Countless new knitters have been given the same old advice: practice by knitting a scarf. And after row after monotonous row, countless new knitters have also become frustrated and bored. While scarves offer knitters the chance to experiment with new yarns and stitch patterns, they often take many hours to complete.

Enter the fingerless gloves. These babies have it all – they can also be knit in many types of yarn and stitch patterns, but they can be completed quickly. As a bonus, they can be knit either flat or in the round, and often may be completed with a single skein of yarn. That luxury skein of oh-so-soft-next-to-the-skin silk merino sitting in the stash? It may not be enough for a scarf, but after just a few hours a knitter can have a perfect new accessory. Plus every girl can use more than one set to coordinate with the colors of her wardrobe. Fingerless gloves also make perfect gifts since the time commitment is low and a single skein of some very nice yarns do not have to be a budget-buster.

Six feet of stockinette stitch may be fun for some, but fingerless gloves are definitely worth a try.