Rustic Crocheted Fingerless Gloves

iWhen I wrote "Outlandish" Knitting Styles on cowls and caplets based on the knitted wear from the Outlander Saga, I knew that I would create fingerless gloves and gauntlets to accompany these pieces.  My first set of fingerless gloves were knitted, but since I write for different audiences, I knew that I would have to create a set of crocheted fingerless gloves as well.  Besides, I just enjoy the many  creative possibilities that crocheting allows me. If you are a crocheter who also likes to knit, you can find my set of knitted rustic fingerless gloves at http://www.lilcreates.com/lillians-blog/rustic-knitted-fingerless-gloves

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My first crocheted hand and arm warmer project was actually a gauntlet.  It covers the hand and much of the arm, but there is no thumb hole.  For this piece I chose a skein of Appalachia by Premier Yarns.  It blends strands of pinkish and light bluer and gray in subtle self-striping bands.  My piece was based on a pattern by Polly Foo Foo called Mrs.Fitz Wrist-warmers for Worsted Weight Yarns. (http://pollyfoofoo.blogspot.com/2014/10/mrs-fitz-wristwarmers-worsted-weight.html)  Since I was using bulky weight yarn (#5) instead of worsted, I had to make several changes.  To construct the arm piece I started with a chain of 22 stitches instead of 28 stitches.  The original pattern called for single crochet off the back loop.  I preferred the look of the half double crochet off the back loop. Once I sewed the seam and was ready to crochet in the round, I picked up 24 stitches instead of 32 stitches,  put a place marker to show starting point and continued around with single crochet off back loop as I spiraled around.  The pattern finished the hand piece with a scalloped edge.  However, I found the yarn too thick for this decorative border and substituted a 3 stitch picot separated by 3 stitches. A jewel-like pearl button edged with silver was the perfect accent for this work. I guess all in all while I kept the basic concept,  my version was quite different in the details.  Look up the original in the link provided and see which version you like better.

Since I taught myself to do the DCFRont Post, DCBack Post,  I have had so much fun creating crocheted cuffs for my fingerless gloves.  This version was rendered with a heathery Purple Mist from Vanna's Choice , a worsted weight yarn (#4)Lion Brand. The body of the glove was done in cluster stitches.  Although I usually decorate this type of glove with a crocheted flower, I wanted to maintain the outdoorsy, rustic charm, and ended with a straight edge and a coordinating plum/purple pearlized button for an accent.

When I began the blue denim glove from the same yarn, I was not sure how I would execute this piece.  Eventually, I chose the cuff I described in the first gauntlet.  I crocheted 22 stitches and began my HDC on the second stitch of the chain.  In this way the bottom of the cuff  would have a smoother edge. When the rectangle fit comfortably around my wrist, I joined the two  sides together so that the raised ridges went from the hand toward the arm. Counting the joined seams, I now had 10 raised ridges. I made a row of single crochet around the top and joined with a slip stitch.   The hand part of the glove was stitched with 6 rows of double crochet.  There were four more rows for the thumb hold and two more rows of double crochet at the top.  A last row of SC  finished the piece. This time I choose a bronze tone button to place on the center back of the glove.   Confession time:  I ran out of yarn with two rows to go.  Luckily, I had purchased 2 skeins before I started this project.  If I want to make this glove from only one skein, I will have to make the cuff shorter.

I see the work that goes into making patterns for others to follow.  To make a pattern that someone can visualize and repeat is quite an endeavor.  My hat is off to my fellow designers.  I have been promising myself that I would finish the directions for my mismatched mittens for some time.  Now I have added this double crochet heather mitten to my list.