Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Zippers, in this case, dispose of their actual use and embrace the whimsy of their style. Bold and chunky, bright and friendly, these zippers are here for our entertainment only! Wear them on the palm side or the knuckle side; up, down, or half way in between, they’ll make you smile!

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Madeline Tosh’s new Tosh Merino DK sets the stage for all of this zipper play. Right in between Tosh Light and Tosh Worsted, the DK weight is the same beautiful single ply superwash merino as its cousins. And most importantly, it comes in the same palette of luminescent hand dyed colors that makes Madeline Tosh some of our very favorite yarn!

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Whitney Van Nes.

Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, and #PurlSohoZipperedHandWarmers. We can’t wait to see what you make!

The Materials

Tomato Hand Warmers

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

  • 1 skein of Madeline Tosh’s Tosh Merino DK, 100% Superwash Merino. Each skein is 225 yards/ 115 grams; approximately 225 yards required. This color is Tomato. (NOTE: We no longer offer Tosh Merino DK, but choose from one of our other light worsted/dk weight yarns.)
  • Two 10-inch, non-separating chunky zippers. This color is Silky White 571.
  • Gutermann’s Cotton Thread to match the yarn. This color is 4915.
  • A set of US 5 (3.75 mm) double pointed needles

Luster Hand Warmers

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

  • 1 skein of Madeline Tosh’s Tosh Merino DK, 100% Superwash Merino. Each skein is 225 yards/ 115 grams; approximately 225 yards required. This color is Luster.
  • Two 10-inch, non-separating chunky zippers. This color is Red 816.
  • Gutermann’s Cotton Thread to match the yarn. This color is 3170.
  • A set of US 5 double pointed needles

The Pattern

Gauge

6 stitches = 1 inch in stockinette stitch

Finished Size

Comfortably stretches to about 8 inches in circumference, to fit most women.

11½ inches in length.

Hand Warmer A

Cast 43 stitches onto one double pointed needle. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Working back and forth with two double pointed needles…

Row 1 (wrong side): *P3, k2, repeat from * to end last 3 stitches, p3.

Row 2 (right side): *K3, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 8 inches from cast on edge, ending with a ws row.

Thumb Hole

NOTE: For this section you will work back and forth on just some of the stitches, turning the work between rows.

Row 1 (rs): [K3, p2] two times. (10 stitches)

Row 2 (ws): [K2, p3] two times.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until this section measures 9 1/2 inches from cast on edge, ending with a rs row.

Cut the yarn.

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

With the rs facing you, join new yarn to the needle holding the 33 stitches. And now working just these 33 stitches…

Next Row (rs): *K3, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Next Row (ws): *P3, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p3.

Repeat last 2 rows until this section measures 9 1/2 inches from the cast on edge, finishing with a rs row.

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Hand

Now working all 43 stitches and closing the thumb hole…

Row 1 (ws): *P3, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p3. (43 stitches)

Row 2 (rs):*K3, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 10 inches from cast on edge, ending with a rs row.

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

**With the wrong side facing you, use a Cable Cast On to cast on 2 stitches. (45 stitches)

Distribute the stitches among three double pointed needles, and with the right side facing you, place a marker (optional) and join for working in the round.

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Round 1: *K3, p2, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 11 1/2 from cast on edge.

Bind of loosely in k3, p2 pattern.

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Cut the yarn and weave in the ends.***

Hand Warmer B

Cast 43 stitches onto one double pointed needle.

Working back and forth with two double pointed needles…

Row 1 (wrong side): *P3, k2, repeat from * to end last 3 stitches, p3.

Row 2 (right side): *K3, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 8 inches from cast on edge, ending with a rs row.

Thumb Hole

NOTE: For this section you will work back and forth on just some of the stitches, turning the work between rows.

Row 1 (ws): [P3, k2] two times. (10 stitches)

Row 2 (rs): [P2, k3] two times.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until this section measures 9 1/2 inches from cast on edge, ending with a ws row.

Cut the yarn.

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

With the ws facing you, join new yarn to the needle holding the 33 stitches. And now working just these 33 stitches…

Next Row (ws): *P3, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p3.

Next Row (rs): *K3, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3.

Repeat last 2 rows until this section measures 9 1/2 inches from the cast on edge, finishing with a ws row.

Hand

Now working all 43 stitches and closing the thumb hole…

Row 1 (rs): *K3, p2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, k3. (43 stitches)

Row 2 (ws):*P3, k2, repeat from * to last 3 stitches, p3.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 until piece measures 10 inches from cast on edge, ending with a rs row.

Repeat from ** to *** of Hand A (above).

Both Hand Warmers

Adding the Zippers

Start by situating the base of the zipper at the place in the hand where you cast on two stiches.

Zippered Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

For step-by-step instructions on how to pin and sew a zipper into place, please check out our Zipper Tutorial. You’ll be set to zip in no time!