After separating the sections of your glove with your stitch holder, you will knit the hand portion. Then, you can remove the live stitches from the stitch holder and start knitting the thumb. You can knit thumbs in the round in the magic loop, as well as on DPNs (click here to go to the DPN instructions). In the magic loop, you will slip the stitches from your holder onto long circular needles. Then you will knit in the round to create a thumb and finish out your glove or mitten.
Below you will find both video and written guides to help you learn how knit off stitch holders with long circular needles.
Video Guide: How Knit from Stitch Holders with in the Magic Loop
Written Guides: How to Knit from Stitch Holders in the Magic Loop
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 1:
Unclip the stitch holder. Place it in your left hand with the sharp tip pointing toward your right.
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 2:
Pick up one end of a long circular needle 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 in the Magic Loop, Step 3:
Slide the stitch off the stitch holder and onto the needle.
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 4:
Slip one-half of the stitches from the holder onto the needle tip in the same manner.
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 5:
Pull the needle tip through the stitches in a leftward direction, moving the stitches onto the needle cord.
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 6:
Continue to hold the same needle in your right hand and bring the tip around toward the stitch holder.
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 7:
Slip the remaining stitches from the holder onto the needle tip purlwise, as before. Set the empty stitch holder aside.
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 8:
Gently pull the cord and bring the other end of your circular needle into the first set of stitches.
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 9:
Turn your work and pull the back needle rightward to prepare to knit in the magic loop. Pick up a strand of working yarn and place the tail between the left-hand needle and the cord.
Knit Off Stitch Holder in the Magic Loop, Step 10:
Work into the first stitch on the left-hand needle 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
Now that you can knit a glove from start to finish, you will want to know how to take care of all those leftover strings. We will start learning to weave in loose ends on fingerless gloves in the next lesson.
Go Back to the Learn to Knit Index