Custom Fit Fingerless Mitts

Look up this pattern on

With only 3 measurements and some simple arithmetic you can knit any size mitts with any yarn you desire! (Psst! Don't want to work it out yourself? Download the Excel spreadsheet and you won't have to! For knitters with Microsoft Excel software only).

Step 1: Print the "Custom Fit Fingerless Mitts" worksheet.

Step 2: Measure the person who will be wearing the mitts.

You will need 3 measurements:

The circumference of the hand, excluding the thumb.
The circumference of the thumb, and
The distance from the base of the thumb to the base of the base of the index finger.

Eg: The measurements of my mitt-wearer are:

The circumference of the hand, excluding the thumb = 18.5cm
The circumference of the thumb = 6.5cm
The distance from the base of the thumb to the base of the base of the index finger = 3.5cm

Tip: If you're using a very bulky yarn, add 2cm to your hand and thumb circumference measurements to make up for the bulkiness of the wool.

Step 3: Work out your gauge by knitting a stocking stitch swatch and measuring how many sts you get per centimetre. Include the numbers after the decimal point, don't round up or down to the nearest stitch.

Eg: For the mitts in the photo on the left, my gauge is 21sts to 10cm. I divide this by 10 to get the number of stitches per cm, which is 2.1. Therefore my stitch gauge is 2.1 stitches per cm.

Step 4: Multiply the circumference of your hand (excluding the thumb), by your gauge. Round this number up to the nearest "even" number.

Eg:
My hand circumference = 18.5cm, my gauge = 2.1sts per cm
18.5 x 2.1 = 38.85
Rounded up to the nearest even number = 40

Write this number on the worksheet where it says [A].

Step 5: Multiply your gauge by your thumb circumference. Round up to the closest "odd" number.

Eg: My gauge = 2.1sts per cm, my thumb circumference = 6.5cm
2.1 x 6.5 = 13.65
Rounded up to the nearest odd number = 15

Write this number on the worksheet where it says [B]

Step 6: Subtract 2 from the number you just worked out, and write it on the worksheet where it says [C]

Eg: The number I just worked out is 15
15 - 2 = 13

Step 7: Finally, subtract 1cm from your "thumb to base of index finger" measurement and write it on the worksheet where it says [D].

Eg: My thumb to base of index finger measurement = 3.5cm
3.5 - 1 = 2.5cm

Now, if you look at your worksheet you'll see that you're ready to start knitting your custom fit mitts! Easy, wasn't it?

Knitting Index
Home
E-mail Sarah

ABN: 73 548 786 649