Introducing my brand new free crochet fingerless gloves pattern.
Here’s the thing about learning a new stitch pattern on a sweater.
You’re juggling the stitch, the sizing, the gauge AND the construction all at once. That’s a lot of plates to spin before you’ve even finished the first panel.
So I’m doing something a little different. The Bowen Fingerless Gloves are one of the seven patterns in my Leona Collection, and I’m giving them away completely free right here on the blog.
Why? Because they’re the perfect small project to get the Leona stitch into your fingers before you commit to a whole sweater.
Quick answer: The Bowen Fingerless Gloves are a free crochet fingerless gloves pattern. They use the same stitch pattern as the Leona Sweater, so you can practice the stitch on a quick, wearable project before starting the sweater. The pattern is part of the 7-pattern Leona Collection.
Why fingerless gloves are the best way to practice the Leona stitch
A swatch teaches you a stitch. But let’s be honest, nobody has ever worn a swatch to the school run.
Fingerless gloves give you all the practice of a swatch, with something useful at the end of it. Here’s why I love them as a practice project.
1. They’re small. You get plenty of repetitions of the Leona stitch without hundreds of stitches standing between you and a finished object. If you have to frog a few rows while you get the rhythm, it’s minutes of work, not hours.
2. You’ll see how the stitch behaves as fabric. Working the stitch over a real project shows you how it looks, stretches and feels on your hands. That’s information you can carry straight into the sweater.
3. They’re a tiny garment. Gloves have to fit a real body part, just like a sweater does. Too loose and they slide around, too tight and you can’t get them on. It’s a low-stakes way to practice thinking about measurements and fit.
4. You get to wear them. Straight away. Every chilly morning. And when someone asks where you bought them, you get to say “I made them!”
So give this free crochet fingerless gloves pattern a go!
Purchase the ad-free PDF version of this pattern from my shops below:
What’s in the Leona Collection?
Little confession time. You won’t find the Leona stitch in a stitch dictionary. I made it up by tweaking an existing stitch pattern, and I really like how it turned out.
So I didn’t want to stop at one sweater. I wanted to show off how versatile it is and see just how much you can make with ONE stitch pattern.
The result is the Leona Collection: seven patterns that all use the same stitch as the Leona Sweater. Once you’ve got the hang of the stitch, there’s plenty more you can do with it:
Lucille Blanket, in 12 sizes
Lumi Infinity Scarf
Bowen Gloves (the free pattern in this post)
Blake Mittens
Luna Hooded Cowl
Brenna Cowl
Brooklyn Hat
Five of these are brand new designs. The Brenna Cowl and Brooklyn Hat are previously published patterns that use the same stitch, so they’ve joined the family.
Before you start: treat your free crochet fingerless gloves pattern like a mini garment
I know, I know. They’re gloves. Do you REALLY need to check anything?
Hear me out… because this is where the gloves earn their keep as practice.
Measure your hand. Wrap a tape measure around your palm, just below the knuckles, and note the number. Compare it with the finished measurements in the pattern so you can choose the size that gives you the fit you want.
Check your gauge. Work a small swatch in the stitch pattern and compare it with the gauge in the pattern. If your stitches are bigger or smaller than mine, your gloves will be too. On a pair of gloves, that’s an easy fix. On a sweater, it’s a very long evening of frogging.
Notice the fabric. Is it soft? Stretchy? A bit stiff? Make a note of the hook and yarn you used and how you liked the result. That’s your head start for the sweater.
A quick check now can save a lot of frogging later. <<<
If gauge makes you want to hide under a blanket, my free Gauge Rescue Flowchart walks you through five quick yes or no checks to tell you whether to change your hook, change your yarn or change nothing at all. Grab the Gauge Rescue Flowchart here.
Free Fingerless Crochet Gloves Pattern Details
Materials
Wander by Furls Fibrerarts (100% acrylic; 120yds/109m per 100g; worsted weight/ category 4 weight) 1 ball in Thatch
15 sts x 8 rows in established pattern = 10 x 10 cm /4 x 4 inches
The pattern uses US Crochet Terminology
ch – chain stitch
sc – single crochet
hdc – half double crochet
sl st – slip stitch
hdc blo – half double crochet worked through the back loop only
dc tlo – double crochet worked through the third loop of the hdc from previous row
dc2tog tlo – double crochet the following two stitches together worked through the third loops of the hdc sts from previous row
FPdc– front post double crochet around the body of indicated st/sts
RS – right side
WS – wrong side
Free Crochet Fingerless Gloves Pattern Notes
the fingerless gloves are worked in 2-row pattern repeat
you will also work the whole glove in one flat piece of fabric which is sewn together at the end
you will leave a small opening on the seam side for the thumb
the main stitch pattern repeats over 2 rows
the number of stitches you work determines the length/ height of your glove
the number of rows you work determines the width of your glove
the multiple for the main body stitch pattern is 3
the pattern has been written as one size fits most
the stitches in [ ] at the end of the row are stitch counts, not instructions to work those stitches
Free Fingerless Crochet Gloves Written Pattern
Chain 25.
