Free owl fingerless gloves knitting pattern

Everyone needs a pair of snuggly mittens in their cold-weather wardrobe, and we just love this fingerless gloves knitting pattern by Amanda Jones from Simply Knitting issue 94!

Featuring a cable owl with button eyes on each hand, these mittens are sure to be a hit with teens and adults alike – and they’d make a great gift too.

They can be worked in just 130m of aran-weight yarn, so get searching in your stash for the perfect ball. We think they’d be lovely made in a 100% wool or wool-blend yarn for extra warmth.

Mittens for every occasion

Feeling inspired to knit more gloves? Cast on some snowflake mittens, or get colourful with fair isle with our fingerless mittens knitting pattern.

To knit these fingerless gloves you will need:

• Approx 130m of any aran weight yarn (you could try the King Cole Wool Aran)
• A pair of 4.5mm knitting needles
• A pair of 5mm knitting needles
• A stitch marker
• A cable needle (or learn how to cable without a cable needle)
• 4 buttons

Abbreviations

If you’ve tried cable knitting before you’ll have no trouble tackling this knitted fingerless gloves pattern, but if you’re a cable knitting beginner then check out our guide on how to cable knit for tips and advice.

T4Bpk twist 4 back (moss st): Slip 2 sts onto cable needle (cn) and hold at the back of the work, K2 sts, then P1, K1 from cn
T4Fpk twist 4 front (moss st): Slip 2 sts onto cn and hold at the front of the work, P1, K1, then K2 from cn
T3F twist 3 front: Slip 2 sts onto cn and hold at the front of the work, P1, then K 2 sts from cn
T3B twist 3 back: Slip next st onto cn and hold at the back of the work, K2, then P st from cn
C3B cable 3 back: Slip next st onto cn and hold at the back of the work, K2 sts then K st from cn

Check out our knitting abbreviations guide for our standard abbreviations. This knitted fingerless gloves pattern is written in UK terminology.

Tension

18 stitches and 24 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over stocking stitch using 5mm needles and aran weight yarn.

Find out all about knitting tension squares in our guide.

Free owl fingerless gloves knitting pattern

Left-hand owl glove

Cast on 38 sts using 4.5mm needles. (See how to cast on knitting for techniques to use.)
Row 1 (K1, P1) to end of row. Work 14 rows of K1, P1 rib.
Change to 5mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) K22, place stitch marker (SM), P10, K6.
Row 2 P6, K10, P22.
Row 3 K to SM, P10, K6.
Row 4 P6, K1, P8, K1, P22.
Row 5 K to SM, P1, T4Bpk, T4Fpk, P1, K6.
Row 6 P6, K1, P2, (K1, P1) twice, P2, K1, P22.
Row 7 K to SM, C3B, (P1, K1) twice, T3F, K6.
Rows 8, 10 & 12 P8, (P1, K1) 3 times, P24.
Rows 9 & 11 K to SM, K2 (K1, P1) 3 times, K8.
Row 13 K11, cast off 6 sts, K to SM, T3F, (P1, K1) twice, T3B, K6.
Row 14 P6, K1, P2, (K1, P1) twice, P2, K1, P5, turn, cast on 6, turn, P11.
Row 15 K to SM, P1, C4B, C4F, P1, K6.
Rows 16, 18 & 20 P6, K1, P8, K1, P22.
Rows 17 & 19 K to SM, P1, K8, P1, K6.
Row 21 K to SM, P1, C4B, C4F, P1, K6.
Row 22 P6, K1, P2, K4, P2, K1, P22.
Row 23 K to SM, P1, k2tog, P4, k2tog tbl, P1, K6. [36 sts]
Row 24 P6, K8, P22.
Next row (RS) Change to 4.5mm needles and work 2 rows K1, P1 rib.
Cast off in rib.

Right-hand owl glove

Cast on 38 sts using 4.5mm needles.
Row 1 (K1, P1) to end of row. Work 14 rows of K1, P1 rib.
Change to 5mm needles.
Row 1 (RS) K6, place stitch marker (SM), P10, K22.
Row 2 P22, K10, P6.
Row 3 K to SM, P10, K22.
Row 4 P22, K1, P8, K1, P6.
Row 5 K to SM, P1, T4Bpk, T4Fpk, P1, K22.
Row 6 P22, K1, P2, (K1, P1) twice, P2, K1, P6.
Row 7 K to SM, C3B, (P1, K1) twice, T3F, K22.
Rows 8, 10 & 12 P24, (P1, K1) 3 times, P8.
Rows 9 & 11 K to SM, K2 (K1, P1) 3 times, K24.
Row 13 K to SM, T3F, (P1, K1) twice, T3B, K5, cast off 6, K to end.
Row 14 P11, turn, cast on 6, turn, P5, K1, P2, (K1, P1) twice, P2, K1, P6.
Row 15 K to SM, P1, C4B, C4F, P1, K22.
Rows 16, 18 & 20 P22, K1, P8, K1, P6.
Rows 17 & 19 K to SM, P1, K8, P1, K22.
Row 21 K to SM, P1, C4B, C4F, P1, K22.
Row 22 P22, K1, P2, K4, P2, K1, P6.
Row 23 K to SM, P1, k2tog, P4, k2tog tbl, P1, K22. [36 sts]
Row 24 P22, K8, P6.
Next row (RS) Change to 4.5mm needles and work 2 rows K1, P1 rib.
Cast off in rib.

To make up

Sew up the side seam using mattress stitch. Sew in any loose ends. Attach eyes to owl face as shown in picture.

Download this free fingerless gloves knitting pattern

If you'd prefer to print off this pattern you can download the Free fingerless gloves knitting pattern PDF

Stunning scarves

Once you've made your knitted fingerless mittens, check out our list of free scarf knitting patterns to find your next must-make accessory.

Fingerless gloves for the win!

While you can of course knit gloves with fingers, we find that fingerless gloves are so much easier and actually more practical for everyday use. You don't have to take them off to use your phone or deal with money, plus fingerless gloves are more accommodating of different hand sizes.

Make a complete cable collection

Fancy trying some more cable knitting? Complete your knitted accessory collection with this Free bobble knitting hat pattern from Gathered.