Striped + Colorblock Hand Warmers
We all want to stay warm, but sometimes our fingers have phone numbers to dial, buttons to fasten… knitting to do! If you’re managing the delicate balance between warmth and, well, life, our Striped + Colorblock Hand Warmers answer the brief.
To whip up a pair, all you have to do is knit a tube, pausing in the middle to work flat for just long enough to create the thumb hole. At the end you pick up stitches to finish around the thumbhole… and voila!
In stripes or color blocks, this super-simple construction makes these hand warmers a wonderful canvas for color play, and the medium is our beautiful new Quartz yarn! A mix of merino wool and suri alpaca, each of Quartz’s twenty colors glows with the mystery and beauty of an unearthed gem. It is also Fair Trade Certified and meets both the rigorous Responsible Wool and Alpaca Standards, which makes it twice as nice!
Whether you prefer crisp little stripes or fields of color, pick your two favorite shades of Quartz and set your fingers free!
Yarn lovers, if you adore the yarn used in this project, you’ll love exploring all of our other yarn collections! Discover over 45 thoughtfully designed yarns in nearly every natural fiber and in every spectacular color you can imagine. Only available here at Purl Soho’s online yarn store, where every skein is created with care and your creativity in mind!
Share your progress and connect with the community by tagging your pics with #PurlSoho, #PurlSohoBusyHands, #PurlSohoStripedAndColorblockHandWarmers and #PurlSohoQuartz. We can’t wait to see what you make!
Materials
Purl Soho’s Quartz, 65% merino wool, 35% suri alpaca. Each skein of this fingering weight yarn is 420 yards/ 100 grams.
- Striped Version
- Main Color (MC): 1 skein; approximately 114 (130) yards required. We used Ash Gray.
- Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein; approximately 100 (122) yards required. We used Hydrangea Blossom.
- Colorblock Version
- Main Color (MC): 1 skein; approximately 130 (151) yards required. We used Blue Jeans.
- Contrast Color (CC): 1 skein; approximately 80 (93) yards required. We used Aquamarine Blue.
NOTE: This is enough yarn to make 3 pairs of hand warmers in either size or style (for the Large size of the Colorblock version, just reverse the colors for the last pair), and one skein is enough to make a solid pair!
You will also need…
- A set of US 2 (3 mm) double pointed needles
- A set of US 1½ (2.75 mm) double pointed needles
GAUGE
32 stitches and 40 rounds = 4 inches in stockinette stitch, on larger needles
SIZES
Adult Small (Adult Large)
Finished Circumference: 6½ (7½) inches, comfortably stretching up to 8 (9) inches
Finished Length: 12 inches
SAMPLES: We knit both of our samples in the Adult Small size.
NOTES
CHANGING COLORS: Striped Version
For tips on knitting stripes in the round, visit our Stripes in the Round tutorial, and when working flat for the Thumb Hole, be sure to carry the new yarn up the selvage in back of the old yarn.
TURN AND SLIDE: Striped Version
For the Thumb Hole section of this pattern, to “Turn” or “Slide” the work…
“Turning the work” means to do what you would normally do when knitting rows with circular needles. That is to say, transfer the needle from your left hand into your right and the needle from your right hand into your left, and flip the work around so the opposite side is facing you.
“Sliding the work” means to keep the same side of the work facing you, pushing all the stitches to the right end of the circular needles. Without turning the work, start the new row as you normally would.
You will know that you’re doing this right if the yarn you need to complete the next row is magically there waiting for you!
PATTERN
CUFF
With Main Color (MC) and smaller double pointed needles, cast on 52 (60) stitches. We used a basic Long Tail Cast On.
Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist your stitches and place marker (pm) for end of round.
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 five more times.
WRIST
Change to larger double pointed needles.
STRIPED VERSION
Round 1: With MC, knit to end of round.
Round 2: With Contrast Color (CC), knit to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 8½ inches from cast-on edge, ending with Row 2.
Remove marker.
