I have been craving simple projects lately, so I decided to knit the easiest fingerless gloves I could think of and write a free pattern for them. ❤️
One of my first knitting projects was a pair of mittens knit flat on two needles without a thumb gusset. They were a surprisingly simple knitting project for beginners that taught me you can knit almost anything if you know the basic knit and purl stitches.
This free knitting pattern for fingerless gloves is even easier!
Fingerless Gloves that are Easy to Knit
These fingerless gloves are knit flat using just 2 needles without any increases or decreases–just basic knits, purls, and slipped stitches. They are perfect for beginners.
With this fingerless gloves pattern, you will knit two rectangles, then you’ll fold them both in half and seam them, leaving an opening for the thumb.
Add this pattern to your Ravelry queue here!
About the Yarn and Recommendations
This pattern calls for a worsted weight yarn. Since the pattern itself is so simple, I think this is a great one for showing off textured or multicolored yarns, but a solid color would look beautifully sophisticated too.
I used a handspun yarn that I spun myself for this fingerless gloves pattern. I am ecstatic with how the simple stockinette and garter stitch show off the variations in my yarn.
I think something like Knit Picks’ multicolored Muse Hand Painted yarn, or their more subtly varied tweedy Provincial Tweed yarn would be just lovely for this fingerless gloves pattern.
You should only need about 120 yards of worsted weight yarn to knit any of the available sizes. You might even be able to get two pairs out of a single 100-gram skein!
Fingerless Gloves Pattern
Abbreviations Used in this Pattern
- BO = bind off
- CO = cast on
- k = knit
- m = marker
- p = purl
- pm = place marker
- RS = right side
- sl = slip (purlwise)
- slm = slip marker
- WS = wrong side
- wyif = with yarn in front
Gauge
16 stitches in 4 in / 10 cm. (How to measure knitting gauge.)
Row gauge is not important for this pattern.
Sizes
S (M, L, XL) to fit most teen to large adult hands. Make sure to check the finished measurements below to choose a size that will fit! Choose a size whose palm circumference most closely matches the palm circumference of the hand you want to fit.
Palm circumference: 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5) in / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5) cm.
Length of fingerless glove: 8.5 (8.5, 9.5, 9.5) in / 21.5 (21.5, 24, 24) cm.
Materials
- 220 yd / 200 m worsted weight yarn. (Yarn recommendations here!)
- One pair of straight needles in size US 9 / 5.5 mm, or a size that lets you meet the prescribed gauge.
- A tape measure, 2 stitch markers, 4 locking stitch markers or safety pins, and a tapestry/yarn needle for seaming and weaving in ends.
Instructions
CO 34 (34, 38, 38) sts (method doesn’t matter; I used the long tail cast on).
Row 1 (WS): k5, pm, sl1 wyif, p17 (17, 21, 21), pm, sl1 wyif, k to end.
Row 2 (RS): k to m, slm, k to m, sl m, k to end.
Row 3 (WS): k to m, slm, sl1 wyif, p to m, slm, sl1 wyif, k to end.
Rep Rows 2 and 3 until work measures 7 (7.5, 8, 8.5) in / 18 (19, 20.5, 21.5) cm from the CO edge, measured in the stockinette (middle) section.
BO on the next RS row.
Knit a second rectangle the same as the first.
Block both rectangles lightly by washing and laying them flat to dry, without stretching. This will help the edges curl less, making them easier to seam.
Seaming and Creating the Thumbhole
I wrote these seaming instructions so you can custom-fit your new knit fingerless gloves to the intended wearer. If these fingerless gloves are a gift (more knitted gift ideas here), you will need your recipient’s hand (or a tracing of it!), or you can use your own hand and hope for the best. 😊
Step 1: Mark Around the Thumb
This step is difficult to describe, so I have provided a visual photo reference as well.
- Lay your rectangle on a flat surface with the wider garter stitch band, which will form the fingerless glove’s cuff, facing you.
- Lay your hand (or your recipient’s hand) on top of the rectangle with the edge of your index finger along the cast on or bound off edge. The line between the garter stitch cuff and the stockinette section should fall approximately where your wrist meets your palm (see the photo below).
- Using one of your locking stitch markers or safety pins, mark the point above your thumb where it meets the palm (the top “X” mark in the picture below).
- Using a second locking stitch marker or safety pin, mark the point beneath your thumb where your thumb exits the rectangle (the bottom “X” mark in the picture below).
- Either repeat for the second glove, or hold up your first and second gloves together and place markers on the second glove to match.
Step 2: Fold in Half and Seam
You have two options for seaming here. You can try a mattress stitch, which is what I did, or you can use a whip stitch.
Fold your new fingerless glove in half so the cast-on and bound-off edges meet, as pictured below.
If you are using a mattress stitch, fold the glove in half with the wrong sides facing (i.e. inside in; this is what is pictured here).
If you are using a whip stitch, fold the glove with the right sides together (i.e. inside out; the opposite of this picture).
Using your chosen seaming method, seam from the top edge to the top marker. Break your yarn.
Again using your chosen seaming method, seam from the bottom edge to the bottom marker. Break your yarn.
You should now have a fully assembled fingerless glove with a hole for your thumb! Repeat with the second glove and weave in your ends.
Enjoy your new fingerless gloves knit flat using just two needles!
Now that you have conquered fingerless gloves knit flat, check out my roundup of the best easy sweater knitting patterns for beginners, which you can knit with just basic knitting skills.
If you knit these gloves, I would love to see them! Tag me on Instagram @arbortwist.
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