After you have separated your glove thumb and hand with a stitch holder, you’ll knit the hand of the glove. Then, you will want to make the thumb using the live stitches you have saved. To work the live stitches off your stitch holder, you will first need to put them back onto your knitting needles. Here, the stitch holder will be reserving stitches that you can knit in the round to turn into your glove thumb. You can use four double point needles to accomplish this task.
Below you will find both video and written guides to help you learn how knit off stitch holders with DPNs.
Video Guide: How Knit from a Stitch Holder with DPNs
Written Guides: How to Knit from a Stitch Holder with DPNs
Knit Off Stitch Holder with DPNs, Step 1:
Unclip the stitch holder. Place it in your left hand with the sharp tip pointing toward your right.
Knit Off Stitch Holder with DPNs, Step 2:
Pick up a double point needle (DPN) with your right hand. Insert the tip of the needle into the first stitch on the holder purlwise (into the front leg from back to front).
Knit Off Stitch Holder with DPNs, Step 3:
Slide the stitch off the stitch holder and onto the DPN.
Knit Off Stitch Holder with DPNs, Step 4:
Slip about one-third of the stitches from the holder onto the first double point needle in the same manner.
Knit Off Stitch Holder with DPNs, Step 5:
Let go of the first DPN and pick up a second DPN in your left hand. Slip another third of the stitches purlwise onto the second DPN.
Knit Off Stitch Holder with DPNs, Step 6:
Pick up a third DPN and slip the remaining stitches onto it purlwise. Set the empty stitch holder aside.
Knit Off Stitch Holder with DPNs, Step 7:
Pick up a strand of working yarn and place the tail between the first and third needles.
Knit Off Stitch Holder with DPNs, Step 8:
With a fourth DPN held in your right hand, work into the first stitch on the first DPN and begin knitting in the round as your pattern instructs.
Practice With My Knitting Patterns
Ready to try it?
Try knitting Simple Fingerless Gloves, which use stitch holders to shape the thumb opening.
In my pattern for Basic Knit Mittens you will also use stitch holders to make the thumbs.
Up Next
You can also take stitches off the stitch holder when working in the Magic Loop. I’ll show you how to make glove thumbs on long circular needles in the next lesson.
Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index