This vintage knitting pattern for “Cable News” lady’s gloves was first published in the early 1940’s. The design features a cable pattern that travels up the back of the gloves, all the way to the tips of the fingers. They are sized to fit adult women and are knit flat on 2 needles.
Note: This pattern uses old UK needle sizes and is knit with fingering weight wool.
Materials
2 ozs. 4-ply Worsted Fingering Wool.
1 pair US Size 1 needles (old UK Size No. 13 knitting needles).
A small double-pointed spare needle for working the cables.
Measurements
To fit 6-1/4 to 6-3/4 hand.
Tension
Over the reverse stocking stitch fabric, 9 sts. to 1 in.
Abbreviations
K. – knit
p. – purl
sts. – stitches
tog. – together
rep. – repeat
inc. – increase
dec. – decrease
beg. – beginning
rem. remains(ing)
cont. – continue
patt. – pattern
sl. – slip
p.s.s.o. – pass slipped stitch over
ins. – inches
m.1 – make 1 (by bringing or leaving the wool forward before a k. st. or winding the wool around the needle before a p. st.)
r.s.f. – right side facing
tbs. – through back of stitches
st.st. – stocking stitch (right side k. wrong side p.)
reverse st.st. – right side p. wrong side k.
R. H. – right hand
L. H. – left hand
moss st. – moss stitch (k.1 p.1 alternatively on an uneven number of stitches)
M. – main shade
L. light shade
D. – dark shade
A. – angora
Y. – yellow
d.c. – double crochet
Note: Please do not use these directions for a plain pair of gloves, as extra sts. have been allowed on back on hand because cable st. tends to draw in the work.
R. H. Glove
Cast on 48 sts. and work 2 ins. in k. 1, p. 1 rib, inc. into every 4th st. on last row (60 sts.). Now work in patt. as follows:
1st row: P. 2, (k. 4, p. 4) 4 times, then p. to end of row.
2nd row: K. 26 (k. 4, p. 4) 4 times, k. 2.
Repeat these 2 rows once.
5th row: P. 2 (sl. next 2 sts. onto spare needle and leave at back of work, k. 2 then k. the 2 sts. from spare needle, p. 4), 4 times, then p. to end of row.
6th row: As 2nd row. These 6 rows comprise the patt. and are repeated throughout for back of hand, while the palm is worked in reverse st. st. The cables are continued right down each finger.
7th row: (Thumb gusset commences in this row.) Patt. across 34 sts. (as on 1st patt. row), p. twice into each of next 2 sts., p. to end.
8th row: K. 28, patt. to end.
9th row: Patt. 34, p. to end.
10th row: As 8th row.
11th row: Patt. 34 (as on 5th patt. row), p. twice into next st., p. 2, p. twice into next st., p. to end.
12th row: K. 30, patt. to end.
Cont. in patt. but increasing at each side of thumb gusset in every 4th row (that is in the 15th, 19th, 23rd rows), and so on until 7 sts. have been inc. at each side of gusset and there are 74 sts. now on needle. Work 3 rows after the last inc.
Thumb
(r.s.f): Work across 50 sts., turn and cast 2 sts. then k. 18 back. Turn and cast on 2 sts. Cont. in reverse st.st. on these 20 sts. for 2 ins. (or length required).
Shape Top
(r.s.f.): 1st row: Work tog. every 2nd and 3rd sts.
2nd row: K.
3rd row: Work 2 tog. all along row. Break wool, thread through rem. sts., fasten securely, and sew down seam of thumb to base.
Rejoin wool with r.s.f. and pick up and k. 4 sts. from base of thumb, p. to end row. (62 sts. ) Cont. in patt. for 1-1/4 ins., ending with a wrong side row.
First Finger
Work across 41 sts., turn and cast on 1 st.
Next row: Work 18 sts. back, then and cast on 2 sts. Cont. on these 20 sts., working the cable rib right up finger and the remainder of sts. in reverse st.st. for 2-3/4 ins. (or length required). Shape top as for thumb, but when working the sts. tog. over the cable rib, k. them tog. while purling the sts. tog. for the remainder. Sew down seam of finger to base.
Second Finger
Pick up and k. 3 sts. from base of 1st finger, p. 7, turn and cast on 1 st.
Next row: Work 19 sts. back, then turn and cast on 2 sts. Cont. on these 21 sts. as for 1st finger for 3 ins. (or length required). Shape top and sew down again.
Third Finger
Pick up and k. 3 sts. from base of 2nd finger, p. 7, turn and cast on 1 st.
Next row: Work 19 sts. back, then turn and cast on 1 st. Cont. on these 20 sts., as for other fingers for 2 1/2 ins. (or length required). Shape top and sew down seam.
Fourth Finger
Rejoin wool and pick up 2 sts. from base of 3rd finger, p. to end. Cont. on these 17 sts. as for other fingers for 2 ins. (or length required). Shape top and sew down seam of glove.
L. H. Glove
Work as for right hand until the ribbing is completed and there are 60 sts. on needle.
1st row: p. 26, (p. 4, k. 4) 4 times, p. 2.
2nd row: K. 2 (p. 4, k. 4) 4 times, k. to end of row.
Rep. these 2 rows once.
5th row: P. 26 (p. 4, cable 4, as on 5th patt. row) 4 times, p. 2.
6th row: As 2nd row.
7th row: Commence thumb gusset. P. 23, p. twice into each of next 2 sts., patt. to end. Work 3 rows as now set.
11th row: P. 23, p. twice into next st., p. 2, p. twice into next st., patt. to end.
Cont. in this way, inc. at each side of thumb gusset in every 4th row until the same number of rows have been worked as for R. H. to commencement of thumb (74 sts.).
The Thumb
(r.s.f.): P. 40 sts., turn and cast on 2 sts.
Next row: K. 18 back, then turn and cast on 2 sts. Cont. on these 20 sts. and complete thumb.
Rejoin wool and pick up 4 sts. from base of thumb, work to end or row. Cont. as now set for 1 1/4 ins. ending with a wrong side row.
First Finger
Work across 38 sts., turn and cast on 2 sts.
Next row: Work 19 sts. back, turn and cast on 1 st. Cont. on these 20 sts. for finger.
Second Finger
Pick up 3 sts. from base of 1st finger, work 8 sts., turn and cast on 2 sts.
Next row: Work 20 sts. back, turn and cast on 1 st. Cont. on these 21 sts. for finger.
Third Finger
Pick up 3 sts. from base of 2nd finger, work 8 sts., turn and cast on 1 st.
Next row: Work 19 sts. back, turn and cast on 1 st., Cont. on these 20 sts. for finger.
Fourth Finger
Pick up 2 sts. from base of third finger, work to end of row. Cont. on these 17 sts. for finger, then sew down seam of glove.
Press gloves only very lightly, omitting the ribbing.