First published in 2009, these are mitts I still use and continue to be a favorite for foraging, photography, and hiking in the snowing northern winters. This revision I’m adding a new photo to give better context to the naming. Enjoy!

Kristin M Roach 1/1/21

I wear fingerless mittens so my fingers can be fidgety while wearing them and warm. It never fails that while I can use my fingers without gloves, my hands are freaking cold. No more. Taking inspiration from my nerdy star trek loving side, I made fingerless mittens that make my hands feel like Riker’s must have while disguised as a Malcorian.

Yes I did look it up, I’m not so entrenched in it that I remembered off hand. As an added bonus, I came across the name of the nurse Riker had a “close encounter” with, which is who the pattern is named after.

Yep, you can say it…N.E.R.D. It’s okay, it’s fun, hehe. I made these with some remnants of a seemingly unending supply of Tatamy Tweed and some handspun I worked up a year ago. So glad to finally find a use for both.

Get the updated pattern as a printer friendly pdf on ravelry, or as a paid substack subscriber bonus here or a la carte on Etsy.
Read about the pattern recovery project here.

::Materials::

• 50 grams of each color
  • Color A: dk weight black yarn (black cotton/acrylic)
  • Color B: dk blue weight yarn (blue handspun merino)
• Crochet hook size D (3.25mm) Yarn needle

::Gauge::

• 4sc sts = 1 inch

::Notes:: The fingerless mittens are worked flat. Finish by seaming along one side. The trim of the thumb is worked last with color A once the mitten is seamed together. All stitches on the cuff are worked through the back loop (tbl). All body and trim sts are worked through both loops.

::Directions::

Cuff

Chain 15 (19, 23).

Row 1: 1sc into 2nd ch from hook, sc in ea ch to end, turn — 14(18, 22) sc sts.

Row 2: Ch1, 1sc tbl in the first sc st from hook; 1sc into each sc st (tbl) to end of row, turn.

Repeat Row 2 until piece measures 7 1/2 (8, 8 1/2)” Body Turn work on its side.

Row 1 (color B): Ch1, 1sc in each end of row stitch to end of side — 32 (36, 40) sts picked up.

Row 2: Ch1, 1sc in next sc st, 1sc in each sc stitch to end of row, turn.

Repeat row 2 until piece measures 1 (1 1/4, 1 1/2)” from beginning of color change.

Thumb Gusset

Row 1: Ch1, 2sc in next sc st, 1sc in each sc st to last 2 sts from end of row, 2sc in next sc, 1sc in next sc, turn — 34 (38, 40).

Row 2: Ch1, 1sc in each sc st to end, turn. Repeat Rows 1 and 2 three times total — 38 (42, 46).

Slip Stitch 6 sts, 1sc in each of next 26 (30, 34) sts, turn.

Fingers Row 1: Ch1, 1sc in each sc st to end of row, turn.

Repeat row 1 until piece measure 5 1/2 (6, 6 1/2)” from cuff (start of color B).

Change to color A, work row 1 for four rows.

Fasten off yarn. Weave in all ends.

Seam side of fingerless mitten, leaving the thumb hole open.

Thumb

Pick up and sc 12 sts with color A, join to beginning of rnd with a slip stitch.

Rnd 1: Ch1, 1sc in each sc st to end of rnd, join to beg of rnd with sl st.

Repeat rnd 1 two more times (4 rnds total including pick up round). Fasten off. Weave in all ends.

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Get the updated pattern as a printer friendly pdf on ravelry, or as a paid substack subscriber bonus here or a la carte on Etsy.
Read about the pattern recovery project here.

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Until next time!
Kristin M Roach