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# Catherine's Wheel Scratch Mittens

A pair of soft, textured newborn scratch mittens worked entirely in the classic Catherine's Wheel stitch. The fan-and-cluster motif creates a beautiful scalloped texture while the pattern's natural density keeps tiny fingernails safely tucked inside. A simple drawstring tie at the wrist replaces traditional ribbing — keeping the design 100% Catherine's Wheel as requested.

**Skill Level:** Intermediate
**Finished Size:** Newborn / 0–3 months (approx. 4" circumference × 3¾" long, including scalloped edge)

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## Materials

- **Yarn:** Worsted weight (Medium / #4), approximately 60 yards
  - Main Color (MC): 50 yds
  - Optional Contrast (CC) for drawstring: 10 yds
- **Hook:** US H/8 (5.0 mm)
- **Notions:** Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker

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## Gauge

- 16 sts × 12 rows = 4" (10 cm) in Catherine's Wheel pattern, blocked
- One full pattern repeat (10 sts + 6) = 4" wide × approx. 1⅓" tall (2 wheel rows)

*Take time to check gauge — sizing depends on it.*

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## Abbreviations (US Terms)

- **ch** — chain
- **sc** — single crochet
- **dc** — double crochet
- **sk** — skip
- **st(s)** — stitch(es)
- **RS / WS** — right side / wrong side
- **CW** — Catherine's Wheel
- **7-dc cluster** — yo, insert in next st, yo, pull up loop, yo, pull through 2 loops (1 loop on hook after first dc); repeat across the next 6 indicated sts so 7 loops + 1 = 8 loops on hook; yo, pull through all 8 loops. (A "starting/ending cluster" uses only 4 sts: same method over 4 sts = 5 loops on hook, pull through all 5.)

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## Special Stitch Definitions

**Catherine's Wheel Pattern** (worked over a multiple of 10 sts + 6)

- **Row 1 (WS – set-up):** Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, *sk 3 ch, 7 dc in next ch, sk 3 ch, sc in next 3 ch*; rep from * across, ending last rep with sc in last 2 ch (instead of 3). Turn.
- **Row 2 (RS):** Ch 3 (does NOT count as st), work 4-st starting cluster over next 4 sts (the 2 sc + first 2 dc of fan), *ch 3, sc in center 3 dc of next fan, ch 3, 7-dc cluster over next 7 sts (last 2 dc of fan + 3 sc + first 2 dc of next fan)*; rep from * across, ending last rep with a 4-st ending cluster over last 2 dc + 2 sc. Turn.
- **Row 3 (WS):** Ch 1, sc in top of cluster, sc in next 3 sts (working into ch-3 sp and sc tops as one group), *7 dc in next sc (the center sc of the 3-sc group), sc in next 3 sts*; rep from * across, ending sc in top of last cluster (2 sc total at end). Turn.
- **Row 4 (RS):** Repeat Row 2.

Rows 3–4 form the repeat.

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## Pattern Notes

- Mittens are worked **flat** as a rectangle, then **seamed up one long edge** to form a tube. The bottom edge (foundation) becomes the wrist opening; the top is closed by drawing the final row tight with a tail.
- Turning chains (ch 3) at the start of cluster rows do **not** count as a stitch.
- Stitch counts are given at the end of each row.
- Make 2 (one for each hand — they are identical/reversible).

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## Instructions (Make 2)

### Foundation

**Ch 17.**

### Row 1 (WS – Set-up):
Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next ch, *sk 3 ch, 7 dc in next ch, sk 3 ch, sc in next 3 ch*; rep from * once more, ending with sc in last 2 ch. Turn.
**(16 sts: 2 sc + 7 dc + 3 sc — wait, recount: 2 sc, 7-dc fan, 3 sc, 7-dc fan, 2 sc = 21 stitch positions across 16 foundation chs. Stitch positions: 2 + 7 + 3 + 7 + 2 = 21 worked sts over 16 chs.)**

> ✏️ **Note on counting:** Because the fans add stitches into single chains, *worked* stitch count exceeds the foundation chain count. From here forward, count by **pattern segments**, not individual sts: 2 edge sc + 1 fan + 3 sc + 1 fan + 2 edge sc.

