Knitted Hand Warmers

Hand warmers or fingerless gloves are terrific for keeping your hands cozy in cold weather, while still allowing your fingers to move freely. They are great for outdoor projects that require you to use your fingers. Of course, they're cute too and a fun and quick knitting project.

I've followed several knitting patterns over the years to make these for myself and my daughters. The following pattern is my favorite and works well with a variety of yarns. I suggest using a beautiful wool yarn for warmth and comfort or a baby alpaca yarn for an extra soft and fussy look. This is an easy knitting project and can be done by a beginner who knows how to knit and purl to create the rib stitch shown in the picture.

The pattern can be altered and done in a simple knit stitch if preferred, but the hand warmers will not be as thick. To do this, cut back on the recommended number of stitches cast on to your needle, depending on the hand size.

If the rib stitch is new to you, be patient. View the video below for visual instructions. You may have to start over a few times until you get a feel for it and it does take a little time to master. If you are not familiar with the purl stitch, I've included a video to help with that as well.

Gather all your knitting materials together and make yourself comfortable. You will need a skien of yarn, needles ( I love using bamboo or wood needles for this project), scissors and a large sewing needle to complete the finishing stitches. Depending on how quickly you knit, a hand warmer / fingerless glove could be completed in just a few hours of knitting. Unless you are very familiar with the rib stitch, I would recommend giving This knitting your full attention! Too many distractions can cause mistakes with this stitch.

• Using #8 needles, cast on 36 stitches (I suggest 28 stitches for child size hand warmers)
• Work in Knit 2 Purl 2 rib.
• Work rib for 7" (or measure to fit a small child's hand)
• Bind off stitches loosely.

• Sew  4" up from the bottom and 1" down from the top, leaving a 2" thumb opening.

Hand warmers and fingerless gloves make a wonderful homemade gift for children and adults. Match them to a knitted scarf and hat for a completed look, or make them in a solid color that will match your outerwear.

For kid sized fingerless gloves, a full skein will be enough for at least two pairs. Try making your own design by mixing yarn colors and thickness or making them longer to warm the entire lower arm. Have fun and create your own unique look.