Learn to Knit Gloves

No matter what time of year you’re reading this, I have to ask – have you started knitting your Christmas gifts yet? Gloves are a great gift, and you’ll be surprised by how quickly they knit up.

This pattern is for a warm pair of thick gloves. We use size 3 US needles and worsted weight yarn to make learning the techniques easier. After you’ve worked through this pattern, it will be no problem to move on to other, more complicated patterns that use smaller needles and thinner yarn, to make more delicate gloves.

The only required skills are knitting and purling. The pattern includes links to NINE instructional videos that will explain using double-pointed needles, working the thumb gusset with Make 1 stitches, working the fingers, and doing tidy finishing work.

Sizes: Women’s Small (Women’s Medium, Women’s Large/Men’s Small) [Hand circumference 7” (7.5”, 8”)]
Needles: Set of 4 size 3 US double-pointed needles (3.25 mm)
Yarn: Any worsted-weight yarn, preferably wool or wool blend, approx 75 grams (170 yards)
Additional Materials: 2 ring stitch markers, 1 clippie stitch marker or safety pin (optional), tapestry needle, scrap yarn
Gauge: 6 stitches per inch in stockinette

Pattern + links to 9 instructional videos $8 US via PayPal

97 comments on “Learn to Knit Gloves

  1. Perfection! I have been scouring Ravelry for a plain Jane worsted weight glove pattern and here is is! Lots of fingerless gloves or mittens but hardly any gloves patterns. Ordered this immediately. Thanks.

  2. YAY! You made my day… I purchased your mitten pattern and was going to start on it…. Nice to know there is glove pattern available. I have a question… I have been making your Toddler Tunic sweater and wondered if there is a way I could perhaps make it a bit bigger to fit a 2-3 yr old. I love that pattern but not sure how to approach this… Do I use a bigger needle and do I need to swatch even though it is not for the size listed?
    HELP! I appreciate the help you can give.

  3. Staci, does it matter how long the dpns are? I have some short ones and longer ones. I’m not proficient in working with dpns so I’m trying to decide which ones would be better for me to work with on this pattern?

  4. Amy – You can use whatever length is comfortable for you. I always choose longer DPNs, because I don’t want to worry about my stitches falling off the ends. But the shorter ones might be nice for knitting the fingers, since so few stitches are required.

    S t a c i

  5. Thank you for doing the video on making gloves, I have been hesitant in trying to knit those because I was told they were very difficult to do. Now I will challenge them, would you mind doing a video on entrelac? I have seen the pattern for it but would like to watch your techniques, I gain more confidents in myself that way. Thanks kathy

  6. Hi Kathy – I’m teaching a class this weekend at Gauge Knits on entrelac, and I may convert this class into a video sometime soon. Already been thinking about it!

    🙂
    S t a c i

  7. How can I advance the video to the technique I need to watch? Do not want to start at the beginning each time.

  8. Hi Beverly – two answers to your question. The written pattern (available for purchase and immediate download) gives links that take you right to the section you’re looking for. Also, if you watch the video on YouTube (just click the YouTube link in the lower right corner), the video description also gives the exact links for each section.

    S t a c i

  9. I’m interested purchasing this pattern, and would like to know if you offer it in kid sizes as well.
    Thanks!

  10. Hi Staci, Would it be very difficult to change these gloves to a men’s large? Or maybe I should ask can it be done without making myself crazy?:)

  11. Hi Staci! My boyfriend really likes these gloves, but they are not in his size. His hand circumference is 10 inches. Is it possible of coming out with this pattern in Larger Men sizes? His pinkie is a little bit bigger than the standard size in this pattern. Is there any way of knitting the pinkie larger? I HOPE what I have written makes sense. Staci, you are an amazing woman when it comes to your talent. THANK YOU SO MUCH for your tutorials and patterns!! HUGS>>>>

  12. Hi Robin – thank you for the nice note! Resizing these gloves to fit a man is no quick task. 🙂 You can do one of two things…you can either knit these gloves (for yourself, maybe) using the video tutorial so you get a good grip on the techniques used in glove knitting, then find a pattern for men to knit next. Or you can loosely use my videos to help you knit a pattern for men’s gloves.

    Once you have the skills to knit gloves, every pattern out there is very similar! Also, it is easy to modify the finger length of any glove pattern.
    S t a c i

  13. I knit a hat using DPN’s, but at the end of each needle there was a small gap. How can I knit a hat without this gap?

  14. hi im a beginner! i started knitting easy hats i never learned to use dpns. can i use Magic Loop Methoid?

