Icing

Icing Fingerless Gloves by Anna Dalvi

Project Overview

Icing is an intermediate-level knitted fingerless glove pattern designed by Anna Dalvi. These elegant hand coverings combine functional warmth with decorative cable detailing, making them an ideal project for knitters looking to develop their cable-working skills while creating a practical accessory.

What Is Being Made

The Icing pattern produces a pair of fitted fingerless gloves sized for women's medium hands with a circumference of 6.5" to 7.5". These gloves feature an open-finger design that allows full dexterity while keeping the hands and wrists warm, making them perfect for activities requiring hand mobility such as typing, texting, or detailed handwork.

Design Features and Construction

The gloves showcase a sophisticated design inspired by piped icing decoration. A twisted cable motif runs continuously from the cuff up the back of the hand to the ring finger, creating an elegant visual accent. The cuff itself is constructed with cabled ribbing all around, providing both stretch and decorative interest at the wrist opening. A fitted thumb gusset is incorporated into the construction, ensuring proper shaping and comfortable fit around the thumb area.

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate project employs several key knitting techniques:

• Cable knitting: The signature twisted cables require the use of a cable needle to cross stitches over one another, creating the dimensional rope-like texture that decorates the glove
• Cabled ribbing: The cuff combines cable techniques with ribbing for elasticity and visual interest
• Stockinette stitch: The primary fabric base, worked in the round to create a smooth, refined surface
• Thumb gusset shaping: Increases and decreases are used to create a fitted opening for the thumb that accommodates the natural hand anatomy
• Long-tail cast-on: The pattern begins with this classic cast-on method, which provides an elastic edge suitable for cuff openings
• Circular knitting: The gloves are worked in the round using circular needles, eliminating the need for seaming

Materials and Tools

The pattern calls for 1 skein of ShaSha yarn from Land O Lace, a 100% wool yarn available in the colorway Tonka Bay or similar alternatives. This yarn is provided in 3-ply and 4-ply weights, with 400 yards (366 meters) per 75-gram skein, offering ample yardage for the project. Knitting needles in 2.25 mm (US 1) size are required to achieve the specified gauge. Additional tools include a cable needle for manipulating cable stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and any finishing details.

Gauge and Sizing

The pattern specifies a gauge of 9 stitches by 12 rows per 1 inch in stockinette stitch. Achieving this gauge is essential for proper fit, particularly given the fitted nature of the gloves and the thumb gusset shaping. The finished blocked size accommodates women's medium hands, though gauge swatching allows for potential adjustments to fit different hand sizes.

Skill Level

Rated as intermediate difficulty, this pattern is suitable for knitters who have mastered basic techniques such as casting on, working in the round, and reading pattern instructions, and who are ready to tackle cable work and fitted shaping techniques.