Button Wristlets in Caron Simply Soft Collection and Simply Soft Paints - Downloadable PDF

Button Wristlets Knitting Pattern – Caron Simply Soft Collection and Simply Soft Paints

This free, beginner-friendly knitting pattern from the Caron Design Team guides you through creating a pair of stylish Button Wristlets – fingerless hand warmers that are knitted side-to-side and finished with decorative button closures. Compact, quick to complete, and perfect for accessorizing any outfit, these wristlets make an ideal first project for newer knitters looking to practice a textured stitch pattern while still working at an approachable skill level.

What Is Being Made

The pattern produces two matching wristlets – snug, cuff-style accessories that cover the wrist and lower hand while leaving the fingers free. Each wristlet is constructed side-to-side, meaning stitches are cast on along the short edge and the fabric grows lengthwise across the wrist. The finished piece is overlapped at the opening and secured with three buttons sewn through all thicknesses, creating a neat, layered cuff effect. The combination of a bold lattice body and clean garter stitch borders gives these wristlets a polished, handcrafted look.

Yarn and Materials

The pattern calls for two specific Caron yarns used together to create the two-tone color effect that defines the lattice stitch:

• Caron Simply Soft (170 g / 6 oz; 288 m / 315 yds) in Passion (0012) – used as Contrast A. This is a smooth, worsted-weight yarn known for its soft drape and wide color range.
• Caron Simply Soft Paints (113 g / 4 oz; 190 m / 208 yds) in Harlequin (0007) – used as Contrast B. Simply Soft Paints is a self-striping, variegated version of the Simply Soft line, adding automatic color variation without any extra effort.

Only one skein of each colorway is required, making this a budget-friendly and stash-friendly project. Both yarns are worsted weight, which works up quickly on U.S. size 8 (5 mm) knitting needles. Additional materials include 3 buttons per wristlet (6 total), a yarn needle for weaving in ends, and a crochet hook for the single crochet finishing edge.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 19 stitches and 16 rows = 4 inches / 10 cm in the Two-Tone Lattice stitch using U.S. size 8 (5 mm) needles. Checking gauge before beginning is always recommended, particularly when fit matters for accessories like wristlets.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Despite being rated as a beginner pattern, the Button Wristlets introduce a satisfying and visually impressive stitch that goes beyond basic knit-and-purl. The following stitches and techniques are used throughout:

• Garter Stitch: Formed by knitting every row, garter stitch creates a ridged, reversible fabric. It is used at the beginning and end of each wristlet to create sturdy, flat borders that overlap and button together. Six rows of garter stitch open the piece, and six rows close it.
• Two-Tone Lattice Stitch: This is the main body stitch of the wristlets and the defining feature of the design. It is worked over an 8-row repeat using both Contrast A and Contrast B yarns, alternating between them every two rows. The lattice effect is achieved through a combination of knit stitches and slip stitches – stitches that are passed from one needle to the other without being worked – carried either with yarn in back (wyib) or with yarn in front (wyif). This technique creates elongated floats on the fabric surface that mimic the look of a woven or interlaced grid.
• Slip Stitch Colorwork: By slipping stitches with the yarn held in a specific position, the pattern creates the illusion of interlocking colors without ever knitting with two strands simultaneously. This makes the colorwork far more accessible than stranded or Fair Isle techniques, as only one yarn is ever active at a time.
• Single Crochet