How to Knit Fingerless Mittens

These simple, cozy hand-warmers are perfect for fall and winter.

Cozy fingerless mittens are an easy and practical knitting project—they leave your fingertips free for texting while the rest of your hand stays warm. These mittens are straightforward to make (the basic knit stitch is king here), and the patterns are readily adaptable; the finished size is a women's medium, but you can alter that to suit the wearer. Plus, they make a sweet homemade gift during the holidays.

These instructions are based on a gauge where six stitches and eight rows are equal to a one-inch stockinette stitch, and you can adjust the needle size as necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Discover how to create DIY fingerless mittens to keep your hands warm for any time there's a chill in the air.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

4 standard double-pointed needles in size U.S. 5 (3 3/4 mm)
Tapestry needle

Materials

2 skeins (50 grams) sport-weight yarn in desired colors (about 150 yards)
8 inches scrap yarn in contrasting color

Instructions

Make the Mitten
- Cast: With double-pointed needles, cast on 39 stitches. Divide stitches among three double-pointed needles, and join in a round.
- Rounds 1 through 57: Knit.
- Round 58: Using scrap yarn as your working yarn, knit seven stitches off the beginning of your next needle. Then slip these stitches back onto the needle they came from. With your main yarn, knit across the scrap yarn stitches as well as the rest of the stitches on that needle.
- Rounds 59 through 83: Knit with main yarn. Bind off loosely.
Use stitch markers to easily keep track of rounds; this can prevent mistakes and save time when counting rows.
Make the Thumb

Carefully remove the scrap yarn. As you do so, a hole will form with a series of loops above and below it. Pass one empty double-pointed needle through the top seven loops and another through the bottom seven loops.

With a third needle and a new piece of yarn, knit the seven stitches on the bottom row, pick up, and knit two loops at the end of the thumb opening.

Knit the seven stitches on the top row, pick up, and knit two loops at the opposite end of the thumb opening.

Divide the 18 stitches among three needles and knit 14 rows. Bind off loosely.
Repeat Steps

Repeat process to make the second mitten.