Glove knitting pattern: fingers calculated for your hand
The hard part of gloves is the fingers: how many stitches each one gets, where to cast on and where to pick up so there are no holes between them. The calculator works it out for your hand and your yarn and writes every finger separately.
What the pattern gives you
For a 19 cm hand at 22 sts per 10 cm: cast on 40 sts, thumb gusset of 11 sts. Fingers: index 14 sts, middle 14, ring 14, little 10, thumb 13. The gusset is written round by round and every finger has its own section.
Worked example: gloves with fingers
This is real output from the builder for a 19 cm hand and 18.5 cm hand length.
Key numbers
- Cast-on
- 40
- Gusset sts
- 11
- Index finger
- 14
- Middle finger
- 14
- Ring finger
- 14
- Little finger
- 10
- Thumb
- 13
Finished garment
- Hand
- 18.2 cm
- Length from wrist
- 18.5 cm
- Cuff
- 6 cm
- Fingers (sts)
- 10 · 14 · 14 · 14 · 13
- Yarn (estimate)
- 180–230 m
How to knit the fingers
- Knit the hand up to the base of the little finger — try it on.
- Put the little-finger sts on waste yarn, cast on 2 sts over them and work a few more rounds: the other fingers start a little higher.
- Knit the fingers in turn: index, middle, ring, little. Cast on or pick up 2 sts at every crotch so there are no holes at the base.
- Finish with the thumb — the held gusset sts plus 2 picked up.
- Check each finger against the hand: knit to the middle of the nail, then the tip.
Measurements
Hand circumference — around the knuckles, without the thumb. Hand length — from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger. The glove comes out half a centimetre smaller than the hand so it fits snugly. No measurements? The builder has standard values — change only what differs.
FAQ
How many stitches should I cast on for gloves?
Hand circumference minus half a centimetre, times your gauge, in a multiple of 4 for 2×2 rib. For a 19 cm hand at 22 sts per 10 cm that’s 40 sts.
How do I avoid holes between the fingers?
At every crotch, cast on 2 sts for the first finger and pick up those 2 sts for the next one. If a small hole remains, close it with the tail when you weave in the ends.
What needles are best for the fingers?
Fingers are small — double-pointed needles or a long circular with magic loop work best.