Yarn: Knit Picks Palette
Green/Clover
Red/Autumn Heather
White/White
Pattern: My own design
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm) double pointed needles
What I Enjoyed:
- Tubular Cast On and Bind Off
- Longer ribbing for cuffs so they extended slightly down the arm and could cover the hand yet be folded down for use of fingers
- Checked colorwork to cover hand that added so much warmth
- Instructions for left and right glove are the same
What Bothered Me:
- Carrying three yarns in thumb gusset section
- Not using a smaller needle size for ribbing
My dad had requested a pair of fingerless gloves. He is very handy. From typing for his job to his various outside tasks, he keeps busy with his hands. When it’s cold, he needs his hands free yet kept warm.
I decided to play around with yarn from the pantry and colorwork to design and create a warm covering for his hands that still allowed the use of his fingers. That’s a long way of saying a pair of fingerless gloves.
This pair became my mom’s as I tested out stitch patterns and how to make this knit fit like a glove.
Materials
I’ve had two balls of Knit Picks Palette, one green and one red, in my stash for years. I wanted to use it up and chose this glove project to use up this yarn.
I did order a few more balls of Palette, one being white. I contemplate the success of working through stashed yarn when purchasing more yarn was involved.
I’ve found this yarn does catch the surrounding fibers when knit and blooms beautifully when blocked making it very nice for a colorwork project.
Notes
Construction
I used a Tubular Cast On before working a 1 by 1 rib. I made the cuffs around 3 inches long.
For the hand, I used 2 colorwork patterns. After the thumb gusset and remaining hand, I finished with approximately 3 inches of 1 by 1 ribbing. I binded off using a Tubular Cast Off.
For the thumbs, I worked in stockinette for a few rounds before working 1 by 1 ribbing and a Tubular Cast Off.
Stitch Pattern
I wasn’t clear what type of colorwork stitch pattern I would use at first. I ended up using a checked pattern, alternating green and white for the hand portion, but included a band of colorwork that was inspired by hoof prints.
On hikes around our property, it’s common to spot an animal’s footprint pressed in the muddy trail. Since the thumb gusset was knit in green, knitting this hoof-inspired colorwork portion involved carrying 3 colors across a round. I didn’t enjoy holding 3 colors.
I’m happy that I picked a colorwork stitch pattern as the gloves are truly warm due to the double fabric stranded colorwork creates.
Tubular Cast on and Bind Off
One of my favorite parts of these gloves is the Tubular Cast On and Tubular Bind Off. These techniques produced nice, stretchy edges. Perfect for fitting on and off hands.
Also, I enjoy that the edges almost appear to have no starting or ending point. The first round of knit and purl stitches appear to flow over to the opposite side.
Conclusion
Have you experimented in your knitting recently?
Have a blessed day, friends! I will be back with more to share soon.
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