Fingerless Gloves

Fingerless Gloves

By Sarah E. White

Warm Hands, Warm Heart:


Sometimes when it's cold outside, it's also cold inside. If you live or work with people who like it cooler than you do, or if you have chronically cold hands, you need a good pair of fingerless gloves.

These gloves allow you to use all your fingers with ease but still keep the palm of your hand and your thumb warm while you're working. Made from a soft, warm wool, these mitts will keep your hands cozy all day long.

Materials:


•one ball, about 80 yards, of super-chunky wool (I used Rowan Big Wool in Cloak and had a little left over)

•two pairs of size 15 US circular needles

•scissors

•tapestry or yarn needle

•crochet hook

Gauge

Two and a half stitches and three rows per inch knit stockinette stitch in the round.

Size

Finished project is nine inches long and eight inches around.

On a small woman, these gloves cover about half the forearm and go over the whole palm. The thumb is covered to the knuckle. Adjust the length as desired. They fit a small or medium-sized woman with little stretch, but they also stretch enough to fit a medium-sized man.




Instructions for Body:

1.Using the long-tail cast on, cast on 18 stitches using one set of circular needles.

2.Slide the stitches to the other end of the needle and slip the first nine stitches that were cast on onto the second circular needle. Place a stitch marker before the last stitch on the second needle if desired to mark the end of the row.

3.Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

4.Knit in stockinette stitch (knit every row) for about seven inches, or to desired length before thumb. To knit using two circulars, knit the first nine stitches with one set of circular needles and the second stitches with the other set.

Instructions for Thumb :

1.On the next row, knit the first six stitches on the first needle, then slip the last three stitches from that needle and the first three stitches from the second needle onto a stitch holder. Knit the last six stitches, remembering to pull tight when you switch needles.

2.Continue to knit in the round on 12 stitches for two inches or to desired length.

3.Bind off loosely. Cut yarn.

4.Slide three stitches off your stitch marker onto one needle and three stitches onto the other needle. Knit these six stitches in the round one and a half inches or to desired length. Bind off loosely. Cut yarn, leaving a long tail.

Finishing:

1.Use a tapestry or yarn needle and the long tail to sew up any hole that appears between the thumb and the hand. Weave in ends.

2.Make the second glove in the same manner.

About the Yarn:

Rowan Big Wool is a joy to work with. This bulky, soft, 100 percent merino wool yarn just begs to be made into a project like this that will get a lot of use and keep the wearer very cozy. Because this is merino wool, the yarn has a nice "halo" and is very durable and low on the itch factor.

Because it is fine wool, the manufacturer recommends hand washing in cool water. Do not agitate the fiber. Reshape the garment and allow to air dry out of direct sunlight.

The color I used does not seem to be widely avialable any longer; Tremble would be a good subsitute, or use any of the 28 colors you like.