Zigzag Fairisle Hand Warmers

Zigzag Fair Isle Hand Warmers by Vickie Hartog

Project Overview

The Zigzag Fair Isle Hand Warmers are a pair of knitted gloves designed by Vickie Hartog. This intermediate-level knitting project creates fitted hand coverings featuring a traditional Fair Isle colorwork pattern with a distinctive zigzag motif. The hand warmers are constructed in the round using worsted weight yarn, making them suitable for knitters with some experience in stranded colorwork techniques.

What Is Being Made

This pattern produces a complete pair of hand warmers (gloves/mittens) with separate left and right hand versions. Each hand warmer includes a fitted cuff, wrist section, thumb gusset for proper thumb placement, and a shaped hand portion. The design accommodates individual hand shaping through optional decreases to ensure the palm fits snugly.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Fair Isle Colorwork: The primary technique involves stranded colorwork using multiple colors worked simultaneously. The pattern requires careful attention to carrying yarn colors across the back of the work, with instructions to knit into the back of the color bar matching the stitch being made.
• In-the-Round Construction: The hand warmers are worked in the round from the cuff upward, eliminating the need for seaming.
• Thumb Gusset Shaping: Strategic increases create a gusset that accommodates the thumb, with 23 stitches placed on a holder for later completion.
• Decreasing for Fit: Optional purl decreases (purl 2 together) allow customization of palm fit for individual hand sizes.
• Thumb Cast-On Method: This technique is used for both the initial cast-on and for adding replacement stitches after the thumb gusset is separated.

Stitches Used

• Knit Stitch (K): The foundation stitch used throughout the colorwork pattern.
• Purl Stitch (P): Used for shaping rows and the optional palm-fitting decreases.
• Knit 2 Together (K2Tog): A right-leaning decrease used for shaping the hand to fit individual proportions.
• Fair Isle Pattern Stitches: The zigzag motif is created through the combination of knit stitches in alternating colors as indicated by the pattern graphs.

Materials and Yarn Information

This pattern is worked in worsted weight yarn in multiple colors, with Teal specified for the cast-on. The pattern graphs indicate additional colors for the Fair Isle design, though specific color names beyond Teal are referenced by their position in the pattern rather than by individual names.

The project requires double-pointed needles or a circular needle appropriate for worsted weight yarn, allowing for seamless in-the-round construction. The initial cast-on of 40 stitches provides the foundation for the hand warmer circumference.

Pattern Structure

The hand warmers follow a logical construction sequence: the cuff and wrist are established in rows 1-2, followed by extended pattern work in row 3. Rows 4-26 incorporate thumb gusset increases while maintaining the Fair Isle pattern. The thumb is separated at row 27 by placing gusset stitches on a holder and casting on replacement stitches. The hand portion continues through row 39, with a purl row at row 40 and optional finishing decreases to customize the palm fit. Separate graphs are provided for right-hand and left-hand versions, ensuring proper pattern orientation for each hand.