INTRODUCTION

Really Useful Gloves

by Kate Harvie

I have been in search of the perfect multi-purpose gloves for a long time. I have very long, thin hands so commercially produced gloves nearly always fit poorly. I also enjoy being warm, and not having to take my gloves off to be able to do things.

I don't think there is actually a glove that is suitable for every single purpose. For instance, this is not a glove for rock-climbing or scuba diving, but it is a very good glove for having your fingers and thumb available when needed, such as for using your phone, putting the lead on the dog, opening gates, cooking up a brew on your camp stove, or taking things out of your wallet. Generally, we use our thumbs, index and middle fingers for these things, and the little and ring fingers are used as props so don't need the same finesse. So they can stay cosy in their own little home.

These gloves are also ideal for Star Trek fans, as you can encourage people to “live long and prosper” without taking them off. But seriously, having the fingers buddied up in pairs is warmer than having separate fingers, and allows the index and middle finger fabric to be folded down without having bulk between them, allowing greater dexterity.

The main part of the glove is knitted in a tuck stitch, with alternate stitches worked into the row below. This makes a thick, stretchy fabric with a sort of honeycomb pattern on the reverse, which traps lots of air for warmth. The cuff is close fitting to avoid drafts, and the main part of the glove is worked with a little positive ease to trap some extra air, and if it is really cold it allows you to pull all your fingers down inside the glove. The index and ring fingers share a ribbed tube which is open at the tip and can be folded down, and the thumb is also ribbed and can be folded down.

model: Kate Harvie

photos: Kate Harvie, Rachel Harvie

SIZE

Adult S[M, L, XL]
Notes: Choose the size which is closest to the circumference of the wearer's hand, measured above the thumb.

Lengths given in the pattern are based on average sizes. Hand lengths are very variable, and if possible it is always better to try on gloves as you go, for a perfect fit.

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Palm Circumference:  6.75[7.75, 8.5, 9.5] inches/ 17[19.5, 21.5, 24] cm

MATERIALS

Yarn
West Yorkshire Spinners Fleece DK, 100% British Blueface Leicester, 246 yds/225 metres per 100g skein. 1[1, 1, 1] skein;
color: Forest (shown on Small sample at end of pattern)
color: Ecru (shown on Large sample below)

Yarn Characteristics
West Yorkshire Spinners Fleece DK is a worsted spun 4-ply non-superwash yarn with a smooth profile and soft handle. For yarn substitutions, I recommend using a DK pure wool or wool blend with several plies.

This project is ideal for using up scraps of leftovers, and works well with solid colours or variegated yarn. Medium gloves shown are made from scraps of DK wool yarn leftover from various projects. The horizontal stripes on the hand are worked by alternating colors of yarn every two rows; the vertical stripes on the fingers are made by alternating every row.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #2.5/3mm needles for small circumferences in the round.

Note: it is possible to use a short circular needle for the cuff and palm, but you will absolutely need DPNs/magic loop/2 circulars for the fingers and thumb.

Notions
3 stitch markers
short length of smooth waste yarn in a contrasting color for putting stitches on hold
yarn needle

GAUGE

17 sts/50 rounds = 4 inches/10 cm in pattern stitch.
22 sts and 28 rounds = 4 inches/10cm in stockinette stitch on 4mm needles.
Notes: The gloves are worked using a needle which is smaller than usually recommended for the yarn to create a denser and warmer fabric.

Stitch gauge is more important than round gauge as the pattern is fully adjustable for length. Note that when working the pattern each stitch is worked twice. Each visible stitch on the right side of the fabric is made by working two rounds.

As a glove is a small item and not much bigger than a gauge swatch, I suggest that it is reasonable to start working your glove and measure stitch gauge after you have worked about 20 rounds of the hand. If it seems to be working well, keep going. This fabric is very stretchy, so very accurate gauge can be quite difficult to measure and is also less important than with some projects.

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

Construction method: These gloves are worked in the round, starting with a ribbed cuff. After decreasing a few stitches, the body of the glove is worked in pattern including increases for a thumb gusset. The thumb stitches are put on hold while the rest of the hand is completed. Stitches are again put on hold for the index and middle fingers while the ring and little fingers are worked together in pattern. After picking up a few stitches, index and middle fingers are worked in rib, followed by a ribbed thumb.

Techniques:

• I recommend binding off the fingers and thumb using a sewn tubular bind-off which is very neat, stretchy, and does not flare.
• k1b (knit one below): knit into the stitch in the round below, making the stitch through two loops.

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
Using the long tail or your preferred stretchy method, CO 33[39, 42, 48] sts.

Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round. Note or mark start of round.

Ribbing round: (K2, p1) around.
Work 20 rounds of ribbing as set.