  15. Hi Gloria – yes, you can use the magic loop method instead of DPNs for just about any pattern that has you knitting a tube. However, you might find magic loop cumbersome when it comes to knitting the tiny tubes of the fingers of gloves. But give it a try – some people swear by it.

    🙂
    S t a c i

  16. I haven’t knit this pattern, and I probably won’t until after Christmas, but I already love it. I have just one problem: I, believe it or not, have different sized pinkies, and I don’t know how to keep track of which it which. Anyone have a really simple, cool looking solution?

  17. Hi there! This is SUCH a helpful video and I am so glad I came across it. I’m confused about one thing, though…how on earth do I get my working yarn back down to the main body of the hand after binding off on the pinkie finger? This is my first attempt knitting an item with multiple pieces that have to be bound off individually, and I can’t for the life of me figure that part out. At this point, I have the pinkie finger done and the rest of my stitches on a stitch holders with no working yarn in sight (since I cut it to bind off the pinkie). Thanks so much!!

  18. Staci, I am knitting the beginner glove and I’m wondering…do you knit both gloves identical? Don’t you have to put the thumb on the opposite side for the other hand?
    I’m finding your directions easy to follow and the video is priceless. I’ve had to watch the video, stop, do the task, watch the video. I don’t think could have accomplished the glove without the video. Thank you.
    JoAnn H

  19. Hi Joann – the gloves are identical, which actually allows for longer wear. Here’s how –

    Because there is no R or L hand, you can switch back and forth. The palm-side of the gloves takes the most wear, but if you are switching back and forth, both sides will wear evenly, doubling the life of the gloves. And there is no compromise to the fit.

    S t a c i

  20. Staci, I am knitting the beginner glove but I’m stuck at one point after finishing the pinky finger and putting all the stitches back on the needles, I have no working yarn to start with but i saw you videos do?
    And you please teach me how to do it?
    Thank you!
    Michelle P

  21. I tried a few glove patterns but they kept confusing me. This glove pattern was fabulous! With the video it was easy. I made a pair for me with a wool mix and a pair for my husband with pure wool. I liked the pure wool better. Of course his were the second pair so I was getting better with the between the fingers part. But I just want to thank you for helping me do something I never thought I would be able to do. I will buy patterns from you again.

  22. I’m in my 24th year of teaching business at a technical college, and I want to compliment you on your superb teaching skills. You have the ability to know what a student might need to have answered and be shown. Your pleasant personality, demeanor, and voice also comes through via video. All of your videos are very clear, and the steps you are teaching can be easily seen and followed. Thank you!
    Now to my question: The other day I discovered circular 8″ length knitting needles that supposedly can be used for small circumferences. Since you give specific numbers of stitches that need to be on certain needles at certain times that you tell us on this video and in the pattern, which I purchased, I’m not sure if or how to adapt these instructions to the above needles. I find DPNs hurt my hands, are cumbersome, and I just plain don’t like them so I was excited to discover the 8″ circs.

  23. Hi Karen – thank you for your nice email!

    Yes, you can use 8″ circs for the gloves, but you’ll need to use DPNs for the fingers and thumb. The only difference will be that you’ll need to use a ring marker on the circular to mark the beginning of your round. (With DPNs, we can easily see the beginning of the round as being between two needles.)

    The only place that I really give you a specific number of stitches to watch is while you’re knitting the fingers. The rest of the time, the only important thing is to make sure you know where the beginning of your round is.

    Hope that helps!

  24. I am working on the gloves. I wish you had a little more instructions on adding a new working yarn and the area next to the pinkie. I got it done but sure it isn’t right. Not a big hole, so maybe it is somewhat right. I did manage to get an extra stitch on the round.Thank for the videos. I work a while and stop re-watch. They are great.

  25. Praise the LORD for this “how to knit gloves” video! You, whoever you are, are an angel, for providing this free. I was just about to pay for a class, via another website, in September.
    I’m glad I don’t have to pay for the video. Bless you for making things like this available for EVERYONE who can watch You Tube. We need to make gloves, too. Thank you, thank you.

    Romans 10:9-13

  26. I think your glove pattern is awesome. I just purchased the download and I love your tutorials. I am a visual learner. Hope you keep the site up as it has been really helpful. You are a great teacher. Thanks

  27. I’m using your pattern and videos for the first set of fingerless gloves and will also purchase your glove pattern/video. Before I get started, my question is this: The instructions don’t seem to give you a right and left pattern for the thumb placement, as if it doesn’t matter since I would turn the gloves over to fit each hand. Am I correct? Also, if I wanted to do some fair isle work on the top side of the glove, I have to place the thumb according to which hand the glove goes on, whether right or left. How do you switch the placement?