Row 1 (RS): starting in 3rd ch from hook (skipped 2 ch count as first hdc), 1 hdc in each ch across, turn.
[24 sts]
Row 2 (WS): 1 ch (doesn’t count as st here and throughout), 1 hdc, 7 hdc blo, (1 dc tlo, 1 dc2tog tlo, 1 FPdc around the 2 sts just made) repeat until last st, 1 hdc into the top of 2 ch from previous row, turn.
[24 sts]
Row 3: 1 ch, 1 hdc in each st across to last 8 sts, 7 hdc blo, 1 hdc in last st, turn.
[24 sts]
Repeat Row 2 – 3 for pattern until you have 15 rows in total.
Do not fasten off.
Making Up The Gloves
Fold the fabric in half right sides together. With yarn still attached and working on the wrong side, crochet the last row with the underside of the foundation chain together across the 8 stitches of the cuff.
Then work 1 sc in each of the next 7 sts on one side of the fabric only to leave an opening for the thumb.
Then line up the stitches together and attach the top of the glove together across the remaining 9 stitches.
Turn the glove right side out. Do not fasten off.
Continue working around the top opening of the glove. You will be working around the end hdc stitches of each row.
Rnd 1: 1 ch (doesn’t count as a st), 2 sc around end hdc of each row, sl st to top of first st to join.
[30 sc]
Rnd 2: 1 ch, 1 sc in each st around, sl st to top of first st to join.
[30 sc]
Fasten off. Sew in all ends securely.
Free Fingerless Crochet Gloves Video Tutorial
Love the stitch? Now make the sweater
This is where the gloves were secretly leading you all along.
You now know how the Leona stitch works, how it feels and how your gauge behaves. That’s a seriously good head start on the Leona Sweater.
The Leona Sweater Course is designed to take the fear out of making your first crochet sweater. It’s not just a pattern. Inside you’ll get:
The Leona Sweater PDF pattern in nine sizes, with guidance on choosing your size and making simple fit adjustments
A step-by-step video tutorial over an hour long, with chapter timestamps so you can jump straight to the bit you need
A How to Choose the Right Size module, using your body measurements and the finished measurements
A Crochet Gauge Basics module covering how to measure gauge and what to do when yours doesn’t match
A Garment Care and Storage module, so your sweater still looks lovely in a few years
One free month inside Crochet Garment Academy (then $7 a month, cancel anytime)
Direct support from me if you get stuck
It’s $14.99 with instant, lifetime access to the course, and you can work through it at your own pace.
You already know how to crochet. Now let’s build on that.
You can buy it on its own, or add the Leona Collection at the Leona Sweater Course checkout for a one-time $14.99.
That’s all seven patterns, including the Lucille Blanket, Lumi Infinity Scarf, Blake Mittens, Luna Hooded Cowl, Brenna Cowl and Brooklyn Hat. Plenty of ways to keep that stitch in your fingers once your sweater is off the hook.
Are the Bowen Fingerless Gloves really free? Yes. The full Bowen pattern is free right here on this page. It’s one of the seven patterns in the Leona Collection.
What stitch do the Bowen Fingerless Gloves use? They use the same stitch pattern as the Leona Sweater, a unique stitch I created by tweaking an existing stitch pattern. That’s why they make such a good practice project before you start the sweater.
Are these crochet fingerless gloves good for beginners? If you’re comfortable with the basic crochet stitches and can follow a written pattern, they’re a friendly way to learn a new stitch pattern on a small scale. Check the skill level in the pattern above before you start.
Why make fingerless gloves before a crochet sweater? They let you practice the stitch, check your gauge and think about fit on a small project. If something goes wrong, you’ve lost minutes, not hours.
Do I need to check gauge for crochet gloves? It’s a good habit. Gloves need to fit your hand, so your gauge affects their size just like it affects a sweater. It’s also great practice for your next garment.
Where can I get the rest of the Leona Collection? You can buy the 7-pattern Leona Collection here, or add it for $14.99 when you check out with the Leona Sweater Course.
Over to you
Make your Bowen gloves, get cozy with the Leona stitch, and when you’re ready for the main event, the Leona Sweater Course will be waiting for you.
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Veronika Cromwell | Blue Star Crochet
Veronika is a master in modern crochet design.
With a relentless focus on innovation and a vision that knows no bounds, she meticulously hones her crochet expertise she shares via crochet patterns, tutorials and online courses.
She helps the knowledge-thirsty crocheters bulldoze their way through hundreds of crochet techniques effortlessly and with ease like sharp scissors cutting thread.
Creating timeless fashion pieces without the “use-by-date” that stand the test of time in modern world is her lifelong mission.
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