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!

Learn how to knit fingerless gloves with our easy-to-follow design. 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.

If you’ve tried cable knitting before you’ll have no trouble tackling this pattern, but if you’re a cable knitting beginner don’t be afraid to give it a go! Check out our guide on how to cable knit for tips and advice, then practise the stitches on a swatch until you get the hang of them and you’ll soon be flying along.

Feeling inspired to knit more gloves? Cast on some snowflake mittens or lacy wedding gloves with our free patterns.

This pattern is written in UK metrics but it's really easy to convert – just check out our yarn weight conversion chart.

To knit these fingerless gloves you will need:

• Approx 130m of aran weight yarn
• A pair of 4½mm 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

Owl fingerless gloves knitting pattern

Abbreviations

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

Need more? Check out our full list of knitting abbreviations.

Tension

Yarn used knits as aran to this tension: 18 stitches and 24 rows to measure 10x10cm (4x4in) over stocking stitch using 5mm needles. Find out all about knitting tension squares in our guide.

Left-hand owl glove

Cast on 38 sts using 4½mm 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 4½mm needles and work 2 rows K1, P1 rib.
Cast off in rib.

Right-hand owl glove

Cast on 38 sts using 4½mm 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 4½mm 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 your free fingerless gloves knitting pattern:

Simply click the link to get your owl mittens pattern as a PDF.

Owl fingerless gloves knitting pattern PDF

Errata Row 14 of the Right-hand owl glove should read: P11, turn, cast on 6, turn, P5, K1, P2, (K1, P1) twice, P2, K1, P6.

Fancy trying more cable knitting? Cast on our bobble hat pattern today! This easy-to-knit design is ideal for cable beginners and will help you to build your confidence as you learn this new skill. It also makes a great quick knit for charity. Grab your needles and some DK yarn from your stash, and let's get going…