Knit Acrylic Patchwork Fingerless Glove

Comfortable, scrappy, and stash-friendly: these fingerless gloves are built from small knitted squares (patchwork) that are seamed into a tube, with a vertical thumb opening left in the seam. Pattern is written for adult sizes; make a single glove or two to form a pair. Acrylic yarn is suggested for durability and easy care.

Materials

• Yarn: Worsted/Aran weight acrylic (Medium/4). Choose several colors for the patchwork. Suggested yardage per glove (single glove): Small: 80 yd (73 m); Medium: 100 yd (91 m); Large: 120 yd (110 m). For a pair, double those amounts. Typical commercial label: Worsted weight (US 4) / 10 ply.
• Main needles (for squares & seaming): US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm straight needles (knit squares flat). Optional: US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm if you want a slightly firmer fabric (use to adjust gauge).
• Work in the round for ribs: Set of double-pointed needles (DPNs) or circular needle using magic loop in the same size as gauge needle: US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm.
• Tapestry needle for mattress stitch and weaving ends; small stitch marker; scrap yarn for sewing/marker.
• Optional: blocking mats and pins (gentle blocking helps squares sit flat).

Measurements & Gauge

• Gauge (stockinette, blocked): 18 sts x 24 rows = 4" (10 cm) on US 8 / 5.0 mm.
• Square finished size (pattern default): 2" (5 cm) square = 9 sts x 12 rows (stockinette). Adjust needle size if your gauge differs.
• Finished typical circumference (Medium pattern): approx 8" (20 cm); length before ribs: approx 6" (15 cm). See "Sizing" section for adjustments.

Abbreviations

• CO = cast on
• BO = bind off
• k = knit
• p = purl
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• RS = right side
• WS = wrong side
• rnd = round

Stitch Patterns

Stockinette square (worked flat): Row 1 (RS): knit across. Row 2 (WS): purl across. Repeat Rows 1–2 until square reaches required rows.

Sizes & Layout (number of squares)

Each glove is one rectangular patchwork panel composed of squares. The default square is 2" (5 cm).

• Small: 3 squares across x 3 squares high = 9 squares total. Approx circumference 6" (15 cm).
• Medium (sample): 4 squares across x 3 squares high = 12 squares total. Approx circumference 8" (20 cm).
• Large: 5 squares across x 3 squares high = 15 squares total. Approx circumference 10" (25 cm).

Notes: You can also do 4x4 for a longer glove or to alter length. The instructions below use the Medium (4x3) layout; where counts vary for other sizes, the pattern will call out the alternative numbers.

Make a Swatch

Before you start, knit a 4" / 10 cm stockinette swatch in your yarn on US 8 / 5.0 mm. Measure gauge and adjust needle size if needed so 18 sts = 4". Then calculate square stitch/row count to reach ~2" squares: (gauge sts per 4")/2 = sts per 2" square. With the sample gauge 18 sts/4", cast on 9 sts and work 12 rows to get ~2" tall.

Square Instructions (make the number of squares required)

Using US 8 / 5.0 mm (or size to match gauge):

1. CO 9 sts (or your calculated stitches for a 2" square).
2. Work in stockinette: Row 1 (RS) knit to end. Row 2 (WS) purl to end. Repeat Rows 1–2 until you have worked 12 rows (or your calculated rows for a 2" height). End after a WS row so square edges are neat.
3. BO all sts loosely. Weave in ends and gently block squares flat if desired.

Repeat to make the required number of squares in your color arrangement (for Medium: 12 squares in total).

Assemble Patchwork Panel

Lay out your squares on a flat surface in the chosen arrangement: for Medium, 4 across by 3 down. Work row-by-row mattress stitch seaming:

1. Seam the squares horizontally: join squares across each row, seaming the right side of each adjoining edge with mattress stitch so the joins are nearly invisible.
2. Once each horizontal strip is seamed (4 squares into a strip in Medium), seam the strips together vertically, matching corners so the grid is neat. Press or block again if helpful.

After seaming you will have a single rectangular panel that is approx circumference x length of glove (Medium: ~8" x ~6").

Make the Glove Tube

1. With right sides together, fold the rectangle so the short (vertical) edges meet. Use mattress stitch to seam those two short edges together, creating a tube. Place the seam where you want the center back of the hand to be (this is the seam where we will form the thumb opening).
2. When seaming that vertical join, do not complete the entire seam yet—see Thumb Opening step below.

