Tutorial: How to Knit Owl Mittens. Free Pattern

I'm big fan of cable patterns, I knit them often - scarfs, sweaters, hats, leg warmers - you name it. Since trying a lot of different types of cable patters to my surprise I've never noticed that one of them look like an owl. It's a very easy knit: just add buttons or beads for eyes and - voilà - owl appears.

Turquoise Owl Mittens/ Half Gloves
Yarn: Bernt Sheep(ish) Vickie Howell 70% Acrylic/30% Wool (used approximate half of 3oz/85g ball), Medium Weight (4)
5 Double-pointed needles size 7US/4.5mm + cable needle.

Cast on 36 stitches, working with double-pointed needles join sts into a circle, taking care not to twist sts, place marker after last st to indicate beginning of a round. Divide sts equally, with 9 on each needle. Knit 1, Purl 1 15 rows, same for both - left and right - mitten.

Body of RIGHT mitten 
Begin Owl Pattern:
Round 1-5: Purl

• I suggest dividing sts so owl pattern stays on one needle, it is much easier to work with cables once all the sts are on the same needle. For example: needle #1 - 7st, needle #2 - 7 sts, needle #3 - 8 sts (owl), needle #4 -  14 sts.

Round 6: Purl 14 sts, Knit 8 sts, Purl 14 sts.
Round 7 (CABLES): Purl 14 sts, Back Cross Cable (C4B - Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work, knit 2 sts from left-hand needle, knit 2 sts from cable needle), Front Cross Cable (C4F - Slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, knit 2 sts from left-hand needle, knit 2 sts from cable needle), Purl 14 sts.
Round 8 (THUMB): Purl 14 sts, Knit 8, Purl 7sts, THUMB: Slip 5 sts to safety pin, Cast On 5 sts to left-hand needle, purl 5 sts,, Purl 2.
Round 9-11: Purl 14 sts, Knit 8 sts, Purl 14 sts.
Round 12 (CABLES): Purl 14 sts, C4B, C4F, Purl 14 sts.
Round 13-16: Purl 14 sts, Knit 8 sts, Purl 14 sts.
Round 17 (CABLES with purl sts): Purl 14 sts, C4B but! - slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work, PURL 2 sts!, knit 2 sts from cable needle, C4F but! - slip 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work, PURL 2 sts!, knit 2 sts from cable needle; Purl 14 sts.
Round 18-19: Purl 14 sts, Knit 2 sts, Purl 4 sts, Knit 2 sts, Purl 14 sts.
Round 20: Purl all stitches (at this point owl is finished).
Round 21-22: Purl.
Round 23: Knit all stitches.
Round 24: Bind off all stitches, cut yarn, weave all tails to wrong side.

Thumb:
Slip 5 sts from safety pin onto double-pointed needle. Join working yarn to inner part of thumb opening, pick up 9 sts, place marker (14 sts).
Next 6 Rounds: Purl.
Round 7: Knit.
Round 8: Bind off all stitches, cut yarn, weave all tails to wrong side.

Attach buttons or beads for eyes:

Body of LEFT Mitten:

• Knit as Right Mitten, only difference in the placement of the thumb: reverse Round 8:
• Reverse Round 8 (THUMB): Purl 2 sts, THUMB: Slip 5 sts to safety pin, Cast On 5 sts to left-hand needle, purl 5 sts; Purl 7 sts, Knit 8, Purl 14 Sts.