Category Archives: fingerless

FREEBIE Campout Mitts

Campout Mitts

I made a pair of these mitts a number of years ago and was super happy with them – they were fast, simple, didn’t use a ton of yarn, and looked great. They worked out so well, in fact, that the mitts seem to have (ahem) acquired a new home. The FREE pattern was originally designed for glorious, colourful Noro Silk Garden, but I also love the way they look with a semi-solid hand dyed yarn like Malabrigo Rios or Manos del Uruguay Alegria Grande. And of course, you can’t go wrong with a soft tweed yarn like Studio Donegal Soft Donegal.

Yarn Options

Noro Silk Garden: 1 skein for mitts, 2 skeins for longer gauntlets (use 4.5mm/US7 needles)
Malabrigo Rios: 1 skein (use 4mm/US6 needles)
Manos del Uruguay Alegria Grande: 1 skein (use 4mm/US6 needles)
Studio Donegal Soft Donegal: 1 skeins (use 4mm/US6 needles)

Materials

4.5mm/US7 or 4mm/US6 double pointed needles
2 stitch markers
scrap yarn
tapestry/darning needle
FREE Pattern
Our Project Notes

Photo: Tante Ehm

Easy, Fast Projects for Novices & Gifts

Fall has landed and knitting season is in full gear. Welcome back to all of our established stick-handlers, and a hearty welcome to the newcomers. Gift season is coming up in a few months, and we believe that even the greenest knitter can combine hobby and holiday budgets – you just need a little inspiration and guidance.

To get you started …

Your new best friend is a website for knitters & crocheters, Ravelry.com. Ravelry is knitters’ Mecca and most of our links go there. It is free to join Ravelry, and you don’t have to give them any information you don’t want to. They won’t spam you or sell your e-mail address, but if you are concerned feel free to use a ‘junk’ or spare e-mail address to sign up (ie. gmail, yahoo or hotmail).
There is a TON of free technical support on the internet. Knittinghelp.com is an excellent place for novices to start, and Knitting Daily has an excellent glossary of terms. There are many good videos on Youtube from Knit Picks and Berroco. Techknitting is the place for those more experienced who want a detailed explanation.
When seaming use Mattress Stitch for a pretty finish.
Leave about 5 to 6 inch tails (ends), to make weaving in easier.
Knitting and crochet patterns are a bit like Recipes. They give you your ingredients first, and then directions, often written with standardized abbreviations. An explanation of the abbreviations used, or glossary, is usually included, or you can look them up on the internet. For more on how to read patterns there are some good instruction via the Craft Yarn Council.
Knitting needles come in a variety of sizing systems: Metric is the standard in Canada, Europe, Australia & New Zealand. The US has it’s own system, as do the Japanese. If you have old needles that came from Canada or the UK, they might be sized in the older UK system. See this chart for details. Contemporary patterns will give you a needle size based on the country in which it was published. Vintage patterns often give sizes in the old UK system. The easiest way to find out what size your needle is to buy an affordable (approx $3.50 to $4) little gadget called a Needle Gauge, which measures the circumference of your needle and tells you what it is in the various sizes.

Dobbs Ferry Cowl

Skill Level: Beginner (after Scarves)
Free from Martha Stewart Living
Yarn: 2 skeins Cascade Magnum
Needles: 15mm-32″ circular
Skills: knit, purl, cast on, cast off, knit in the round, weave in ends.
Notes: knit with a single strand (pattern uses 3 held together)

Wham Bam Thank You Lamb Neckwarmer

Skill Level: Absolute Beginner!
Free: from Ravelry
Yarn: 1 skein of Brown Sheep Co. Burly Spun or 2 skeins Malabrigo Aquarella, or 1 to 2 skeins Malabrigo Aquarella. For a super soft version use 2 skeins of Misti Chunky (2 strands held together)
Needles: 9mm straight
Skills: cast on, cast off, knit, seam, weave in ends.

Super Simple Fingerless Mitts

Skill Level: Absolute Beginner!
Free from Ravelry
Yarn: 1 skein Malabrigo Worsted
Needles: 4.5mm straight needles
Skills: cast on, cast off, knit, seam, weave in ends.

City Gauntlets

Skill Level: Beginner (after scarves)
Free: from Lionbrand
Yarn: 2 to 4 skeins Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, or 1 to 2 skeins 1 skein Malabrigo Worsted
Needles: 5mm needles
Skills: cast on, cast off, knit, purl, increase (knit into the front then the back of the stitch), seam, weave in ends.

As always, you can find us at Knitomatic.com!

New FREE Pattern: Simple Gauntlets

Simple Gauntlets

These gauntlets are fast, simple, and very satisfying. They make quick, easy gifts that stand out.

