Fantail Shell Stitch Fingerless Gloves - free crochet pattern

Last year I made and sold many pairs of fingerless gloves at my Christmas markets but, unless you bought a pair in person, very few people saw any photos of them online other than in the background of my stall photographs!

Last week, prep began again in earnest for my upcoming seasonal craft fairs and I popped a photo up on my Instagram of my gloves and my phone lit up like a Christmas tree with people excited about the pattern!

So, as promised, here it is! I am aware many people struggle with written patterns so I will also be making a YouTube tutorial for these gloves very soon - just awaiting a little arm thingy to arrive through the post that can hold my phone whilst I crochet so I can do a little crochet along with you all!

*YouTube video is now complete!!! *

A note on yarns and colours:

·         I love Cygnet Boho Spirit for these gloves. It has just the right amount of stretch and snuggle factor – not to mention how stunning the yarn colourways are. I buy my yarn from Mrs Snufflebean :)

You will only need one ball of yarn for these gloves.

I personally buy 2 balls so I can line up the colours so each glove matches its partner. Nothing makes my ocd eye twitch more than mismatched gloves!

I take the yarn, find the matching start points on both balls and use my yarn winder to cake the yarn up ready to rock. That way I know both gloves with be as close to each other as possible. You DO NOT NEED to do this. Seriously. I spend waaaaaaaay too much time matching up yarn ends. The colour changes are gradual, trying to find identical start points is nearly impossible. You will regret ever starting it when your living room floor is strewn with yarn barf. You will weep when you have torn apart 7 different balls of yarn trying to find similar colour points only to find they are differing dye lots. LIVE YOUR LIFE. BE FREE. Have mismatched gloves if you want to. Who cares? (well, I clearly care but those are my issues, not yours LOL)  

Although saying that, sometimes you will get lucky. I had 2 balls of Moonbeam on my shelf so grabbed those for this pattern. They were almost perfectly matched from the outset. Heaven! I only had to cut off this tiny amount from one ball before winding. The yarn gods were being kind to me today.

Other yarns I occasionally use for these gloves:

·         Red Heart Unforgettable – you may find you need to up your hook to a 4.5mm or even a 5mm on the shell rows as this yarn doesn’t seem to have much “give” to it. Try your gloves on periodically if using this yarn to make sure it still fits your hand nicely. Adjust your hook size accordingly.

·         King Cole Riot – not as soft as Boho Spirit and a little finer – should still work ok with a 4mm hook but it’s been a while since I’ve used it so I’d give the same advice for this yarn as I have for the Red Heart.

Talking of sizing …..

I have freakishly small hands (as I referred to in my last gloves pattern LOL) but have tried to make these crochet fingerless mitts a universal size to fit everyone.

I recommend you complete the first couple of rows and try it on to double check the fit – too baggy? Try dropping a hook size (I often use a 3.5mm instead of a 4mm for my own personal gloves) Too small? Try upping the hook size.

Pattern notes:

·         USA / American Terms

·         Hook size: 4mm

·         Yarn: Cygnet Boho Spirit from Mrs Snufflebean

·         Repeat pattern between the asterisks * …….. *

·         Stitch count at end of row in brackets [  ]

·         Pattern notes / explanations specific to each row (info inside bracket written in italics)

Stitches / abbreviations used:

·         FSC = Foundation Single Crochet

·         Ch = Chain

·         Sc = Single Crochet

·         Hdc = Half Double Crochet

·         Dc = Double Crochet

·         Ss = slip stitch

·         Sp= space

·         Shell  = (3dc, ch1, 3dc) all into the same stitch

·         Hdc v-stitch = (hdc, ch1, hdc)  all into the same stitch

If you spot any errors or typos in this pattern PLEASE shout – I have gone a little pattern blind so you are all my pattern testers LOL !

This is a simple pattern that is easily adjusted – rounds of dc for the wrists then fantail shell stitch pattern for the hands.  

OK so lets begin! Working in joined rounds to start.

28 fsc, join with ss to first stitch [28]   or substitute for chain 28, join with ss, ch1, sc in each chain around, join with ss to first sc [28]

Rows 1 – 7

Ch2 (does not count as a stitch) dc in same stitch as ch2 and in each stitch around. Join with ss to 1^st dc. [28]

Row 8

Ch2 (does not count as a stitch) dc in same stitch as ch2. Dc in next stitch.

*1 dc in next stitch, 2dc in next* repeat 12 times ending with 1dc in each of the last 2 stitches. Join with ss to 1^st dc. [40]

Shell Rows – I have forgotten to take any photos for the shell section in my haste to publish this pattern but I will try to add those shortly J 

I have added a chart for fantail stitch to help you visualise the rows - ignore the end and start on this chart, just look at the middle sectioning - it is the closest I could find to help!

Row 9

Ch1 (does not count as a stitch) sc into the same stitch. Ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc into the next. Skip 3 stitches, shell (3dc, ch1, 3dc) into next.

*skip 3, 1sc, ch1, skip 1, 1sc, skip 3, shell*  repeat 2 more times.

Ss into 1^st sc of the round, then ss into ch1 space.  

Row 10

Ch3 (counts as hdc, ch1) hdc into same space.

