Fingerless Gloves Pattern Maker
Fingerless gloves and wrist warmers are a stretch tube with a place for the thumb. Choose a size or enter your palm and forearm, set how long they run, and pick a thumb opening or a gusset.
Add a fold-back or removable mitten cap and the same pattern becomes convertible mitts, held back with a snap or a button and loop.
Make it yours: Measure your own arm or leg, then change the length, width and thumb opening.
Make this pattern in your size →When to choose this one
Choose this one for hands and forearms: wrist warmers, fingerless gloves, long gloves, or convertible mitts with a fold-back or removable cap. The palm and forearm set the size, the finished length sets how far they run, and the thumb can be an opening or a gusset.
For legs, see the leg warmers. For mittens that cover the fingers, use the mittens pattern.
What you can change
Size
- Finished length: 6–75 cm (2⅜–29½″). End to end, cuffs included. Wrist warmers about 18 cm (7″); to the elbow about 35 cm (14″); leg warmers 35–45 cm.
- Cuff depth: 1–12 cm (⅜–4¾″). How deep the folded cuff or hem is at the top end.
Sizes are typed in centimetres, millimetres or inches. The starting size is Finished length 23 cm (9″), Cuff depth 3 cm (1⅛″).
Options
- For: hands and arms or legs
- Size: 0–6 months, 6–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–4 years, 5–6 years, 7–8 years, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL or measured
- Thumb: none, opening or gusset
- Ends: folded cuffs or hemmed
- Mitten cap: none, fold-back, snap-on or button-on (removable)
- Hold it back with: snap or button and loop
- Switches: Adjustable button positions
- Measurements and counts: Palm, Forearm, Hand length, Ease
Starting points
These are sizes and settings to begin from, and every one stays fully editable. Type your own measurements, or start from the nearest one.
| Starting point | Finished size, cm | Same starting point in round inches |
|---|---|---|
| Wrist warmers | palm 20 cm − 1 cm · 18 cm long | palm 7⅞″ − ⅜″ · 7″ long |
| Fingerless gloves | palm 21.5 cm − 1 cm · 23 cm long | palm ≈8½″ − ⅜″ · 9″ long |
| Long fingerless gloves | palm 20 cm − 1 cm · 38 cm long | palm 7⅞″ − ⅜″ · 15″ long |
| Convertible mitts | palm 20 cm − 0.5 cm · 20 cm long | palm 7⅞″ − ¼″ · 8″ long |
| Adjustable button-on mitts | palm 20 cm − 0.5 cm · 20 cm long | palm 7⅞″ − ¼″ · 8″ long |
| Snap-on cap mitts | palm 18.5 cm − 0.5 cm · 19 cm long | palm ≈7¼″ − ¼″ · 7½″ long |
| Child wrist warmers | palm 14.5 cm − 0.8 cm · 13 cm long | palm ≈5¾″ − ¼″ · 5″ long |
The warmers pattern has 10 starting points in all; the other 3 are in the maker.
Cutting list
At the starting size (Finished length 23 cm (9″), Cuff depth 3 cm (1⅛″)) the pattern has these pieces. Fabric sizes include seam allowance, interfacing is cut to the stitching line, and pieces cut on the fold are shown opened out. Each size is the width and height of the piece as cut.
| Piece | Fabric | Cut | Size to cut | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glove tube | Main fabric | 2 | up to 22.35 × 20.5 cm (up to ≈8¾ × ≈8⅛″) | Shaped: cut from the printed piece |
| Top cuff | Main fabric | 2 | 19.71 × 8 cm (≈7¾ × ≈3⅛″) | Rectangle: cut by measurement or from the print |
| Knuckle band | Main fabric | 2 | 19.96 × 5 cm (≈7⅞ × ≈2″) | Rectangle: cut by measurement or from the print |
| Thumb gusset | Main fabric | 2 | 13.61 × 6.3 cm (≈5⅜ × ≈2½″) | Rectangle: cut by measurement or from the print |
You will also need: Thread. The cover page and materials list give the amounts for your size.
The maker’s fabric estimate at this size: Main fabric about 0.3 m of 112 cm fabric.
