QUEEN OF BEADS, THE GLOVES BY ROWAN MARTINDALE
This pair of long opera gloves was inspired by Silvia Harding's beautiful Queen of Beads socks in the January 2009 Kit from the Rockin’ Sock Club. All credit for this beautiful beaded pattern should go to Silvia! The alteration to gloves was my addition (although the hand and finger shaping is copyright of Melissa Burt from KnitPicks' Queen of Diamonds Fingerless Gloves). This alteration to this pattern is free but the base of the pattern works off of the RSC kit Charts so you need to have the original pattern to make the gloves. Yarns suggested: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock - Lightweight in My Blue Heaven 270 Beads (size 8/0) are also needed (Thread these onto yarn ahead of time as in the socks)
Gauge: 8 stitches and $10\,\mathrm{rows}=1$ inch in Stockinette stitch on size US 2 ( $(2.75\mathrm{mm})$ needles Needle size US $2\:/\:2.75\:\mathrm{mm}$ US 3 / 3.25 mm US 4 / 3.5 mm Pattern:
Arm (Left and Right Glove)
With largest needles, cast on 50 sts Work 9 rounds in K1, P1 ribbing Round 10, begin beaded brocade pattern for leg ( $1^{\mathrm{st}}$ chart on page 3) Work rounds 1-22 with largest needle then switch to middle-sized needle Work rounds 7-22 three times with to middle-sized needle Work rounds 7-22 once more with smallest needle then work chart A \*\*\* I crossed my diamonds in miror images on left and right arm to make them symmetrical but you don't have to do this if you don't want to. If you decide not to make them symmetrical then use the left hand chart A for both hands. When you get to the red line in chart A begin the hand increases, you might alos have to shift the stiches around your needle so the last diamond lines up over the back of the hand. The black vertical bars mark the beginning and end of the top of the hand. Move stitches accordingly, this might involve knitting or tinking $^1\!/\!_{4}$ or half a row. End after knitting across the top of the glove (right glove) or after knitting across the palm (left glove)
Hand increases (Copyright of Melissa Burt, with stitch counts adjusted and fingertips added)
RIGHT Glove
PM (This will mark the thumb side and beginning of round. You willbe kniting frm the thumb acros the palm, then across the top of the hand.) Round 1: M1R, k18, M1L, PM, k to end. (45 sts) Rounds 2, 4, 6 and 8: Knit. Round $3!\mathrm{~K~}$ to marker, SM, M1R, k to end, M1L. (47 sts) Round 5: M1R, k to marker, M1L, SM, k to end. (49 sts) Round 7: As round 3. (51 sts) Round 9: M1R, k to end. (52 sts) Round 10: k1, PM, k to end, M1L. (53 sts) Round 11: Knit. Round 12: M1R, k to end, M1L. (55 sts) Repeat rounds 11 & 12 seven more times. (71 sts when complete)
Thumb
Round 1: k10, slip next 50 stitches (and marker) onto cable or waste yarn, using the backwards loop method, cast on 4 sts, k to end (you might want to remove the 2 markers). (25 sts) Round $2:\mathbf{k}$ to end (you might want to remove the 2 markers). Round 3: k1l, sk, kl, k2tog, kto end (23 sts)- Joining the edges of your cast on stitches to the other stitches. You will repeat this process when you do the fingers. Knit roughly 21 rounds even, until just shy of the length of your thumb when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving $\sim\mathtt{a}\;5$ inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pull tight. Thumb done!
Upper hand
Slip stitches back onto needles. Join yarn at left of thumb and knit to end. When you get to the thumb, pick up 6 sts from the base of the thumb. The key to picking up these stitches with no holes is to insert your needle between the stitches under 2 strands of yarn. (56 sts) Round 1: knit until you get to the last stitch before you picked up stitches at the thumb, ssk, knit to within 1 st of end, k2tog (joining the last pick up stitch and the first stitch of the round). You may want to place a marker to indicate the round end. It also helps knitting this section if you tuck the thumb in a little bit. (54 sts) D $2:\mathbf{k}$ to end. Round $3\colon\mathbf{k}$ to within 2 sts of marker, ssk, sm, k2tog, k to end. (52 sts) Round 8: as round 3. (50 sts) Round 9-12: knit. Fingers This is my method for dividing the fngers. Your fnger size maybe diferent, so do what looks and feels right to you. Pinky: kto within 6 sts of side marker, slip next 11 sts onto cable or waste yan (this willbe the pinky), CO 6 sts, join and k to end (45 sts.) Ifyou lok at your hand, you'llntice that the pinky starts furthr down than the other three fingers. This is why we're not dividing for the others yet. Knit one round even. Right Index Finger: K7, place the next 27 sts on waste yarn, CO 4 sts, join and k to end (22 sts on needles). Next round: k6, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to end. (20 sts) Next round: k5, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to end. (18 sts) Knit 4 more rounds even, then BO loosely Knit roughly 25 rounds even, until just shy of the length of your finger when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving $\sim$ a 5 inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pulltight. Index Finger done! MidleFinger: Transfer th 12 sts next to the idexfnge from the waste yarn to the needes (6 sts from the palm side and 6 sts from the top). Join yarn on palm side (closest to index fnger), k6, CO 4 sts, join, k6, pick up 6 sts from the index fnger. Next round: k15, ssk, k4, k2tog (joining the first and last st in the round). Next round: k5, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to end. Knit roughly 30 rounds even, untiljust shy of the length of your fnger when the glove is on yourhand. Next rougthllotu anak a $\sim\mathtt{a}\;5$ inch tail Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pull tight. Middle Finger done! RingFinger: Put remaining 15 sts on needles (ignoring pinky sts on separate strand of waste yarn). Join yarn on the top of the hand next to the middle finger and pick up 6 sts. k4, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to 1 before end. Next round: ssk (joining beginning and end of round), k4, k2tog, k to end. Knit roughly 25 rounds even, until just shy of the length of your finger when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving $\sim\mathtt{a}\;5$ inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pulltight. RIng Finger done! PinkyFinger: Place 11 sts on needles. Join yarn at the further right st (palm side) and knit. When you get to the ring finger, pick up 8 sts. Next round: k10, sk, k6, k2tog. Knit 1 round even. Next round: k4, k2tog, k to end. Knit roughly 18 rounds even, untiljust shy of the length of your finger when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving $\sim\mathtt{a}\;5$ inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pulltight. Pinky Finger done!
