As Summer begins to wane…and we soon will be slipping into the busyness of Fall, my thoughts and fingers start to plan and begin small gifts for the coming holiday season. It is still hot, so a small quick project is ideal. Thoughts that cool temps are right around the corner is comforting. So a quick project, when an art yarn does all the design work is a fun idea. The genius is that the knitting needs to be kept simple so the yarn can shine. I have been spinning up some different colorways of Wool Paint roving I have dyed, for just such a project. Several skeins are now in the Farm Shop.

Fingerless gloves only require one skein, so why not make a few pairs? I will try to make it easy. So if you have not knitted gloves before, or have not knitted in the round. I am providing a little tutorial here. We are using worsted, or light worsted yarn, and set of 5 size 7 double pointed needles. Also, have a couple of stitch markers handy, some waste yarn and a good size tapestry nedle

Cast on 32 stitches, dividing evenly onto 4 needles, being careful not to twist.

Rounds 1, 2: Purl. Rounds 3-5: Knit. Rounds 6-7: Purl . Rounds 8-12: Knit.

The Pattern Stitch is simple: Round 1: *K3, sl1 (purlwise): repeat from * around. Round 2: Knit.

Hand

Knit rounds 1 and 2 of Pattern Stitch 10 times. (20 rounds total.)

So as you can see…this is a simple stitch and the variegated nature of the handspun yarn creates interesting transitions. You can’t get this result from millspun because each ply of the yarn changes color at random. This is the fun part, watching the colors emerge as the glove is being knitted.

Now it is time to begin the thumb gusset.

You will be increasing 2 stitches for the thumb gusset every third round while continuing the 2 round pattern stitch.

Round 1: K1, place marker (PM), k1, PM, k1, sl 1, continue with round 1 of Pattern Stitch to end of round.

Round 2: K1, slip marker (SM), M1R (=Make 1 right slant-with left needle tip, lift strand between sts from back to front, knit lifted st through the front.), knit to marker, M1L (=Make 1 left slant-lift strand between sts from front to back, knit the lifted st through the back.), SM, continue with round 2 of Pattern Stitch around.

Round 3: Knit to 1st slipped stitch (slipping markers), sl1, continue established Pattern Stitch around.

Round 4: Knit around

Round 5: K1, sm, M1R, k to marker, M1L, sm, k1, sl1, continue with round 1 of Pattern Stitch to end of round.

Round 6: Knit around. Round 7: Repeat round 3.

Round 8: Repeat round 2. Round 9: Repeat round 3.

Round 10: Knit around. Round 11: Repeat round 5.

Round 12: Knit around. Round 13: Repeat round 3.

Round 14: Repeat round 2. Round 15: Repeat round 3.

Round 16: Knit around. There should be 11 sts between the markers.

Finger area

This part is when the glove really starts to take shape. So grab about 10 inches of waste yarn.

Next round: K1, lift strand between first st and first marker M1R, place the 11 thumb sts onto the waste yarn using your tapestry needle, removing the markers. Join yarn, k1, sl1, continue with round 1 of the Pattern Stitch around.

Next round: Knit around.

Repeat rounds 1 and 2 of the Pattern Stitch 6 more times. (12 rounds total.) Bind off purlwise.

Thumb

Ok..into the home stretch…place the 11 thumb stitches onto 3 dpn needles-4 sts on 1st needle, 3 on 2nd, and 4 on 3rd.

Round 1: Join yarn and knit 11 sts on needles, pick up and knit 5 sts in the thumb hole space. (16 sts total.)

Round 2: knit 11 sts, ssk, k1, k2tog. (14 sts)

Rounds 3-7: Knit around.

Bind off purlwise. Weave in loose ends, paying attention to any gaps at the base of the thumb cinching up those gaps. And now you are ready to repeat the whole process for the 2nd glove. And as you notice..with art yarn, the 2nd glove will not match exactly. But that is part of the fun.

This little pattern is so fun and quick, you will have oodles of pairs done before Christmas. And you might get bold and come up with cool modifications…like maybe a different cuff or stitch pattern. But keep it simple with art yarn. A complicated stitch pattern would be lost in a variegated yarn. ..So get those needles clicking and feel free to share your results on our FaceBook page. Or you can also ask your questions there as well. Happy knitting!

There is now a printable PDF available.