Coraline Gloves

On Friday, ManCandy and I went to see Coraline. It was... amazing. A beautiful and scary and clever film that touches on all the secret fears of kids around Coraline's age. I'd highly recommend reading the book first; this is one of the rare movies that expands on the story without losing its heart and soul.

Coraline also gives good knit. There's a lovely starry sweater that's just adorable, but there's also a pair of gloves that Coraline - and I - desperately want. And there is as yet no pattern. Well, there was no pattern until yesterday, when I made one.

So here in all its glory is a pattern for the Coraline gloves. The stripe sequence inside the pattern itself is as true to the itty bitty original gloves (by the amazing Althea Crome) as I can make it.

Also, welcome to everyone from Craft and Lime and Violet's Daily Chum, and especially those from Mr. Gaiman's blog! I'm thrilled that you guys like the gloves. And (ahem) Hi, Mr. Gaiman! I can die happy now.

EDIT: Changes were made on 2/9. They appear in red.

Size: Women's small (Hand circumference 7.5")
Materials: Cascade Yarns Cash Vero [55% merino, 33% acrylic, 12% cashmere] Color #006 - pumpkin (MC), #032 - Olive (CC1), #002 - black (CC2), : One ball each
Stitch markers, darning needle, scrap yarn for holding stitches.
Note: One ball of each will most likely give you two pairs of gloves, if not three depending on the size of your hands.
Needles: Size 6 or whatever size needed to get gauge
Gauge: 5 sts/inch

Pattern notes:
*Because of the many color changes, it is easiest to carry extra strands up the inside edge of the glove.

PM - place marker
M1 - make one by picking up from the round beneath and knitting through the back loop
A short video for the cable cast-on can be found here.

Directions:

CO 34 sts in MC
Arrange on needles so that the beginning of the round is NOT at the edge of a needle. This will make it easier to carry the extra colors up the inside edge and snug up the joins from one color to the next. PM to mark beginning of round and join for knitting in the round.

Work K1P1 rib for 2"
Knit 3 rounds plain
Drop MC but do not cut.
Join CC1, knit 2 rounds
Drop CC1 but do not cut.
Join CC2, knit 3 rounds.

Thumb Gusset:
Pick up MC and knit 17 sts. PM, M1, K1, M1, PM. Knit rest of stitches in round.
K 1 round
K to marker, slip marker, M1, k3, M1, slip marker, K rest of sts in round.
K1 round
Drop MC and pick up CC1.
K to marker, slip marker, M1, k5, M1, slip marker, K rest of stitches in round.
Drop CC1 and pick up MC
K 1 round
K to marker, slip to marker, M1, k7, M1, slip marker, K rest of stitches in round.
Drop MC and pick up CC2
K 1 round
K to marker, slip marker, M1, k9, M1, slip marker, K rest of stitches in round.
Drop CC2 and pick up CC1
K 1 round
K to marker, slip marker, M1, k11, M1, slip marker, K rest of stitches in round.
K 1 round
K to marker, slip marker, M1, k13, slip marker, K rest of stitches in round. 14 stitches between markers.
Drop CC1 and pick up CC2
K 2 rounds
Drop CC2, cut and weave in ends. Pick up MC
K to marker. Place 14 gusset stitches on a holder or piece of scrap yarn.

Glove Top:
Using cable cast-on, CO 2 sts with MC and continue knitting round. Total sts: 36
K 5 rounds in MC
Drop MC and pick up CC1
K 2 rounds plus 4 stitches in CC1
Drop CC1 and pick up MC, beginning at 4 stitches after beginning of round (directly after dropping CC1)
K to 5 sts before end of round.
Drop MC and join CC2 4 stitches before end of round.
K to 4 sts before end of round.
Drop CC2 and pick up CC1. Trim CC2 and MC and weave in ends BEFORE moving on to fingers.
(Note: All this fussing will give you a pumpkin stripe around the first 3 fingers of your hand but not around your littlest finger, as in the original bitty gloves. If you don't care that much, simply k 1 round of MC then 1 round of CC2 and continue as written for Fingers, below.)

Fingers:
Little finger:
Join CC1 at 4 sts before beginning of round. Knit 8 sts in CC1. Using cable cast-on, CO 2 sts. Total sts for little finger: 10
Place remaining 28 sts on holder. The stitches on your needle will create the littlest finger for your glove.
K in the round until you reach the tip of your little finger.
Final round: *k2tog, k1* 3 times, K1.
(This is a good time to try on your glove to see if the little finger is long enough. The knitting should be about 1 stitch's height longer than your finger.)
Cut yarn and, using a darning needle, run through all stitches. Pull tight to close.

Very important step! Count the rounds from the bottom of your finger to the top. Write it down. For example, my gloves are 16 rounds from the base of my finger to the final round.

Ring finger:
Pick up 4 sts from each side of the glove. With the completed little finger on your right, join CC1 and k 4 sts. Using cable cast-on, CO 1 st, then k 4 sts from other side of glove. Using cable cast-on, CO 2 sts. Total sts for ring finger: 11
K the number of rounds from your little finger in CC1. (For mine, 16 rounds.)
Cut CC1 and join MC
K in the round until you reach the tip of your ring finger.
Final round: *k2tog, k1* 3 times, k2tog.
(This is a good time to try on your glove to see if the ring finger is long enough. Don't worry about the gaping holes between the fingers; we'll close those up later.)
Cut yarn and, using a darning needle, run through all stitches. Pull tight to close.

Middle finger:
Pick up 5 sts from each side of the glove.
With the completed fingers on your right, join CC1 and k 5 sts. Using cable cast-on, CO 2 sts, then k 5 sts from other side of glove. Using cable cast-on, CO 1 st. Total sts for middle finger: 12
K the number of rounds from your little finger in CC1. (For mine, 16 rounds.)
Cut CC1 and join MC
K in the round until you reach the tip of your middle finger.
Final round: *k2tog, k1* 4 times.
(This is a good time to try on your glove to see if the middle finger is long enough.)
Cut yarn and, using a darning needle, run through all stitches. Pull tight to close.

Pointer finger:
Pick up remaining 10 sts.
With the completed fingers on your right, join CC1 and k 10 sts. Using cable cast-on, CO 2 sts. Total sts for pointer finger: 12
K the number of rounds from your little finger in CC1. (For mine, 16 rounds.)
Cut CC1 and join MC
K in the round until you reach the tip of your ring finger.
Final round: *k2tog, k1* 4 times.
(This is a good time to try on your glove to see if all the fingers are long enough.)
Cut yarn and, using a darning needle, run through all stitches. Pull tight to close.

Thumb:
Pick up 14 thumb sts. Join MC, k 14 sts. Using cable cast-on, CO 2 sts to bridge gap. Total thumb sts: 16.
K 5 rounds MC
Drop MC and join CC1
K 4 rounds CC1
Cut CC1 and pick up MC
K in the round until you reach the tip of your thumb.
*k2tog, k2* 4 times. 12 sts remain.
Final round: *k2tog* all sts; 6 sts remain.
Cut yarn and, using a darning needle, run through all stitches. Pull tight to close.

Closing the gaps:
Using a darning needle and CC1, weave gaps in fingers together. Do the same for the thumb using CC2.
Weave in all ends. Repeat for glove #2.


I hope you enjoy your Coraline gloves!