COLORBLOCK VERSION
Continuing with MC, knit until piece measures 8 inches from cast-on edge.
Cut MC.
Join Contrast Color (CC) and knit until piece measures 8½ inches from cast-on edge.
Remove marker.
THUMB HOLE
NOTE: For the Thumb Hole, you will work back and forth in rows as you would a flat piece of knitting.
STRIPED VERSION
Row 1 (wrong side): Turn work (see Notes) and with MC, purl to end of row.
Row 2 (wrong side): Slide work (see Notes) and with CC, purl to end of row.
Row 3 (right side): Turn work and with MC, knit to end of row.
Row 4 (right side): Slide work and with CC, knit to end of row.
Repeat Rows 1–4 three more times. Do not turn work.
COLORBLOCK VERSION
Row 1 (wrong side): Continuing with CC, purl to end of row, turn work.
Row 2 (right side): Knit to end of row, turn work.
Repeat Rows 1 and 2 seven more times. Do not turn work after final row.
HAND
NOTE: For the Hand section you will work in the round again with the right side of the hand warmer facing you.
STRIPED VERSION
Round 1 (right side): With MC, knit to end of round, pm.
Round 2: With Contrast Color (CC), knit to end of round.
Repeat Rounds 1 and 2 until piece measures 1½ inches from end of Thumb Hole.
Cut CC.
With MC, repeat Round 1 one more time.
Change to smaller double pointed needles.
Next Round: With MC, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat the last round 3 more times.
Use a larger double pointed needle to bind off in pattern.
COLORBLOCK VERSION
Round 1 (right side): Continuing with CC, knit to end of round, pm.
Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 1½ inches from end of Thumb Hole.
Change to smaller double pointed needles.
Next Round: Still with CC, *k1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat the last round 3 more times.
Use a larger double pointed needle to bind off in pattern.
FINISHING THUMB HOLE
STRIPED VERSION
With MC and smaller double pointed needles, pick up 32 stitches around Thumb Hole.
COLORBLOCK VERSION
With CC and with smaller double pointed needles, pick up 32 stitches around Thumb Hole.
BOTH VERSIONS
Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.
Repeat Round 1 one more time.
With a larger double pointed needle, bind off in pattern.
Weave in all the ends and then make another!
LEARN ABOUT QUARTZ + ALL OUR BEAUTIFUL YARNS
Quartz brings a special glow to this project! A wonderful mix of 65% merino wool and 35% suri alpaca, this fingering-weight yarn is lustrous, radiant, and sumptuously soft. The addition of suri gives this yarn a lovely halo and subtle luminosity, while merino brings strength, elasticity, and of course, beauty. Choose from nearly 30 gorgeous colors you’ll only find at Purl Soho!
More Free Knitting Patterns
- Be sure to explore our collection of (mostly free!) Quartz knitting patterns and cast on!
More Fingering-Weight Yarns
- Shop our entire collection of fingering-weight yarns
- If you want to use a different yarn, be sure to take the time to get the correct gauge. Need help? Check our All About Gauge Tutorial!
More Yarns With Similar Fibers
- Shop merino wool yarn
- Shop suri alpaca yarn
Looking for more inspiration? Explore all of our free knitting patterns and knitting tutorials, buy one of our many knitting kits and yarn bundles, and shop for beautiful yarn. We have over 35 gorgeous natural fiber yarns in 100’s of magnificent colors, designed to bring integrity, beauty, and joy to your next knitting project and only available at Purl Soho!
They look lovely!
I’d love to try them, but dislike using such small needles.
Would they work as well in an Aran weight wool, on say 4.5 mm needles? If so, how would I work out stitch count?
Any help would be very much appreciated.
Ros
Hi Rosamond,
Thanks for writing in! If you would like to knit this pattern in an Aran weight yarn, I would suggest starting off by working a gauge swatch (in the round if possible!) From there you can count your stitches per inch and determine your cast on amount. Alternatively, we do have a few similar patterns that are already written for a Worsted/Aran weight that you could follow without needing to make any adjustments. You can find those patterns here: Essential Hat, Mitten + Hand Warmer Set; Wide Rib Hat + Hand Warmers
I hope this helps!
