How to Knit Fingerless Foldback Mittens

Turning fingerless gloves into mittens requires adding an attached mitten hand that can fold back. Without needing to knit the individual fingers, the fingerless mittens knit up quickly and easily. Choose a plied yarn that won’t pill as easily after frequent wear. These mittens are knit in a double knit weight yarn at a gauge of five and half stitches to the inch. Check your gauge to ensure a proper fit.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• 200 yards of double knit weight yarn
• Size 5 double point knitting needles
• Stitch markers
• Scrap yarn
• Tapestry needle

Instructions

1. Measure around the wrist then multiply the wrist measurement by five and a half to determine the number of stitches to cast on.

2. Cast on the desired number of stitches onto one double point needle. Separate evenly over three needles and join to begin working in the round.

3. Knit one stitch through the back loop then purl one stitch and repeat to the end of the round. Repeat this round until the piece measures four inches or the desired length of the cuff.

4. Set up for the thumb gusset. Knit one stitch. Place a marker, knit one stitch then place another marker. Knit to the end of the round.

5. Knit to the marker, slip the marker then make one stitch by picking up the strand of yarn between the stitch just worked and the next stitch on the needle and knit into the back loop of the strand. Knit to the marker then make another stitch before the marker. Slip the marker and work to the end of the round.

6. Knit one round without increasing.

7. Repeat the last two rounds until there are 11 stitches between the markers.
   Knit to the marker and remove the marker. Slip the thumb gusset stitches to scrap yarn to be worked later. Knit into the front and back of the next stitch then knit to the end of the round.

8. Work in stockinette stitch until the hand part measures 2 inches or to a half inch shorter than the desired length.

9. Use a piece of scrap yarn threaded onto a tapestry needle to mark the stitches for the mitten section. Slip half of the stitches onto the scrap yarn but do not remove the stitches from the needle.

10. Work in knit one through the back loop, purl on rib for half an inch. Bind off all stitches.

11. Cast on half the number of stitches used for the rest of the mitten. Use the scrap yarn as a guide to pick up the stitches from the back of the hand. Remove the waste yarn. Divide the stitches evenly over three needles, placing a marker at the halfway point and join to begin working in the round.

12. Work in stockinette stitch for two and half inches or to the desired length before you start the decreasing for the fingers.

13. Knit two stitches together, work to two stitches before the next marker, slip the next two stitches to the right hand needle then knit the two stitches together, slip the marker then knit two stitches together, knit to two stitches before the next marker, slip the two stitches to the right hand needle and knit the two stitches together.
    Work two rounds without decreasing.

14. Repeat the last three rounds until there are approximately 14 stitches left. Divide the stitches evenly over two needles. Turn the mitten inside out and bind off using the three needle bind-off method.

15. Place the thumb gusset stitches back on the needles. Divide evenly over three needles. Pick up and knit two stitches at the hand edge of the gusset. Work in rib for half an inch. Bind off all stitches and weave in the ends.

16. Repeat for the second mitten, marking the last half of the stitches instead of the first in order to have a mitten for each hand.

References

• "Knitting Around"; Elizabeth Zimmermann; 1989