and 2 double-pointed needles (helpful for picking up the thumb stitches)

Instructions:

Cast on 18 stitches and join to begin working in the round. (If using double-points, distribute 6 stitches onto each of three needles and join to begin working in the round.) Place a marker to designate the start of the round.

Knit every stitch for 14 rows.

Thumb hole row: Using a scrap piece of yarn (using a contrasting color really helps!) knit the first 4 stitches of the row. Then, slide those 4 stitches that you knit back onto the left needle. Now, pick up the original main color of yarn and knit those 4 stitches again, and continue around the entire row until you get back to the beginning marker. This knits the piece of scrap yarn into your fabric, and it will be removed later to create your thumb hole!

Knit every stitch for another 8 rows, which is 9 rows total past the scrap yarn row.

Bind off loosely.

Thumb: Carefully remove the scrap yarn from your mitt, placing the exposed live stitches onto 2 double-pointed needles (one for the "top" stitches and one for the "bottom" stitches). I had 8 stitches on the needles after removing the scrap yarn. (4 on top and 4 on bottom). 

Using the main color and either another dpn or your circular needle, and leaving a decent length tail, knit across the bottom needle. Pick up and knit one stitch from the "side" of the thumb hole and add it onto your needle. I like to knit into the back of the stitch that I am picking up to help try and prevent a hole from forming!

Turn and knit across the top 4 stitches, again picking up a stitch at the other 'side' of the hole (knitting through the back loop) and adding it to your needle. [Note: The stitches on the "top" will be backwards (or twisted), so be aware you may need to slide them off the needle and "untwist" them before knitting, OR you can knit through the back loop on those stitches as you come to them.]

You should now have 10 stitches on your needles for the thumb. If using dpns, redistribute stitches amongst 3 dpns. Place marker to designate the beginning of the round. 

Knit every stitch for 4 rounds. Bind off loosely and cut a long tail.

Weave in ends, using long tail ends to sew up any holes that formed when picking up the thumb area.

Repeat for your second mitt. Enjoy having warm hands!