Since leaving my sunny California home for colder climates, I’ve always refused to succumb to such comforts as mittens, preferring coat pockets to clumsy woolen paws. But wait… Why didn’t anyone tell me about hand warmers?! Warm hands and wrists? Free fingers? That’s an accessory I can live with!

Traveling Cable Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Designed to coordinate with my Traveling Cable Hat, these Hand Warmers feature the same stitch pattern and require just one skein of Purl Soho’s beautiful spring-weight Mulberry Merino. I’ll still get a few weeks of wear out of them, but really these beauties are making me look forward to a warm-wristed future. I’ll definitely be greeting next fall’s chill with a wave of my hand warmer-clad hands! -Gina

Designed by Purl Soho designer, Gina Rockenwagner. Click here to see even more of Gina’s designs!

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

Materials

Traveling Cable Hand Warmers | Purl Soho
  • 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Mulberry Merino, 80% extra fine merino wool and 20% mulberry silk. Each skein is 247 yards; approximately 150 yards required. We used the color Heirloom White. (NOTE: We no longer offer Mulberry Merino, but choose from one of our other sport weight yarns.)
  • A set of US 4 (3.5 mm) double pointed needles
  • A cable stitch holder
  • A stitch marker

Gauge

28 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Sizes

Short (Medium, Long)

Finished Circumference: 6 inches unstretched, comfortably stretching to fit most adults

Finished Length: 7¾ (8⅛, 8½) inches

Notes

CROSSES + CABLES

For step-by-step instructions on how to do each of the following stitches please check out our Cable Tutorial.

LEFT + RIGHT CROSS

Left Cross (LC): Slip 3 knit stitches to cable stitch holder and hold in front of work, p1 from left hand needle, k3 from cable stitch holder.

Right Cross (RC): Slip 1 purl stitch to cable stitch holder and hold in back of work, k3 from left hand needle, p1 from cable stitch holder.

CABLE 6 FRONT + BACK

Cable 6 Front (C6F): Slip 3 knit stitches to cable stitch holder and hold in front of work, k3 from left hand needle, k3 from cable stitch holder.

Cable 6 Back (C6B): Slip 3 knit stitches to cable stitch holder and hold in back of work, k3 from left hand needle, k3 from cable stitch holder.

Pattern

Cuff

Cast 52 stitches onto three double pointed needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place a unique marker and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Round 1: *P2, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 1 ½ inches from the cast-on edge.

Set-Up Round: Purl into the front and back (pfb), p1, [k2, make 1 left (m1L), p2, make 1 right (m1R), k2, p2] 2 times, k2, m1L, p2, m1R, k2, p1, pfb, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2. [60 stitches]

WRIST

Round 1: P3, [k3, p2] 6 times, p1, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 2: P3, [LC, RC, p2] 3 times, p1, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 3: [P4, k6] 3 times, p4, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 4: [P4, C6F] 3 times, p4, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 5: Repeat Round 3.

Round 6: P3, [RC, LC, p2] 3 times, p1, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 7: P3, [k3, p2] 6 times, p1, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 8: P2, [RC, p2, LC] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Round 9: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Round 10: P2, k3, [p4, C6B] 2 times, p4, k3, p2, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 11: Repeat Round 9

Round 12: P2, [LC, p2, RC] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

MEDIUM + LONG ONLY

Repeat Rounds 1-12 one (2) more time(s).

ALL SIZES

Repeat Rounds 1-8 one more time.

GUSSET

Left Hand

Round 1: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Round 2: P2, k3, [p4, C6B] 2 times, p4, k3, [p2, k2] 5 times, p2, m1R, k2, m1L, p2, k2. [62 stitches]

Round 3: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, [p2, k2] 5 times p2, k4, p2, k2.

Round 4: P2, [LC, p2, RC] 3 times, [p2, k2] 5 times, p2, k1, m1R, k2, m1L, k1, p2, k2 [64 stitches]

Round 5: P3, [k3, p2] 6 times, p1, [k2, p2] 5 times, k6, p2, k2.

Round 6: P3, [LC, RC, p2] 3 times, p1, [k2, p2] 5 times, k2, m1R, k2, m1L, k2, p2, k2. [66 stitches]

Round 7: [P4, k6] 3 times, p4, [k2, p2] 5 times, k8, p2, k2.

Round 8: [P4, C6F] 3 times, p4, [k2, p2] 5 times, k3, m1R, k2, m1L, k3, p2, k2. [68 stitches]

Round 9: [P4, k6] 3 times, p4, [k2, p2] 5 times, k10, p2, k2.

Round 10: P3, [RC, LC, p2] 3 times, p1, [k2, p2] 5 times, k4, m1R, k2, m1L k4, p2, k2. [70 stitches]

Round 11: P3, [k3, p2] 6 times, p1, [k2, p2] 5 times, k12, p2, k2.

