The Purl Bee is Purl Soho's craft blog where we publish ideas for you to knit, crochet, sew, stitch and more! You can view our projects below.

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Sunday
Dec162012

Super Soft Merino Hand Warmers

I have peeked in the beautifully decorated shop windows and read what-feels-like hundreds of gift lists on the blogs, but no matter how short I am for time, I always do my darnedest to make a handmade gift first. As the clock ticks down though, stock in speedy projects definitely starts to rise!

These Hand Warmers were born out of a sobering look at the calendar. They truly knit up in a jiff. You can easily have several pairs finished before getting yourself in and out of the crowds and check out lines. 

Recognize the yarn? Yes, it's Purl Soho's very own, very new, very exciting Super Soft Merino! Our beautifully lofty, luxuriously soft yarn comes in a palette of vibrant, charismatic colors, including this incredible Clementine Orange. As soon as I finish typing this, I am off to the races to make even more Super Soft Merino Hand Warmers in a whole rainbow of colors!

May your holiday season be filled with super soft, swift knits!

The Materials

 

To make one pair of Super Soft Merino Hand Warmers:

The Pattern 

Gauge

5 stitches = 1 inch in 1 x 1 rib un-stretched

Finished Size

9 inches from cast on edge to bind off edge

6-inch circumference, un-stretched, to fit most women

Pattern Note

Beware: I used every last inch of this skein of yarn, so cast on leaving a conservative tail and be sure you are on gauge and not knitting any tighter, because you may run out of yarn if so.

Begin

Cast 28 stitches onto three double pointed needles.

Join for working in the round, being careful not to twist the stitches.

Round 1: *K1, p1, repeat from * to end of round.

Repeat Round 1 until piece measures 5 inches from the cast on edge.

Increase for Thumb Gusset

Increase Round: [K1, p1] 7 times, place marker, m1R, k1, m1L, place marker, work in rib pattern to end of round. (30 stitches)

Next Round: Work in rib pattern to first marker,  knit to next marker, work in rib pattern to end of round.

Increase Round: Work in rib pattern to first marker, slip marker, m1R, knit to next marker, m1L, slip marker, work in rib pattern to end of round. (2 stitches increased)

Repeat last 2 rounds two more times. (36 stitches)

Work Top of Hand Warmer

Next Round: Work in rib pattern to first marker, remove marker, k9, put previous 9 stitches on a holder or scrap yarn, remove next marker, work in rib pattern to end of round.  (27 stitches)

Next Round: [K1, p1] 7 times, purl 1 front and back to bridge the thumb hole gap , work in rib pattern to end of round.  (28 stitches)

Work five rounds in rib pattern.

Bind off loosely. 

Finish the Thumb

Distribute the 9 stitches from your stitch holder or scrap yarn onto three double pointed needles.

Next Round: Join yarn and knit all nine stitches, pick up one stitch from the base of the thumb. (10 stitches)

Knit two rounds.

Bind off loosely.

Make One More

Weave in ends and make another for a pair.