These fingerless mitts are a good project for the beginner knitter who wants to try knitting in the round, or for the experienced knitter who needs a quick knit. The mitts are worked from the cuff up. The row of eyelets at the cuff, thumb, and palm add just enough visual interest without being difficult to work.
Finished size women’s medium, approx 7 inches around at the cuff (instructions given for modifying dimensions)
Materials 1 x 100g (136 yds) Knit Picks Comfy Bulky (shown in Vinca)
Supplies 5.0 mm, either 4-5 double pointed, or 2 circular, needles
Gauge 16 stitches = 4 inches
Mitts (work two the same)
Cast on 28, being careful not to make the stitches tight. (To change the width of the mitts, increase the number of cast on stitches by 2’s). Split the stitches evenly over your needles. Join in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.
Eyelet Band at cuff (8 rows)
Rows 1, 3, 7: Knit.
Row 2, 4, 6, 8: Purl.
Row 5: *K2tog, yo; rep from *.
Wrist
Knit 17 rows.
Shaping for thumb (18 rows)
Row 1: K1, kfb, knit until 2 sts are left in the row, kfb, k1. (30 sts).
Rows 2 and 3: Knit.
Repeat Rows 1-3 five more times. You now have 40 sts on your needles.
Separate the thumb stitches
On the next row knit the first 6 sts. Then, put these 6 sts AND the last 6 sts of the row onto a scrap piece of yarn. (These 12 sts are for the thumb, which you’ll knit later). Knit to the end of the row.
Now knit 7 more rows (on the first of these 7 rows, you’ll have to rejoin in the round).
Eyelet Band at Fingers (3 rows)
Row 1: Purl.
Row 2: K2tog, yo; rep from *. Row 3: Purl.
Bind off, not too tightly.
Thumb (4 rows)
Transfer the 12 sts from the scrap yarn to your needles. Join your yarn, leaving a long tail (we’ll use this later).
Row 1: Knit.
Row 2: Purl.
Row 3: *K2tog, yo; rep from *. Row 4: Purl
Bind off, not too tightly.
To finish
Weave in the ends at the cuff, fingers, thumb edge. You’ll probably have a gap where the thumb joins the hand. Turn the mitt inside out and use that long tail that you left when you started the thumb the sew up the gap.
Abbreviations
st stitch
k knit
p purl
k2tog put the tip of right needle through the first two needles on the left needle and knit them together
yo bring yarn from back to front over right needle
kfb knit a stitch, but leave it on the left needle, then knit again into the back of the stitch, and slide it off the needle