Decrease round, Small only: (K2tog, k7, k2tog, k5) twice, k1. 29 sts.
Decrease round, Medium only: (K2tog, k5, k2tog, k3) 3 times, k3. 33 sts.
Decrease round, Large only: (K2tog, k7, k2tog, k5) twice, k2tog, k8. 37 sts.
Decrease round, Extra Large only: (K2tog, k5) 6 times, k2tog, k4. 41 sts.

Hand and thumb gusset
Round 1: (K1, k1b) to last st, k1.
Round 2: (K1b, k1) to last st, k1b.

Round 3, Right hand only: (K1, k1b) 7[8, 9, 10] times, k1, pm, m1, k1b, k1, k1b, m1, pm, (k1, k1b) to last st, k1. The markers set position of thumb gusset. 31[35, 35, 39] sts total; 5 sts between markers for thumb.

Round 3, Left hand only: (K1, k1b) 5[6, 7, 8] times, k1, pm, m1, k1b, k1, k1b, m1, pm, (k1, k1b) to last st, k1. The markers set position of thumb gusset. 31[35, 35, 39] sts total; 5 sts between markers for thumb.

Round 4: (K1b, k1) to 1 st before marker, k1b, sm, k2, k1b, k2, sm, (k1b, k1) to last st, k1b.
Round 5: (K1, k1b) to 1 st before marker, k1, sm, (k1, k1b) to 1 st before next marker, k1, sm, (k1, k1b) to last st, k1.
Round 6: (K1b, k1) to 1st before marker, k1b, sm, (k1b, k1) to 1st before marker, k1b, sm, (K1b, k1) to last st, k1b.
Repeat Rounds 5-6 once more.

Round 9: (K1, k1b) to 1 st before marker, k1, sm, m1, (k1, k1b) to 1 st before next marker, k1, m1, sm, (k1, k1b) to last st, k1. 2 sts increased between markers.
Round 10: (K1b, k1) to last st, k1.
Round 11: (K1, k1b) to last st, k1.
Repeat Rounds 10-11 once more, and work round 10 again.

Round 15: (K1, k1b) to 1 st before marker, k1, sm, m1, (k1b, k1) to 1 st before next marker, k1b, m1, sm, (K1, k1b) to last st, k1. 2 sts increased between markers.
Round 16: (K1b, k1) to 1 st before marker, k1b, sm, k2, (k1b, k1) to 1 st before marker, k1, sm, (k1b, k1) to last st, k1b.
Round 17: (K1, k1b) to 1 st before marker, k1, sm, (k1, k1b) to 1 st before next marker, k1, sm, (K1, k1b) to last st, k1.
Round 18: (K1b, k1) to 1st before marker, k1b, sm, (k1b, k1) to 1st before marker, k1b, sm, (k1b, k1) to last st, k1b.
Rounds 19-20: Repeat Rounds 17-18 once more.

Small and Medium only: Work Rounds 9-10 again. 11 sts between markers for thumb.
Large and Extra-Large only: Work Rounds 9-20 again, then Rounds 9-10 once more. 15 sts between markers for thumb.

All sizes: Repeat Rounds 1-2, slipping markers as you come to them, until work measures 2.5[3, 3.25, 3.25] inches/ 6.5[7.5, 8.5, 8.5] cm from start of hand, or required length, finishing with Round 2. Depending on the size, you may not need any extra rounds here. At this point, when trying on the glove, the rib should sit nicely on the wrist, and the work should reach just to the point where the thumb separates from the hand.

Separate for thumb:
Round 1: (K1, k1b) to 1 st before marker, k1, remove marker, slip next 11[11, 15, 15] sts onto a piece of waste yarn for working thumb later, remove marker and replace on RH needle, CO 3 sts using backwards loop method, (k1, k1b) to last st, k1. 11[11, 15, 15] sts placed on hold, 29[33, 37, 41] sts on needle.
Round 2: (K1b, k1) to 1 st before marker, K1b, remove marker, k3, (k1b, k1) to last st, k1b.
Round 3: (K1, k1b) to last st, k1.
Round 4: (K1b, k1) to last st, k1b.
Rep Rounds 3-4 until work measures 3.5[4, 4.75, 5] inches/ 9[10, 12, 12.5] cm from start of hand, or reaches just to the point where the middle and ring fingers separate when glove is tried on, finishing with Round 4.

Separate for fingers:
Right glove: Arrange stitches so that first 7[8, 9, 10] and last 6[7, 8, 9] sts of the round are on working needles for the ring and little fingers, and set aside remaining 16[18, 20, 22] sts on a piece of waste yarn or spare circular needle for the index and middle fingers.

Left glove: Arrange stitches so that first 6[7, 8, 9] and last 7[8, 9, 10] sts of the round are on working needles for the ring and little fingers, and set aside remaining 16[18, 20, 22] sts set aside on a piece of waste yarn or spare circular needle for the index and middle fingers.

Ring and Little Finger
Note: Instructions are given for the stitch patterning, but note that you should be just continuing in pattern as set. That is, you should be working k1b over a previous round's k1, and vice versa.

