INTRODUCTION

Yantar

by Anna Zhuravleva

Gloves always have the reputation of being a difficult knit, but they really are not. When you try it once, you may never stop.

I knitted my first pair 5 years ago, and since then gloves are one of my favorite knitting projects. It is a very fast knit that can be a great portable project. Also it is a great place for some experiments – I am always looking for new techniques to make them fit better, and new patterns and details to add a twist.

This pattern is a really great place to start. Clean shapes and perfect fit – these ones will become your favorites. The gloves have a comfortable stretchy cuff, anatomic thumb gusset and adjustable fingers. Knitted in thin fingering yarn, they will become your second skin and the most comfortable thing to wear.

The pattern on the back side is inspired by amber gemstones with beads imitating the sunlight going through it. Yantar (янта́рь) is the Russian word for "amber". Choosing your favorite beads, you can make your perfect pair look really shiny or just add a soft glow.

photos: Anna Zhuravleva

SIZE

Women's S[M, L, XL]

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Glove circumference (measured around the palm):  6.5[7, 7.5, 8.5] inches/ 16[18, 19, 20.5] cm.
Glove length: adjustable to fit.
Note: Choose a size with about .25–.75 inch/.5-2cm of negative ease in the palm circumference.

MATERIALS

Yarn
SandnesGarn Sisu [80% wool, 20% nylon; 191 yd/175 m per 1.76 oz/50 g skein]; color: 2134 Gul sand; 1[1, 2, 2] skeins.

Yarn Characteristics:
The sample shown uses a fingering-weight sock yarn. This pattern looks best in a solid colored yarn. Choose a plied yarn with a tight twist. Superwash sock yarn with an addition of a little nylon will work best to make these easy care.

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below - every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #1.5/2.5mm needles for small circumference in the round: traditional or flexible DPNs, 1 long circular or two shorter circulars, as you prefer
US #1.5/2.5mm DPNs (for fingers, optional but recommended; you can work the fingers on magic loop or another method if you prefer, but DPNs are often easiest to use)
US steel #3/2mm hook (for fingers)
US steel #14/0.6mm crochet hook (for placing beads, optional)

Notions
20 size 8/0 beads (optional)
stitch holders (optional)
waste yarn
stitch markers
cable needle
yarn needle

GAUGE

27 sts/36 rnds = 4 inches/10 cm in stockinette stitch

PATTERN NOTES

[Knitty's list of standard abbreviations and techniques can be found here.]

The gloves are worked symmetrically – palm side with gusset will be on the second half of the sts for the left glove and on the first half for the right one.
The main pattern starts at the wrist, narrowing as you move toward the fingers.
Using beads is optional but will make the gloves look exquisite. If you don't wish to use beads, simply knit the beaded stitches on the chart. More information on how to knit with beads (photo instructions).

CHARTS

Cross: slip 2 sts to the cable needle in front of work, k1, rotate the cable needle 180 degrees anti-clockwise, k2 sts from cable needle.
Bead: place bead on stitch, and then knit it.

DIRECTIONS

Cuff
Using the Long Tail method, CO 42[46, 50, 54] sts. Distribute across needles as you prefer, and join for working in the round, noting or marking start of round.

Rounds 1-6: Knit.
Round 7: Purl.
Rounds 8-13: Knit.
Round 14, join hem: Fold the piece in half with knit side out so that the cast-on edge is touching the sts on your needles. *Using the right needle, pick up a stitch from the cast-on edge, and place it on the left needle. K2tog the cast-on stitch with the live stitch next to it; repeat from * to end of round.

Wrist
Left glove ONLY, Round 1: K 1[2, 3, 4] , place marker for pattern, work Chart A across next 20 sts, k to end of round.
Right glove ONLY, Round 1: K 21[24, 27, 30] , place marker for pattern, work Chart B across next 20 sts, k to end of the round.

Both gloves, wrist round: K to pattern marker, work Chart as set across next 20 sts, k to end of round.
Work in patt as set until you have completed Round 8 of the Chart.

Thumb gusset:
Left glove only, gusset setup: Work in pattern as set, starting the pattern again from Round 1 of the chart, to last 3 sts, pm for start of gusset, M1R, k1, M1L, pm for end of gusset, k to end of round. 44[48, 52, 56] sts
Right glove only, gusset setup: K2, pm for start of gusset, M1R, k1, M1L, pm for end of gusset, work in pattern as set, starting the pattern again from Round 1 of the chart, to end of round. 44[48, 52, 56] sts

Both gloves, continue:
Work 3 rounds even in pattern.
Next round, increase: Work in pattern to first gusset marker, slip marker, M1R, k to second gusset marker, M1L, slip marker, work in pattern as set to end of round. 2 sts increased.
Work 3 rounds even in pattern.