They use 1 skein of Noro Odori, a soft & comfortable yarn that changes colour all by itself (it feels like Noro Taiyo, but it’s thicker). The yarn’s texture and depth of colour works with the simple design to create extra interest and a unique, handmade aesthetic.

Holiday Diversions – Free Fingerless Mitties

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Many of the links posted here are from Ravelry.com, a free website for knitters and crocheters. If you don’t have your own account you can use ours: login: knitomatic2, password: knitomatic. But you should get your own account fast, ’cause you’re going to LOVE it!

It’s not really a try last minute gift, but this is what I have been thinking about lately ….. fingerless gloves/mitts/gauntlets (whatever they are called). It’s more of a “keep yourself occupied over the holiday” kind of theme. Plus, the mitties are a project which travel well.

If you have problems with the DPNs on the move, you can try a few other alternatives, including knitting with 2 circular needles, the magic loop technique using 1 long circular needle, or picking up a pair of really short circulars (addi makes 12cm circs ad clover makes 9cm circs). If you have the DPNs keep them around to finish the thumb (if applicable)

Oh, and included below is a slew of different skill levels, ranging from Absolute Beginner to Intermediate, but they are organized in order of prettiness of pictures.

Toasty Mitts

Skill Level Intermediate-Beginner: knit in the round, follow a pattern, pick up stitches.
4.5mm double pointed needles (or try 4mm, check your tension)
2 skeins Berroco Blackstone Tweed or 1 skein Berroco Ultra Alpaca (both on sale right now), or 1 skein of Cascade 220 Superwash (heathers will be pretty), or Malabrigo Merino Worsted, or 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden or Mission Falls 1824 Wool or Debbie Bliss Cashmerio Aran

Ribbed Hand Warmers

Skill Level Intermediate-Beginner: knit & purl in same row, knit in the round, patience to knit with fine yarn, follow a pattern.
3.25 mm double pointed needles
1 skein of Malabrigo Sock or Ella Rae Lace Merino or Colinette Jitterbug or Estelle Cadenza (all on sale right now!), or Dream in Color Smooshy or Dream in Color Starry, or 2 skeins of Koigu KPPPM

Dashing

Skill Level Experienced Beginner to Intermediate: knitting in the round, cables, following pattern, picking up stitches
4.5mm double pointed needles (or try 4mm, check your tension)
2 skeins Berroco Blackstone Tweed or 1 skein Berroco Ultra Alpaca (both on sale right now), or 1 skein of Cascade 220 Superwash (heathers will be pretty), or Malabrigo Merino Worsted, or 2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden or Mission Falls 1824 Wool or Debbie Bliss Cashmerio Aran

Porphyria

Skill Level: Intermediate: knitting in the round, knitting with fine yarn, following a pattern, picking up stitches.
2.75mm double pointed needles
1 skein of Malabrigo Sock or Ella Rae Lace Merino or Colinette Jitterbug or Estelle Cadenza (all on sale right now!), or Dream in Color Smooshy or Dream in Color Starry, or 2 skeins of Koigu KPPPM

Hand Charmer

Skill Level Intermediate to Experienced-Intermediate: short rows, button holes, seaming,
provisional cast on, experience following patterns.
2.5mm needles, straight or circular
1 skein of Malabrigo Sock or Ella Rae Lace Merino or Colinette Jitterbug or Estelle Cadenza (all on sale right now!), or Dream in Color Smooshy or Dream in Color Starry, or 2 skeins of Koigu KPPPM

Easy Peasy Mitts

Skill Level Intermediate-Beginner: knit in the round & pick up stitches, knit & purl in the same row, follow a simple pattern.
3.75mm double pointed needles
1 skein of Noro Silk Garden or Berroco Blackstone Tweed or Berroco Ultra Alpaca (both on sale right now), or Malabrigo Merino Worsted or Cascade 220 Superwash
Alternately, 2 skeins of Mission Falls 1824 Wool or Debbie Bliss Cashmerio Aran with 4.5mm or 4mm needles

Leftover Mitts

Skill Level Intermediate-Beginner: knit in the round, basic cable, pick up stitches, knit & purl in the same row.
8mm double pointed needles
1 skein of Brown Sheep Burly Spun or Malabrigo Rasta or Araucania Coliumo Multy

Mermaid Beginner Fingerless Mitts

Skill Level Beginner (after scarves): knit & purl on the same row, seaming . Need a little review? Check out knittinghelp.com, it’s great!
4mm straight needles
2 skeins of Noro Silk Garden, or Berroco Blackstone Tweed or 1 skein of Berroco Ultra Alpaca (both on sale right now), or 1 skein of Malabrigo Merino Worsted or Cascade 220 Superwash
Alternately 2 skeins of Mission Falls 1824 Wool or Debbie Bliss Cashmerio Aran with 4.5mm needles