How it goes together
These are the maker’s own instructions at the starting size. They change with the options you pick, and the PDF carries the full set with the cover, cutting list and materials list.
- Check the stretch: wrap the knit round your hand round the knuckles, stretched as it will be worn. The finished knuckle end is 19.96 cm round and the top 19.68 cm; it has to stretch over your hand too.
- Fold each tube right sides together, long edges level, and sew the side seam at 1 cm with a stretch stitch. Leave it open between the thumb notches, backstitching firmly at both.
- Thumb gussets: fold each right sides together, short ends meeting, and sew the ends at 1 cm to make a ring. Fold it in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, raw edges level.
- Set in the gusset: with the tube wrong side out, push the gusset into it so its raw edges line up with the opening’s edges, right sides together, its seam at one notch. Sew round the opening at 1 cm, stretching gently to fit. Turned right side out, the gusset stands out round the thumb.
- Cuffs: fold each band right sides together, short ends meeting, and sew the ends at 1 cm to make a ring. Fold it in half lengthwise, wrong sides together, raw edges level. Mark quarters on the band and on the tube’s end (the side seam, the opposite notch and halfway between).
- Pull each band over the right side of its end of the tube, raw edges level, band seam at the side seam, quarters matching. Sew at 1 cm with a stretch stitch, stretching the band to fit. Press the seam towards the tube.
- Try them on. The thumb opening should sit at the base of your thumb and the end at your knuckles.
Fabric suggestions
Outer: Sweater knit, rib knit, jersey with some spandex, fleece or stretch velour.
Lining: None: one layer of knit. Fold the cuffs from ribbing or the same knit.
Interfacing, padding or other layers: No interfacing, except small squares behind any snaps or buttons.
How each fabric family suits it
- Stable woven: not recommended. Cut smaller than the body, a woven can’t stretch on over the hand or heel. Choose a knit.
- Heavy or stiff: not recommended. Too stiff to hug and to pull on. Choose a knit.
- Stretchy knit: great choice. A knit hugs at negative ease and stretches over the hand or heel. Sew with a narrow zigzag or stretch stitch.
- Slippery or fine: possible, with care. Stretch velvet or stretch satin works if it stretches well; plain satin or nylon won’t.
The maker’s advice adjusts to the fabric family you pick in the Fabric tab.
Printing it
At the starting size the printed pieces take 3 A4 pages, taped together using the page labels, alignment marks and page map. For a print shop, choose a sheet from A0 to a 36″ roll: the pieces are packed onto as few sheets as they will fit on, and if one is too big for the sheet the maker says so. How printing, tiling and the test square work.
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure for fingerless gloves?
Measure round your palm at its widest, across the knuckles with the thumb tucked in, and round your forearm where the glove will end. The finished length is its own setting. If you add a mitten cap, the hand length is measured from the wrist crease to the tip of the middle finger. The starting points use a little negative ease, so the glove hugs the hand.
What is the difference between a thumb opening and a gusset?
A thumb opening is a slit the thumb comes through, so the tube stays simple. A gusset is a folded collar of fabric set into the opening, which gives the thumb more room.
What size can I make?
The fingerless gloves pattern takes finished length from 6–75 cm (2⅜–29½″); cuff depth from 1–12 cm (⅜–4¾″). It starts at Finished length 23 cm (9″), Cuff depth 3 cm (1⅛″), and you can work in centimetres, millimetres or inches. This page starts from Wrist warmers, Fingerless gloves, Long fingerless gloves, Convertible mitts, Adjustable button-on mitts, Snap-on cap mitts and Child wrist warmers. Every starting point stays fully editable.
Which fabric suits the fingerless gloves pattern?
Sweater knit, rib knit, jersey with some spandex, fleece or stretch velour. In the maker’s fabric advice, stretchy knit is a great choice; slippery or fine is possible with care; stable woven and heavy or stiff are not recommended.
Are there child or baby sizes?
Yes: Child wrist warmers (palm 14.5 cm − 0.8 cm · 13 cm long). They are starting points, not a promise of fit, and every measurement can be changed. Check the fit yourself, and check the finished item for anything small, loose or long enough to catch, before a child wears or uses it.