Crochet Fingerless Gloves: Free Beginner Pattern

Fingerless gloves keep your hands warm while your fingers stay free for your phone, a hot drink or the keyboard. This beginner pattern is a single ribbed rectangle, folded and sewn closed with a gap for the thumb. There is no shaping and no increasing, so you can make a pair in an evening or two.

How these fingerless gloves are built

Each glove is worked sideways. Your foundation chain sets the length of the glove, from wrist to knuckles. Every row then adds width, and the rows wrap around your hand. Working in the back loop makes ribs that run along the hand, so the fabric stretches around the palm and springs back.

Step 1: Measure your hand

1. Circumference: measure around your palm at the knuckles, not including the thumb. Subtract 1–2 cm for a snug fit.
2. Length: measure from where you want the cuff to sit on your wrist or forearm to just below your knuckles.

Write both numbers down. You will check your work against them instead of trusting a fixed stitch count.

Step 2: Chain the length

Chain until the foundation, laid flat and unstretched, matches your length measurement. Then chain 2 more. As an example, many worsted yarns on a 5 mm hook give about 18 cm from 25 chains plus 2. Your tension will differ, so measure.

Step 3: Work the ribbed rectangle

1. Row 1: hdc in the third chain from the hook and in each chain across. The 2 skipped chains do not count as a stitch. Count your stitches and note the number.
2. Row 2: ch 1 and turn. The ch 1 does not count as a stitch. Work hdc-blo in each stitch across. Your count should match row 1.
3. Repeat row 2 until the rectangle, measured flat across the rows, matches your circumference measurement.

Mark the first and last stitch of each row. If the rectangle starts to slant or narrow, you have missed an edge stitch.

Step 4: Seam it with a thumb gap

1. Fold the rectangle so the first and last rows meet. Leave a long tail, or cut a fresh length of yarn, and thread your needle.
2. Starting at the wrist edge, whipstitch the two edges together through the back loops for about 11–12 cm.
3. Leave a gap of about 4–5 cm open for the thumb.
4. Seam the remaining 2–3 cm at the top, by the knuckles.
5. Try it on before you fasten off. Make the thumb gap larger or smaller by undoing or adding a stitch or two, then weave in the ends.

Make the second glove exactly the same. Because there is no shaping, both gloves fit either hand.

Optional finishing touches

• Neat top edge: work one round of single crochet around the finger opening for a firmer edge.
• Longer cuffs: add chains to the foundation for arm-warmer style gloves.
• Stripes: change color every few rows. The stripes will run around your hand.

Troubleshooting

• Too tight to pull over the hand: add rows, or use a hook one size larger.
• Baggy around the palm: remove rows until the rectangle matches your circumference minus 1–2 cm.
• The edge slants: count your stitches. The count must stay the same on every row.
• New to half double crochet? Practise with our half double crochet guide first, or start with the beginner lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How much yarn do I need for crochet fingerless gloves?

For an adult pair in worsted weight yarn, allow about 60–90 g. Weigh your first finished glove to know exactly how much the second one needs.

Can I use chunky yarn?

Yes. Use the hook size on the label, then follow the same measuring steps. You will need fewer chains and fewer rows.

Are fingerless gloves a good beginner project?

Yes. They use one stitch in rows and a simple seam, and they are small enough to finish quickly. They also make an easy handmade gift.

Once your gloves are done, our simple crochet scarf pattern uses the same half double crochet for a matching set.