by Carissa Browning

You may be familiar with the S's of wine tasting -- swirl, sniff, sip, etc. -- but allow me to enlighten you on the proper procedure for yarn tasting.

See: Look at the yarn in the skein. Is it a solid or multi-color, hand-dyed or self-striping? Does it have a smooth, shiny appearance or perhaps a soft halo?

Squish: Give the hank a good squeeze. Is it soft to the touch? Does it yield to gentle pressure and spring back upon release?

Sale: If the yarn's characteristics are in line with the project you have in mind, or if you simply love it, buy it! A concept even the most novice knitters can easily grasp.

Stash: This step is optional. If you do not intend to indulge immediately, store the yarn in a safe place where it can age to perfection.

Swift: If the yarn was purchased in hank form, it will need to be prepared for its purpose. Place the hank on a swift and gently wind into a ball for easy use.

Swatch: Work a square in your chosen stitch pattern. Does it give the necessary gauge? Does it have the desired drape? Does the color complement or obscure the stitch pattern?

Stitch: After all this preparation, it's finally time to create something from your gorgeous yarn. Put the same care into each stitch that you showed in the yarn's selection.

Strut: Relish every last knit and purl. Snuggle with your finished garment. Admire your handiwork. Proclaim with pride to passersby "Why, yes, I did knit this!"

SIZE
Adult S[M, L]
To fit palm circumference: 7[7.5, 8] inches

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Wrist circumference: 4.75[5,5.25] inches, unstretched
Palm circumference: 6[6.5, 7] inches, unstretched
Length: 8.5[9, 9.5] inches

MATERIALS
Yarn
Kollage Sock-A-Licious [70% Merino wool, 20% nylon, 10% silk; 354yd/324m per 100g skein]; color: 7807 Heather; 1[1, 1] skein

Recommended needle size
[always use a needle size that gives you the gauge listed below -- every knitter's gauge is unique]
US #0/2mm needles
US #2/2.75mm needles

Notions
Cable needle
Waste yarn
Yarn needle

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

This pattern calls for a stretchy cast on. You can use the Tubular or Long Tail Cast on methods.

This pattern calls for a stretchy bind off. You can use the Tubular or Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy methods.

LC3: Left Cross 3. Slip 1 stitch to cable needle and hold in front; k1, p1; k1 from cable needle.

The wrist features a slanted garter stitch formed by decreases along the inner edge of arm, which are offset by increases that are then incorporated into the cable pattern. The thumb gusset is created by continuing to work those increases but ceasing the decreases.

DIRECTIONS
Cuff
With smaller needle, CO 48[52, 56] sts using tubular cast-on or stretchy cast-on method of your choice. Distribute sts across needles as you prefer and join for working in the round.

Ribbing round: [K1, p1] around.
Work ribbing as set for 10 rounds total.

Short Row 1 [RS]: Work ribbing as set to last 3 sts, w&t.

Short Row 2 [WS]: Work ribbing as set to last 2 sts, w&t.

Short Row 3 [RS]: Work ribbing as set to 2 sts before previously wrapped stitch, w&t.

Short Row 4 [WS]: Work ribbing as set to 2 sts before previously wrapped stitch, w&t.

Repeat Short Rows 3-4 8[9, 10] more times.

Repeat Short Row 3 once more.

Next row [WS]: P1, k1, p1, w&t.

Next round: Work ribbing as set, working wrapped sts together with their wraps, to end of round.

Final round: Work ribbing as set, working wrapped sts together with their wraps, for 24[26, 28] sts. This will be the new start of round. Rearrange sts as you prefer.

Wrist
Change to larger needles.
Setup Round: K2[4, 6], (kfb, k5) to last 4[6, 8] sts, kfb, k2[4, 6], p1. 56[60, 64] sts

Medium and Large Only:
Set-up Round 2: Yo, k1, p -[26, 28], p2tog, p1, p2tog, p to last 2 sts, k1, yo, p1.
Set-up Round 3: P1 tbl, k to last 2 sts, p1 tbl, p1.

