How to Crochet Baby Mittens with Ribbed Cuff and Eyelet Ties

Materials & tools you'll need

Step 1 — Work the foundation chain and first row

Make a slip knot and chain 15 stitches. Single crochet into the second chain from the hook and then single crochet across the remaining chains to the end — you will have 14 single crochet stitches in the first row. Chain 1 and turn. Keep your tension even across the foundation chain; a tight chain can make the first row difficult to work into and may pull the bottom edge of the finished mitten inward. If you tend to chain tightly, try going up one hook size for the foundation chain only, then switching back to the 3.5mm for the body rows. For a larger mitten sized for six-to-nine months, start with a few extra stitches in the foundation chain — adding two to four chains widens the mitten without changing any other part of the pattern.

Step 2 — Build the mitten rectangle in back loops only

Work row 1 as 14 single crochet stitches across, chain 1 and turn. From row 2 onward, single crochet normally into the first stitch, then work all middle stitches through the back loop only (BLO) — inserting the hook under only the back loop of each stitch rather than both loops — and finish with a normal single crochet in the last stitch of the row. Chain 1 and turn at the end of every row. Working through the back loop only creates a subtle horizontal ridge with each row, giving the mitten body a soft, flexible texture that stretches comfortably around a baby's hand. Continue in this BLO pattern until you have completed 36 rows in total. At the end of row 36, pull a long loop from the tail yarn and leave a generous tail — approximately 18 to 24 inches — for seaming in the next step. The finished rectangle should measure approximately 6.5 inches tall by 2.5 inches wide before seaming.

Step 3 — Seam the mitten

Thread the long yarn tail onto your yarn needle. Fold the rectangle over onto itself with the right sides facing inward, aligning the top and side edges carefully so the rows match up evenly on both layers. Starting at the bottom corner — the end opposite the tail — stab the needle through the first corner stitch on both layers to anchor the seam, then work up one side of the mitten using an overcast or whipstitch seam, passing the needle through one stitch on each layer at a time and drawing the yarn through snugly but not so tightly that the edge puckers. Continue up to the top corner of the mitten, then weave the working yarn across the top edge by passing the needle in and out of one loop of each stitch along the top to close the fingertip. Bring the yarn back down the opposite side seam in the same way all the way to the starting point, then tie off with a firm knot and trim the tails to about two inches. Turn the mitten right side out — the seams will now be on the inside — and gently press it into shape with your hands.

Step 4 — Work the eyelet cuff

With the mitten right side out, rejoin your yarn at the open cuff edge by pulling up a loop at the point where the tail yarn sits, chaining one and pulling the chain tight to secure the join. Work in the round around the cuff opening using a pattern of double crochet stitches and chain-1 spaces — double crochet into a stitch, chain 1, skip the next stitch, and repeat around the entire cuff edge. The chain-1 spaces form the eyelets through which the tie will be woven in the final step. Keep the spacing even and consistent as you work around so the eyelets are uniform in size — this makes threading the tie much easier and gives the cuff a neat, regular appearance. Join the round with a slip stitch to the top of the first double crochet when you reach the starting point.

Step 5 — Add the ribbed cuff detail

Continue working in the round from the eyelet round, building up additional rounds of double crochet to create the ribbed cuff body. Work double crochet stitches into each stitch and each chain-1 space from the eyelet round below, keeping the double crochet columns aligned vertically from round to round to create the ribbed effect. Join each round with a slip stitch and chain 3 to begin the next round. Continue for as many rounds as needed to reach your desired cuff depth — two to three rounds gives a neat, short cuff, while four to five rounds creates a deeper fold- over cuff. Fasten off when the cuff is complete and weave in the remaining end securely on the inside of the mitten using the yarn needle.

Step 6 — Make and thread the tie

To make the tie, create a slip knot and chain 55 stitches. Slip stitch into the second chain from the hook, then slip stitch into every remaining chain stitch all the way back to the starting point — this produces a long, flat, firm strip that holds its shape well when threaded through the eyelets. Fasten off and trim both ends, leaving tails of about half an inch. Thread one end of the tie onto the yarn needle and weave it in and out through the eyelet spaces around the cuff, pulling it through each chain-1 space in turn until the tie emerges back at the starting eyelet. Pull both ends of the tie to an even length and tie them in a bow or a simple knot to close the cuff snugly around a baby's wrist. Repeat all steps from the beginning to make the second mitten.

Frequently asked questions

What is the finished size of the crocheted baby mitten?
The finished mitten measures approximately 3 inches wide by 6.5 inches tall, which fits most newborns. To size up for a six-to-nine month old, add a few extra stitches to the initial foundation chain and crochet the rectangle to the same 36-row count — the finished rectangle should measure about 6.5 inches by 2.5 inches before seaming.

How do I adjust the crochet baby mitten pattern for a larger size?
Start with a few extra stitches in the foundation chain — adding two to four chains widens the mitten to fit a six-to-nine month old. Work the back-loop-only rows to the same row count of 36, then sew and finish as normal. The pre-seam rectangle should measure approximately 6.5 inches by 2.5 inches at this larger size.

Why are the rows of the baby mitten worked in back loops only?
Working single crochet through the back loop only (BLO) on each row creates a subtle horizontal ridge across the fabric, giving the mitten body a soft, ribbed texture. This texture is more flexible and stretchy than standard single crochet worked through both loops, which helps the mitten conform to a baby's hand comfortably.

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