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Pfeiffer Falls
by Anne Kuo Lukito
I have knitted many original designs for my younger sister (mainly because she concluded that knitting causes too much stress for her, so I should just make stuff for her instead), including a pair of super customized fingerless gauntlets, which she deeply lamented losing a few months ago. This past winter she asked me to make another pair to keep her warm during her midnight bike rides through the hills
of San Francisco. I was initially a little reluctant-- sure that she would just lose them again in another dark bar in Haight/Ashbury or on BART. But then, she said she wanted claws on the gauntlets this time. Claws? I immediately regained interest when presented with this unique challenge.
So I got in touch with my catty alter ego and thus, after two prototypes, some advice from my three cats and plenty of wine to help me weave in all those ends, my sister is finally the owner of her Catty Claws.
The Catty fingerless gauntlet gloves are designed to fit snugly around the arm and wrist. Wear them with a t-shirt or under a jacket or coat. The beauty of a variegated yarn like Manos, or other similar yarns like Rio de la Plata or Malabrigo, enhances the look of the gloves.
SIZE
M (L) Medium will fit an average womans hand (7.5) and wrist (6-6.5).
Large will fit a large womans hand (8.5) and wrist (7)
FINISHED MEASUREMENTS
Length: 13.5 inches
Width: Forearm 9 (10) inchesMATERIALS
[MC] 2 skeins Manos del Uruguay [100% wool; 135 yd/100g skein]; Color: 108
[CC] about 10 yds of worsted weight scrap yarn ; Color: cream
1 pair US #9/5.5 mm straight needles
1 set of 5 US #9/5.5 mm double-point needles
1 set of 5 US #10/6.0 mm double-point needles
1 pair US #6/4.0 mm straight needles
Stitch markers
Waste yarn and/or stitch holders
Tapestry needle
GAUGE
15-16 sts/22 rows = 4" in stockinette stitch
PATTERN NOTES
This pattern is designed for a snug fit around the arms and wrist. If you have a larger forearm, adapt and cast on the number of stitches you need. Then decrease 2 stitches per decrease round as needed until you get to 20(24) stitches by the end of Round 40. To customize your fit, heres formula to use as a guideline
Circumference of your arm x 4 = A (number of cast on stitches)
For average wrist/hand: A 20 = B then take B χ 2 = C (number of rounds you will decrease from the cast on by the end of Round 40)
For large wrist/hand: A 24 = B then take B χ 2 = C (number of rounds you will decrease from the cast on by the end of Round 40)
You can try to space out the decreases every few rows or according to the way you arm tapers to your wrist.
Casting on extra stitches while working the thumb and fingers can be done either through the backwards loop method, or turning the work to CO the number of stitches required for the cast on and then turning back to the RS to continue working in the round.
Claws - I hate weaving in ends, so I tried to minimize it a little by attaching the claws directly to the fingers. That way, I can work in the CO tail of the claw as I work it. If you prefer not to do it that way, then omit the increases in the fingers, work the claws as separate pieces and then attach/sew them onto the fingers.
STITCHES USED
K2TOG - knit 2 together. This is a right-leaning decrease and probably the most common one. You're simply knitting the 1st and 2nd stitches on the LH needle together.
SSK - slip, slip, knit. This is a left-leaning decrease. Slip the 1st and 2nd stitches on the LH needle knitwise. Transfer the slipped stitches back to the LH needle and knit them together through the back loops.
M1 - make 1. This is an increase most commonly done in a Stockinette Stitch pattern and is nearly invisible. Pick up the yarn between the previous stitch and the next stitch by inserting the left hand (LH)needle from the front to back. Knit into the picked up stitch through the back look of the yarn.
M1-R make one with a right twist. This is an increase similar to the M1 increase. Pick up the yarn between the previous stitch and the next stitch by inserting the LH needle from back to front. Knit into the picked up stitch through the front loop of the yarn. This may be slightly awkward, and feel weird if you've never done this before.
PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS - Right Glove
CO 30 (34) sts using US 9/5.5 mm needles
Divide the stitches among 4 US 9/5.5 mm dpns and join for working in the round, marking the end of the round and making sure not to twist the stitches.
Rounds 1-4: [k1, p1], repeat to end
Round 5: Change to US 10/6.0 mm dpns [k15(17), m1] twice 32 (36) sts
Rounds 6, 7, and 8: knit
Shape Arm
Round 9: k14(16), ssk, k14(16), k2tog 30(34) sts
Rounds 10, 11, 12 and 13: knit
Round 14: k13(15), ssk, k13(15), k2tog 28(32) sts
Rounds 15, 16 and 17: knit
Round 18: k12(14), ssk, k12(14), k2tog 26(30) sts
Rounds 19, 20, and 21: knit
Round 22: k11(13), ssk, k11(13), k2tog 24(28) sts
Rounds 21 through 28: knit
Round 29: k10(12), ssk, k10(12), k2tog 22(26) sts
Rounds 30 through 39: knit
Round 40: k9(11), ssk, k9(11), k2tog 20(24) sts
Rounds 41 through 51: knit
Round 52: [k10(12), m1] twice 22(26) sts
Rounds 53 through 55: knit
Round 56: k11(13), m1, k2, m1, k9(11), m1 25(29) sts
Thumb Gusset/ Hand
Round 1: k12(14); pm, m1, k1, m1-R, pm; k12(14) 27(31) sts
Rounds 2 and 3: knit
R Repeat Rounds 1-3 three more times. Essentially, you will be increasing 2 sts between the markers every 3 rows, and will end up with 9 sts between the markers after the repeats.
Round 13: knit
Round 14: k12(14), place the 9 gusset sts on waste yarn, CO 2 sts, join the hand, k12(14) 26(30) sts for the hand
Round 15-19: knit
Round 20: k2, m1, k24(28) 27(31)
Pinky Finger
Round 1: k3, place next 21(25) sts on waste yarn, join and knit last 3 sts
Round 2: knit
Round 3: k1, m1, k1, m1, k4; put the m1 increases on waste yarn (for the claws)
Round 4: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern.
Ring Finger
Round 1: with the top of the glove facing up, pick up the stitches on waste yarn, dividing it among 3 double pointed needles. Starting with the stitch closest to the pinky, k12, k3(4), m1, k3(4), m1, k3(5), CO1(0) 24(27)
Round 2: k4, put next 16(18) sts on waste yarn, join to last 4(5) sts and knit.
Rounds 3 and 4: knit
Round 5: k1, m1, k1(2), m1, k6; put the m1 increases on waste yarn
Round 6: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern
Middle Finger
Round 1: with the top of the glove facing up, pick up the stitches on waste yarn, dividing it among 3 double pointed needles. Starting with the stitch closest to the ring finger, k4, put next 8(9) sts on waste yarn, join to last 4(5) sts and knit.
Rounds 2 and 3: knit
Round 4: k1, m1, k1(2), m1, k6; put the m1 increases on waste yarn
Round 5: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern
Index Finger
Round 1: with the top of the glove facing up, pick up the stitches on waste yarn, dividing it among 3 double pointed needles. Starting with the stitch closest to the ring finger, knit the remaining 8(9) sts
Rounds 2 and 3: knit
Round 4: k1, m1, k1(2), m1, k6; put the m1 increases on waste yarn
Round 5: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern
Thumb
Round 1: Pick up the stitches on the waste yarn, and one of the cast on stitches for the hand at the gap. Divide among 3 double pointed needles and knit 10 sts
Rounds 2 and 3: knit
Round 4: k4, m1, k1(2), m1, k5(4); put the m1 increases on waste yarn
Round 5: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern
Claws
Repeat the following rows for each finger.
