Juniper Moon Farm Gloves Knitting Pattern

Alexis Fingerless Mitts by Juniper Moon Farm

What Is Being Made

Alexis fingerless mitts are a pair of hand-warming accessories designed to keep wrists and hands warm while leaving fingers free for dexterity and touchscreen use. These mitts are part of the Aspen Collection and are offered in two sizes: Small and Large, with finished circumferences of 7½ inches (19cm) and 8½ inches (21.5cm) respectively. The mitts measure 8½ inches (21.5cm) in length for the Small size and 9½ inches (24cm) for the Large size.

Techniques Used

Alexis fingerless mitts are constructed using several key knitting techniques that create both visual interest and functional fit:

• Bottom-up construction: The mitts are worked from the cuff upward, beginning with a cast-on at the wrist edge and progressing toward the top ribbed edge.
• Worked flat: The pattern is worked on straight needles in flat rows rather than in the round, allowing for a traditional two-sided knitting approach.
• Seamed construction: The finished pieces are seamed together, creating a professional finish along the side edges.
• Cable work: A 16-stitch cable panel forms the central decorative element of each mitt, created using cable crosses that twist stitches over one another for dimensional texture.
• Thumb gusset shaping: Strategic increases create a gusset that accommodates the thumb, with increases worked on both sides of a marked section. The gusset is later bound off to create an opening for the thumb.
• Ribbed edges: Both the cuff and top edge feature 2x2 ribbing (alternating 2 knit stitches with 2 purl stitches), which provides stretch and helps the mitts stay securely in place.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs fundamental knitting stitches combined with cable techniques:

• Stockinette stitch (St st): The primary stitch for the body of the mitts, created by alternating knit rows on the right side with purl rows on the wrong side, producing a smooth, flat fabric.
• 2x2 Ribbing: Used in the cuff and top ribbed edge, this stitch pattern alternates 2 knit stitches with 2 purl stitches to create vertical columns of texture that provide elasticity.
• 2/2 Left Cross (2/2 LC): A cable stitch created by slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding them to the front, then knitting the next 2 stitches, followed by knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable that twists to the left.
• 2/2 Right Cross (2/2 RC): A cable stitch created by slipping 2 stitches to a cable needle and holding them to the back, then knitting the next 2 stitches, followed by knitting the 2 stitches from the cable needle. This creates a cable that twists to the right.
• Make One Right (M1R) and Make One Left (M1L): Increase stitches used in the thumb gusset to add stitches symmetrically on either side of the marked gusset section.

Materials and Tools

Alexis fingerless mitts are worked with specific yarn and needles to achieve the correct gauge and finished dimensions:

• Yarn: Juniper Moon Farm Beatrix in color 18 Blue Jay, requiring 1 skein of 50 grams. Beatrix is a worsted-weight yarn suitable for the stitch definition required by cable work.
• Needles: US Size 10 (6mm) needles for the Small size or US Size 11 (8mm) needles for the Large size, or whatever size is needed to obtain the specified gauge. Straight needles are used since the pattern is worked flat.
• Additional notions: A cable needle is essential for executing the cable crosses throughout the pattern. Stitch markers are used to denote the boundaries of the cable panel and the thumb gusset section.
• Gauge: 14 stitches and 22 rows equal 4 inches (10cm) in stockinette stitch using the smaller (Size 10/6mm) needles when blocked, or 13 stit