Ember Glow Fingerless Mitts Free Pattern – Textured Knitted Hand Warmers

Cozy Up with the Ember Glow Fingerless Mitts: A Free Knitting Pattern

There’s something deeply satisfying about wrapping your hands in a pair of hand-knit mitts, especially when they feature a texture as beautiful as a honeycomb cable. Today, I’m thrilled to share the Ember Glow Fingerless Mitts—a free pattern that combines the rustic charm of cable knitting with the modern elegance of a two-tone color palette. Whether you’re sipping coffee on a crisp autumn morning or typing away at your desk in winter, these mitts are the perfect blend of function and style.

This pattern is designed with the adventurous beginner in mind. While it introduces you to the wonderful world of cable knitting, the steps are broken down clearly, and the repetitive nature of the pattern makes it a relaxing, meditative project. The result is a snug, elegant pair of hand warmers that hug your palm and leave your fingers free for all your daily tasks. Let’s dive into the cozy details!

Materials Needed: Gathering Your Supplies

Before we cast on, let's ensure you have everything you need. This project is wonderfully portable and requires minimal supplies, making it a great on-the-go knit.

• Yarn: Worsted weight yarn in two colors. The sample uses Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Burnt Orange (for the cuffs and edging) and Cream (for the main body). You will need approximately 150-200 yards of each color. Any soft, worsted-weight yarn will work beautifully.
• Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) knitting needles. You can use double-pointed needles (DPNs) or a circular needle for the magic loop method—whichever you prefer for knitting in the round. You will also need a cable needle.
• Notions: Stitch markers, a stitch holder or scrap yarn, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a tape measure.

Gauge: It is crucial to check your gauge before starting. The pattern calls for 20 stitches and 26 rows = 4 inches in stockinette stitch. If your gauge is off, your mitts may be too tight or too loose. Adjust your needle size up or down as needed to achieve this gauge.

Step-by-Step Instructions: Knitting Your Ember Glow Mitts

This pattern is worked in the round, from the cuff up. We'll make two identical mitts. The instructions are detailed to ensure a flawless finish. Let's get started!

Understanding Your Pattern & Abbreviations

Here are the abbreviations we'll be using. Don't worry if you're new to cables—we'll walk through them together.

• CO: Cast on
• K: Knit
• P: Purl
• K2tog: Knit two stitches together (a right-leaning decrease)
• SSK: Slip, slip, knit (a left-leaning decrease)
• C4F: Slip 2 stitches to cable needle, hold in front, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle
• C4B: Slip 2 stitches to cable needle, hold in back, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle
• PM: Place marker
• RM: Remove marker
• M1L: Make one left (increase)
• M1R: Make one right (increase)

Step 1: Knitting the Ribbed Cuff

With your Burnt Orange yarn, CO 36 stitches. Divide these stitches evenly among your needles. Join in the round, being very careful not to twist your stitches. Place a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round.

Rounds 1-10: *K2, P2*; repeat from * to * around. This creates a classic, stretchy ribbed cuff that will keep your wrists warm and snug.

Step 2: Creating the Honeycomb Body

Now, we switch to the Cream yarn to begin the stunning honeycomb pattern. This texture is created by crossing stitches over each other.

Round 11: *K4, P2*; repeat from * to * around (36 stitches). This sets up the base for our cables.

Round 12: *C4F, P2*; repeat from * to * around. (To do a C4F: slip 2 stitches onto your cable needle and hold it in front of your work. Knit the next 2 stitches from your left needle, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.)

Rounds 13-14: *K4, P2*; repeat from * to * around.

Round 15: *C4B, P2*; repeat from * to * around. (To do a C4B: slip 2 stitches onto your cable needle and hold it in the back of your work. Knit the next 2 stitches from your left needle, then knit the 2 stitches from the cable needle.)

Rounds 16-18: *K4, P2*; repeat from * to * around.

Repeat Rounds 12-18 until your piece measures 5 inches from the cast-on edge. It's best to end this section on a Round 14 or 18 (a plain knit/purl round) to make the next step easier.

Step 3: Shaping the Thumb Gusset

This is where we add extra stitches to create space for your thumb. We'll place a marker on either side of one knit stitch, and increase around it.

Next Round (Setup): K4, P2, K4, P2, PM, K1, PM, K4, P2, K4, P2, K4, P2, K4, P2. You now have 1 stitch between your markers.

Increase Round: K4, P2, K4, P2, K1, M1L, K1, M1R, K4, P2, K4, P2, K4, P2, K4, P2. You now have 3 stitches between your markers (38 stitches total). (To do M1L: pick up the bar between stitches from front to back and knit through the back loop. To do M1R: pick up the bar between stitches from back to front and knit through the front loop.)

Work 3 rounds even in pattern. This means you knit the knit stitches, purl the purl stitches, and simply knit the gusset stitches (the ones between the markers) without increasing.

Repeat the increase round every 4th round (i.e., after every 3 even rounds) until you have 9 stitches between your markers. You should have a total of 44 stitches on your needles.

Step 4: Separating the Thumb

Now, we'll isolate the thumb stitches and continue with the hand.

Next Round: Work in pattern to the first marker, RM. Place the 9 thumb stitches onto a stitch holder or a piece of scrap yarn. Now, CO 1 stitch (this bridges the gap), RM, and continue in pattern to the end of the round. You should have 36 stitches on your needles again.

Step 5: Knitting the Hand

Continue working in the honeycomb pattern (Rounds 12-18) until the piece measures 7.5 inches from the cast-on edge. Again, try to end on a Round 14 or 18 for a clean finish.

Step 6: Adding the Top Ribbing

Switch back to your Burnt Orange yarn.

Rounds 1-8: *K2, P2*; repeat from * to * around.

Bind off all stitches loosely in pattern. (A loose bind-off is key here so the top of the mitt isn't too tight. You can use a larger needle to bind off if needed.)

Step 7: Knitting the Thumb

Transfer the 9 thumb stitches from your holder back onto your needles. With the Burnt Orange yarn, pick up and knit 3 stitches from the cast-on edge of the hand. You should have 12 stitches total. Join in the round.

Rounds 1-6: *K2, P2*; repeat from * to * around.

Bind off loosely in pattern.

Finishing Touches

Weave in all your loose ends with a tapestry needle. To give your mitts a professional look and to help the cables really pop, block them gently. You can wet block them by soaking in lukewarm water, gently squeezing out the excess, and laying them flat to dry in the correct shape.

And there you have it—a beautiful pair of Ember Glow Fingerless Mitts! The combination of the warm burnt orange and the creamy honeycomb texture is truly special. These make fantastic gifts and are a joy to wear. Happy knitting!