It seems like everyone loves knitting patterns using sock yarn that are for things other than socks. I’m the same way because I have a lot of sock yarn and am definitely not knitting that many pairs of socks! (At least not right away.)
I’ve covered sock yarn shawls and cowl knitting patterns, and now we’re going to look at some fingering weight/sock yarn mitten and fingerless glove knitting patterns.
I deliberately chose patterns that are either a single color or two colors that you could make solid or use leftovers from another project for the second color, so if you’re using a single skein of sock yarn for a project these will work. We’ll have to cover colorwork mittens another time!
Fingerless gloves are super satisfying to knit and to wear. I have a bunch of pairs I’ve knit through the years and wear indoors pretty much all the time in the fall and winter. If you’re looking for a basic fingerless glove knitting pattern worked in sock yarn, the Fantastic Fingerless Mittens from STASH Lounge are a great place to start. This free knitting pattern fits a woman’s size medium hand and uses a single skein of sock yarn.
The Everyday Fingerless Gloves from Hand Knit Home on Etsy are another great basic. They’re long in length, which is great for tucking under a sweater for extra warmth, and the ribbing pattern makes them stretchy to fit a range of sizes.
Kristin Blom’s half mittens are sized for kids, so they’re a great use for leftovers (and in my experience kids are more willing to wear fingerless gloves than mittens). The pattern is a free download on Ravelry.
Kelly McClure’s Pioneer Gloves are another pretty ribbed pattern, with the ribbing moving onto the thumb in a really nice way. These can be knit short or long depending on how much yarn you have. The pattern is free on Ravelry.
Making mitts in a single color doesn’t have to mean they’re plain. The Undulation Mitts from Ksenia Naidyon (available on Ravelry) feature a fun to knit cable pattern that looks like rippling water on the backs of the hands, while the palm side is worked with ribbing. They’re so pretty and come in three sizes so they’re perfect for gift knitting.
If you want something between a mitt and a mitten, try the Knock Knock convertible mitts from Staci Perry. These work like a basic fingerless glove but have a flap that snaps onto the back of the hand when you want fingerless mitts, but can be flipped over onto the fingers like a mitten when you need extra warmth. The pattern is on Ravelry or you can see a video tutorial on her website.
Stephanie Lotven’s Palmistry is a basic mitten or mitt pattern (it can go either way) sized to fit the whole family. This is a great one to have on hand (ha, ha) for gift knitting or charity knitting projects, and you can get the pattern on Ravelry.
If you have a little bit of yarn left from another project you want to add to your mittens, go with the little stripes on the Light Stripe mittens from Pauliina H, which are a free download on Ravelry. Of course you could make these a solid color, too.
I love the look of the Hinata Mittens from Otegami Yagi, which are still pretty easy to knit but have a different look from the traditional bottom up mitten. You might learn some new skills with this pattern, which is sized for toddlers through adults and available in English and Japanese on Ravelry.
Or add some texture to your mittens with the Rocky Ridge pattern by Knox Mountain Knit Co. This one is also on Ravelry and comes in four sizes for kids and adults. The broken rib pattern is easy to knit but adds lots of interest.
How about cables? Natalie Pelykh’s Dragobrat Mittens have undulating cables that keep the knitting fun, and they come in three sizes for kids and women. You’ll find this pattern on Ravelry.
Lace might not be an obvious choice for using on mittens, but in the case of the First Flurries Mitts by Pauline McPherson it’s a cute addition to the back of the hand that provides a little air flow when it’s cool but not too cold out. Download this pattern, which comes in three sizes, on Ravelry.
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