Large Only:
Set-up Round 4: P1, yo, k1, p -[-, 27], p2tog, p1, p2tog, p to last 3 sts, k1, yo, p2.
Set-up Round 5: P1, p1 tbl, k to last 3 sts, p1 tbl, p2.

All Sizes:
Round 1: P0[1, 2], work corresponding round of Wrist Chart A, p0[1, 2], p2tog, p1, p2tog, p0[1, 2], work corresponding round of Wrist Chart B, p0[1, 2].
Round 2: P0[1, 2], work corresponding round of Wrist Chart A, k3[5, 7], work corresponding round of Wrist Chart B, p0[1, 2].
Repeat Rounds 1-2 until all 40 Chart rows are complete.

Round 1: P0[1, 2], work corresponding round of Gusset Chart A, p to marker, work corresponding round of Gusset Chart B, p0[1, 2]. 2 sts increased.
Round 2: P0[1, 2], work corresponding round of Gusset Chart A, k to marker, work corresponding round of Gusset Chart B, p0[1, 2].
Repeat Rounds 1-2 until all 18 Chart rows are complete. 76[80, 84] sts.

Small Only:
Round 2: (P1, k1, p1, k1, p2) 4 times, (p1, k1) twice, p2tog, p1, p2tog, (k1, p1) twice, p1, (p1, k1, p1, k1, p2) 4 times. 60 sts

Medium and Large Only:
Round 2: (P -[1, 2], (p1, k1, p1, k1, p2) 5 times, p -[1, 2]) twice.

All Sizes:
Rounds 3: (P0[1, 2], (p1, k1, p1, k1, p2) 5 times, p0[1, 2]) twice.

Round 4: (P0[1, 2], (p1, LC3, p2) 5 times, p0[1, 2]) twice.

Rounds 5-9: (P0[1, 2], (p1, k1, p1, k1, p2) 5 times, p0[1, 2]) twice.

Small Only:
Round 10: (P1, LC3, p1, k1) 4 times, p1, LC3, p3tog, (LC3, p1, k1, p1) 4 times, LC3, p3tog with first st of next round. 56 sts

Medium Only:
Round 10: (P2tog, (LC3, p1, k1, p1) 4 times, LC3, p2tog, k1) twice. 60 sts

Large Only:
Round 10: (K1, p2tog, (LC3, p1, k1, p1) 4 times, LC3, p2tog, k1, p1) twice. 64 sts

All Sizes:
Change to smaller needles, and work k1, p1 ribbing as set for 5 rounds.
Round 16: (K0[0, 1], p0[1, 1], (LC3, p1, k1, p1) 4 times, LC3, p1, k0[1, 1], p0[0, 1]) twice.
Work k1, p1 ribbing as set for 3 more rounds.
BO all sts using tubular bind-off or stretchy bind-off method of your choice.

Thumb
Transfer 15[17, 19] live sts from waste yarn onto smaller needles.
With RS facing, rejoin yarn at start of thumb opening and pick up and knit 4[4, 6] sts from cast-on st between thumb and fingers. 19[21, 25] sts

Note: By picking up more sts than necessary and then immediately decreasing them, you will keep holes from forming in the thumb valley.

Small and Medium Only:
Round 1: P15[17, -], p2tog twice. 17[19, -] sts

Large Only:
Round 1: P8, p2tog, p9, p2tog three times. 21 sts

All Sizes:
Round 2: Knit.
Round 3: Purl.
Repeat Rounds 2-3 4 times more, and work Round 2 once more, for garter stitch.
BO all sts purlwise using larger needle.

FINISHING
Weave in ends and block if desired.

Carissa lives and knits in Dallas, Texas, where she enjoys convenient access to wines produced in the Texas Hill Country, a region of the state well-known (locally at least) for its thriving vineyards. She recommends pairing this pattern with your favorite wine, though more than one glass may have adverse effects on the finished product.

More of her work can be found at CarissaKnits.com, or look her up on Ravelry.