The Phoenix

The Phoenix Colorworked Fingerless Gloves by Christal LK Designs

Project Overview

The Phoenix is an intermediate-level knitting pattern from the Magical Creatures Collection by independent designer Christal LK Designs. This project creates a pair of colorworked fingerless gloves featuring stranded colorwork techniques that bring magical creature motifs to life. The fingerless design makes these gloves practical for everyday wear while showcasing intricate two-color patterning.

What Is Being Made

These are fingerless gloves—also known as fingerless mitts—designed to keep your hands and wrists warm while leaving your fingers free for dexterity and touchscreen use. The gloves are worked in the round using circular needles, creating a seamless construction that wraps around the hand and extends partway up the forearm.

Knitting Techniques Used

• Stranded Colorwork: The primary decorative technique, where two colors of yarn are carried across the inside of the fabric to create patterns on the outside. This method requires managing tension carefully to prevent loose floats or puckering.
• 1x1 Ribbed Cast-On: A specialized cast-on method that creates a beautiful, stretchy edge. This technique involves using your fingers to create loops and is worked with relaxed tension to avoid a stiff, irregular cast-on edge.
• Circular Needle Knitting: The gloves are worked in continuous rounds rather than flat pieces, eliminating the need for seaming and creating a seamless, professional finish.

Stitches and Stitch Details

The pattern uses fundamental knitting stitches combined with colorwork techniques. The 1x1 ribbed cast-on creates an elastic edge by alternating knit and purl stitches. Once cast on, the main body is worked primarily in stockinette stitch (knit stitches in the round), which provides a smooth canvas for the stranded colorwork pattern to stand out clearly.

Yarn and Materials

Background Color Yarn: Lang Yarns Jawoll Superwash Solids in Black (color 86), a 4-ply weight yarn composed of 75% wool and 25% nylon. Approximately 210 meters per 50 grams; the pattern requires about 210 meters of this yarn.

Contrasting Color Yarn: Lang Yarns Mille Colori Socks & Lace Luxe (color 50), a 4-ply weight yarn made of 73% wool, 25% nylon, and 2% Stellina (a sparkly metallic fiber). This yarn provides 400 meters per 100 grams; approximately 150 meters is needed for the pattern.

Needles: One 80 cm (32 inch) circular needle in size 2.5 mm (US 1.5) for working the gloves in the round.

Gauge and Blocking

The pattern specifies a gauge of 32 stitches and 36 rounds over 10 centimeters (4 inches) when measured in stranded colorwork after blocking. This gauge is achieved using larger needles than the yarn weight might typically suggest, which creates a more open fabric suitable for the colorwork pattern. Blocking is essential to set the stitches and even out the tension created by managing two colors of yarn simultaneously.

Difficulty Level

Rated as intermediate, this pattern is suitable for knitters with experience in basic techniques who are ready to tackle stranded colorwork. Familiarity with circular needle knitting and the ability to manage tension with two colors of yarn are important skills for success with this design.