Fair Isle gloves made of Finn yarn

Today is goal day! Our experiments with Finn are finally over, and I’m ready to begin our gloves.

I’m working with Finn, a sportweight yarn that is a blend of acrylic (50%), merino wool (25%) and alpaca (25%). This combination of fibers is perfect for garments that will see a bit of hard wear and which you’ll want to wash. In my first post, I talked about the features of this versatile yarn, and in yesterday’s post I gave what turned out to be an in-depth study about sampling for Fair Isle knitting.

Now that the sampling is over, let’s get right to the nitty gritty of the pattern.

size Ladies’ medium (7½” [19cm] around knuckles)

materials

• 1 ball of Finn sportweight yarn in each of 5 colours, 1 dark (A – Jam), 2 medium (B – Woodstar and C – Rainforest), one medium light (D – Hyacinth), and one light (E – Rose Quartz)
• knitting needles (double pointed or circular) size 2½ US [3mm] or size needed to obtain gauge
• stitch holder
• stitch marker

gauge 32 stitches to 4″ [10cm] worked over Fair Isle pattern

Notes

1. Gloves are worked in the round. Read every round of the chart from right to left.
2. The yellow line on the chart shows the placement of the stitch marker, which divides the back of the hand and palm stitches.
3. The box on the palm of the charts show the placement of the thumb opening. Work the round to the left side of the box, then place the 9 sts in the box onto a stitch holder. On the following round, refer to the text instruction.
4. Pattern is written for all fingers and thumb to be worked in Col A, however, there are five colors in this piece, so the knitter can choose to make the thumbs a different color, or to make the thumb and each finger in a different color.
5. The stitch count changes at the thumb opening. 9 sts are placed on hold, but only 5 sts are cast on. The gray boxes on the chart are “no stitch” to show the reduction of 4 sts.

Cuff (both gloves)

Cast on 45 sts loosely. Join to work in the round.
Ribbing: *k2, p1; rep from * around.
Work ribbing for 3″ [7.5cm]
Increase Round: *k2, in next st, work p1, k1; rep from * around (60 sts).
K 1 round.

Bracelet (both gloves)
With A and D, work Bracelet Chart

Thumb gusset (left hand)
Rnd 1: K 24, m1, k1, m1, k4, pm, k rem sts of round. (62 sts)
Rnd 2: K24, m1, k3, m1, k rem sts of round. (64 sts)

Work the Left Hand Chart, joining in and breaking off colors as required. On rnd 16, work to left side of black box and put the sts in the box onto a holder. Work to end of round. On rnd 17, work the chart to the thumb opening, turn work, and cast on 1A, 3D, and 1A. Work to end of round. (60 sts)
Continue working to end of chart.
K 2 rounds A.

Divide for fingers

Pinky With A, k 6 sts from palm of hand. Put all but last 7 sts of round onto a stitch holder. Sl last st of the k6 onto second needle, cast on 1 st, k 2 sts from the last 7 sts of the round, then, with a third needle, k rem 5 sts. (14 sts, 5-4-5)
K in rounds until length from cast on st measures 2⅜” [6cm] or desired length. Stop before knitting the needle with 4 sts on it.
Next round: (K2tog) around. (7 sts)
Next round: (K2tog) 3 times, k1. Break yarn, and thread yarn end through all 4 sts. Weave in the end.

Ring Join A. Pick up 2 sts from base of pinky finger, k 4 sts from palm. With second needle, k 3 sts from palm, and cast on 1 st. Slip 8 back of hand sts from holder onto a third needle, and k 2 of these sts onto the second needle. K rem sts. (18 sts 6-6-6)
Optional: Make a “ring” to match the “bracelet”: join D and work the “bracelet” chart. Break D.
Work in A until length from picked up sts measures 2¾” [7cm] or desired length.
Next round: (K2tog) around (9 sts)
Next round: (K2tog) 4 times, k1. Break yarn and thread yarn end through all 5 sts. Weave in ends.

