Easy Chunky Mittens Knitting Pattern

Mittens can be intimidating to beginner knitters, so I wanted to create the easiest pattern possible. This pattern is (mostly) done in garter stitch and it features very little increasing/decreasing. I chose super bulky yarn and large needles so these mittens can be made in a few hours!
Knitting Pattern
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick Quick (1 skein)
Size US 11 knitting needles
Cast on 18 stitches. Work in K1, P1 ribbing until cuff measures 3 inches ending with a wrong side row.
Next row- K7, K2 together, K7, K2 together (16 sts)
Knit 9 more rows in Garter Stitch
For left thumb, put  a marker in the 6th stitch to indicate the thumb
For the right thumb, put a marker in the 8th stitch.
Knit 1 row increasing 1 stitch on either side of stitch marker (18 sts)
Knit 3 more rows
Knit to 3 stitches before marker, place 5 stitches on holder. Continue knitting across the row leaving the stitch holder in front of the work.Continue in Garter Stitch until mitten measures 11 inches from the cast on edge
K1, then Knit 2 together across the row (7 sts)
Cut yarn and using a yarn needle, pull through remaining sts, and pull tight to close.
Thumb Shaping
Pick up 1 stitch before thumb stitches on holder. Knit across 5 stitches from the holder. Pick up and knit 1 stitch after thumb stitches (7 sts)
Knit 6 rows in Garter Stitch
Knit 2 stitches together at the beginning and end of next 2 rows (3 sts)
Cut yarn and using a yarn needle, pull through remaining sts, and pull tight to close.