Free Pattern: Men's Fingerless Mitts

  My special guy goes between indoors and outside a lot at his job. Living in Florida, that's not usually a problem, but it's literally freezing right now. He doesn't have gloves or mittens, he needs something to keep his hands warm, and...his birthday is this weekend. So, I came up with these mitts just in time.

  A small cluster stitch in the main body makes a fantastically warm fabric, while using double crochet stitches for the wrist and fingers allows for stretch and range of motion. Crocheting over one row of stitches creates a neat cuff on the wrist. Beginners, use stitch markers, but don't be intimidated! Step by step instructions are provided for the stitches.

  I used Caron One Pound yarn, but I have to apologize, while putting these together I didn't pay attention to how many yards were used. What I can tell you is that a single One Pound skein would make at least three or four pairs of these mitts.

  Mitts are 8 inches (20 cm) from fingers to wrists; 5 inches (12.5 cm) in diameter. The total outer circumference is about 10 1/2 inches (26.5 cm). Thumb opening is 2 1/2" (6 cm) by 1" (2.5 cm). The pattern allows for a little over 1/2 inch (1 cm) of stretch.

Skill Level:
Easy

Materials:
Caron One Pound yarn (check out the One Pound review)
Crochet hooks size G/6-4.25mm and H/8-5.00mm or sizs needed to obtain gauge
Tapestry needle for weaving in ends
Stitch markers, if needed

Gauge:
2" x 2" (5 cm x 5 cm) =  7 sts and 7 rows
1 dc = 1/2" (1 cm) tall

Stitches:
Chain (ch)
Slip stitch (sl st)
Single crochet (sc)
Double crochet (dc)
Single crochet cluster (sc-cl) - Insert hook into designated stitch, yarn over, pull up one loop, pull through one loop. Insert hook in same st, yarn over, pull up one loop. Yarn over,pull through all 3 loops on hook.
Double crochet 2 together (dc2tog) - Yarn over, insert hook into designated stitch, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops. Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over, pull through 3 remaining loops.
Double crochet 4 together (dc4tog) - Yarn over, insert hook into designated stitch, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops. *Yarn over, insert hook into next st, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops* Repeat from * to * 2 more times, yarn over, pull through remaining 5 loops.

Directions:

To begin, ch 30 with hook size H/8-5.00mm. Join with a sl st to beg ch. Change to hook size G/6-4.25mm.

Round 1:
With hook size G/6-4.25mm, ch 1 (counts as 1 sc). *Sc-cl in next st, 1 sc in following st.* Repeat from * to * 13 more times. Sc-cl in last st. Join with a sl st to beg ch-1. (30 sc)

Rounds 2 - 5:
Repeat round 1.

Round 6:
Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), *sc-cl in next st, 1 sc in following st.* Repeat from * to * 13 more times. Do not join. (29 sc)

Round 7:
Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), turn. *Sc-cl in next st, 1 sc in following st.* Repeat from * to * 13 more times. (29 sc)

Rounds 8 - 15:
Repeat Round 7.

Round 16:
Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), turn. *Sc-cl, 1 sc in next st.* Repeat from * to * 13 more times. Ch 1, join with a sl st to beg ch-1. (30)

Rounds 17 - 21:
Repeat Round 1. Change to hook size H/8-5.00mm.

Round 22:
With hook size H/8-5.00mm, Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in same st. *Dc4tog in back loops, 2 dc in next st.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Dc4tog. Join with a sl st to beg ch-3. (18 dc)

Round 23:
Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of next 17 sts. Join with a sl st to beg ch-3. (18 dc)

Round 24:
Sl st below current st into Round 22, ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each st of Round 22. Join with a sl st to beg ch-3. Bind off, weave in ends.

Change to hook size G/6-4.25mm.
Round 25:
Working into the bottom loops of the beg ch, join with a sl st in any st. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of next 29 sts. Join with a sl st to beg ch-3. (30 dc)

Round 26:
Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), 1 dc in each of next 7 sts, dc2tog. *1 dc in each of next 8 sts, dc2tog.* Repeat from * to * . Join with a sl st to beg ch-3. Bind off, weave in ends.