Middle Join A, pick up 1 st at base of Ring finger, k 5 sts across palm. With second needle, k3 sts across palm, and cast on 1 st. Slip 8 sts from back of hand onto a third needle, k 2 of these sts onto second needle, k rem sts. (18 sts 6-6-6)
Work in rounds until length from picked up st measures 3⅛” [8cm] or desired length.
Next round: (k2tog) around. (9 sts)
Next round: (K2tog) 4 times, k1. Break yarn and thread yarn end through all 5 sts. The remaining opening is too small to turn the glove inside out to weave in ends.

Index Join A, pick up 1 st at base of Middle finger, k rem 16 sts, dividing them onto 3 needles. (17 sts) Work in rounds until length from picked up st measures 2½” [6.5 cm] or desired length
Next round: (K2tog) to last st, k1. (9 sts)
Next round: (K2tog) 4 times, k1. Break yarn and thread yarn end through all 5 rem sts.

Thumb Beg at center of cast on sts for palm, pick up 3 sts across cast on, 2 sts on the row end of the opening and k 1 st from holder. With second needle, k7. With third needle, k last st from holder, pick up 2 sts on the side of the opening, and k 3 sts across the cast on opening. (19 sts 6-7-6)
K in rounds until length from picked up sts measures 2½” [6.5cm] or desired length.
Next round: (K2tog) to last st, k1. (10 sts)
Next round: (K2tog) around. Break yarn and draw through rem 5 sts.

For right glove, work Cuff and Bracelet.

Thumb gusset
Rnd 1: K4, m1, k1, m1, k24, pm, k rem sts of round. (62 sts)
Rnd 2: K4, m1, k3, m1, k rem sts of round. (64 sts)

Work the Right Hand Chart, joining in and breaking off colors as required. On rnd 16, work to left side of red box and put the sts in the box onto a holder. Work to end of round. On rnd 17, work the chart to the thumb opening, turn work, and cast on 3D, 1A, and 1D. Work to end of round. (60 sts)
Continue working to end of chart.
K 2 rounds A.

Divide for fingers

Pinky With A, k 7 sts from back of hand, cast on 1 st. Put all but last 6 sts of round onto a stitch holder. Sl last 3 sts from first needle onto second needle, k 2 sts from palm, and k rem 5 sts onto a third needle. (14 sts, 5-4-5)
K in rounds on these 14 sts until length from cast on st measures 2⅜” [6cm] or desired length. End with the needle that has 4 sts.
Next round: (K2tog) around. (7 sts)
Next round: (k2tog) 3 times, k1. Break yarn, and thread yarn end through all 4 sts. Weave in the end.

Ring Join A. Pick up 2 sts from base of pinky finger, k 4 sts from back of hand. With second needle, k next 3 sts, and cast on 1 st. Slip 7 palm sts from holder onto a third needle, and k 2 onto second needle. With third needle, k rem sts. (18 sts 6-6-6)
Work until length from picked up sts measures 2¾” [7cm] or desired length.
Next round: (k2tog) around. (9 sts)
Next round: (K2tog) 4 times, k1. Break yarn and thread yarn end through all 5 sts. Weave in ends.

Middle Join A, pick up 1 st at base of Ring finger, k 5 sts across back of hand. With second needle, k3 and cast on 1 st. Slip 8 sts from palm onto a third needle. K 2 sts onto second needle, k rem sts. (18 sts 6-6-6)
Work in rounds until length from picked up st measures 3⅛” [8cm] or desired length.
Next round: (K2tog) around. (9 sts)
Next round: (K2tog) 4 times, k1. Break yarn and thread yarn end through all 5 sts. The remaining opening is too small to turn the glove inside out to weave in ends.

Index Work as given for left glove.

Thumb Work as given for left glove.

Finishing Turn gloves inside out and weave in all loose ends. Wash, dry, and wear.

Join me tomorrow, for one more day of Fair Isle fun with Finn.