Very Basic "Oancing at Lughnasd" Gloves by Anne CaRRoll GilmouR
These very basic gloves began life on stage. They were knit, ripped out & re-knit again & again (there were actually 2 pair in various stages) for a professional production of Brian Freil's excellent play 'Dancing at Lughnasa' by Pioneer Theatre Company In Salt lake City. This was my 1st (though not my last) prop knitting. I also got to help the Choreographer with Irish step dancing routines for the production, it was so fun, they even credited me in the program!I wrote up this pattern for the actresses who played the Glove kniting sisters & as a shop freebie for my LYS. For more about the Festival of Lughnasa, see last page.. Size: Adult medium Yarn: Any fingering wt (sock yarns are great for this project, gloves shown are British Naturals, Black Welsh Mountain Sheep Wool) Gauge: 7 sts per inch in stst ，Needles: Set of $7^{\circ}$ dpn in size 2 (or size needed to get gauge above) and a set 1 size smaller (Opt: 1 set of $4^{\circ}$ glove finger ndls in large ize) Cotton string in a contrasting color for holders and markers One yarn darning needle Cuff: With smaller ndls, cast on 52 sts; divide evenly on 3 ndls and join in a circle being careful not to twist sts. Use yarn tail to mark beg of rnds. Work cuff in k2, p2 rib for 3 inches. Left hand: Switch to larger ndls and stst, and work 3 rnds. Thumb gusset: First inc rnd: Inc 1R, k1, inc IL, place a marker; k rest of rnd- 54 sts total. K 3 rnds. Second inc rnd: Inc in $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ st after $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ st and in last st before marker; k rest of rnd. k 3 rnds. Continue to inc in this way every $4^{\mathrm{rd}}$ rmd until there are 19 sts between beginning of rmd and marker (70 sts total). K 3 more rnds. Set thumb sts aside: Thread a large blunt ndl with cotton string and draw it through the 19 sts from $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ st to marker, removing marker. Tie string ends tog to set aside thumb sts. Cast on 3 sts above the thumb opening for the hand, replace marker on ndl to signal new beg of rnd and continue knitting these 54 sts Uuntil $3^{3}/_{4}$ inches above ribbed cuff. Set pinky finger sts aside: From the marker, $\mathtt{k}\,20$ sts, put next 13 sts on a string holder, cast on 3 sts and continue knitting back to marker- 44 sts. K 3 rnds. First (index) finger: From the marker, $\textrm{k}7$ sl next 29 s on a string holder, cast on 3 sts and $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{k}}$ remaining 8 sts. Divide these 18 sts on 3 ndls (shorter ndls can be used here if desired) and kuntil finger is $2~\%$ inches (odl). You can try glove on (carefull) to see when each finger is long enough. To finish this and all other fingers: k 2 tog all the way around, draw end of yarn through remaining sts twice and tuck the end in securely. Second finger: Carefully slide 7 sts from the back and 7 sts from the palm of the string holding the sts onto 2 ndls, join yarn to glove and pick up 3 sts over cast on sts beside the $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ finger, k across 7 sts from back of glove, cast on 3 sts and k across 7 sts from palm. divide these 20 sts onto 3 ndls and k around until $2^{\mathrm{nd}}$ fingeris $2^{3}/_{4}$ inches (odl) finish finger as for $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ finger. Ring finger: Pick up 3 sts over cast on sts beside $2^{\mathrm{nd}}$ finger. Divide remaining sts from string holder onto 3 ndls and $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{k}}$ around these 18 sts for $2\%$ inches (odl). Finish end as for other fingers. Little finger: Pick up 3 sts over cast on sts beside ring finger. Divide these and the 13 sts from string holder onto 3 ndis and k around these 16 sts for $1^{3}/_{4}$ inches (odl) finish end as before. Thumb: Pick up 3 sts over cast on sts beside hand, add to the 19 sts from string holder onto 3 ndls and k around these 22 sts for 3 rnds. Dec 1 st over picked up sts- 21 sts remain. K 3 rnds and dec 1 st again- 20 sts. Continue to k around these 20 sts until thumb is $1\,^{1}/_{4}$ inches (odl) Finish end as for fingers. Right glove: K as for left glove up to thumb opening. Set aside thumb sts, then put marker on ndl before casting on 3 sts for hand. To set pinky finger aside, $\boldsymbol{\mathrm{~k~}21}$ sts past marker, put 13 sts on string holder, cast on 3 sts and continue back to marker. K 3 rnds. For $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ finger, $\boldsymbol{\textbf{k8}}$ sts, put 29 sts on string holder, cast on 3 sts and k remaining 7 sts back to marker. Make $2^{\mathrm{nd}}$ and $3^{\mathrm{rd}}$ fingers to match left glove. Finishing: Darn in any loose yarn ends, using them to reinforce weak spots at the intersections between digits if desired. It can be difficult to get those cast on sts and picked up sts to come together just right, especially on your first pair, so don't be shy about drawing in any loose sts or holes if needed. Wash your new gloves in warm water with mild soap to even out the tension, make the sts look more uniform and soften the texture. Rinse well, gently squeeze out excess water and lay flat on a towel to dry. Finger 'tips': This pattern is written using classic 4 Dpn technique for the fingers -on purpose for the time frame of the play-,but I must admit I use the 2 ndl I-cord method on every pair of gloves I make, hoiking' the resulting ladder with a crochet hook from the base of the finger to the tip, and adding the final st (sometimes 2 sts, depending on how wide the ladder is) to the rest of the finger sts just before I pull them all together at the tip. Che Festival or Lughnasa (Loo-nah-sa) celeorated che pirst harvest of che season in Ireland, and is named por che Celric God Lugh, che Sun Cod, uhose counterparcs In Rome C Greece uould have been Mercury Ct hermes, Respectively. lt involved the baking of a hastily harvested C unnoued pirst loaf to ofrer che God, and the harvesting C eating of bilberRies to honor the promise of a bountiful grouing season. The most Prevalent Lugnasa customs are hilltop dancing C Bonpires. l used to teach traditional lrish step dancing classes, and one of che pirst Ceili (group) dances l uould ceach a neu class uas called Rinca Mor la Tienne' -The Bonpire Oance- d big round dance for any numoer of couples chat is said to be Rooted in che round dances done at this ancient Festval.
L-R Giulia Pagano,Richard Mathews,Brenda Foley Tara Falk,Joyce Cohen
