I have been working on projects for the Buffalo Wool Co.’s new E-book, Cowgirl Knits.
The last project for the book is a pair of gauntlet style gloves with beading, reminiscent of  classic cowboy gloves.  This project has been driving me crazy!

Last week I figured out why.

I have been trying re-create with yarn, something that was made with leather.  I wasn’t letting inspiration guide the process – I was trying to force the design to fit a form that it wasn’t suited too.  Last week I gave up – I surrendered – and the glove became knittable.

Challenges to overcome – Gauntlet needed to have a bead knit pattern.  Bead knitting is much easier done in the round.  Cuff of Gauntlet needed to be stiffer to hold the form and look of the original gloves.  Gauntlet needed to have fringes along the side of the cuff.  Gauntlet needed to be wide enough to wear over a jacket sleeve.

1st One

To create a lined and stiffer, at least more rigid than traditional knit, gauntlet cuff.

Double knitting offered a possible answer to adding the body to the cuff – but double knitting the cuff, while bead knitting and adding fringe – too slow – too difficult – too many fringes – too much beading – too many mistakes – no one would ever want to knit the gauntlets.

2nd One

Knit the cuff in the round with two circular needles – reduce the fringing – simplify the bead knit pattern – keep the lining.

Much better, much more knittable, but – the cuff was too heavy, the bead knit pattern was awkward looking to the shape of the cuff – still too much fringing!  The cuff was very poorly shaped and too top it off was too small and would never fit over a jacket sleeve!

3rd One

“Was just Right”!

Knit the cuff in the round with two circular needles – added more stitches to make the cuff wider – no lining, contrast hem only – rotate the bead knit pattern – reduce the fringe again – add a faux look to the fringe to mimic the opening at the side of the gauntlet – set the shaping of the gauntlet to one side only – Success!

Added welting to bridge the gap from gauntlet to glove so the stitch reduction would be smooth from the jacket to the hand.

Now to knit the second glove!

Retreat 2014

Mad About Ewe Fine Yarns holds a retreat every year.  This next year I will be teaching.  the skills taught will be two-coloured brioche knit cable rib, and lace.

There will be three projects to choose from; a simple lace scarf with fringe, a brioche knit cabled rib scarf with fringe or the “Mad” project – a shawl with brioche knit cabled edges and block striped lace center with fringes on each end.

I have started the “Mad” project and I am well into the edging, another inch or so and I will be starting the lace center.  Keep tuned to see how the shawl progresses.

I am working with Fleece Artist 2/8 Blue Faced Leicester, also called Fine Blue Faced Leicester, in the Amber, a semi solid colourway and Nightshade, a variegated colourway for the light and dark sides of the brioche knitting.

Happy Knitting

Lynette