Bumps in the Night Fingerless Mitts & Mittens

Bumps in the Night Fingerless Mitts & Mittens by Terry Morris

What is Being Made

Bumps in the Night Fingerless Mitts & Mittens are versatile hand coverings designed by Terry Morris, available in three sizes: Women's Medium, Women's Medium/Men's Small, and Men's Medium. These mittens feature a distinctive textured design with embossed bumps running up the back of the hand, combined with simple garter stitch columns for visual interest. Knitters can customize their finished project by choosing between fingerless mitts (bare fingers) or full mittens (covered fingers), making this pattern adaptable to different preferences and seasonal needs.

Techniques Used

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several key techniques to create its textured appearance and fitted construction. The pattern features bobble stitches that create the signature "bumps" on the back of the hand—these are simple bobbles that do not require turning, making them accessible for intermediate knitters. Garter stitch columns provide structural definition alongside the textured elements. The pattern is presented in two instruction formats: traditional line-by-line written instructions and charted instructions, allowing knitters to choose their preferred method for following the pattern.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette Stitch – Used as the primary fabric base, creating a smooth foundation for the design
• Garter Stitch – Simple columns of garter stitch provide textural contrast and structural definition
• Bobble Stitch – The distinctive "bumps" are created using simple bobbles that do not require turning, adding dimensional texture to the back of the hand

Materials and Yarn Weight

The Bumps in the Night Fingerless Mitts & Mittens are knit using 4-ply (sock/fingering weight) yarn, requiring approximately 400 yards total. The sample shown was knit in Zimba Top by Schoeller & Stahl, a high-performance yarn blend consisting of 80% superwash wool and 20% polyamide, using 2 skeins of 50 grams each in Color 942. This yarn composition provides durability and easy care—the superwash wool treatment allows for machine washing, while the polyamide content adds strength and elasticity for a garment that maintains its shape through regular wear.

Additional materials required include one set of US size 1 (2.25mm) double point needles or the size needed to obtain the specified gauge, one yard of smooth waste yarn for provisional cast-on, and two stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping increases.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 8 stitches equals 1 inch over stockinette stitch using the specified yarn and needle size. This gauge is essential for achieving the correct finished dimensions across all three available sizes. The sizing notation indicates that when one number is given in the instructions, it applies uniformly across all sizes; when multiple numbers appear in parentheses, they correspond to Women's Medium, Women's Medium/Men's Small, and Men's Medium respectively.