### Row 2 (RS):
Ch 3, work 4-st starting cluster over next 4 sts, ch 3, sc in next 3 dc (center of fan), ch 3, 7-st cluster over next 7 sts, ch 3, sc in next 3 dc, ch 3, 4-st ending cluster over last 4 sts. Turn.
**(2 clusters + 1 middle cluster + 2 groups of 3 sc + 4 ch-3 sps)**

### Row 3 (WS):
Ch 1, sc in top of first cluster, sc in next 3 sts (into ch-3 sp counting as group), 7 dc in next sc (the center sc of the 3-sc group), sc in next 3 sts, 7 dc in next sc, sc in next 3 sts, sc in top of last cluster. Turn.
**(2 sc + fan + 3 sc + fan + 2 sc = same as Row 1 stitch architecture)**

### Row 4 (RS):
Repeat Row 2.

### Rows 5–10:
Repeat Rows 3–4 three more times. **(4 complete fan rows total above set-up = 8 rows worked after Row 2)**

After Row 10, you will have completed 5 full Catherine's Wheel "scallop" rows.

### Row 11 (WS – closing row):
Ch 1, sc evenly across the row, working 1 sc in each st and 3 sc in each ch-3 sp. You should have approximately **16 sc**. Do not turn. Fasten off, leaving a **12-inch tail** for closing the top.

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## Assembly & Finishing

### 1. Close the Top
Thread the 12" tail onto a yarn needle. Run the needle through the top of every sc across Row 11, then pull tightly to gather the top closed (like a drawstring). Secure with several small stitches through the gathered center on the WS. Do not cut yarn yet.

### 2. Seam the Side
With the same tail still threaded, fold the mitten in half lengthwise with RS together. Whip-stitch or mattress-stitch the long side edges together from top (gathered point) down toward the wrist. Fasten off securely and weave in the end.

### 3. Wrist Drawstring (worked in Catherine's Wheel spirit)
At the wrist edge (foundation chain edge), the natural scallops of Row 1 create an eyelet-like opening between each fan and sc group.

- With CC (or MC), **ch 60** loosely. Fasten off, leaving 4" tails.
- Starting at the seam, **weave the chain in and out** through the spaces along the foundation edge — going under each "sc 3" group and over each fan, so the tie hugs the wrist when pulled.
- Tie in a small bow on the outside of the mitten. Trim tails to ¾".

> 💡 **Tip:** For a softer tie, make a slip-stitch cord or a chain-3 picot cord instead of a plain chain. To prevent the bow from coming undone, dab a tiny amount of fabric glue on the knot's center.

### 4. Block
Lightly steam-block or wet-block the mittens, gently shaping the scalloped edge at the wrist and smoothing the fan motifs. Lay flat to dry.

### 5. Repeat
Make a second mitten identical to the first.

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## Math Validation

- Foundation: 16 ch → matches CW multiple (10 + 6) ✓
- Pattern repeats per row: (16 − 6) ÷ 10 = **1 full repeat** with edge sts ✓
- Rows worked: 1 set-up + 8 pattern rows + 1 closing row = **10 working rows**
- Height: 10 rows ÷ (12 rows/4") = **3.33"**, plus scalloped wrist edge ≈ ⅓" = **~3¾" total length** ✓
- Width flat: 16 sts ÷ (16 sts/4") = **4" wide flat panel** → seamed = **4" circumference** ✓ (newborn hand circumference 4–4½")
- Yarn used per mitten: ~25 yds CW body + 5 yds tie = 30 yds × 2 = **60 yds total** ✓

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## Care Instructions

Hand wash gently in cool water with baby-safe detergent. Lay flat to dry. Always inspect drawstring before each use — for the safest fit on newborns, you may substitute a length of soft elastic threaded through the same eyelet path instead of a yarn tie.

Enjoy your beautiful Catherine's Wheel scratch mittens! 🌸