Repeat the last 4 rounds 4[4, 5, 6] more times, until you have 13[13, 15, 17] sts between the markers for the thumb.
Note: When the chart is complete, remove the pattern marker, and knit all the hand stitches.

Upper hand
Next round, separate the thumb: K to first gusset marker, remove marker, slip 13[13, 15, 17] sts of thumb gusset to waste yarn or stitch holder, remove second gusset marker, using backwards loop method, CO 3 sts, then k to end of round. 44[48, 52, 56] sts.

Work even in stockinette until you reach the bottom of the little finger. Approx. 10[12, 15, 15] rounds from separation.

Next round, separate sts for little finger: K 17[18, 20, 21] , slip next 10[11, 12, 14] sts to waste yarn, using backwards loop method, CO 3 sts, then k to end of round. 37[40, 43, 45] sts.

Knit approx. 3–4 more rounds in stockinette, until you reach the bottom of your index finger.

Index finger
Left glove ONLY, Round 1: K 7[7, 8, 8] , put all remaining sts on the waste yarn except last 6[7, 7, 8] sts; using the backwards loop method, cast on 3 sts, k 6[7, 7, 8] .  16[17, 18, 19] sts.

Right glove ONLY, Round 1: K 6[7, 7, 8] put all remaining sts on the waste yarn except last 7[7, 8, 8] sts; using the backwards loop method, cast on 3 sts, k 7[7, 8, 8] . 16[17, 18, 19] sts.

Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.

Knit until the glove finger is the same length as your own finger.

Size XL only, final round: K5, k2tog, (k4, k2tog) twice. 16 sts

Close fingertip: K2tog around. If the round has an odd number of sts, knit the final sts. Cut yarn, leaving a tail of about 4 inches/10cm to weave in, and pull through final sts to secure.

Middle finger
Left glove ONLY: Return first 5[6, 6, 7] sts and last 6[6, 7, 7] sts to needles, leaving rem 13[14, 15, 15] sts on waste yarn.
Right glove ONLY: Return first 6[6, 7, 7] sts and last 5[6, 6, 7] sts to needles, leaving rem 13[14, 15, 15] sts on waste yarn.

Round 1: Rejoin yarn at the start of the previously cast on sts at the base of the Index Finger and pick up and knit 5 sts in gap – 1 for each of the three CO sts, and 1 for each side – knit across to the gap, cast on 3 sts, k to end of round. 19[20, 21, 22] sts.
Round 2: SSK, k1, k2tog, k to end of round. 17[18, 19, 20] sts.

Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round. Knit until the desired length.

Size L only, final round: K5, k2tog, (k4, k2tog) twice. 16 sts
Size XL only, final round: (K5, k2tog) twice, k4, k2tog. 17 sts
Close as per Index Finger.

Ring finger
Return the remaining 13[14, 15, 15] sts from the waste yarn to your needles. Rejoin yarn at the start of these stitches, and knit across them; then pick up and knit 5 sts in gap – 1 for each of the three CO sts, and 1 for each side. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round. 18[19, 20, 20] sts.

Round 1: K 13[14, 15, 15] , SSK, k1, k2tog. 16[17, 18, 18] sts.
Knit until the desired length. Close as per Index Finger.

Little finger
Return held 10[11, 12, 14] held sts to needles. Rejoin yarn at the start of these stitches, and knit across them; then pick up and knit 5 sts in gap – 1 for each of the three CO sts, and 1 for each side. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round. 15[16, 18, 19] sts.

Round 1: K 10[11, 12, 14] , SSK, k1, k2tog. 13[14, 15, 17] sts.

Knit until the desired length. Close as per Index Finger.

Thumb
Return held 13[13, 15, 17] held sts to needles. Rejoin yarn at crook of thumb and pick up and knit 5 sts in gap – 1 for each of the three CO sts, and 1 for each side. 18[18, 20, 22]

Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round. Knit until the desired length. Close as per Index Finger.

FINISHING

Wash gloves, and lay then flat to dry. Weave in ends.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Anna Zhuravleva is from Moscow, Russia. She's addicted to knitting, and has been since she was young. She knitted her first socks when she was 12. Socks, mitts and gloves are her great love. She has an engineering degree, so constructing the perfect fit for all her designs is a must.

You can find her patterns on Ravelry and Instagram.

Pattern & images © 2021 Anna Zhuravleva