Eragon

Eragon Fingerless Gloves by Anna Dalvi

Project Overview

Eragon fingerless gloves are an intermediate-level knitting project designed by Anna Dalvi. These fitted gloves feature decorative cable work and dragon-inspired motifs, making them a thematic accessory for fans of fantasy literature. The design combines functional hand coverage with intricate stitch patterns, creating a garment that balances both style and wearability.

What is Being Made

This pattern produces a pair of fingerless gloves sized for Women's M with a hand circumference of 7.5 inches. The gloves are designed to be worn as hand coverings that leave the fingers exposed, allowing for dexterity while keeping the hands and wrists warm. The gloves feature a fitted construction with a thumb gusset for proper shaping and comfort.

Design Features and Motifs

• Fitted Thumb Gusset: The gloves include a shaped thumb gusset that provides a custom fit around the thumb area, ensuring the gloves sit properly on the hand without bunching or gaps.
• Mock-Cable Pattern: Mock-cables begin at the cuff and run up the side of the thumb, creating a textured visual element without the complexity of traditional cable work.
• Twisted Cable Motif: A twisted cable pattern adorns the back of the hand, adding dimensional interest to the design.
• Dragon Scale Cuff: The cuff design is reminiscent of dragon scales, tying into the Eragon theme and creating a distinctive finished edge.
• Stylized Dragon Wing: The back of the hand features a stylized dragon wing motif, completing the fantasy-inspired aesthetic.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate project employs several fundamental and intermediate knitting techniques. Stockinette stitch forms the base fabric of the gloves, providing a smooth, classic knit surface. The pattern incorporates cable stitches and twisted stitches to create the decorative elements on the cuff and hand. A long-tail cast-on is used to begin the project, and the gloves are worked in the round using circular needles, which is essential for creating seamless, fitted garments. The construction requires careful attention to stitch placement and shaping, particularly when incorporating the thumb gusset.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Eragon fingerless gloves are designed to be knitted with 4-ply yarn weight, which provides a lightweight yet durable fabric suitable for fitted gloves. The pattern specifies one skein of Twinkle Cat from Wandering Cat in the colorway Dragonheart, or similar yarn. This yarn is composed of 75% merino, 20% nylon, and 5% stellina, with 435 yards (398 meters) per 100 grams. The merino content provides softness and breathability, the nylon adds durability and elasticity for a glove that maintains its shape, and the stellina contributes a subtle sparkle to the finished piece.

Needles and Tools

The project requires 2.5 mm (US 1½) needles to achieve the correct gauge with the recommended yarn. Additional tools needed include a cable needle for managing cable stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and any finishing work.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 7.5 stitches by 11 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch. This gauge is essential for achieving the proper fit, particularly important in fitted gloves where sizing directly affects wearability. The finished gloves are designed for Women's M with a hand circumference of 7.5 inches, though the cuff length can be customized by working additional or fewer rounds as desired.

Construction Method

The gloves begin with a long-tail cast-on of 52 stitches, which are then joined in the round with careful attention to avoid twisting the stitches. The cuff is worked in repeating rounds, allowing the knitter to customize the length by working the cuff pattern rounds multiple times according to preference.