Gianna
Your website gives me such enjoyment. Thank you. Is it possible to knit these using circular needles instead of DPNs? if so what length needles?
Hi Mary,
Thanks for reaching out! Since this pattern has a very small circumference, you can’t work it on circular needles, unless you use the Magic Loop method! Magic Loop is actually my preferred method over DPNS for knitting in the round when working with small circumferences, and we have an excellent tutorial for it here: Magic Loop
I hope this helps, happy knitting!
Gianna
Hi! Instead of using double pointed needles could I use magic loop instead? Also, I don’t have US 1.5 needles but have US 1 needles. Could I use those or would that make you the opening too tight? Thanks!
Hi Patty,
Thanks for writing in! You could certainly use Magic Loop instead of DPNs for this pattern! As for the needle size, I think going down to a 1 won’t make a huge difference from the 1.5, but I would suggest checking your gauge prior to beginning to compare it to the original gauge of the pattern.
I hope this helps!
Gianna
Is the 60 stitch cast on just for a larger fit?
Hi Lori Ann,
Thanks for reaching out. Yes, the cast-on of 60 stitches is for the Adult Large size, while the cast-on of 52 stitches is for the Adult Small! Hope this helps clarify things.
All the best,
Lili
If I use the magic loop method would I still need the 2 sizes of needles?
Hi Rachel,
Thanks for writing in. Yes, you will still need to use two different needle sizes with magic loop! The smaller needles are used to make the ribbing at the ends of the hand warmers. Hope this helps clarify things!
All the best,
Lili
Thanks Lili…..I am using the magic loop method. When I get to the thumbholes do I have do anything different? Just asking since this originally called for double point needles.
COLORBLOCK VERSION
Row 1 (wrong side): Continuing with CC, purl to end of row, turn work.
Row 2 (right side): Knit to end of row, turn work. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 seven more times.
Hi Rachel,
That’s a good question! You will not need to change anything in the pattern at this point. But since you’re working flat in this section, you don’t need the magic loop at all! You can simply work the rows on your circular needles as you would normally, and then once you reach the HAND section, you can create the magic loop once more by pulling the cord out from in between the central stitches.
All the best,
Lili
Can we use one solid color? Would one skein make two solid colored size small? Thanks!
Hi Kaitlin,
Thanks for reaching out. Yes, you will only need one skein if you’d like to make a solid-color version of these hand warmers! Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
I love making these lightweight mitts and people love receiving them! I’ ve also used the older pattern called colorblock mitts ( line weight yarn) several times. I only wish you made a video for picking up stitches specific to these thumb holes! I’ve been just slipping the first stitch at the hole because I can’t figure out how to start picking up. I watched the video explaining to skip every 3rd or 4th stitch, but when I look at this thumb hole, where it says pick up 32 stitches, The math just doesn’t work out for me! Where does one start? Do we still skip every 3rd stitch? Thank you.
Hello!
In this pattern, you will pick up one stitch for each row, actually! When you worked the THUMB HOLE, you worked a total of 16 rows. Therefore, to pick up 32 stitches, you’ll pick up 16 on each side of the thumb hole, meaning that you’ll need to pick up 1 stitch per row. Hope this helps!
All the best,
Lili
Hi do you have a video on how to do the thumb hole? I’m more of a visual learning and don’t understand the instructions for the thumb hole.
Hello,
Thanks for writing in! I’m afraid that we do not have a tutorial for this specific pattern, but we’re happy to demonstrate this part of the pattern over Zoom. If that interests you, you can sign up for a 1-On-1 Help session!
All the best,
Lili
Can I use two circular needles instead of Magic Loop?
Hi Sonia,
Yes, that’s a great option for knitting over small circumferences as well!
All the best,
Lili