Also called fingerless gloves, these quick-to-knit warmers keep wrists and the upper part of the hands toasty while preserving finger dexterity. In mildly cold weather, they can be worn as is; when it's really cold, they can be layered with gloves underneath. They are shown here in women's and men's versions. The men's pattern is great for all ages, even "cool" teenage boys who worry that handknits might be too girlish for them. One size fits just about everyone, a handy feature for gifts.

Women's hand warmers
Finished size: Will stretch to fit hand sizes up to 8" (20.5 cm) around, about a women's size large.

Finished measurements: Circumference about 6-1/2" (16.5 cm) around (unstretched), and 6-1/2" (16.5 cm) long.

Yarn: Noro Cash Iroha (40% silk, 30% lambswool, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon; 100 yards [91 metres] / 40 grams): #84 raspberry, 1 skein.

Needles: Two 8" (20 cm) circular needles size US 6 (4 mm). Change needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker.

Gauge: 20 sts and 30.5 rows = 4" (10 cm) in spiral rib pattern in the round, with rib relaxed.

Cuff and lower hand
Cast on 32 sts onto one circular needle. Join for working in the rnd (round), being careful not to twist, and place marker to indicate the beginning of the rnd. Work in spiral rib pattern as follows:
Rnds 1 - 4: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.
Rnds 5 - 8: P1, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k2, p1.
Rnds 9 - 12: *P2, k2; repeat from * to end.
Rnds 13 - 16: K1, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p2, k1.
Work rnds 1 - 16 a total of two times -- 32 rows completed; piece measures about 4-1/4" (11 cm) from beginning.

Thumb opening
For the next 8 rows, the sts will be worked back and forth to create the thumb opening, using both circular needles as if they were straight needles. The circular needles are necessary to accommodate the curve of the fabric tube you have been working so far. Temporarily remove the end-of-rnd stitch marker while working back and forth.
Row 1: (WS) Using the second circular needle, turn work and *k2, p2; repeat from * to end.
Row 2: (RS) *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.
Rows 3 and 4: Repeat Rows 1 and 2.
Row 5: K1, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p2, k1.
Row 6: P1, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k2, p1.
Rows 7 and 8: Repeat Rows 5 and 6.

Upper hand
At end of Row 8, place marker to indicate beginning of rnd, and resume working in the rnd on all sts with the RS of the work facing you as for cuff and lower hand. Work Rnds 9 - 16 of spiral rib pattern once, then work Rnds 1 - 2 once -- 50 rnds or rows completed; piece measures about 6-1/2" (16.5 cm) from beginning. Bind off all sts in pattern.

Weave in ends.

Make second hand warmer same as the first.

 

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Excerpted from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson, with photos by Anna Williams. Excerpted by permission of Stewart, Tabori & Chang. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

Page 1 of 2 -- Complete your wrist warmers with finishing instructions on page 2

Men's hand warmers
Finished size: Will stretch to fit hand sizes up to 9" (23 cm) around, about a man's size large.

Finished measurements: Circumference about 4-1/2" (11.5 cm) around (unstretched, will appear very skinny), and 8" (20.5 cm) long.

Yarn: Koigu Kersti (100% merino wool crepe; 114 yards [104 metres] / 50 grams): #K2420 cocoa brown, 1 skein.

Needles: Two 8" (20 cm) circular needles size US 6 (4 mm). Change needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions: Yarn needle, scissors, stitch marker.

Gauge: 36 sts and 30 rows = 4" (10 cm) in k2, p2 rib pattern in the round, with rib relaxed.

Cuff and lower hand
Cast on 40 sts onto one circular needle. Join for working in the round (rnd), being careful not to twist, and place marker to indicate the beginning of the rnd. Work in k2, p2 rib pattern as follows:

All Rnds: *K2, p2; repeat from * to end.
Work in k2, p2 rib until piece measures 5-1/4" (13.5 cm) from beginning, ending the last rnd 1 st before the end of the rnd.

Thumb opening
For the next 1-3/4" (4.5 cm), the sts will be worked back and forth in rows to create the thumb opening, using both circular needles as if they were straight needles. The circular needles are necessary to accommodate the curve of the fabric tube you have been working on so far. Temporarily remove the end-of-rnd stitch marker while working back and forth. When viewed from the RS, there will be a single purl st at each side of the thumb opening.

Row 1: (WS) K1, *p2, k2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end p2, k1.
Row 2: (RS) P1, *k2, p2; repeat from * to last 3 sts, end k2, p1.
Repeat these 2 rows 5 more times -- 12 rows completed; thumb opening measures about 1-3/4" (4.5 cm) high.

Upper hand
At end of the last row, purl the first st beyond the thumb opening to rejoin the work in the rnd again, and place marker to indicate beginning of rnd. Resume working in the rnd on all sts with the RS of the work facing you as for cuff and lower hand. Work k2,p2 rib as established until piece measures about 1" (2.5 cm) above the thumb opening, or 8" (20.5 cm) from the beginning. Bind off all sts in pattern.

Weave in ends.

Make second hand warmer same as the first.

 

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Excerpted from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson, with photos by Anna Williams. Excerpted by permission of Stewart, Tabori & Chang. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.

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