*ch3, sc into the ch1 sp of shell, ch3, hdc v-stitch (hdc, ch1, hdc) into next ch sp.* repeat 3 more times.

Ch3, sc into the ch1 sp of shell, ch3, ss into 2^nd ch of intital ch3 of the round. Ss into the ch sp.

Row 11

Ch4 (counts as 1dc, ch1) 3dc into space. Sc in ch3 sp, ch1, sc into next ch3 sp.

*shell into ch sp of hdc v-stitch from row below, sc in ch3 sp, ch1, sc in next ch3 sp* repeat 2 more times.

2dc into same space as initial ch4, ss to 3^rd ch of initial ch4 and then ss into ch sp.

Row 12

Ch1 (does not count as a stitch) sc in same stitch.

*ch3, hdc v-stitch in ch1 sp from row below, ch3, sc in ch1 sp of shell* repeat 2 more times.

Ch3, hdc v-stitch in ch1 sp, ch3, ss to 1^st sc.

Row 13

Ch1 (does not count as a stitch) sc in next ch3 sp.

*shell into ch1 sp of hdc v-stitch from row below, sc in ch3 sp, ch1, sc in next ch3 sp* repeat 2 more times.

Shell in ch1 sp, sc in ch3 sp, ch1, ss to 1^st sc.

THUMB GAP – now working in back and forth rows so you will be turning your work and NOT joining with a slip stitch at the end of each row

Row 14

Ch3 (counts as hdc, ch1) then hdc back into the ch1 space you created when you finished Row 13 (just before your slip stitch join)

*ch3, sc in ch1 sp of shell, ch3, hdc v-stitch in ch1 sp* repeat 2 more times.

Ch3, sc in ch1 sp of shell, ch3, ending with hdc v-stitch into the SAME ch1 space from Row 13 as you put your initial ch3 & hdc from the beginning of the round.

(you will have ch3, hdc AND a hdc v-stitch all in the same place) TURN.

Row 15

Ch3 (counts as dc) 2dc in the same space.

*sc in ch3 sp, ch1, sc in ch3 sp, shell in ch1 sp of hdc v-stitch from row below* repeat 2 more times.

Sc in ch3 sp, ch1, sc in ch3 sp, ending with 3dc into the sp of hdc v-stitch from row below. TURN.

Row 16

Ch1 (does not count as a stitch) sc in top of the 3^rd dc from row below (the stitch immediately below your ch)

*ch3, hdc v-stitch in ch1 sp, ch3, sc in ch1 sp of shell* repeat 3 more times ending with your last sc being placed into the top of your ch3 from the row below. TURN.

Row 17

Ch1 (does not count as a stitch) sc in top of sc from row below.

*shell in ch1 sp, sc in ch3 sp, ch1, sc in next ch3 sp* repeat 2 more times.

Shell in ch1 sp ending the row with a sc into the top of the sc from the row below. TURN.

Row 18

Ch3 (counts as hdc, ch1) hdc into the top of sc from row below

*ch3, sc in shell ch1 sp, ch3, hdc v-stitch in ch1 sp* repeat 3 more times ending with your last hdc v-stitch into the top of the sc from the row below. TURN

Row 19

Repeat Row 15

BACK TO WORKING IN JOINED ROUNDS. Do not turn your work.

Row 20

Repeat Row 16 BUT DO NOT TURN YOUR WORK. Instead, end this row with a slip stitch to the 1^st sc you made in this row.

Row 21

Repeat Row 13

Row 22

Ch3 (counts as hdc, ch1) then hdc back into the ch1 space you created when you finished the  the last row (just before your slip stitch join)

*ch3, sc in ch1 sp of shell, ch3, hdc v-stitch in ch1 sp* repeat 2 more times.

Ch3, sc in ch1 sp of shell, ch3, ss to 2^nd ch of initial ch3 then ss into ch sp.

Row 23 – finishing row

(You will be starting with a full shell and omitting the ch1 space between your sc’s on this round.)

Ch3 (counts as 1dc) 2dc, ch1, 3dc into space. Sc in ch3 sp, sc into next ch3 sp.

*shell into ch sp of hdc v-stitch from row below, sc in ch3 sp, sc in next ch3 sp* repeat 2 more times.

Ss to 3^rd chain of initial ch3.

 Cut yarn and weave in your ends! Repeat pattern for the second glove J

How would you like a sneaky little exclusive yarn discount code?

Mrs Snufflebean Yarn has very kindly given us 10% off all Boho Spirit yarn – this coupon is only valid until the end of November 2017 so be quick if you want to take advantage of it! 10% Coupon has now expired  She offers free postage on orders over £25 so what are you waiting for? You can make a pair of gloves in EVERY COLOURWAY!

To redeem the discount, please enter the code BOHO10 at checkout.    10% Coupon has now expired 

If you have any questions about this pattern / spot any errors / notice any typos just holler!

I would absolutely LOVE to see any gloves you make – please feel free to tag me in your photos on Instagram (I am @puddnhead) or post them to my Facebook page here! <3

Happy crocheting! (and yarn shopping … quick, don’t leave it too long to take advantage of that discount code!)

Robin x