Fingering Pleated Gloves

Fingering Pleated Gloves by Made By Lilian

What Is Being Made

The Fingering Pleated Gloves are a pair of knitted hand coverings measuring 7 inches in length. These gloves feature a distinctive pleated construction that creates vertical texture and visual interest across the hand. The design uses a specialty stitch technique to form the pleats, making them a striking accessory piece suitable for intermediate knitters.

Craft and Primary Technique

This is a knitting pattern designed for hand-knitting. The gloves are worked using the magic loop method on circular needles, though knitters may also choose to use double-pointed needles as an alternative. The magic loop technique allows for seamless, in-the-round knitting on smaller circumferences without requiring a full set of double-pointed needles.

Stitches and Pleating Method

The signature element of these gloves is the pleated round, which is the primary stitch technique beyond basic knit stitches. The pleated round is constructed using a specialized method that involves:

• Knitting 4 stitches in stockinette stitch
• Picking up the purl bump from a stitch 7 rows below using the right-hand needle from the wrong side
• Placing the picked-up stitch on the left-hand needle without twisting
• Knitting this picked-up stitch together with the next stitch on the left needle using a knit 2 together (K2tog) decrease
• Repeating this sequence 4 times consecutively before returning to the beginning of the round

The pattern notes indicate this pleating technique is challenging and recommends using 3 stitch markers to track the pleated rounds throughout the project. The pleating creates a dimensional, folded effect that runs vertically along the glove.

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The Fingering Pleated Gloves are designed to be worked in fingering weight yarn, also known as 4-ply yarn. The pattern calls for a partial skein of fingering weight, with the designer having used Haystacks by Yarn Cafe Creations. The recommended yarn base is Biscotti Sock, which is composed of 85% Superwash Merino Wool and 15% Nylon, providing durability and easy care. One full 100-gram skein yields 437 yards, which is more than sufficient for this project.

Needles and Tools

The pattern requires two sizes of needles:

• 3mm knitting needles (primary working needles)
• 3.25mm needles (likely for ribbing or edge work)

Circular needles are recommended for the magic loop method, though double-pointed needles are an acceptable alternative. Additional supplies include stitch markers (the pattern suggests using 3 markers), a needle for weaving in ends, and standard knitting notions.

Gauge and Finished Dimensions

The pattern is worked to a gauge of 7 stitches and 9 rows per 1 inch in the main stitch pattern. The finished gloves measure 7 inches in length, making them a standard hand-length accessory.

Difficulty Level

These gloves are rated as intermediate difficulty. While basic knitting skills are required, the pleated round technique is noted as challenging and represents the primary technical demand of the project. Knitters should be comfortable with in-the-round knitting, picking up stitches, and executing decreases before attempting this pattern.