Knitting a Glove without a Pattern

I had a commenter ask how to make my Fingerless Gloves for smaller hands. I was going to just size down the pattern, but I think you would benefit more from me showing you how I usually do gloves. You see, unless it's something unusual, I won't use a pattern. Same with socks, but that's a different post for another time. That's the beauty of knitting; once you see how you can construct something and the formula for it, you can pretty much do anything. Patterns are nice, but what makes a strong knitter isn't always the ability to follow a pattern, but to be able to improvise!

The basic things you see in the videos still are relevant; you still cast on and knit the cuff the same way. You still do the thumb increase the same way and still stop knitting in the round at the top of the hand the same way. This is just to show how I do all these things without using a pattern.

1. First step is figuring out gauge. Knit out a swatch about 2 inches wide and measure how many stitches per inch you're getting with that yarn and needle combo. This step is important on any garment where fit is an issue. Even if you frog the swatch to reuse the yarn for your project, don't underestimate the power of the gauge swatch.
2. Once you know how many stitches per inch, measure around your hand with a soft tape measure.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   If you look at the illustration, roughly where the red line is, but going all the way around your hand. Multiply how many inches around your hand is with how many stitches per inch you figured out in step one. Round up or down (whichever is closest) to a number divisible by 4 and cast on that number. For example, if you have 5 stitches per inch and you have a 5-inch hand circumference, you'd have 25. The closest divisible-by-4 number is 24, so you'd cast on 24 stitches. Of course, you also divide the stitches evenly on DPNs and use a marker to mark the beginning of the row. This will make for a very form-fitting glove. If you want something looser, cast on an additional 4-8 stitches.
3. To knit a glove like the original pattern, start knitting in a 2x2 rib (2k2p) until you've reached a cuff length that you'd like. I usually go with 2-3 inches as I'm a larger-framed person, but you can make it as long or as short as you'd like. 
4. Once you've gotten your cuff finished, knit 2 rows of stockinette (all knit). Then, at the beginning of the next row, you're going to start your thumb increase. This does not vary from the video save for the amount of stitches used.
   
   
     
   
   
5. Basically, the way to do the gloves doesn't vary from the videos at this point. You do everything the same way, but with different stitches. The only thing that will change is the fingers in that you probably won't use the same number of stitches as I did if you have a smaller hand.
6. If you're not inclined to visually estimate the circumference of each finger, measure as you did before with your soft tape measure around the thickest part of each finger to figure out how many stitches each one needs.

I am fully aware that this is a very short tutorial. I will happily answer any questions you have about this, but don't be afraid of this! If you're used to riding a bike with training wheels, it's only scary when you first take them off but then it's like you were born for it. :)

Here are the other videos in the series for reference:

Fingerless Gloves

(I promise you'll see some videos be next weekend. <3)


ETA 7/4- Okay. So, by "next weekend" I apparently meant a couple months later. Life got in the way! But, it's all updated now. :)

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The trickiest part of gloves, fingerless or not, are the fingers. Assuming that you aren't making gloves that look like this, of course. That's relative, however because it looks a lot harder than it looks.

The skills needed for this are increasing, decreasing, casting on, knitting in the round and picking up stitches. I'm going to assume that there is already a small practical understanding of knitting on DPNs, so I'm not going to go into the basics of it in the videos. Of course, I will happily do a separate video if requested. :)

I love my DPNs, but you can use magic loop for this if you want. I like using 5 DPNs (4 holding the yarn and one working needle) and adding a 6th while doing the thumb increase to keep the strain on the stitches at a minimum..

Onward!



Rolled Fingered "Hobo" Gloves

These are fingerless gloves with rolled ends for some visual interest. If you don't want rolled ends, work the fingers with a 1x1 rib instead of stockinette.

I used sock yarn w/ 2.25mm DPNs and had a gauge of 6 stitches per inch allowing for a 2-inch ease.

CO 64 stitches (I used a long-tailed cast on).

(begin cuff)

Distribute stitches evenly on each needle and join to work in the round.
Work 2x2 rib until desired length.

Row 1-4: Knit stockinette.

(begin thumb increase)

Row 5: KFB, K3, KFB, K to end of round.
Row 6: Knit stockinette
Row 7: KFB, K5, KFB, K to end.
Row 8: Knit stockinette
Row 9: KFB, K7, KFB, K to end

Continue growing thumb increase by 2 stitches every other round until glove comes up to the first thumb knuckle.

When you are satisfied with the thumb increase size, transfer thumb stitches to waste yarn instead of knitting them.

(begin rest of hand)

Close the gap by C/O 5 stitches (so you have 16 stitches on each needle again) and continuing to knit in the round.

Continue knitting stockinette in the round until the glove comes up to the bottom of your fingers.

Transfer all stitches, except the 21 above the thumb.

(note: if you don't want a cropped finger style glove, you can keep knitting in the round until the glove goes halfway up your fingers and bind off)

(begin fingers)

Index Finger

Arrange the first 21 stitches on 2-3 needles. Knit the 21 stitches.

C/O 5 stitches (will span across the middle of the glove) and knit finger in the round until you get to the first knuckle and bind off loosely. Cut yarn.

Middle Finger and Ring Finger

Transfer 7 stitches on each side of the glove to your needles, P/U 7 stitches from previous finger, C/O 5 stitches. Knit in round. Bind off.

Pinky Finger

Transfer remaining stitches to needles and pick up 7 stitches from previous finger. Knit in round to desired length, bind off.

Thumb


Transfer all stitches from the thumb to needles, and pick up 8 stitches from the casted-on stitches on the main part of the glove. However many needles you use, the beginning of the round will be from the first picked up stitch. This is important for the decreases.

Row 1: Knit to end of round
Row 2: SSK, K4, K2Tog, K to end
Row 3: Knit to end of round
Row 4 SSK, K2, K2Tog, K to end
Row 5: Knit to end of round
Row 6: SSK, K2Tog, K to end
Row 7: Knit to end of round
Row 8: K2Tog, K to end
Row 10 to end: Knit around

Note: try on the glove at row 8. If the thumb is a little large, keep up the K2tog every other round for another 2-4 decreases as needed.

Bind off when desired length is reached. Weave in ends. Knit other glove before your other hand gets cold.