Fingerless Mittens Knitting Pattern - Free Pattern

My free fingerless mittens knitting pattern is perfect for that special 50g ball or skein of yarn in your stash. If you would like to turn that odd ball of double knitting (light worsted) yarn into something pretty, practical and really cosy, then look no further.

You could knit them to gift, or knit them to keep.

There is a pretty lace pattern on the front of the mittens, and they are knitted in the round for a seamless finish. The underside of the wrist section is a stretchy rib, so that one size will fit all. 

If you prefer a simple pair of mittens knitted flat, you can try these mittens instead: Fingerless Gloves for Beginners

Why You’ll Love My Fingerless Mittens Knitting Pattern

• Uses just one 50g ball of DK (light worsted) yarn.
• A quick stash buster that’s perfect for gifts or keeping.
• Features a simple lace panel (chart is included in premium pattern pdf).
• Stretchy ribbed underside means one size fits most.
• You can make them short or long depending on your yarn and preference.

I made the mustard pair for a Secret Santa and my friend put them on straight away, saying they were the comfiest mittens she’d ever had.

How to Use My Fingerless Mittens Knitting Pattern

You can knit these mittens:

• As a quick last-minute gift.
• As a cosy treat for yourself over the holidays.
• In multiples - you’ll get two pairs from a spare 100g ball or skein of yarn.

My Fingerless Mittens Knitting Pattern is therefore the ideal project when you want something satisfying, stash-busting, and practical.

Copyright

Please read the copyright terms, which apply globally, before using or downloading your pattern:

The contents of this page, including the pattern instructions and images, are published under copyright to me © Lynne Rowe 2025 under my brand Knit Crochet Create® and are for your own personal use only.

You are welcome to sell items made from this pattern for charity fundraising purposes, or to gift them to family and friends, but selling small numbers for profit is only allowed with permission. Please email lynne@knitcrochetcreate.com for permission.

By downloading or using this pattern, you therefore agree to these terms.

How to Get Your Free Fingerless Mittens Knitting Pattern

• You can buy the premium ad-free version here: Buy on Etsy
• You can buy the ad-free PDF version here on Ravelry: Buy on Ravelry
• Or, scroll down to use the FREE version below.

Free Fingerless Mittens Knitting Pattern

You Will Need

• A single 50g ball of double knitting (light worsted) yarn (or 50g oddments).
  • You could also use 2 strands of 4ply held double to create a double knitting (light worsted weight) thickness of yarn.
  • I used King Cole Subtle Drifter DK (22% cotton, 6% wool, 69% acrylic); 100g/300m in shades 4396 (Conifer) for regular length mittens and 4395 (Mustard) for longer length.

Knitting Needles

• 3.75mm (US 5) DPNS (set of 4), or your preferred needles for working in the round.

Extras

• Optional stitch markers.
• Wool/tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Finished Size

• Approximately 18.5cm around.
  • To fit average ladies hand (19-20cm/7.5-8in around the palm)
• Note that you can make these mittens slightly larger by using 4mm (US 6) needles.
• You can make them slightly smaller by using 3.5mm (US 4) needles

Tension

• 23 sts and 30 rows to 10 x 10cm/4 x 4in in stocking stitch on 3.75mm (US 5) needles.

Abbreviations

• DPNS = double pointed needles
• K = knit
• Kfb = knit into the front and back of same st (to increase by 1 st)
• K2tog = knit the next 2 sts together as 1 st (to decrease 1 st)
• M1 = make 1 st: pick up horizontal loop lying between needles and knit into the back of it (this twists the stitch and avoids making a hole)
• P = purl
• Psso = pass slipped stitch over
• Rep = repeat
• RS = right side
• Sl 1 = slip 1 stitch
• St(s) = stitch(es)
• WS = wrong side
• Yrn = yarn around needle (to make 1 st)
• [ ... ] = repeat sequence to be repeated as many times as stated

Construction

• These mittens are worked in the round on double-pointed needles (DPNs).
• The thumb is shaped by increasing stitches, using the M1 (make 1) method (see abbreviations).
• Thumb stitches are held on a spare piece of yarn and the thumb is knitted at the end.

Fit

• Note that rib stitch is knitted on the underside of the wrist section, so they are really stretchy. 
• You can make the mittens regular length, or longer length by working more pattern repeats before the thumb shaping begins.

Pattern Notes

• Lace pattern panel is worked over 17 sts.
• Lace Pattern panel is written out and also provided in chart form.
• When told to work pattern round, you will work the appropriate round from the written instructions below.

Lace Pattern Panel: 8-row pattern repeat (worked over 17 sts)

• Round 1: K1, yrn, k3, sl 1, k1, psso, p5, k2tog, k3, yrn, k1.
• Round 2: K6, p5, k6.
• Round 3: K2, yrn, k3, sl 1, k1, psso, p3, k2tog, k3, yrn, k2.
• Round 4: K7, p3, k7.
• Round 5: K3, yrn, k3, sl 1, k1, psso, p1, k2tog, k3, yrn, k3.
• Round 6: K8, p1, k8.
• Round 7: K4, yrn, k3, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k3, yrn, k4.
• Round 8: K17.

Fingerless Mittens Knitting Pattern Begins

Wrist (same for both hands)

Using 3.75mm (US 5) DPNs, cast on 42 sts onto one DPN. Work the set-up round onto this one DPN as follows:

Setting up to work in the round

Set-up round (RS): P1, place marker, k17, place marker, [p1, k1] to the end. The 17 stitches between markers are the lace pattern panel. Do not turn at the end of set-up round.

Working from opposite end of needle to the working yarn, slip the stitches evenly over 3 DPNS.