Left glove Small, right glove Medium, left glove Large, right glove Extra Large:
Round 1: (K1, k1b) 3[4, 4, 5] times, CO 2 sts using backwards loop method, (k1, k1b) to last st, k1. 15[17, 19, 21] sts on working needles. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.
Round 2: (K1b, k1) 3[4, 4, 5] times, k2, (k1b, k1) to last st, k1b.

Right glove Small, left glove Medium, right glove Large, left glove Extra Large:
Round 1: (K1, k1b) 3[3, 4, 4] times, k1, CO 2 sts using backwards loop method, (k1b, k1) to end of round. 15[17, 19, 21] sts on working needles. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.
Round 2: (K1b, k1) 3[3, 4, 4] times, k1b, k2, (k1, k1b) to end of round.

Both hands, all sizes:
Round 3: (K1, k1b) to last st, k1.
Round 4: (K1b, k1) to last st, k1b.
Repeat Rounds 3-4 until work measures 1.75[2.25, 2.5, 2.75] inches/ 4.5[5.5, 6.5, 7] cm from start of fingers, or until tip of little finger is only just visible when glove is tried on, ending with Round 4.

Decrease round: Ssk, (k1, k1b) to last 3 sts, k1, k2tog. 2 sts decreased.

Work Rounds 3-4 twice more.
Work Decrease round again. 11[13, 15, 17] sts.

Medium, Large and Extra Large only:
Work Rounds 3-4 twice more.
Work Decrease round again. -[11, 13, 15] sts.

All sizes:
Repeat Rounds 3-4 until work measures 2.25[2.75, 3.25, 3.25] inches/ 5.5[7, 8.5, 8.5] cm from start of fingers, or until tip of ring finger is only just visible when glove is tried on, finishing with round 4.
Next round: K.
Next round: K2tog 5[5, 6, 7] times, k1. 6[6, 7, 8] sts.

Break yarn and pass end through rem sts to fasten off.

Index and middle fingers
Take 16[18, 20, 22] sts held for index and middle fingers off waste yarn/holder and place back on working needles. With RS facing, rejoin yarn, pick up and knit 4 sts across cast-on edge at base of ring finger, (k1, p1, k1, m1, k1, m1) 4 times, (k1, p1) 0[1, 2, 3] times. 28[30, 32, 34] sts.

Ribbing round: (K1, p1), rep to end of round.
Note: This section is worked in standard ribbing for a snug but stretchy fit.

Repeat Ribbing round until work measures 2.5[3, 3.5, 3.75] inches/ 6.5[7.5, 9, 9.5] cm from start of fingers, or until work reaches just past tip of middle finger when glove is tried on.

Bind off using sewn tubular bind-off technique.

Thumb
Take set aside sts for thumb off waste yarn and place back on working needles. With RS facing, rejoin yarn at crook of thumb and pick up and knit 5 sts across cast-on edge at base of thumb.

Small only: Working across sts which had been set aside, k1, p1, k1, m1, (k1, p1) twice, k1, m1, k1, p1, k1, then across picked up sts p1, (k1, p1) twice. 18 sts.

Medium only: Working across sts which had been set aside, (k1, m1, k1, p1) 3 times, k1, m1, k1, then across picked up sts p1, (k1, p1) twice. 20 sts.

Large only: Working across sts which had been set aside, [(k1, p1) twice, k1, m1] twice, k1, (p1, k1) twice, then across picked up sts p1, (k1, p1) twice. 22 sts.

Extra-Large only: Working across sts which had been set aside, (k1, p1, k1, m1) 4 times, k1, p1, k1, then across picked up sts, p1, (k1, p1) twice. 24 sts.

All sizes: Work in (k1, p1) rib as for index and middle finger sections until work measures 1.5[2, 2.5, 2.75] inches/ 4[5, 6, 7] cm from start of thumb, or until work reaches just past tip of thumb when glove is tried on.

Bind off using sewn tubular bind-off technique.

Make a second glove, being careful that you make the opposite hand to your first glove.

FINISHING

Soak gloves in lukewarm water for 30 minutes with a drop of wool wash. Roll in towels to remove excess water, then pull gently into shape and allow to dry flat. Do not stretch.

Weave in yarn ends neatly and securely, ensuring any holes at the base of the fingers and thumbs are closed.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Kate has been a knitter and lover of anything woolly since childhood. She survived more than 40 years working in healthcare by playing viola, walking outdoors and knitting, hopefully not all at the same time. Since retirement in 2022, Kate has had a lot of fun trying vainly to reduce her stash, designing knitwear and playing with natural dyes in her garden shed. As well as a roomful of fiber and yarn, she has three grown-up children, a husband and a cat, and a brand new grandchild. She lives in North Yorkshire close to the moors and the sea.

Find her on Ravelry and Instagram.

Pattern & images © 2025 Kate Harvie