Finishing
Weave in ends and block (if desired).
LEFT Glove
PM (This will mark the side of the hand and beginning of round. You will be knitting from the side across the palm to the thumb, then across the top of the hand.) Round 1: M1R, k18, M1L, PM, k to end. (45 sts) Rounds 2, 4, 6 and 8: Knit. Round 3: K to marker, SM, M1R, k to end, M1L. (47 sts) Round 5: M1R, k to marker, M1L, SM, k to end. (49 sts) Round 7: As round 3. (51 sts) Round 9: M1R, k to end. (52 sts) Round 10: k1, PM, k to end, M1L. (53 sts) Round 11: Knit. Round 12: M1R, k to end, M1L. (55 sts) Repeat rounds 11 & 12 seven more times. (71 sts when complete) Round $1\colon\mathbf{k}$ to 10 sts past 2nd marker, slip next 50 stitches (and side marker) onto cable or waste yarn and hold. Using the backwards loop method, cast on 4 sts, join, $\mathrm{k}$ to end (25 sts) Round $2:\mathbf{k}$ to end (you might want to remove the 2 markers). Round 3: k11, ssk, k1, k2tog, kto end (23 sts) Knit roughly 21 rounds even, until just shy of the length of your thumb when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving $\sim\mathtt{a}\;5$ inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pull tight. Thumb done!
Upper Hand
Slip stitches back onto needes. Join yan at left of thumb and knit to end. When you get to the thumb, pick up6 sts from the base of the thumb. (56 sts) Round 1: knit until you get to the last stith before you picked up stithe at th thumb, ssk, knit to within 1 st of end, ktog joining the last pick up stitch and th frst stitch of the roud). You may want to place amarke to indicate the round end. It also helps knitting this section if you tuck the thumb in a little bit. (54 sts) Round $2:\mathbf{k}$ to end. Round $3\colon\mathbf{k}$ to within 2 sts of marker, sk, sm, k2tog, k to end. (52 sts) Round 4-7: knit. Round 8: as round 3. (50 sts) Round 9-12: knit.
Fingers
Pinky: K to within 5 sts of side marker, slip next 11 sts onto cable or waste yarn (this willbe the pinky), CO 6 sts, join and k to end (45 sts.) Knit one round even. Left Index Finger: k9, place the next 27 sts on waste yarn, C0 4 sts, join and k to end (22 sts on needles). Next round: k8, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to end. (20 sts) Next round: k7, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to end. (18 sts) Knit roughly 25 rounds even, until just shy of the length of your finger when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving $\sim$ a 5 inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pull tight. Index Finger done!
Middle Finger:
Transfer th 12sts next t theidexngerfrmthewate yatothe neds 6 sts frm thpalm side and6sts from thetop). Join yarn on palm side (closest to ring fnger), k6, pick up 6 sts from the index finger, k6, CO 4 sts,join. Next round: k5, ssk, k4, k2tog, k to end. Next round: k15, ssk, k2, k2tog (joining the frst and last st in the round. Knit roughly 30 rounds even, until just shy of the length of your finger when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving $\sim\mathtt{a}\;5$ inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pull tight. Middle Finger done! Ring Finger: Put remaining 15 sts on needles. Join yarn on the palm side next to the middle finger and pick up 6 sts. K4, ssk, k2, k2tog, k to 1 before end. Next round: ssk (joining beginning and end of round), k4, k2tog, k lo ena. Knit roughly 25 rounds even, until just shy of the length of your finger when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving $\sim\mathtt{a}\;5$ inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pull tight. RIng Finger done! Pinky Finger: Place 11 sts on needles. Join yarn at the further right st (back of hand) and knit. When you get to the ring fnger, pick up 8 sts. Next round: k10, ssk, k6, k2tog. Next round: k4, k2tog, k to end. Knit roughly 18 rounds even, until just shy of the length of your finger when the glove is on your hand. Next round, K2Together all around, Knit one round and break yarn leaving a 5 inch tail. Thread tail end of yarn through live stitches and pull tight. Pinky Finger done!
Finishing
Weave in ends and block (if desired).
