This is the basic pattern I came up with when I first started knitting red wool mittens ten or so years ago. They are knitted flat on two needles and then seamed. I now knit mittens in the round, and this pattern is easily adapted to dpns. I’m including this pattern here because it’s not on my computer, I have one copy left, and I keep misplacing it. My copy is indeed a beginner pattern, with each row spelled out quite plainly and written so that you can easily mark off the rows as you go.

BASIC MITTEN – size 8

CUFF
( ) Cast on 35 stitches with size 5 needles
( ) Row 1: P1, K1 across
( ) Row 2: K1, P1 across
( ) P ( ) K ( ) P
( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) P ( ) K
( ) P ( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) P
( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) P ( ) K
( ) P Change to size 7 needles with next row.

BODY
( ) Knit across row, inc 7 sts evenly. {K2, inc, ((K 5, inc)x6), K3} = 42 sts
( ) Purl ( ) Knit ( ) Purl
( ) K 20, mark, inc twice, mark, K 20 = 44 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit – inc at beginning and end of marks = 46 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit – inc at beginning and end of marks = 48 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit – inc at beginning and end of marks = 50 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit – inc at beginning and end of marks = 52 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit – inc at beginning and end of marks = 54 sts
( ) Purl

THUMB
( ) Knit to marker, leave these 20 sts on needle, add on one st to left needle, knit to marker using a dpn, remove marker, turn, add on one st, leave remaining sts on original needle = 16 thumb stitches
( ) P ( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) P
( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) P ( ) K
( ) P ( ) Knit 2 tog with size 5, crochet to hand

HAND
( ) Pick up a st in each of 2 added on sts at base of thumb, knit across = 42 sts
( ) P ( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) P
( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) P ( ) K
( ) P ( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) P
( ) K ( ) P ( ) K ( ) Purl, place marker after st 21

SHAPING
( ) K2, (s1, K1, PSSO), knit to w/i 3 sts of marker, K2 tog, (s1, K1, PSSO), knit across to last 4 sts, K2 tog, K2 = 38 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit shaping row = 34 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit shaping row = 30 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit shaping row = 26 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit shaping row = 22 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit shaping row = 18 sts
( ) Purl
( ) Knit 2 tog across row w/ size 5 needles, draw yarn through, and weave seam to wrist.