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Knit Sweet Lacy Mitts with This Free Pattern (Available Through 1/31/15)

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get this free fingerless glove knitting pattern this month onlyI am going through a bit of a fingerless glove phase right now. I just knit two pairs for my daughter and I’m ready to make a bigger version for myself.

But while I’m at it I might also take some time to stitch these cute One-Skein Lace Fingerless Gloves, the free pattern for January 2015 from Sweater Babe.

These mitts use the easy Vine Lace pattern and, as the name says, just one skein of yarn (in fact it calls for about 97 yards, which may be a lot less than a skein, depending on the yarn you choose).

This pattern usually retails for $3, and to get the download you will have to visit the link, copy the coupon code and “buy” the pattern with the coupon code. You’ll also have to sign up as a customer if you aren’t one already, which is admittedly a bit of a pain the first time but as long as you can remember your password it will go a lot faster in the future. And the site offers a free pattern every month so it’s probably worth your while.

Do you have a favorite fingerless glove pattern? I’d love to hear about it.

[Photo via Sweater Babe.]

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Comments

  1. I’m in a boot cuff groove, but I did just cast on a pair of fingerless mitts for myself with some of my handspun yesterday (in the 70 degree sunshine, what’s up with that?!). I’m more or less following the Fallberry fingerless mitts pattern from Knitty Winter 2011. Except in my own gauge, lol.

Have you read?

Review: The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook

I know not all of you are interested in writing patterns, but for those of you who are (or who already do), The Knitting Pattern Writing Handbook by Kristina McGrath and Sarah Walworth is a great guide to things you need to consider as you are designing, writing and preparing your pattern for publishing.

While a lot of this information (such as grading patterns for particular sizes, the importance of size inclusivity in patterns and common sweater design pitfalls) is specific to designers or garments, this information is important for designers to think about and for knitters to look out for when purchasing patterns.

The book covers the basics and beyond of writing a knitting pattern, including:

  • foundations of a good pattern
  • components of a pattern
  • gauge
  • charts
  • sizing
  • common sweater pitfalls
  • working with a tech editor

The goal of all this is to get designers thinking about how they want to present their patterns, from how abbreviations are handled to when charts are used, how many sizes are included and how elements of the pattern might need to change as garments get larger (such as increasing at a different rate on raglans so the armhole is not too deep when accommodating a larger bust size).

McGrath and Walworth are professional tech editors who host the Tech Tip Talk YouTube page, and their aim is for patterns to be clear, consistent, correct, size inclusive, accessible to a range of knitters (both in terms of physical ability and skill level).

They definitely have opinions about how knitting patterns should be written, such as how to convert from inches to centimeters and that measurements for sweaters should be taken from the upper bust rather than the full chest. But they also note that a tech editor’s job isn’t to be dogmatic or make changes without good reason.

The book also covers other subjects of importance to designers such as the difference between tech editing and test knitting, why you might want to do both and in what order. Each chapter includes a checklist of things to think about when writing you pattern and questions and answers to common questions they come across in their tech  editing businesses.

The back of the book includes detailed guidelines for where and how to measure bodies, plus standard size charts for kids, women and men. There’s also a sample style sheet for use with a tech editor and plenty of resources for learning more about design, accessibility and more.

This book is a great resource for people thinking about getting into knitwear design (particularly garment design), or for designers who want to make their patterns better and their editor’s job easier.

About the book: 176 pages, hardcover. Published 2023 by Storey. Suggested retail price $20.

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