A Cozy Hand-Knit Set for My Daughter: Beret, Scarf & Fingerless Gloves

I wanted to create something warm, practical, and handmade for the colder months — something she could actually wear every day. So I chose a matching set: a knitted beret, a scarf, and a pair of fingerless gloves.

The yarn was incredibly soft and pleasant to work with, making the entire project feel relaxing from the very first stitch.

complete knitted set
ALT: hand knitted beret scarf and fingerless gloves set

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A Beret I Had Wanted to Knit for a Long Time

For some reason, I had always wanted to knit a beret.

Not a hat, not a beanie — specifically a beret. And I wanted to knit it with needles rather than crochet.

I used a pattern from a knitting magazine and enjoyed the process much more than I expected. Since the beret was knitted flat and later sewn together, row counting was very straightforward.

Although sewing the finished pieces wasn't my favorite part, it did make the knitting itself easier to manage.

 knitted beret close-up
ALT: handmade knitted beret for girl

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The Scarf

The matching scarf came from the same magazine.

What attracted me most was its simple construction. The scarf is worked sideways with a large number of stitches cast on at the beginning, creating a lovely texture and drape.

It turned out to be one of those projects that looks more complicated than it actually is.

And sometimes those are the most satisfying projects to knit.

knitted scarf detail

ALT: cozy hand knitted scarf texture

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My First Fingerless Gloves

The fingerless gloves were probably the most interesting part of this set.

At the time, I was still learning new knitting techniques, and creating the thumb opening felt almost magical.

One of my favorite methods for knitting a thumb is using waste yarn. The stitches for the thumb are temporarily worked with a contrasting yarn, which is later removed to reveal live stitches ready to be picked up and knitted.

It sounds complicated, but once you try it, the technique is surprisingly simple and creates a very neat result.

fingerless gloves detail
ALT: hand knitted fingerless gloves for children

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How I Knit the Thumb for These Fingerless Gloves

If you've never knitted a thumb opening using waste yarn, don't worry — it's much easier than it looks!

Step 1

While knitting the right mitten, I worked the first 4 stitches on the third needle as usual. Then I knitted the next 5 stitches (for a child's mitten) using a contrasting scrap yarn instead of the main yarn.

For an adult mitten, I would usually use about 10 stitches for the thumb opening.

Step 2

After knitting those stitches with the contrasting yarn, I slipped them back onto the left needle and re-knitted them with the main yarn. Then I continued knitting the mitten normally to the end.

Step 3

Once the mitten was finished and I was ready to knit the thumb, I carefully removed the contrasting yarn. This left a row of live stitches both above and below the opening.

Step 4

I picked up the live stitches onto knitting needles. To prevent gaps and create a smooth, rounded thumb, I also picked up an extra stitch from each side of the opening.

Then I distributed the stitches evenly across three double-pointed needles.

Step 5

From there, I simply knitted in the round until the thumb reached the desired length. Finally, I decreased the stitches near the top and finished the thumb.

This waste-yarn method creates a neat, comfortable thumb and has become one of my favorite techniques for knitting fingerless gloves and mittens. 

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A Small Handmade Bonus

Like many knitters, I couldn't bring myself to throw away the leftover yarn.

So I made a small knitted flower brooch.

It's amazing how even tiny leftovers can become something charming and useful. The flower looked perfect attached to the beret, adding a little extra personality to the set.

knitted flower brooch on beret
ALT: knitted flower brooch accessory   

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Final Thoughts

Today, Dasha is happily wearing her new knitted set, and that makes every stitch worth it.

The beret fits perfectly, the scarf is wonderfully soft, and the fingerless gloves keep her hands warm while still letting her move freely. Seeing her enjoy something I made with my own hands is one of the most rewarding parts of knitting.

And I have to admit, the little flower brooch has become her favorite detail.

This project used just two skeins of yarn, but it created something much bigger than a set of winter accessories. It created memories, cozy moments, and the satisfaction that comes from making something special for someone you love.

That's the magic of handmade projects — they keep you warm in more ways than one.

 

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Knitting Supplies Used for This Project

Wool-blend yarn - https://amzn.to/3PHmOrr

Double-pointed knitting needles - https://amzn.to/4ue2hsm

Stitch markers - https://amzn.to/4vrcfaX

Small yarn scissors - https://amzn.to/4uOmypv

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Affiliate Disclosure

Some links in this post are Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my blog and allows me to continue sharing helpful guides and recommendations.

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📷 Some of my embroidery and handmade lifestyle photos are available for licensing on Adobe Stock

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