Hand Warmer Knitting Patterns

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I love to knit, and I love to knit Hand Warmers! They are quick and fun to make, they are great for using up your stash and they look cool too. You can make them in any type of yarn and in any design you like.

What is a Hand Warmer? It's a type of fingerless glove but without the hassle of knitting fiddly fingers. Some patterns include a thumb, but you don't even need to knit a thumb if you don't want to, you can just include a hole in the knitting to put your thumb through.

My Favourite Handwarmer Patterns

This picture shows just some of the hand warmers that I have knitted.

Clockwise from top right:-

Sock Yarn hand warmers which was based upon a glove pattern that came free with some sock yarn that I purchased.
Foxgloves designed by Clara Parkes from Brave New Knits: 26 Projects and Personalities from the Knitting Blogosphere by Julie Turjoman. I have knitted Foxgloves four times already (yes, I really like it!) and I know I will go back to it again. It is moderately challenging and great fun to knit.
Easy Lace Fingerless Mittens designed by Kathleen Taylor (see link below)
Basic hand warmers knitted flat and sewn up leaving a gap for the thumb. Easiest hand warmers ever!
Victorian Fingerless Gloves designed by Kerin Dimeler- Laurence (see link below)

Ten Great Reasons To Knit Some Hand Warmers

They keep your hands warm, while leaving your fingers free to text, count out your change, play a musical instrument - anything!
Hand warmers are fun to make and can be knitted really quickly - you can't beat a bit of instant gratification.
They are great stash busters, as many patterns can be made with a ball of yarn or less.
You can make them with the yarn left over from another project to match. Instant co-ordination.
You can wear them on their own or over another pair of gloves for extra colour and extra warmth.
You can make them as long or as short as you like, whether you like to keep your wrists and forearms covered or just your hands.
You can knit them in any stitch you like too. They are great for trying out a new stitch for larger knitting projects. Think of them a a swatch that you can actually use.
They make a brilliant quick and easy gift.
They are a really good portable project to carry around and knit on buses, in waiting rooms and in coffee shops.
Er...They keep your hands really warm (Did I say that before?)

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Basic Hand Warmer Knitting Patterns

The easiest type of hand warmer to knit is just a basic tube with a hole for the thumb. You can knit it flat and sew up the seam leaving a gap for your thumb.

If you want to knit it in the round just leave a simple hole in your work by making a buttonhole or by knitting back and forth for a few rows before carrying on knitting in the round.

Here are links to some good basic patterns.

Whit's Knits I absolutely love this basic ribbed handwarmer knitting pattern. A ribbed design that fits snugly and allows for a little leeway in the fit of the gloves too.
Voodoo Wrist Warmers was the pattern that I used to make my first ever knitted hand warmers, and it's one I go back to time and again, as it is quick and simple.
Sam's Snips is a kids handwarmer knitting pattern that is really so simple a new young knitter could make them by themselves. Using DK yarn it is a lovely basic pattern that you can make as plain or as crazy as you want!

Knitting yarn - all ready to be knitted into gloves!!

Image Credit: Skitterphoto

Hand Warmers With A Thumb

The most common type of hand warmer pattern includes a thumb, just like a glove or a mitten but you don't have to make all those fiddly fingers.

There are loads of really lovely designs around on the web and in books, so whether you are a beginner, want more of a challenge or want some knitting to really get your teeth into here are some of my favourites.

Knitpicks I've knitted this pattern up and it was great fun. It does require a bit of concentration but it's worth it as you will create a very pretty pair of gloves.
Canadian Living This is a brilliant pattern for both men and women with a simple but effective twist design.
Judy Coates Perez If you like aran knitting these would be fabulous - these look very cosy and have only a minimum of thumb shaping.
Dr Seussesque Wrist Warmers Apart from the fact they have such a great name, these cute stripy hand warmers are knitted in a fluffy yarn.
annypurls These beautiful gloves are made in sock yarn. I really want to try this pattern out, they look really effective.
Kathleen Taylor's Dakota Dreams I've made this one myself a couple of times. A fun quick knit that's great for layering.
Through the Loops! Chevron Mitts Love the colours on these chevron gloves.
Queen City gloves Just beautiful gloves with a simple cable design. A little more challenging than some but worth the effort, knitted in sock yarn.
Loumms Bo-Peep Gloves These lacy gloves could look either elegant and lady-like or quite punky, depending on the colour that you knitted them in.

How To Make Your Own Hand Warmer Pattern

If you can't find the hand warmer pattern that is quite what you are looking for, it is the easiest thing in the world to adapt a favourite glove or mitten pattern into a hand warmer.

To adapt a glove pattern, knit as the pattern says, making the thumb but only knitting until the thumb is the length that you want, then cast off loosely. Keep on following the pattern to make the rest of the hand part of the glove and knit until the hand part of the glove it is the length that you want.

I like to stop knitting at the base of my forefinger so that most of my fingers are free, but if you want to be warmer just knit a few more rows. Keep trying the glove on to make sure that you have knitted it to the length that you want.

Then just cast off and sew up your glove, wear and enjoy. Well, go knit another one the same of course!

Happy, toasty knitting!