Flip-Flop Fingerless Gloves
by Katrin Salyers
Thong sandals are also known as flip-flops. These fingerless gloves have a little "thong" that goes between the index and middle fingers. They're symmetrical as well - there's no left or right, so you can flip them back and forth to wear on either hand. I originally called them "reversible thong gloves" but that didn't sound very catchy-so, flip-flop gloves! They're compact yet surprisingly effective at keeping your hands warm while leaving your fingers free, making them perfect for changing weather or chilly offices.
The Essentials:
Two 10g balls of Opal sock yarn or equivalent amount of any 4-ply yarn 2.5mm double-pointed needles Stitch markers
Cuff and Body
Using a cable cast-on, C0 48 sts, place marker 1 and join in the round. Work 8 rounds of K1 P1 rib. Work20 rounds of stst.
Thumb hole
At beginning of next round (marker 1), slip 1st st and bind off. Bind off 2nd st. Knit around (46 sts). Remove marker. You will now be working back and forth rather than in the round. Turn and B0 2 purlwise, slipping 1st st as you did on the last row. Purl to end (44 sts). Turn, slip 1st st and bind it off. Knit to end (43 sts). Turn, slip 1st st and bind it off. Purl to end (42 sts). Turn, slip first st (do not bind off) and knit to end. Place marker 1, turn and cO 12 sts purlwise. Turn, place marker 2 and join (54 sts). This closes the top of the thumb hole.
Thumb Gusset Short Rows
To make short rows, you'll knit partway around, then turn and purl back in the other direction to add length on only one side of the glove. In order to prevent a hole at the turning point, you'll be making an extra loop that later gets worked together with the stitch next to it. If you already have a preferred way of making short rows (such as wrapping), feel free to use that. This method makes a "double" stitch in the row below instead of the wrap. Note that this extra loop is not an increase - the doubled stitch will turn back into one stitch the next time you work it. The first set of short rows is worked over the gusset area above the thumb hole. After marker 2, knit 18 sts. Lift the stitch below the next stitch onto the left needle, and knit it so that there are now two loops coming out of it (the original and the one you just made). Slip the new loop back on the left needle and turn (don't work this stitch twice in a row). Purl 48 (18 sts past marker 1). Lift up the stitch below the next stitch and put it onto the left needle, twisting it so that the right leg of the stitch is in front. Purl into this stitch, slip the new loop back onto the needle and turn. Knit 42 (12 past marker 2). Knit into st below the next st as before. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn. Purl 36 (12 past marker 1). Purl into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn. Knit 30 (6 past marker 2). Knit into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn. Purl 24 (6 past marker 1). Purl into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn. Now you'll knit all the way around again, picking up the extra loops made by the short rows. Knit 23 to the stitch before the first "double" stitch. Knit the next stitch together with the first loop of the double st only. Knit the second loop as a normal stitch. Continue knitting around, knitting the first loop of each double stitch together this way with the stitch before it, to 4 sts before marker 1.
Thumb Gusset Decreases
At 4 sts before marker 1, SSK (53 sts). K16 to 2 st after marker 2, K2tog (52 sts). K around to 3 sts before marker 1, SSK (51 sts). K14 to 1 st after marker 2, K2tog (50 sts). K around to 2 sts before marker, SSK (49 sts). K12, K2tog (48 sts). K around to 2 sts after marker. BO 8 to finish the top of the thumb gusset (40 sts). Remove markers.
Top Short Rows
The top short rows are worked in two separate sections, first on one side of the glove, then the other. At the same time you will decrease 1 st every other row along the open edge.
First section:
Slip next stitch and knit it together with the remaining stitch on the right needle (39 sts). K15. Knit into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn. Purl 16 to end and turn. SSK and K9. Knit into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn (38 sts). Purl 10 to end and turn. SSK and K3. Knit into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn (37 sts). Purl 4 to end and turn. SSK. Knit around to the other end, knitting the first loop of each double stitch together with the stitch before it (36 sts). Turn.
Second section:
P2tog and P15. Purl into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn (35 sts) Knit 16 to end and turn. P2tog and P9. Purl into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn (34 sts). Knit 10 to end and turn. P2tog and P3. Purl into st below the next st. Slip new loop onto left needle and turn (33 sts). Knit 2 and K2tog last two sts (32 sts).
Thong and finishing
Place marker, turn and C0 12 sts purlwise (44 sts). Turn and join. Knit to marker, knitting first loop of each double stitch with the stitch before it. Knit 1 round. Next round, bind off all stitches. Make second glove exactly the same. @ 2014 by Katrin Salyers
