Knit Blog: Fingerless mitt pattern
This is a pattern for the simplest of all possible fingerless mitts. Yes, if you start now you can be done in time for the Holidays.....
The guage on this project will affect the fit, BUT since it is all done in elastic ribbing, this is not critical. When in doubt consider the first inches to be a guage swatch and carry on from there.
when i make them, size 6 needles gives me a snug fit, size 8 gives me a loose fit. The size 8 needles gave me one that fit most mens hands.....although my husband (size XL gloves) stretched them a bit.. and the size 6 needles gave me a snug fit on my ladies large hands....
I have made these in a variety of mostly worsted weight wools and other yarns. They are a great idea to use a single skein of something yummy! One skein of Noro Silk Garden or karaoke will make a pair of mitts. This is a great opportunity to use up a single skein of Cashmere, which is normally too expensive to make much from.
Flat knitting version:
CO 40 stitches using an elastic cast on.
knit 2 purl 2 rib to desired length as per the circular instructions, but just knit flat then sew up the hand portion, leave the thumb portion unsewn, and sew up the wrist section.
(it doesnt get much easier than that)
circular knit instructions
CO 40 stitches using an elastic cast on
knit from desired placement on back of hand (i like mine up to the knuckle of my pinkie) to webbing of thumb. (12-16 rows on average for me)
then begin to knit back and forth in rows, not in rounds! until length of mitt reaches base of thumb
(18-20 rows)
(by knitting back and forth you will automatically create an opening for the thumb here)
return to knitting in rounds until wrist segment is equal to hand segment (it can be longer, of course)
(as for hand segment)
If the hand segment and wrist segment are equal, then the mitts not only are right left reversable, but top bottom reversable as well! If you are using a shaded yarn, this can dramatically change the appearance.
(my Noro pair that i sent to
kyleri are more green/turquoise on one side, and more purple on the other...)
For my personal use i like a longer wrist segment, and use one ball for each mitt. this leaves me with LOTS of leftovers, i usually knit into a matching hat.
Yes you can pick up stitches for the thumb, or knit a gusset for the thumb, or whatever... but these are simple, fast, and they let me use my drop spindle!
a snug pair in a nuetral color permits a sign language interpreter to be seen quite clearly. i suggest a "flesh tone" for those purposes.
This is a great gift for anyone who does a lot of computer work... and none of us know any of those, right?
also a treat for Arthritis or Reynauds sufferer's who often consider normal indoors temperatures too cold for their hands.
The guage on this project will affect the fit, BUT since it is all done in elastic ribbing, this is not critical. When in doubt consider the first inches to be a guage swatch and carry on from there.
when i make them, size 6 needles gives me a snug fit, size 8 gives me a loose fit. The size 8 needles gave me one that fit most mens hands.....although my husband (size XL gloves) stretched them a bit.. and the size 6 needles gave me a snug fit on my ladies large hands....
I have made these in a variety of mostly worsted weight wools and other yarns. They are a great idea to use a single skein of something yummy! One skein of Noro Silk Garden or karaoke will make a pair of mitts. This is a great opportunity to use up a single skein of Cashmere, which is normally too expensive to make much from.
Flat knitting version:
CO 40 stitches using an elastic cast on.
knit 2 purl 2 rib to desired length as per the circular instructions, but just knit flat then sew up the hand portion, leave the thumb portion unsewn, and sew up the wrist section.
(it doesnt get much easier than that)
circular knit instructions
CO 40 stitches using an elastic cast on
knit from desired placement on back of hand (i like mine up to the knuckle of my pinkie) to webbing of thumb. (12-16 rows on average for me)
then begin to knit back and forth in rows, not in rounds! until length of mitt reaches base of thumb
(18-20 rows)
(by knitting back and forth you will automatically create an opening for the thumb here)
return to knitting in rounds until wrist segment is equal to hand segment (it can be longer, of course)
(as for hand segment)
If the hand segment and wrist segment are equal, then the mitts not only are right left reversable, but top bottom reversable as well! If you are using a shaded yarn, this can dramatically change the appearance.
(my Noro pair that i sent to
kyleri are more green/turquoise on one side, and more purple on the other...)
For my personal use i like a longer wrist segment, and use one ball for each mitt. this leaves me with LOTS of leftovers, i usually knit into a matching hat.
Yes you can pick up stitches for the thumb, or knit a gusset for the thumb, or whatever... but these are simple, fast, and they let me use my drop spindle!
a snug pair in a nuetral color permits a sign language interpreter to be seen quite clearly. i suggest a "flesh tone" for those purposes.
This is a great gift for anyone who does a lot of computer work... and none of us know any of those, right?
also a treat for Arthritis or Reynauds sufferer's who often consider normal indoors temperatures too cold for their hands.