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How to Knit Fingerless Mitts Without a Pattern // Technique Tuesday

Roxanne Richardson

173,759 views

This video explains how to knit a basic pair of fingerless mitts for any size hand, using any yarn weight. The basic components of a fingerless mitt are explained, as well as how to do the calculations to plan stitch counts, shaping, and customization.

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My knitting designs: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/rox...

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Yarn quantity required for a pair of mitts varies, depending on yarn weight, size of mitt, and length of each component part. In general, 100g is sufficient for any pair of mitts knit when using a light weight to medium weight yarn (fingering to worsted weight), but might be cutting it close if the yarn is bulky weight.

INFORMATION ON PINK MITT DEMONSTRATED IN VIDEO:
Hand circumference: 7''; gusset length: 2.75''
Yarn: University of Glasgow Cochno Farm Wool, DK weight, 120 yds/110 m per 50g ball
Needles used: Signature Needle Arts 32'' fixed length circular, size uS4/3.5mm
Quantity needed for both mitts: slightly more than the 120 yds in a 50 g ball
Gauge: 5.5 sts and 7.5 rnds/in
CO 40 sts
Thumb 16 sts
Section 1: cuff: k2p2 for 20 rnds (2.75'')
Section 2, gusset: 2.75'' (20 rnds), 6 inc rnds, 20 rnds total
Section 3, upper hand: 14 rnds stockinette, 6 rnds ribbing
Section 4, thumb: 16 sts, 9 rnds stockinette, 6 rnds ribbing

TECHNIQUE VIDEOS MENTIONED
Fake In-the-round swatch: Fake Your Way Through a Swatch

Tips and Tricks for Make 1 increases:
Tips and Tricks Mirrored M1 (make 1) Incre...

Perfect thumb gussets (featuring the trick of picking up extra sts and then working decreases to prevent gaps at the corners)
Perfect Thumb Gussets and Underarm Joins

Playlist of knitting in the round videos (including magic loop, two circs, double pointed needles)
Knitting in the Round

Playlist of all mitten-related videos (there are lots)
Mitten Techniques

0:00 Introduction
0:40 What is knitting without a pattern?
2:30 Components of a mitt
3:51 Measurements
6:18 Gauge Swatch
8:05 Calculations
11:54 Section 1: cuff
12:53 Section 2: gusset
20:58 Section 3: upper hand
24:39 Section 4: thumb

If you have questions about this video, or suggestions for future videos, please let me know down in the comments or on social media.

Rox Rocks Ravelry group: http://www.ravelry.com/groups/rox-rocks
Facebook: Facebook: RoxKnits
Twitter: Twitter: RoxMpls

20 Comments

@devnaroberts3755 5 years ago

Well I thought, "That's logical", so I immediately made a pair for my daughter. "Wow", she said, "Without a pattern...that's impressive." "No silly, that's Roxanne!"

@susanlucero3530 5 years ago

I'm from the Philippines, a tropical country. We have no need to wear mittens but our dialysis patients needs them because it's cold inside the dialysis centers. Thus, I have to learn to make these mittens when my brother in law requested after I gave him a beanie hat for his birthday. He was so glad for the hat to keep his head warm during his dialysis sessions. Now to keep his fingers from freezing. Thank you, Roxanne, as always, you have guided me to be more confident in knitting projects I thought I could never do. May I be able to make more but this time mittens to give to more dialysis patients. More power to your channel. INFINITE THUMBS UP!!!

@neverstoplearning2 3 years ago

These "knit without a pattern" videos are among my favorite videos! I love them because then I'm free to "design" my own. So fun, thanks for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us!

@zanpsimer7685 5 years ago

You speak knit language so fluently and your skill is evident.

@joannasheldon2146 5 years ago

Great video, as always. Thank you! I'd just like to point out that centimeters are SO much easier to calculate with than inches. Start with say a 20 cm (8") hand. Yarn that gives you 22 stiches per 10cm (4") gives you 2.2 stitches per cm. 2.2 x 20 cm gives you the number of stitches you need: 44. Even if you're used to inches, you can buy a tape measure that has both, and use the cm side to calculate with. :)

@nettianslev 2 years ago

Dear Roxanne, I love your tutorials. You explain it so well, that even when my language is not english I understanding it. Thank...... Netti from Denmark

@AnneluvsKatz 1 year ago (edited)

That is, by FAR, the BEST explanation I’ve ever heard for M1R and M1Lthat I’ve ever seen!

This whole video was actually very helpful!!! Thanks so much!

@okaminess 4 years ago

This sounds like a fingerless gloves approach for the absolutely precise knitter who needs to have every stitch in place. I was just looking for light tips but stumbled across this video which sounds like it was from a particularly precise knit guild.

@karosparrow 2 years ago

Stellar! After hunting around Ravelry for the better part of an hour looking for mitts I liked that used the yarn weight and needle size I have on hand, I tripped across this video. I'd tried to do this on my own, but was just using guesswork to figure out stitch counts, etc. This was so incredibly helpful at exactly the right time. Bless you for sharing this knowledge!!

@lizkaji2750 5 years ago

This is the clearest and most helpful/useful knitting tutorial I've seen to date. Thank you so much!

@batya7 5 years ago

I love how you broke this down into sections. The math demo is very useful. The schematic used for the increases, leaving space to write in the plain rows made sense. Thanks for a great instructional video.

@jenniferparker4350 1 year ago

I just finished my first mitt, and it fits so perfectly! I’m in love. This was my first time knitting with a recipe instead of a pattern. I’m still amazed that I took my measurements and gauge and turned them into a finished object that fits! Also, first time making gloves of any kind. Roxanne, thanks for another excellent video tutorial! Your videos are always so informative and helpful.

@lizabethtaylor3178 4 years ago

Thank your for this tutorial on fingerless mitts. I watch it every time I am preparing to knit some mitts😊

@pameladombek1695 3 days ago

Hi Rox, so glad I found this tutorial! I’m an old knitter and a new spinner 😊 and it worked perfectly for one of my first hand spun chunky yarns. I linked your video on my Ravelry project page. (pammypurls). Hope that’s okay. Happy Autumn! Pam

@CA-si2wu 8 months ago

I think I've said it before but you re a national treasure

@GunniSingh-h3v 2 years ago

Roxanne this is a perfect lesson for mitt knitters. Grateful. Thank you.

@AnneluvsKatz 1 year ago (edited)

LOVED this video. I’ve been wanting to know how to customize different projects for a LONG time! My grandmother always just picked up her yarn and would start to knit anything. No pattern ever! And I’ve wanted to learn how. A million thanks❣️❣️❣️

Please do the other version with the thumb coming off the palm?

@sacredsortilege 2 years ago

This video along with the video about ease were exactly what I needed "draft" a pattern for a pair of fingerless mitts. Thanks so much Roxanne!

@SimplieTina 11 months ago

Thank you for this breakdown, as I’m using size 2 fine yarn, this video was a lifesaver! The patterns I’ve found did not give me what I needed for this size yarn. But using your formulas, I made my perfect dream mitten. Gratitude 🙏🏾

@atsuva 3 years ago

You are such a good teacher. As a relative beginner in the knitting craft, it is very rewarding to be able to figure out the pattern for yarn I really like, and see how perfect the end result is. Thank you!