Thumb Opening (leave an unseamed gap)

The thumb opening is a vertical gap left along the vertical seam. Good placement is about 2 squares up from the wrist seam (i.e., start the gap after seaming up two square-heights). For Medium sample:

1. Start seaming at the wrist edge and seam up 2 squares (approx 4"/10 cm of seam—this is the seam running from the wrist toward the fingers).
2. Stop seaming and leave the next square height unseamed — this is the thumb opening. For most hands this is approximately one square tall (~2" / 5 cm). If you or your recipient has a longer thumb base allow 1.25 squares; for a shorter thumb base allow 0.75 squares. The opening should be vertical and approximately the height of one square by default.
3. Continue seaming above the opening until you reach the top edge. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Ribbing — Wrist Cuff

1. Pick up and knit stitches evenly around the wrist edge of the tube. Number to pick up: use gauge to calculate. Example Medium circumference ~8" (20 cm): gauge 18 sts/4" -> (18/4)*8 = 36 sts. Pick up 36 sts evenly around the wrist. (For Small pick up ~27 sts; Large ~45 sts — round to nearest even number.)
2. Join in the round and place marker for beginning of round.
3. Work in 1x1 rib (k1, p1) for 2" (5 cm) or desired cuff length. BO loosely in rib pattern. Weave in ends and block gently.

Ribbing — Finger Edge

1. Pick up and knit stitches evenly around the top (finger) edge of the glove to finish the opening. Use the same stitch count you used for the wrist (example Medium: 36 sts). Join and work 1x1 rib for 1" (2.5 cm) or desired length. BO loosely.

Thumb Reinforcement & Thumb Cuff

1. Pick up and knit around the thumb opening to create a tidy thumb edge. Count across the gap; pick up approximately 12 sts (for Medium) evenly around the vertical opening—this comes from calculation (18 sts/4")*(thumb circumference in inches≈2.5") ≈ 11–12 sts. If your thumb is larger, pick up 14 sts; smaller, 10 sts.
2. Join and work in 1x1 rib for 1.25"–1.5" (3–4 cm). BO loosely in rib. If a longer thumb cuff is desired, work additional rounds.

Finishing

• Weave in all ends securely on the wrong side.
• Gently block the finished glove to even the seaming and square edges, taking care with acrylic (cool water or steam-block carefully).
• Try the glove on and trim any long ends, tidy mattress stitch joins if needed.

Adjusting Size & Customization

• To change circumference: add or remove squares across. Each additional square adds ~2" to circumference with the sample square size. Recalculate pickup stitch counts by gauge.
• To change length: add extra rows to each square (make squares taller) or add another row of squares vertically.
• Use different stitch textures for contrast squares (garter, seed, rib) but remember different stitch patterns change square height — swatch each stitch to keep squares consistent.
• For a denser glove (warmer, less drapey), use US 7 / 4.5 mm needles and re-swatch.

Troubleshooting

• Squares not the same size: measure and block each square before seaming; if a stitch pattern changes height, adjust the number of rows for affected squares so heights match.
• Thumb opening too small: pick up an additional stitch or two when creating the thumb cuff; reseam seam if necessary leaving a slightly larger unseamed gap on a second try.
• Glove too tight/loose: change needle size or add/remove one square across circumference.

Alternate Construction

If you prefer fewer seams: knit a tube in the round and seam smaller patchwork panels to the outside, or knit larger rectangular panels and graft seams with Kitchener for a more invisible join.

Notes & Care

• Acrylic is machine-washable but follow yarn label care instructions. Block gently; excessive heat can alter acrylic gauge and shape.
• Seams made with mattress stitch will be nearly invisible on stockinette if matched carefully—use a similar color sewing yarn for a tidier finish.

Color Ideas

Random scrappy: use contrasting small-color squares for a cheerful scrappy look. Coordinated: two or three colorways alternating for a more subtle patchwork. Use darker shades on palms for less visible wear.

Metrics & Conversions Quick Ref

• Needles: US 8 / UK 6 / 5.0 mm (main); optional US 7 / UK 7 / 4.5 mm (firmer fabric).
• Square target: 2" (5 cm) = 9 sts x 12 rows (with sample gauge 18 sts x 24 rows = 4").
• Thumb pickup (Medium): ~12 sts (≈2.5" thumb circumference). Wrist pickup (Medium): ~36 sts (≈8" circumference).

Support & Credits

Pattern by PurlJam. Website: https://purljam.verde.uk | Support: team@verde.uk | Social: #purljam

Happy knitting — enjoy the patchwork process and the freedom of using leftover colors!

Created by purlJam with the help of magic AI dust. Shop Verde for patterns and yarn.

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