Do-Sa-Dos

Do-Sa-Dos Fingerless Mitts by Tricia Lewis

Project Overview

Do-Sa-Dos fingerless mitts are an intermediate-level knitting project designed by Tricia Lewis. These mitts feature a playful cable design inspired by the square dancing call "do-sa-do," where dancers circle around each other without changing direction. The pattern creatively translates this movement into knitwear, with a central cable that dances around two side cables in turn. The design name is also a clever reference to Malabrigo Dos yarn, one of the designer's favorite materials for this type of project.

What You Will Create

This pattern produces a pair of fingerless mitts—also known as fingerless gloves or mitts—that provide warmth while leaving your fingers free for dexterity and movement. The mitts are designed to be worn on the hands and wrists, making them practical for activities requiring finger mobility while maintaining wrist and hand warmth. The sample pair showcased in the pattern was inspired by a Girl Scout Cookies flavor, though crafters are encouraged to select any color that suits their personal preference.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-difficulty pattern employs cable knitting as its primary decorative technique. The central design feature involves cable stitches that create a visual "dance" around stationary side cables, producing an engaging three-dimensional texture. Cable work requires careful stitch manipulation and the use of a cable needle to cross stitches over one another, creating the twisted, rope-like appearance characteristic of cable-knit garments. The interplay between the moving central cable and the two anchoring side cables demonstrates intermediate-level cable placement and sequencing.

Knitters working on this project will practice cable crossing techniques, stitch management across multiple cable repeats, and the shaping necessary for fitted fingerless mitts. The pattern requires attention to stitch count and proper tension to ensure the cables maintain their definition and the mitts fit appropriately around the hand and wrist.

Materials Required

• Yarn: 1 skein of Malabrigo Dos sport weight merino wool (150 yards per 50 grams)
• Needles: Appropriate-sized knitting needles for sport weight yarn (specific needle size should be verified in the full pattern)

The use of Malabrigo Dos sport weight merino provides a soft, breathable fiber ideal for fingerless mitts. Sport weight yarn offers a balance between drape and structure, making it suitable for displaying cable detail while remaining lightweight enough for hand and wrist wear. The yardage provided (150 yards) is sufficient for completing both mitts in the pair.

Pattern Notes

This is a downloadable PDF pattern for personal use only. The design is subject to copyright protection, and items created from this pattern are intended for personal wear rather than commercial sale. Crafters interested in using this pattern for knitting classes or non-profit fundraising should contact the designer directly at sf.corgi@gmail.com for permission.