Finger Tips

Finger Tips Gloves by heaventoseven

What Is Being Made

Finger Tips is a downloadable knitting pattern for children's gloves designed by Alma of heaventoseven. This intermediate-level project creates fitted gloves available in five graduated sizes to accommodate children from ages 4 to 14 years, with the largest size fitting women's small hands. The pattern is specifically engineered for hand circumferences ranging from 15.5 cm to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches), making it a versatile design suitable for multiple age groups and hand sizes.

Sizes and Customization

The Finger Tips pattern includes five distinct sizes:

• 4–6 years: 15.5 cm hand circumference (6 inches)
• 6–8 years: 16.5 cm hand circumference (6.5 inches)
• 8–10 years: 18 cm hand circumference (7 inches)
• 10–12 years: 19 cm hand circumference (7.5 inches)
• 12–14 years: 20 cm hand circumference (8 inches)

The pattern encourages customization based on individual measurements. Since hand size and finger length vary between children, the designer recommends measuring hand circumference and trying on the gloves to determine appropriate finger length. Knitters can easily adjust finger length by adding or subtracting a few rounds before the decreasing section, allowing for a personalized fit.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

Finger Tips employs classic hand-knitted glove construction techniques suitable for intermediate knitters. The pattern uses double-pointed needles (DPNs) to work the gloves in the round, a traditional method that creates seamless, fitted garments. The construction involves working the hand and fingers in continuous rounds, with decreasing shaping to form the finger tips. The pattern utilizes stitch holders or waste yarn to hold stitches while working individual fingers, a fundamental technique in glove knitting that allows each finger to be worked separately after the hand is complete.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

Finger Tips is designed to work with fingering weight yarn, also known as 4-ply yarn, which provides the fine gauge necessary for fitted children's gloves. The pattern accommodates both solid-colored and self-striping yarns, or a combination of both for creative color work. Yarn requirements are modest, ranging from 50 grams for the smaller sizes to 100 grams for the two largest sizes, with a standard yardage of 420 meters per 100 grams.

A notable feature of this pattern is its efficiency with yarn scraps. The designer specifically suggests using different yarn colors or remnants for each individual finger, as demonstrated in the green gloves pictured in the pattern. This approach makes Finger Tips an excellent project for stash-busting and using up small amounts of leftover yarn from other projects.

Tools and Equipment

The Finger Tips pattern requires:

• A set of 2 mm (US0) double-pointed needles (DPNs) for working in the round
• Stitch holders or waste yarn to temporarily hold stitches while constructing individual fingers
• Stitch markers to identify the beginning of rounds and track pattern repeats
• A darning needle for weaving in yarn ends and finishing the gloves

Gauge and Tension

The pattern specifies a working gauge of 36 stitches to 10 centimeters (4 inches) when measured over stockinette stitch using fingering weight yarn and 2 mm needles. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly in children's gloves where sizing is critical. Knitters should knit a gauge swatch before beginning the project to ensure their tension matches the pattern specifications.

Project Overview

Finger Tips is an ideal intermediate knitting project that teaches essential glove construction techniques while producing practical, wearable garments for children. The pattern's flexibility in sizing, yarn choice, and finger length adjustment makes it accessible to knitters seeking to create custom-fitted gloves. With modest yarn requirements and the option to use yarn scraps, this pattern is both economical and environmentally conscious, perfect for knitters looking to maximize their yarn stash while developing their skills in small-circumference circular knitting.