The Knit Guru

This pattern began as a request here on this website – so do message me if you have ideas that you want to see in yarn. Sometimes these line up with things that have been in half-development, and then they turn into actual projects.

As mentioned last week, I have been playing around on Ribblr, and I have been enjoying using it for crochet, so I have been putting some of these patterns up there too. If you prefer that format, this pattern is available here for a nominal fee.

Lobster Claw Arm Warmers

These are the instructions to create either a flat knitted or circular knitted arm warmer. You will need to make 2. These are reversible so that you don’t need to make a left hand and a right hand.

You will need:

1 ball of DK weight yarn (50gm ball or around 100m)
4mm knitting needles

4.5mm knitting needles

Darning needle

Cable needle

Knitting flat instructions

Cast on 44 stitches on 4.5mm knitting needles

Knit 2, Purl 2 – rib over the next 15 rows

Set up for the cables 

(WS) Purl 4, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 4

C4F – Cable 4 front – 2 on cable needle to the front, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle

C4B – 2 on cable needle to the back, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle

Row 1: (RS) Knit 4, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 4

Row 2: (WS) Purl 4, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 4

Row 3: (RS) Knit 4, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 4

Row 4: (WS) Purl 4, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 4

Row 5: (RS) Knit 4, purl 3, C4B, C4F, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, C4B, C4F, purl 3, knit 4

Row 6: (WS) Purl 4, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 4

Complete rows 1-6 seven times – making 7 lobster claw cables along the way

Complete rows 1-4 again.

Change to 4mm knitting needles. 

Knit 2, purl 2 rib over the next 14 rows.

Cast off leaving a 30cm

The cast off end is the finger end of the arm warmer. Using the yarn tail, stitch up just this top ribbed section on the sides as a seam.

Using the yarn tail from the cast on end, stitch from the bottom of the ribbed section on the arm to where the 4th lobster claw twist occurs. This opening is your thumb hole. You can add ribbing here if you wish, or close the gap further for smaller hands.

Knitting in the round

Cast on 44 stitches in the round on 4.5mm needles. You can do magic loop, dpns or any other method you desire.

Complete a knit 2, purl 2 rib over 15 rows.

Set up for the cables  

Set up row: Knit 4, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 4

C4F – Cable 4 front – 2 on cable needle to the front, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle
C4B – 2 on cable needle to the back, knit 2, knit 2 from cable needle

Row 1-4, 6: (RS) Knit 4, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 4
Row 5: (RS) Knit 4, purl 3, C4B, C4F, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, C4B, C4F, purl 3, knit 4

Complete the cable pattern rows 4 times

Split to knit flat. 

At this point we will be knitting back and forth, so use the following cable row pattern for this section. This creates the thumb hole.

Row 1: (RS) Knit 4, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 4
Row 2: (WS) Purl 4, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 4
Row 3: (RS) Knit 4, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, knit 4
Row 4: (WS) Purl 4, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 4
Row 5: (RS) Knit 4, purl 3, C4B, C4F, purl 3, knit 8, purl 3, C4B, C4F, purl 3, knit 4
Row 6: (WS) Purl 4, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 8, knit 3, purl 4

Complete these 6 rows 3 times – creating 3 more lobster claw twists. Then complete row 1-4 again.

Change to 4mm needles and rejoin in the round.

Knit 2, purl 2 – complete this ribbing pattern over the next 14 rows.

Cast off. Darn in your yarn tails.