Fingerless Gloves in Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande - F157

Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande Fingerless Gloves – Free Knitting Pattern (F157)

This free downloadable knitting pattern from Plymouth Yarn (Design Studio pattern F157) produces a pair of cozy, stylish fingerless gloves worked entirely in the round on double pointed needles. The pattern is offered free with a yarn purchase and is an excellent project for knitters who want to showcase a luxurious bulky-weight fiber in a quick, wearable accessory.

What You Are Making

The finished project is a pair of fingerless gloves — hand coverings that wrap the palm, wrist, and lower fingers while leaving the fingertips free for dexterity. This style is popular for everyday wear, commuting, and transitional-season warmth. Because they are worked in a chunky gauge with a single hank of yarn, they knit up quickly and make an ideal gift or beginner-to-intermediate project.

Materials Required

• Yarn: 1 × 100g hank of Plymouth Yarn Baby Alpaca Grande — a bulky-weight yarn spun from baby alpaca fiber, known for its exceptional softness, natural warmth, and subtle halo.
• Needles: US 10 double pointed needles (dpns), or the size necessary to achieve the stated gauge. Double pointed needles are essential here because the gloves are worked seamlessly in the round from cast-on to bind-off.
• Notions: Stitch markers (at least two) for the thumb gusset, and a tapestry needle for finishing.

Gauge

The pattern specifies a gauge of 3½ stitches per inch measured over the cable ribbing pattern on a US 10 needle. Achieving this gauge is important for proper fit, so knitters are encouraged to swatch before casting on.

Techniques Used

• Casting on in the round: 27 stitches are loosely cast on and divided across three double pointed needles, then joined to work in the round without twisting — a foundational circular knitting technique.
• Working in the round on double pointed needles: The entire glove body is worked as a seamless tube, eliminating the need for seaming and producing a smooth, comfortable interior.
• Cable ribbing: The primary stitch pattern is a distinctive cable ribbing worked over a three-stitch repeat (k2, p1) with a cable twist introduced on every third round. This creates a textured, slightly stretchy fabric that flatters the hand and provides structure without bulk.
• Thumb gusset shaping: A classic thumb gusset is worked using Make 1 (M1) increases placed on either side of a central knit panel, with stitch markers used to define the gusset section. The gusset stitches are worked as plain knit stitches while the remainder of the round continues in the established cable ribbing pattern, allowing the thumb opening to grow organically from the palm.
• Placing and working with stitch markers: Markers are placed at the beginning and end of the gusset section to keep increases and pattern transitions organized across multiple rounds.

Stitches Used

• Knit (k) and Purl (p) — the foundational stitches forming the k2, p1 ribbing base.
• Cable twist stitch: Worked by knitting two stitches together but leaving them on the left needle, then knitting the first stitch again before slipping both off together — a needle-cable technique that creates a right-leaning twist without a cable needle.
• Make 1 (M1): A lifted increase used twice per gusset increase round to add stitches symmetrically for the thumb opening.
• K2tog (knit two together): Used as part of the cable twist maneuver within the ribbing pattern.

Pattern Structure and Construction

The gloves begin at the wrist with a loose cast-on of 27 stitches divided across three double pointed needles. The knitter immediately works 25 rounds of cable ribbing, establishing the wrist and lower hand fabric. The three-round cable ribbing repeat — two plain rounds followed