by Stephanie Sun

These women’s cabled fingerless gloves feature a folded ribbed cuff that is buttoned on the top cable. During my morning commute on the subway last winter, a woman sat down next to me wearing a beautiful pair of felt wool fingerless gloves with folded cuffs. They woke me right up. 

Whether you drive, take the train, bike, or skip to work, these gloves will keep you warm and your fingers free to multitask. An optional hidden second button under the cuff of The Commuter allows for extra coverage on cooler days. 

SIZE
One

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Circumference: 7.5 inches
Length: approx. 8.25 inches, with cuff folded back

Blue-green gloves
Cascade Soft Spun [100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 197yd/180m per 100g skein]; color: #2826 Lake Chelan; 1 skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
1 set US #4/3.5mm double-point needles

Notions
Cable needle
Safety pin or locking stitch marker
Waste yarn
Yarn needle
2 decorative buttons, approx. diameter 1 inch
2 small flat buttons, approx. diameter 0.5 inch (optional)
Sewing needle and thread

GAUGE
21 sts/29 rows = 4” in stockinette st

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

C4B: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to back of work; k2 from left needle, k2 from cable needle.

C4F: Slip next 2 sts to cable needle and hold to front of work; k2 from left needle, k2 from cable needle.

2x2 Rib (Worked in the round over a multiple of 4 sts):
All Rounds: [K2, p2] to end.

Instructions for the Cable Cast On can be found here.

DIRECTIONS

Lower Cuff:
CO 40 sts.

Divide sts between needles and join to begin working in the round, being careful not to twist.

Work 10 rounds in 2x2 Rib.

After several rounds have been worked, place safety pin or locking stitch marker in work to indicate beginning of round.

Establish Cable Pattern:
Round 1: K2, p1, k4, p1, k32.

Rounds 2-4: Work as for Round 1.

Round 5: K2, p1, C4F, p1, k32.

Rounds 6-7: Work as for Round 1.

Work Rounds 1-7 four times more, then work Rounds 1-4 once more.

Place Thumbhole:
Next Round: K2, p1, C4F, p1, k12; k next 5 sts using waste yarn, then return these 5 sts to left needle and knit them again using working yarn; k to end.
Note: Waste yarn will later be removed, and thumb will be worked from resulting live sts.

Work 6 more rounds in cable pattern as set.

Next Row [WS]: Sl 1, [k2, p2] to last 3 sts, k3.
Next Row [RS]: Sl 1, [p2, k2] to last 3 sts, p3.
These two rows set 2x2 Rib pattern for upper cuff. Work 10 more rows in pattern.*

Shape Cuff:
Row 1 [WS]: BO 14 sts knitwise, ssk, work in pattern to end. 25 sts.
Row 2 [RS]: Sl 1, work in pattern to last 3 sts, p1, return last st worked to left needle and pass next st on left needle over st just worked, then return st to right needle; p1. 24 sts.
Row 3 [WS]: K1, ssk, work in pattern to end. 23 sts.
Rows 4, 6 [RS]: Work as for Row 2.
Row 5 [WS]: Work as for Row 3.

Work Buttonhole:
Row 7 [WS]: K1, ssk, work in pattern to last 8 sts, BO 3 sts knitwise, work in pattern to end.
Row 8 [RS]: Sl 1, p2, k2, CO 3 sts using cable cast on method, work in pattern to last 3 sts, p1, return last st worked to left needle and pass next st on left needle over st just worked, then return st to right needle; p1. 18 sts.
Rows 9, 11 [WS]: Work as for Row 3.
Rows 10, 12 [RS]: Work as for Row 2. 14 sts when Row 12 is complete.
Row 13 [WS]: K1, ssk, pass first st worked over second st, BO remaining sts knitwise.

Thumb
Carefully remove waste yarn from thumbhole and place resulting live sts on two needles. There should be 10 sts: 5 sts above hole, and 5 sts below hole.
Pick up and k 2 sts in space at one end of hole, k5 from one needle, pick up and k 2 sts in space at other end of hole, k5 from remaining needle. 14 sts. Divide sts between needles and join to work in the round.
K 12 rounds. BO all sts knitwise.

Lower Cuff:
Work as for right glove.

Establish Cable Pattern:
Round 1: K32, p1, k4, p1, k2.
Rounds 2-4: Work as for Round 1.
Round 5: K32, p1, C4B, p1, k2.
Rounds 6-7: Work as for Round 1.
Work Rounds 1-7 four times more, then work Rounds 1-4 once more.

Place Thumbhole:
Next Round: K15; k next 5 sts using waste yarn, then return these 5 sts to left needle and knit them again using working yarn; k12, p1, C4B, p1, k2.

Work 6 more rounds in cable pattern as set.

Upper Cuff
Work from * to * as for right glove.

Shape Cuff:
Row 1 [WS]: Work 23 sts in patt, k2tog, k1; BO remaining 14 sts knitwise. Break yarn, and rejoin to rem 25 sts with RS facing.
Row 2 [RS]: P1, p2tog, work in patt to end. 24 sts.
Row 3 [WS]: Work in patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1. 23 sts.
Rows 4, 6 [RS]: Work as for Row 2.
Row 5 [WS]: Work as for Row 3.

Work Buttonhole:
Row 7 [WS]: Work 5 sts in patt, BO 3 sts knitwise, work in patt to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.
Row 8 [RS]: P1, p2tog, work in patt to BO sts, CO 3 sts using cable cast on method, work in patt to end. 18 sts.
Rows 9, 11 [WS]: Work as for Row 3.
Rows 10, 12 [RS]: Work as for Row 2. 14 sts when Row 12 is complete.
Row 13 [WS]: BO knitwise until 1 st rem on left needle; pass last st on left needle over rem st on right needle. Break yarn and draw through last st.

Thumb
Work as for right glove.

FINISHING
Weave in ends. Sew decorative button to each glove, approximately at uppermost cable twist (see photos). Fold cuffs back and button in place. Block as desired – note that blocking gloves with cuffs folded will help cuffs stay in place while wearing gloves.

If desired, sew smaller buttons to cuffs as shown in photos. Cuffs may be folded over fingers and secured using smaller buttons.

Stephanie Sun is a fiction writer and independent publisher in San Francisco. Find out more about her books on her website and at Amazon.