Thumb opening instructions

This technique is similar to the one known as One-Row Buttonholes.

Step 1: Reinforce the first stitch by wrapping the yarn around it.

Work up the point where you want the thumb opening to be.

Bring the yarn to the front of the work.

Slip one stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right and then return the yarn to the back of the work. This will cause the yarn to wrap this stitch and reinforce it. This will be the first stitch that you’ll bind off for the thumb opening.

Drop the yarn and leave it where it is. You won’t need to touch it until Step 3.

Step 2: Create the bottom edge of the thumb opening by binding off six (6) stitches.

In this step you will create the bottom edge of the thumb opening by binding off six (6) stitches. The bind off method used here is simply passing each stitch over each other. You don’t need to touch the yarn to bind off these stitches.

To start, slip a second stitch purlwise from the left needle to the right. Using the tip of the left needle, pass the first slipped stitch (the one that you slipped and wrapped in the previous step) over the second slipped stitch. This will cause the first stitch to be bound off.

Repeat slipping stitches purlwise from the left needle to the right and binding off the previously slipped stitches until you have bound off as many stitches as you wish for your thumb opening. In our case, six (6) stitches.

Slip the last (seventh) stitch back to left needle.

Sumarizing Step 1 and Step 2, to make the bottom edge of the thumb opening:

• slip and wrap the 1st stitch, slip the 2nd stitch and pass the 1st stitch over the 2nd (1 stitch bound off)
• slip the 3rd stitch and pass the 2nd stitch over it (2 stitches bound off)
• slip the 4th stitch and pass the 3rd stitch over it (3 stitches bound off)
• slip the 5th stitch and pass the 4th stitch over it (4 stitches bound off)
• slip the 6th stitch and pass the 5th stitch over it (5 stitches bound off)
• slip the 7th stitch and pass the 6th stitch over it (6 stitches bound off)
• slip the seventh stitch back to the left needle.

Now look at your work. You should see the bottom edge of the thumb opening between the needles, and the working yarn should be at the back of the work on the right needle.

Step 3: Cast on nine (9) stitches to create the top edge of the thumb opening.

Turn your work. Now you should see the working yarn at the beginning of the left needle.

Bring the yarn to the back of your work.

Cast on nine (9) stitches using the cable cast-on method. The number of stitches you should cast on is the number of stitches you just bound off (6) plus three (3) extra stitches to allow for some stretchiness in the thumb area. Use the cable cast-on technique because it provides a firm edge.

To cast on using the cable cast-on method, make each new stitch this way: insert the right needle between the first and second stitches on the left needle, draw up the yarn through the space between these stitches to form a loop, and place the loop on the left needle.

Do not to pull too tight when casting on the new stitches. The tension should be as close as possible to your bind off edge on the bottom of the thumb opening.

Step 4: Join bottom and top edges to finish the thumb opening

Turn your work and keep the yarn at the back.

Slip the first stitch from the left needle to right needle and pass the one extra stitch cast on in the previous step over it. This will join the bottom and the top edges and finish the thumb opening.

Resume working the stitch pattern.