Round 12: P2, [RC, p2, LC] 3 times, p2, [k2, p2] 5 times, k5, m1R, k2, m1L k5, p2, k2. [72 stitches]

Round 13: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, p2, [k2, p2] 5 times, k14, p2, k2.

Traveling Cable Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Thumbhole Round: P2, k3, [p4, C6B] 2 times, p4, k3, p2, [k2, p2] 5 times, put next 14 stitches onto a stitch holder or piece of scrap yarn.

Traveling Cable Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Turn work so wrong side is facing you and cable cast on 2 stitches.

Turn work so right side is facing you, and working into next stitch on left needle, p2, k2. [60 stitches]

Go on to Palm section.

Right Hand

Round 1: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Round 2: P2, k3, [p4, C6B] 2 times, p4, k3, p2, k2, p2, m1R, k2, m1L, [p2, k2] 5 times. [62 stitches]

Round 3: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, p2, k2, p2, k4, [p2, k2] 5 times.

Round 4: P2, [LC, p2, RC] 3 times, p2, k2, p2, k1, m1R, k2, m1L, k1, [p2, k2] 5 times. [64 stitches]

Round 5: P3, [k3, p2] 6 times, p1, k2, p2, k6, [p2, k2] 5 times.

Round 6: P3, [LC, RC, p2] 3 times, p1, k2, p2, k2, m1R, k2, m1L, k2, [p2, k2] 5 times. [66 stitches]

Round 7: [P4, k6] 3 times, p4, k2, p2, k8, [p2, k2] 5 times.

Round 8: [P4, C6F] 3 times, p4, k2, p2, k3, m1R, k2, m1L, k3, [p2, k2] 5 times. [68 stitches]

Round 9: [P4, k6] 3 times, p4, k2, p2, k10, [p2, k2] 5 times.

Round 10: P3, [RC, LC, p2] 3 times, p1, k2, p2, k4, m1R, k2, m1L, k4, [p2, k2] 5 times. [70 stitches]

Round 11: P3, [k3, p2] 6 times, p1, k2, p2, k12, [p2, k2] 5 times.

Round 12: P2, [RC, p2, LC] 3 times, p2, k2, p2, k5, m1R, k2, m1L, k5, [p2, k2] 5 times. [72 stitches]

Round 13: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, p2, k2, p2, k14, [p2, k2] 5 times.

Thumbhole Round: P2, k3, [p4, C6B] 2 times, p4, k3, p2, k2, p2, put next 14 stitches onto a stitch holder or piece of scrap yarn, turn work so wrong side is facing you and cable cast on 2 stitches, turn work so right side is facing you, and working into next stitch on left needle, [p2, k2] 5 times. [60 stitches]

PALM

Work Cable Pattern

Set-Up Round 1: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Set-Up Round 2: P2, [LC, p2, RC] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Round 1: P3, [k3, p2] 6 times, p1, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 2: P3, [LC, RC, p2] 3 times, p1, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 3: [P4, k6] 3 times, p4, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 4: [P4, C6F] 3 times, p4, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 5: Repeat Round 3.

Round 6: P3, [RC, LC, p2] 3 times, p1, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 7: P3, [k3, p2] 6 times, p1, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 8: P2, [RC, p2, LC] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Round 9: P2, [k3, p4, k3] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Round 10: P2, k3, [p4, C6B] 2 times, p4, k3, p2, [k2, p2] 6 times, k2.

Round 11: Repeat Round 9

Round 12: P2, [LC, p2, RC] 3 times, [p2, k2] 7 times.

Next Round: Purl two together (p2tog), p1, [k1, slip slip knit (ssk), p2, knit two together (k2tog), k1, p2] 3 times, k2tog, k1, [p2, k2] 6 times. [52 stitches]

WORK RIBBING

Round 1: *P2, k2, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 7¾ (8⅛, 8½) inches from cast-on edge.

Bind off loosely in pattern.

THUMB

Traveling Cable Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Orient hand warmer so on-hold stitches are at the top of the thumbhole. Joining a new yarn, pick up and knit 4 stitches along the bottom edge of the thumbhole, as indicated by the pink dots, above left.

Transfer the 14 on-hold stitches to two double pointed needles. [18 stitches]

Traveling Cable Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

Rotate the hand warmer so that gusset is at bottom of the thumbhole.

Place a unique marker and join to work in the round.

Set-Up Round: K2tog, k10, k2tog, k4. [16 stitches]

Next Round: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat the last round until the thumb measures ¾ inch from picked up stitches, or to desired length.

Bind off loosely in pattern.

Make a second hand warmer for the opposite hand, weave in all ends and gently wet block. Then, enjoy your Traveling Cable Hand Warmers!

Traveling Cable Hand Warmers | Purl Soho