  28. Hi Marie – yes, you are correct. 🙂 The gloves are identical on the fronts and backs, so no right or left hand is necessary. This design is also beneficial in the way that it gives the gloves a longer life. If the hands are always being switched when worn, they won’t wear out as quickly.

    I think that you’ll find it clear which how to identify a left glove from a right one after you start knitting them. The left glove is going to have the thumb facing right – so you’ll want to add your fair isle design accordingly. You’ll still knit the two gloves identically – but designate one as the left and the other as the right as you go.

    Hope that helps! Good luck.
    S t a c i

  29. Staci- I finished the gloves and they are wonderful. I am now using the pattern with fair isle. I also purchased a set of addi clicks after watching your sock video. I am excited to get them. Keep making videos- I love them. Told my local knitting shop about you.

  30. Hi Staci – great tutorial. I have an unusual question. I’ve never knitted gloves before, but I reckon I can manage it fine. I’ve decided my first pair will be a present for my brother-in-law this Xmas. The only thing is, he has a finger missing (woodworking accident I think.) It occurred to me that he probably hasn’t enjoyed the benefit of fitted gloves for years! So I’m making him a pair.
    How do you suggest that I deal with the missing finger? It’s the right hand/ring finger. Do I knit to accommodate it, then just seal those stitches with Kitchener stitch you think? You would never know that he has a missing finger as it was removed right down to the top of the palm and it’s like all the other fingers have shuffled in to fill the gap. It’s not that obvious unless you’re really looking.
    Weird request right? But I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks!

  31. Staci,

    Thank you for your easy-to-learn patterns and methods. I am halfway finished with the second glove of my very first pair. I have been waiting for just the right pattern to give gloves a try!

  32. Hi Staci,
    I purchased your pattern and have been following along and am now at the point where I’ve finished the cuff and realize I’ve been knitting on the inside of the glove! When I started to knit the first round leading up to beginning the thumb gusset I realized I had purl stitches and it dawned on me what was going on! What should I do? I think maybe if I put all my stitches on some holding yarn and turn the cuff inside out, redistribute my stitches back onto the dpns, I will be able to knit it. What do you advise? Many thanks. Mary

  33. Hi there Staci
    I just have to say that you are an awesome teacher I followed a few of your instructional videos now and I find them very very helpful I’ve recently made some socks and now there are dozens of pairs about the house thanks very much! And btw how many sts would be needed for a medium mans glove ? Mnay thanks

  34. Hi Edward – sorry, this pattern doesn’t go up that far to men’s medium size. It is really just a women’s sized pattern, but women’s large also translates to men’s small. You can learn from the pattern and knit some gloves in a smaller size, then you’ll have the skills you need to move on to other patterns that offer other sizes. I’m afraid I’d need to rewrite the pattern and test knit it myself before I could give you an answer about altering the size.

    Sorry I can’t be of more help here. Good luck to you!
    S t a c i

  35. This glove pattern and tutorial came to my rescue. I had been wanting to learn to make gloves for quite some time and made a few disastrous and frustrating attempts trying to follow other patterns. I could make mittens but could never figure out how the fingers on gloves were worked.Then I came across Staci’s pattern on Ravelry and combined with her excellent step by step video instructions I finally succeeded in making my first pair of gloves. (I would post a photo of them but don’t have the computer know how to do so). But I will say they came out great and I’m ready to make another pair. Thank you Staci!

  36. Hi, have downloaded pattern and it looks great. In your description it states that you can knit more finer gloves with different yarns etc but it doesn’t give the information on how to do this. Being new to knitting, would it be possible to find out if you use the same number stitches if you were using a finer yarn etc and the needles size that this would require. Thanks.

  37. Hi Virginia – yes, what I mean by that is that you can search Ravelry and browse the gloves patterns, and after you work through this tutorial, you’ll have the skills you need to move on to other, more complicated patterns that use finer yarns and smaller needles.

    Hope that helps!
    S t a c i

  38. thank you so much Staci madam. I was so eager to knit the glove for my beloved love,u helped me a lot in knitting the pattern.thank u thank u thank u mam

  39. Hi Staci!!

    I just wanted to let you know I made my first pair of gloves for my grandma following your video and pattern. Thank you! She loved them! I made it a set, by knitting a scarf I followed on Craftsy, and then a rose from a tutorial on youtube. I attached the rose to a pin so she can put it anywhere on the scarf or jacket and wear it now until the cold weather kicks in. She was amazed I learned to knit so quickly, so I showed her your site! She and my mom have always wanted to learn to knit but had no one who could teach them. I am so happy to have found your site, thanks to you, we are all learning now! I can’t wait to pick up more projects!!

Comments are closed.