Belladonna fingerless gloves

Belladonna Fingerless Gloves by Sally Pointer

What is Being Made

The Belladonna fingerless gloves are a feminine, Victorian-inspired knit accessory designed by Sally Pointer. These gloves feature a sophisticated gauntlet-style fit with an extended cuff that provides coverage on the forearm while leaving the fingers free. The design is available in two sizes—Women's Small (fitting 6.5-7.5 inches around the palm) and Women's Large (fitting 8-9 inches around the palm)—making them a versatile accessory for various hand sizes.

Design Features and Construction

The Belladonna gloves balance intricate lace detailing with clean, minimalist sections to create a graceful and flattering silhouette. The design showcases a lavish, relaxed deep cuff that provides comfortable coverage without feeling restrictive. The most distinctive design element is the herringbone lace edging, which hugs the hand with delicate, openwork patterning. This lace detailing is complemented by smooth stockinette stitch sections, creating visual contrast and allowing the stitch definition to shine. The combination of these elements gives the gloves their characteristic Victorian aesthetic while maintaining modern wearability.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Stockinette stitch in the round: Forms the smooth, flat sections of the gloves and serves as the foundation for the overall construction
• Herringbone lace edging: Creates the hand-hugging, openwork border that defines the gloves' most decorative element
• Circular knitting: The gloves are worked in the round using either double-pointed needles or circular needles, ensuring seamless construction
• Provisional cast-on (optional): Allows for a flexible starting edge and is recommended as an optional technique for this pattern
• Gauge-based sizing: The pattern uses precise gauge measurements to ensure proper fit across multiple sizes

Stitches and Stitch Patterns

The primary stitches used in the Belladonna fingerless gloves include knit and purl stitches worked in the round to create stockinette stitch fabric. The herringbone lace edging incorporates yarn overs and decreases to form the openwork pattern that characterizes the hand-hugging border. This combination of basic stitches creates both structural integrity and visual interest, with the lace pattern becoming more prominent in clear, strong yarn colors that showcase the stitch definition.

Yarn and Materials

The Belladonna fingerless gloves are designed for 4-ply, fingering, or sock weight yarn. The largest size requires approximately 184 yards of yarn, making this an economical project that uses minimal yardage. The pattern is demonstrated in KnitPicks Gloss in the Cosmos colorway, a yarn choice that highlights the lace detailing beautifully. The pattern recommends selecting yarn in clear, strong colors to maximize the visual impact of the herringbone lace edging.

Needles and Notions

Construction requires 2.5mm (US 1.5) double-pointed needles or circular needles, or the appropriate size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 32 stitches over four inches in stockinette stitch worked in the round. Additional materials include a blunt needle for weaving in ends and optional waste yarn for a provisional cast-on if that technique is selected.

Difficulty Level

The Belladonna fingerless gloves are rated as an intermediate knitting project. This difficulty level reflects the combination of basic stockinette stitch with lace pattern work, which requires familiarity with yarn overs, decreases, and reading lace charts. The project is suitable for knitters who have completed basic projects and are ready to incorporate decorative stitch patterns into their work.