I found it helpful to slip all of the first 21 sts onto one DPN (for the front) then split the back 21 sts over two DPNs (10 sts on second DPN and 11 sts on third DPN).

Join to work in the round as follow:

• Step 1: Bring the tips of your first and last DPNS together, making sure that your stitches are not twisted.
• Step 2: Slip the top stitch on left needle purlwise to right needle.
• Step 3: Lift the second stitch on right needle over the top stitch and onto left needle.
• Step 4: Your top stitches are now crossed and the round is joined.

Working the wrist section

Start knitting with spare DPN as follows, slipping markers when you come to them:

• Round 1: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 1, [p1, k1] to the end. 
• Round 2: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 2, [p1, k1] to the end.
• Round 3: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 3, [p1, k1] to the end.
• Round 4: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 4, [p1, k1] to the end.
• Round 5: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 5, [p1, k1] to the end.
• Round 6: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 6, [p1, k1] to the end.
• Round 7: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 7, [p1, k1] to the end.
• Round 8: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 8, [p1, k1] to the end.

Rounds 1-8 form the pattern. For regular length mittens, rep Rounds 1-8 twice more. For long length mittens, rep Rounds 1-8 three times more.Now work each hand separately.

Right-hand Thumb Shaping

• Round 1: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 1, p1, k to end.
• Round 2: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 2, p1, k to end.
• Round 3: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 3, p1, k2, M1, k to end. (43 sts).
• Rounds 4-5: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 4 (then 5), p1, k to end.
• Round 6: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 6, p1, k2, M1, k1, M1, k to end. (45 sts).
• Rounds 7-8: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 7 (then 8), p1, k to end.
• Round 9: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 1, p1, k2, M1, k3, M1, k to end. (47 sts).
• Rounds 10-11: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 2 (then 3), p1, k to end.
• Round 12: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 4, p1, k2, M1, k5, M1, k to end. (49 sts).
• Rounds 13-14: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 5 (then 6), p1, k to end.
• Round 15: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 7, p1, k2, M1, k7, M1, k to end. (51 sts).
• Rounds 16-17: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 8 (then 1), p1, k to end.
• Round 18: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 2, p1, k2, M1, k9, M1, k to end. (53 sts).
• Rounds 19-20: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 3 (then 4), p1, k to end.
• Round 21: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 5, p1, k2, M1, k11, M1, k to end. (55 sts).
• Rounds 22-23: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 6 (then 7), p1, k to end.
• Round 24: P1, work Lace Pattern Round 8, p1, k1, cast on 1 st, slip next 13 sts onto a spare length of yarn then skip these 13 sts and knit to end. (43 sts).

Hand

1st round: P1, work Pattern Round 1, p1, k to end.

Note: if your stitches seem loose around the thumb base, knit through the back loop of the stitches on next round to twist them and tighten them.

2nd to 12th rounds: Continue in pattern as set, working p1 at beginning, work appropriate pattern round, p1, k to end.

Rib

Cast off in rib pattern over the rib sts and cast off in knit stitch over the pattern sts. Cut yarn and fasten off, closing up the small gap between first and last cast off sts. Weave ends in WS and trim.

Thumb

Transfer thumbs sts from waste yarn over 3 DPNS. With main yarn, pick up and knit 3 sts from base of thumb. (16 sts).

Start knitting in the round with fourth DPN and work 4 rounds in stocking stitch (every round knit). Note you can work less rounds here if desired for a shorter thumb. See Abbreviations for M1 instructions.

• 5th round: K1, M1, K8, M1, K7. (18 sts)
• 6th to 8th rounds: [K1, p1] to the end. Cast off in rib. Cut yarn and fasten off, closing up the small gap between first and last cast-off sts. Weave ends into WS and trim.

Left-hand Thumb Shaping

• Round 1: P1, work Pattern Round 1, p1, k23.
• Round 2: P1, work Pattern Round 2, p1, k23.
• Round 3: P1, work Pattern Round 3, p1, k21, M1, k2. (43 sts).
• Rounds 4-5: P1, work Pattern Round 4 (then 5), p1, k24.
• Round 6: P1, work Pattern Round 6, p1, k21, M1, k1, M1, k2. (45 sts).
• Rounds 7-8: P1, work Pattern Round 7 (then 8), p1, k26.
• Round 9: P1, work Pattern Round 1, p1, k21, M1, k3, M1, k2. (47 sts).
• Rounds 10-11: P1, work Pattern Round 2 (then 3), p1, k28.
• Round 12: P1, work Pattern Round 4, p1, k21, M1, k5, M1, k2. (49 sts).
• Rounds 13-14: P1, work Pattern Round 5 (then 6), p1, k30.
• Round 15: P1, work Pattern Round 7, p1, k21, M1, k7, M1, k2. (51 sts).
• Rounds 16-17: P1, work Pattern Round 8 (then 1), p1, k32.
• 18th round: P1, work Pattern Round 2, p1, k21, M1, k9, M1, k2. (53 sts).
• Rounds 19-20: P1, work Pattern Round 3 (then 4), p1, k34.
• Round 21: P1, work Pattern Round 5, p1, k21, M1, k11, M1, k2. (55 sts).
• Rounds 22-23: P1, work Pattern Round 6 (then 7), p1, k36.
• Round 24: P1, work Pattern Round 8, p1, k21, cast on 1 st, slip next 13 sts onto a spare length of yarn then skip these 13 sts and k2. (43 sts).

Work Hand, Rib, Thumb and Thumb shaping as given for Right Hand.

Final thoughts for my Free Fingerless Mittens Knitting Pattern

If you enjoyed learning about how to knit fingerless gloves, you may also enjoy my knitted pumpkin pattern which is also free. You can find the blog post  here