Fingerless computer mitts

I recently stumbled upon the project I made with my first spindle spun yarn. It's a pair of fingerless mitts I wear when I use the computer during cold weather. (Today is one of those days. Brr!) If you take a close look at the picture, you'll see that one of the mitts biased when I knit it. (This is something that an unbalanced single ply of handspun would do.) Yup, I made a mistake plying the yarn. I couldn't remember which direction to spin when I plied it. LOL! I don't remember what kind of wool I used either. Regardless, the yarn knitted up fine, the mitts are warm and that's really all that matters.

Here's the pattern I designed for them. They are simple, fast, and easy to knit. The second picture is of one of the pairs I've made and gifted to friends and family. I made it with Paton's Look at Me yarn. The scrap yarn was from a baby sweater I had made. (I know, I know, just call me frugal and the scrap yarn queen. LOL!)

These mitts will just cover your knuckles and leave your fingers and your thumb free. You can try them on as you go to see if they will fit the way you want them to. Feel free to make them longer or larger or add your favorite stitch pattern to make them yours.

FINGERLESS COMPUTER MITTS

Women’s small to medium (directions given below to customize to fit other sizes)

Scraps of dk, sport weight, or light worsted weight yarn (about 60 yards)
US size 6 (4 mm) double points

Gauge:
4.5 sts/8 rows = 1" (dk)
5 sts/7 rows = 1" (light worsted)

Finished size is about 4.5 to 5" long.

Cast on 34 stitches and distribute evenly over three needles.
Join stitches in the round, being careful not to twist.
The cast-on yarn tail marks the beginning/end of each row.

Knit your choice of ribbing for 8 rows (more if you like a longer cuff).

Knit 9 rows.

Thumb Increase Row: At the beginning of the next row:
knit 1, Lifted Increase [LI: lift the left side of the stitch just below the one you just knit and knit into it], knit 1, LI, knit 1, LI, knit 1, LI, knit plain to the end of the row. (38 stitches)

Knit 8 more rows.

At the beginning of the next row, bind off 9 stitches. Continue to knit around. At the end of the row, pick up 1-3 stitches in the first bound off stitch or cast on several. (This will close the gap between the stitches and the bind off.) Transfer this stitch to the left needle and knit 2 together with the next stitch on the needle to make a stronger join at the thumb. (29 stitches)

Knit 2 rows.
Knit 4 rows of ribbing.
Bind off loosely, and weave in ends.

Customize to fit other sizes:
Measure around your hand above the thumb. Knit a swatch with your chosen yarn and needles to get gauge. Multiply the measurement by your gauge to get the number of stitches to cast on.
Measure around your thumb times your gauge to know how many stitches to bind off for the thumb. Add any additional stitches you need to accommodate the thumb on the thumb increase row and change the number of stitches bound off to what you need.

© December 9, 2005
Vicki Mikulak
All rights reserved.