Row 1 (RS): Using US 6/4 mm straight needles and CC yarn, pick up the 2 stitches on waste yarn, k1, CO2 using the backwards loop method, k1 4 sts
Row 2: purl
Row 3: knit
Row 4: p1, p2tog, P1 3 sts
Row 5: knit
Row 6: p3tog
Thread yarn through the remaining loop, cut yarn, leaving a 4 tail.
PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS - Left Glove
CO and work the first 8 rows as for the right glove.
Shape Arm
Round 9: k14(16), k2tog, k14(16), ssk 30(34) sts
Rounds 10, 11, 12 and 13: knit
Round 14: k13(15), k2tog, k13(15), ssk 28(32) sts
Rounds 15, 16 and 17: knit
Round 18: k12(14), k2tog, k12(14), ssk 26(30) sts
Rounds 19, 20, and 21: knit
Round 22: k11(13), k2tog, k11(13), ssk 24(28) sts
Rounds 21 through 28: knit
Round 29: k10(12), k2tog, k10(12), ssk 22(26) sts
Rounds 30 through 39: knit
Round 40: k9(11), k2tog, k9(11), ssk 20(24) sts
Rounds 41-51: knit
Round 52:[k10(12), m1] twice 22(26) sts
Round 53-55: knit
Round 56: m1, k9(11), m1, k2, m1, k11(13) 25(29) sts
Thumb Gusset/ Hand
Round 1: k12(14); pm, m1-R, k1, m1, pm; k12(14) 27(31) sts
Rounds 2 and 3: knit
Repeat Rounds 1-3 three more times. Essentially, you will be increasing 2 sts between the markers every 3 rows, and will end up with 9 sts between the markers after the repeats.
Round 13: knit
Round 14: k12(14), place the 9 gusset sts on waste yarn, CO 2 sts, join the hand, k12(14) 26(30) sts for the hand
Round 15-19: knit
Round 20: k24(28), m1, k2 27(31)
Pinky Finger
Round 1: k3, place next 21(25) sts on waste yarn, join and knit last 3 sts
Round 2: knit
Round 3: k4, m1, k1, m1, k1; put the m1 increases on waste yarn.
Round 4: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern.
Ring Finger
Round 1: with the palmside of the glove facing up, pick up the stitches on waste yarn, dividing it among 3 double pointed needles. Starting with the stitch closest to the pinky, CO1(0), k3(5), m1, k3(4), m1, k3(4), k12 24(27)
Round 2: k4, put next 16(18) sts on waste yarn, join to last 4(5) sts and knit.
Rounds 3 and 4: knit
Round 5: k6, m1, k1(2), m1, k1; put the m1 increases on waste yarn
Round 6: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern
Middle Finger
Round 1: with the top of the glove facing up, pick up the stitches on waste yarn, dividing it among 3 double pointed needles. Starting with the stitch closest to the ring finger, k4, put next 8(9) sts on waste yarn, join to last 4(5) sts and knit.
Rounds 2 and 3: knit
Round 4: k6, m1, k1(2), m1, k1; put the m1 increases on waste yarn
Round 5: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern
Index Finger
Round 1: with the top of the glove facing up, pick up the stitches on waste yarn, dividing it among 3 double pointed needles. Starting with the stitch closest to the ring finger, knit the remaining 8(9) sts
Rounds 2 and 3: knit
Round 4: k6, m1, k1(2), m1, k1; put the m1 increases on waste yarn
Round 5: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern
Thumb
Round 1: Pick up the stitches on the waste yarn, and one of the cast on stitches for the hand at the gap. Divide among 3 double pointed needles and knit 10 sts
Rounds 2 and 3: knit
Round 4: k5(4), m1, k1(2), m1, k4; put the m1 increases on waste yarn
Round 5: Change to US 9 dpns; [k1, p1] to end.
BO loosely in k1, p1 pattern
Claws
Work as for right glove
FINISHING
Weave in all ends, making sure to close the gaps between the fingers. Weave in all ends for claw, tacking it to the edge of the fingers as necessary. I find a glass of wine or two helps me tackle all the weaving in of ends.
Buy yarn for Fu Lantern at
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