Blank Slate Hand Warmers (now with pattern)

[craft.geek]

http://static.flickr.com/99/303865504_f21dff9fae_o.jpg

I've finally finished the pattern for these plain hand warmers.  I really wanted some plain ones, that I could easily add designs to.  Hence the "blank slate".  I've actually only finished one hand warmer so far.  I will do the other one eventually, but I'm a bit over knitting after the drama of figuring out which bind off to use.  In the end, I settled on this one http://www.socknitters.com/Tips/stretchy.htm.  It has just the right amount of stretch.  

The shaping is really simple - just a thumb gusset.

It's summer down here in NZ, so who knows why I'm knitting hand warmers.  I guess I'll be well prepared for next winter!

I'm happy to write up the pattern if anyone wants it...  I'd do it now, but I'm hanging out for lazy afternoon nap

[inle_rah]

Nice job, and a good idea.  I always seem to end up doing cables for my handwarmers, but I love the idea of putting designs on them.   

[april_cocaine]

i really love that colour! i'd love to see a pattern too, when you're feelin' less lazy

[Curlyredheadgirl]

Thats a nice "plain" pattern!! Perfect for many occasions and using up some stash. I'd love it if you'd post the pattern! Great job!

[have2craft]

Very nice!

[craft.geek]

Here is the pattern.  It's the first pattern I've ever written up, so feel free to ask me if it doesn't make any sense! 

I used 8 ply (or DK) yarn (I think it’s the same as light worsted in the US) and 3.75 mm (US size 5) dpns.

Gauge: 6 sts and 8 rows = 1” in St st.

I made these hand warmers to fit a medium sized woman’s hand (wrist: 6.5”, hand minus thumb: 7.25”).  They measure 7” from CO to BO.  From wrist to BO they measure 4”. 

If you have shorter or smaller hands, it should be pretty easy to make the hand warmers smaller, by reducing the number of St st rows in between the increases for the thumb, and reducing the number of CO stitches (but make sure you still have a multiple of four).

Cuff:
CO 40 sts.  Divide over 3 dpns (I put 14 on two of the needles, and 12 on the other).
Join and work in 2x2 rib for 3”. 

Work 4 rows St st.

Thumb Gusset:
Row 1: K4, pm, m1, m1, pm, k to end of row.
Row 2 & 3: St st.
Row 4: *K to marker, m1, k to next marker, m1, k to end of row.
Row 5 & 6: St st.
Rep. From * 5 times.  You should have 14 sts between the markers. 
Place gusset stitches on holder.

Finishing:
Join again work 4 rows St st. 
Work in 2x2 rib for 6 rows.

Bind Off:
I used this great stretchy bind off http://www.socknitters.com/Tips/stretchy.htm, which gives a bit more flexibility than a regular bind off, so that you can still use your fingers! 

For the first row before the bind off: *K2, M1 (by making a half-hitch loop, like in a single cast on, not by picking up the in between thread) P2, M1. Rep from * to end of round.   

Then bind off in pattern, making sure you slip the M1 rather than knitting it.  You can bind off using a larger needle if you are a tight knitter.

Thumb:
Divide the 14 holder sts between 3 dpns.
Pick up two more sts at the top of the thumb.  You should have 16 sts.
Work in St st for 2 rounds.
Work in 2x2 rib for 2 rounds.
Use the stretchy bind off as above. 

The second hand warmer will be exactly the same, unless you are putting some sort of design on it, in which case you will need to make sure the thumb gusset is on the opposite side.

Done!

[craft.geek]

I realised in the middle of the night that I got the pattern wrong!  Sorry about that. 

For the thumb gusset, it's actually meant to be:

Row 4: *k to marker, m1, k to next marker, m1, k to end of row.
Row 5 & 6: St st.
Rep. From * 5 times. 

I'm sure many of you would have figured out what I meant, but as a pretty new knitter, it's the sort of thing that would have had me tearing my hair out!

[Knit~It~Good]

I really like these, I knitted a pair of fingerless gloves with buttons but I messed up the placement of the button holes on the left glove. These you don't have to worry about that!! Thanks for the pattern!!