Pared down, functional, and very good-looking, our Stockinette Hand Warmers are elegant in design and straightforward in practice. They also make for wonderful movie-night knitting!

Stockinette Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

We used just one skein of Mulberry Merino for our pair of Stockinette Hand Warmers. For us, our beautiful new neutral, Field Mouse, says everything we needed to say, but feel free to throw in some stripes, colorblocking, or Fair Isle work. With nine incredibly gorgeous new colors of Mulberry Merino on the scene, we wouldn’t blame you!

Stockinette Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

These Stockinette Hand Warmers are such a simple pleasure to make, I’m thinking about knitting up a pair for myself, my family, my friends, and maybe even a stranger or two! -Jake

Stockinette Hand Warmers | Purl Soho

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

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

Materials

Stockinette Hand Warmers | Purl Soho
  • 1 skein of Purl Soho’s Mulberry Merino, 80% extra fine merino wool, and 20% mulberry silk, or 247 total yards required. We used the color Field Mouse. (NOTE: We no longer offer Mulberry Merino, but choose from one of our other sport weight yarns.)
  • A set of US 4 (3.5mm) double pointed needles
  • A stitch holder or scrap yarn

Optional: Instead of using double pointed needles to knit the Body and Hand, you can try Addi FlexiFlips US 4, 8-inch circular needles. You will still need double pointed needles for the Thumb, though!

Gauge

22 stitches and 34 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch

Size

Small (Large)

  • Finished Circumference: 7¼ (8½) inches
  • Finished Length: 12½  inches

Pattern

Begin

Cast on 40 (46) stitches and distribute them among three double pointed needles. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.

Place marker (optional) and join for working in the round, being careful to not twist the stitches.

Work in stockinette stitch, knitting every round, until piece measures 8 inches from cast-on-edge, or until desired length to base of thumb.

Thumb Hole

Round 1: Slip previous 4 (6) stitches from the right needle onto a stitch holder or scrap yarn, knit to end of round, remove marker (if you used one), turn work so wrong side (i.e. the purl side) is facing you. [36 (40) stitches remain]

NOTE: For the rest of the Thumb Hole you will work back and forth in rows, turning the work at the end of each row, as you would a flat piece of knitting. Work the stitches on the double pointed needles just as they are, moving from one needle to the next.

Row 1 (wrong side): Purl all 36 (40) live stitches, turn work.

Row 2 (right side): Knit all 36 (40) live stitches, turn work.

Repeat Rows 1 and 2 one (two) more time(s). Do not turn work at end of last Row 2.

Hand

NOTE: For the Hand you will work in the round again with the outside of the piece (i.e. the knit side) facing you.

Joining Round: With the right side facing you, place a marker and connect the two sides of the Thumb Hole by using the working yarn to knit into the next stitch, knit to end of round.

Continue in stockinette stitch, knitting every round, until piece measures 4 inches from end of Thumb Hole or until desired length to top of Hand.
Bind off loosely.

Thumb

Slip the 4 (6) on-hold stitches onto a double pointed needle.

With the right side facing you and the piece oriented with the cast-on edge at the bottom and the bind-off edge at the top, join yarn and knit across these 4 (6) stitches.

With a new double pointed needle and the right side still facing you, pick up 4 (6) stitches along the left edge of the Thumb Hole, and with a third double pointed needle and the right side facing you, pick up 4 (6) stitches along the right edge of the Thumb Hole. [12 (18) stitches]

Place a marker and join for working in the round.

Work in stockinette stitch, knitting every round, until Thumb measures 2 inches, or until desired length.

Bind off loosely.

Weave in the ends and then make another!

Stockinette Hand Warmers | Purl Soho