Fingerless gloves keep your hands warm while leaving your fingers free to type, text, drive or knit. They are also one of the best small projects for learning new skills, because each mitt is quick and uses only one skein or less. Make a pair for yourself and a second pair as a gift.
This list has 12 free knit fingerless gloves patterns. Some are simple rectangles sewn up the side, perfect for beginners, and others add lace, a thumb gusset or self-striping color. We list the yarn, needle size and skill notes we found on each designer’s page.
Knit Fingerless Gloves Free Patterns
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What You’ll Need
- Double-pointed needles or a long circular for magic loop
- Straight needles for flat patterns
- DK, worsted or sock yarn
- Locking stitch markers
- Scrap yarn or stitch holders for the thumb
- Tapestry needle
- Soft measuring tape
1. Super Simple Handwarmers
Photo: Emily Bolduan
If you can cast on, knit, purl and bind off, you can make these. You knit a rectangle, fold it, and sew the side, leaving a gap for your thumb. The designer calls it a good first project, and DK yarn makes a light, comfy fabric you can wear all day.
- Designer: Emily Bolduan
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Needle size: US 6 (4 mm)
- Price: Free (Ravelry download)
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. Fable Mitts
Photo: craftylittlesewnsew (Sian)
These mitts are knit flat on straight needles, with a ribbed cuff, stockinette body and a thumb opening made with a stitch holder. The cute detail is a band at the wrist with two buttons. They come in small and medium, and you only need 50 grams of DK yarn.
- Designer: craftylittlesewnsew (Sian)
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3), 50 g
- Needle size: 4 mm straight
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Cosy Wrist Warmers
Photo: Joelle Hoverson
Simple wrist warmers knit in the round that cover your wrists and the top of your hands. They fit most hand sizes and can be worn alone or tucked under gloves on very cold days. With hundreds of ratings on Ravelry, this is a tried and true classic for a first in-the-round project.
- Designer: Joelle Hoverson
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Aran (#4)
- Needle size: US 6 (4 mm), two 8″ circulars
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Stawamus
Photo: Raquel Nicolau / Knit It Out Designs
The designer calls these a quick and easy little project, inspired by a giant rock near her home and the smell of pine trees in fall. Bulky yarn on US 10 needles means you can finish a pair in an evening or two. They make a great last-minute gift.
- Designer: Raquel Nicolau / Knit It Out Designs
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Bulky (#5)
- Needle size: US 10 (6 mm)
- Price: Free (Ravelry download)
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Comfy Knit Wristers
A quick, easy pair with a pretty stitch pattern, sized from small to large. The suggested yarn is dyed in separate plies that twist together, so the color shifts as you knit without any extra work. It is a free download from Red Heart with no sign-up needed.
- Designer: Red Heart / Yarnspirations
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: Red Heart Collage
- Needle size: see pattern
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Bria Armwarmers
Photo: Beth / Shortrounds
Long, sleek armwarmers in stockinette with a small ribbed cuff at each end. They are knit in the round on double-pointed needles and shaped with decreases so they fit your arm. The designer used a soft baby alpaca silk yarn, which makes them feel light and a little fancy.
- Designer: Beth / Shortrounds
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Drops Baby Alpaca Silk, 2 skeins
- Needle size: 3.25 mm (US 3) DPNs
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Cupcake Mittlets
Photo: Shantha Ramachandran
Light, short mitts that need less than one 50 g ball of DK. They are quick and easy to knit and sized for an average woman’s hand. With hundreds of projects on Ravelry, they are a reliable pick for a one-skein gift or a stocking stuffer.
- Designer: Shantha Ramachandran
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3), under 50 g
- Needle size: US 3 (3.25 mm)
- Price: Free (Ravelry download)
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Maine Morning Mitts
Photo: Clara Parkes
A much-loved classic, these mitts are worked in the round from the bottom up with ribbing and a thumb gusset. They take only 85 to 110 yards of aran yarn, and they look great in self-striping wool. A unisex design, so you can make them for anyone on your list.
- Designer: Clara Parkes
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Aran (#4), 85–110 yards
- Needle size: US 7 (4.5 mm)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. Hiris Fingerless Mittens
Photo: Iris H / Hiris Makes
A plain, cozy mitt knit in one piece in the round, with a thumb gusset. It comes in sizes from XS to XXL, which makes it easy to knit for every hand in the family. The designer made it to show off special skeins and use up stash yarn.
- Designer: Iris H / Hiris Makes
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: DK (#3)
- Needle size: US 4 (3.5 mm)
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. Black Locust Mitts
Photo: Jessica Yesin
Sport weight mitts with a simple lace pattern that stays comfortable all day. They are quick to knit, and the lace makes a nice first step into lace knitting without a big project. The designer suggests a soft merino yarn so they feel good against your skin.
- Designer: Jessica Yesin
- Skill level: see pattern
- Yarn: Sport (#2)
- Needle size: US 6 (4 mm)
- Price: Free (Ravelry download)
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. Serenity Mitts
Photo: Lauren Rad / A Bee In The Bonnet
Mostly stockinette with columns of purls and slipped stitches running up the back of the hand, plus a thumb gusset placed toward the palm. They come in three sizes and use fingering weight sock yarn with a contrast color. A relaxing knit that teaches you how a proper gusset works.
- Designer: Lauren Rad / A Bee In The Bonnet
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: Fingering (#1), sock yarn
- Needle size: US 1.5 (2.5 mm)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
12. Essential Fingerless Gloves
These gloves are knit in the round in self-striping sock yarn, so the stripes do all the color work for you. The pattern introduces stitch holders for the thumb and is meant as a step up from scarves toward mittens. A fun way to learn while getting a colorful pair.
- Designer: Paintbox Yarns
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: Fingering (#1), Paintbox Yarns Socks
- Needle size: US 2 (2.75 mm) DPNs
- Price: Free
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
- Never knit in the round? Start with #1 Super Simple Handwarmers or #2 Fable Mitts. Both are knit flat.
- Need a gift by the weekend? #4 Stawamus in bulky yarn is fast.
- Ready for your first thumb gusset? Try #8 Maine Morning Mitts, then #11 Serenity Mitts.
- Want a little lace? #10 Black Locust Mitts is a gentle start.
- Love color without effort? #12 uses self-striping yarn to make stripes for you.
FAQ
Are fingerless gloves good for beginners?
Yes. Many patterns are just a rectangle knit flat and sewn up the side with a gap for the thumb. You only need the knit and purl stitches. Once you are comfortable, try a pair knit in the round, which teaches you double-pointed needles on a small, low-risk project.
How much yarn do I need for fingerless gloves?
Most pairs take one skein or less, often 85 to 200 yards depending on the yarn weight and how long the cuff is. Bulky yarn uses fewer yards but more weight. Check the pattern, and buy an extra skein if you plan to make the cuffs longer.
How do I get the right fit?
Measure around your hand just below the knuckles, not counting the thumb. Pick the size closest to that number, or a little smaller, because ribbing and knit fabric stretch. Knit a gauge swatch first so your mitts are not too loose or too tight.
Choose a pair, grab one skein, and your hands will be warm and stylish before the cold weather hits.
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