How to Knit Beginner Level Gloves
Knitting your own gloves allows you to customize the fit, fiber, color and pattern for yourself or to give as a gift. However, most glove patterns include many challenging aspects, including picking up stitches and using circular or double-pointed needles. Fingerless knit gloves are an easy option for beginners. To avoid the complication of circular or double-pointed needles, beginners can knit fingerless gloves flat and sew up the sides after knitting. Flat-knitted gloves are among the easiest accessories to knit, making for a satisfying project for beginning knitters.
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Things You'll Need
- Yarn
- Pair of knitting needles to obtain appropriate gauge (consult yarn label)
- Darning needle
Instructions
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1
Knit a gauge swatch in knit two, purl two ribbing (knit two stitches, purl two stitches). Cast on enough stitches for four inches, according to the gauge estimate on the yarn label. Measure your gauge swatch slightly stretched, so that the purl ribs are visible, rather than sinking into the ribbing. Divide the width of the swatch by the number of stitches you worked. For instance, if you have 20 stitches, and your swatch measures four inches, then you have a gauge of five stitches per inch using this particular yarn with your chosen needles.
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2
Measure your hand around at its widest point, right below the knuckles. This will be the width of the gloves. Multiply this measurement by your number of stitches per inch, as determined from your gauge swatch. For instance, if your hand is six inches around, and your gauge is four stitches per inch, then you will need six times four, or 24, stitches. Measure from the base of your knuckles to as high up on your arm as you wish for the gloves to reach. This will be the length measurement for your gloves.
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3
Cast on the number of stitches determined in Step 2. Leave a long tail of yarn when you cast on, equal to twice the desired length of the gloves. Work in knit two, purl two ribbing until you reach the desired length for your gloves. Bind off in the ribbing pattern, loosely. Cut off the yarn about eight inches from the last bound-off stitch. Repeat this process to make a second glove.
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4
Using the long tail of yarn you left in Step 2, sew up the sides of the gloves with the darning needle to just under where your thumb will be. Fasten off the yarn and weave in the end.
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5
Using the length of yarn at the top of the gloves left over from binding off, sew down from the top of the glove to the top of the thumb opening. Fasten off the yarn and weave in the end.
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Tips & Warnings
Count your stitches periodically to ensure that none have been dropped or added by mistake.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit gloves image by Giulio Zucchetti from Fotolia.com
