Cozy Fingerless Mitts with Charming XO Cable — Complete Knitting Pattern & Tips

These knitted fingerless mitts feature an elegant XO cable that adds texture and charm while keeping your fingers free for everyday tasks. The pattern yields a snug, wearable mitt suitable for gifting or personal use and is worked in the round on double-pointed needles with a thumb gusset. The directions below assume familiarity with dpns and basic cable techniques.

Skill level: Intermediate — requires working in the round on DPNs, basic increases/decreases, and simple 4-stitch cable crosses.

Finished dimensions: 7 inches around (3.5 inches wide) by 7 inches long. For the designer's hand the fit is snug but not tight.

Materials:

• Set of four US size 4 double pointed needles (dpn).
• Approximately 124 yards / 50 grams Classic Elite Yarns "Lush" (50% Angora, 50% Wool; worsted weight). Mitts shown were made in "Pink Icing."
• Note: The designer was within a yard or two of using all the yarn. If you are a loose knitter or plan to use larger needles for a looser fit or bigger mitts, consider purchasing an extra hank for insurance.

NOTE: The directions assume a familiarity with working on dpns.

Stitch abbreviations / techniques used:

• Kfb: Knit into the front and back of the next stitch.
• M1b: Make one by inserting left needle into the strand between the last worked stitch and the next stitch from back to front, then knit the picked-up strand.
• M1f: Make one by inserting left needle into the strand between the last worked stitch and the next stitch from front to back, then knit the picked-up strand.
• K2tog: Knit the next two stitches together.
• C4B: Slip next two stitches to a cable needle and hold in back, knit two, then knit two from cable needle.
• C4F: Slip next two stitches to a cable needle and hold in front, knit two, then knit two from cable needle.

Cable pattern (16-row repeat):

Rows 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16: K8

Rows 3 and 15: C4B, C4F

Rows 7 and 11: C4F, C4B

Note: The cable pattern will be worked four times on each mitt. Whenever the written mitt pattern says "Cable," work the next row of this 16-row cable sequence; after completing row 16, return to row 1 and repeat.

Pattern for Left Mitt

Cast on 42 stitches.

Join to work in the round, then work 16 rows of ribbing pattern as follows:

K1, P2, K2, P2, Cable, (P2, K2) 6 times, P2, K1.

Work Increase row:

K1, P2, Kfb, K1, P2, Cable, P2, Kfb, K1, P2, K2, P2, Kfb, K1, (P2, K2) 2 times, P2, Kfb, K1, P2, K1. (46 stitches)

Work 6 rows as follows:

K6, P2, Cable, P2, K to end of round.

Thumb Gusset:

Row 1: K6, P2, Cable, P2, K25, M1b, K1, M1f, K2.

Row 2 and all even gusset rows: K6, P2, Cable, P2, K to end of round.

Row 3: K6, P2, Cable, P2, K25, M1b, K3, M1f, K2.

Row 5: K6, P2, Cable, P2, K25, M1b, K5, M1f, K2.

Continue in pattern, adding two more stitches between the Make Ones on each successive odd-numbered row (the number of stitches between the Make Ones equals the row number). Do this until 16 rows of the gusset have been worked. (62 stitches)

Next round (dividing round):

K6, P2, Cable, P2, K25, place next 17 stitches on waste yarn for the thumb, cast on one stitch, K2. (46 stitches on needles, 17 stitches on waste yarn)

Continue to work the hand as follows until the cable pattern has been worked three complete times:

K6, P2, Cable, P2, K to end of round.

Work 10 additional rounds as set.

Then work decrease row:

K1, P2, K2tog, K1, P2, Cable, P2, K2tog, K1, P2, K2, P2, K2tog, K1, (P2, K2) 2 times, P2, K2tog, K1, P2, K1. (42 stitches)

Work ribbing pattern for five rows as follows:

K1, P2, K2, P2, Cable, (P2, K2) 6 times, P2, K1.

At this point the cable pattern will have been worked completely four times. Bind off loosely.

Thumb:

Put thumb stitches on DPNs. Pick up 2 stitches under thumb (19 stitches).

Knit one round, decreasing two stitches under the thumb by working K2tog twice to close holes (17 stitches).

Work one round K2 P2 ribbing, and at end of round, work the last two stitches together (16 stitches).

Work five more rounds K2 P2 ribbing. Bind off loosely.

Finishing:

Weave in all ends and block to shape.

Helpful tips:

• Use a stitch marker at the beginning of the round and to mark cable sections or thumb placement as needed.
• If you need a roomier fit, go up a needle size or choose a yarn with similar gauge but more yardage; consider buying an extra hank if you are a loose knitter.
• When picking up stitches under the thumb, pick up carefully to reduce large gaps; the K2tog decreases suggested help close any remaining holes.