Carol and Beth Fair-isle Gloves

Knit on two needles

These fair-isle gloves are knit flat and seamed.

Materials

“Carol” design: 2 ounces 4-ply wool (fingering weight) in light blue and a small quantity of the same wool in each of the following colours: Red, yellow, navy, and dark blue;
1 pair of Old UK No. 13 / US 1 / Metric 2.25mm knitting needles.
“Beth” design: 2 ounces “Kaiapoi” 4-ply wool (fingering weight) in grey and a small quantity of the same wool in red, green, blue, yellow, and navy;
1 pair of Old UK No. 12 / US 2 / Metric 2.75mm knitting needles.

Size

Both designs will fit size 6½ to 7¼ hand.

Length: “Carol” design, 9½ inches; “Beth” design, 9¼ inches.

Gauge

No gauge is listed in the original pattern

Abbreviations

k, knit;
P., purl;
sts, stitches;
ins., inches;
tog., together;
inc., increase;
dec., decrease;
patt., pattern;
rep., repeat;
st.-st., stocking stitch (right side k, wrong side p);
rds., rounds;
beg., beginning;
dr., draw;
R.H., right hand;
L.H., left hand;
R.S.F., right side facing;
T.B.S., through back of stitches;
sl., slip;
cont., continue;
rem., remaining.

Carol Design

Pattern

Using blue wool and No. 13 needles, cast on 54 sts and work in k1, p1 rib for 2½ ins.

Work 2 rows in st.-st.

Now commence fair isle and work from chart. The background colour in the chart (white squares) is light blue.

Note: As the complete chart is given for the fair isle, these sts will not be explained in detail, but will be referred to throughout as “Patt. 29.”

1st row: Patt. 29 sts, k25 blue. Note: Twist blue wool around the wools used in the fair isle patt. on every row at the juncture between the fair isle patt. and the plain blue sts used for the palm.

2nd row: P. 25 blue, patt. 29.

Rep. these 2 rows twice.

7th row: Commence inc. for thumb as follows: Patt. 29, then, using blue wool, k1, inc. in the next 2 sts, k22.

8th row: P in blue to the last 29 sts, patt. 29.

9th row: Patt. 29, k1 in blue to end.

10th row: As 8th row.

11th row: Patt. 29. then, with blue wool. k1, inc. into the next st., k2, inc. into next st. K to end.

Rep. the last 4 rows (i.e., rows 8-11. inclusive) 5 times, allowing for 2 extra sts in thumb gusset after each inc. (68 sts).

Next row: P. in blue to the last 29 sts. patt. 29.

Commence Thumb

Patt. 29 sts. k17 blue, turn, and cast on 2 sts

Next row: P. 18 blue, turn, and cast on 2 sts

Work in st.-st. on these 20 sts for 1¾ ins. (or length required), ending with a P. row.

Shape the top

1st row: * k1, k2tog, rep. from * to last 2 sts, k2.

2nd row: Purl.

3rd row: * k2tog, rep, from * to end.

Break off wool and thread through remaining sts, fasten off securely, then sew down sides of thumb to base.

With right side facing , using blue wool, pick up 4 sts from base of thumb, k to end of row.

Next row: P. in blue to the last 29 sts, patt. to end. Continue in patt. on the first 29 sts, keeping the remaining sts in blue st.-st. until fair isle chart has been completed.

(Work 1 more row in blue across all sts). Omit this row for “Beth” design.

First Finger

1st row: k36, turn, cast on 1 st.

2nd row: P. 17, turn, cast on 1 st.

Continue in st.-st. on these 18 sts for 2½ ins. (or length required) , ending with a P. row.

Shape top

1st row: (k1, k2tog) 6 times.

2nd row: Purl.

3rd row: (k2tog) 6 times, break off wool and complete to match thumb.

Second Finger

(R.S.F.): Rejoin blue wool and knit up 2 sts from base of first finger, k7 sts from left-hand needle, turn, and cast on 1 st.

Next row: P. 17 sts, turn, and cast on 1 st.

Continue in st.-st. on these 18 sts for 2¾ ins. (or length required). ending with a P. row.

Shape and finish off as for First Finger.

Third Finger

(R.S.F.) Rejoin blue wool and pick up 2 sts from base of Second Finger, k6 sts, turn, and cast on 1 st.

Next row: P. 15, turn, and cast on 1 st.

Continue in st.-st. on these 16 sts for 2½ ins. (or length required), ending with a P. row.

Shape top

1st row: (k1, k2tog) 5 times, k1.

2nd row: Purl.

3rd row: (k2tog) 5 times, k1. Complete as for First Finger.

Fourth Finger

(R.S.F.): Pick up 2 sts from base of Third Finger, k to end.

Continue in st.-st. on these 16 sts for 2 ins. (or length required), shape top, and complete to match Third Finger, stitching down side of hand to wrist edge.

Left Hand Glove

Work exactly as for R.H. glove, only reverse directions, i.e., first patt. row would read: k25 blue, patt. 29.

For commencement of thumb gusset work thus: k21 blue, inc. into each of the next 2 sts, k2, patt. 29.

Work 3 rows, without further inc.

Next row: k21. inc. into next st., k2. inc. into next st., k2. patt. 29.

Continue in this way, inc. 2 sts in thumb gusset every 4th row until 7 increases have been completed.

Work 1 more row.

Commence Thumb

k37 blue, turn, cast on 2 sts

Next row: P. 18 sts, turn, cast on 2 sts

Work in st.-st. on these 20 sts as for R.H. thumb.

Now proceed exactly as for R.H.. but keeping the first 25 sts in blue st.-st. and the 29 sts in patt. at the end of the work until the fair isle has been completed.

“Beth Design”

Using grey wool and Old UK No. 12 needles and working from the “Beth” chart for the fair-isle, proceed as for the “Carol” design, but omitting the first 6 pattern rows.

Work the ribbing and 2 rows following (in st. st), then commence fair-isle and thumb gusset reading from the 7th row. Substitute grey wherever blue wool is mentioned.

The background colour in the chart (white squares) is grey.