This pattern for Victorian Texting Gloves is the brainchild of Catherine DePasquale, and it is one of my all time favorite projects. I love to make these to give as gifts, and everyone I have made them for has been thrilled to get them.
Here is the pair I made for myself:
Ms. DePasquale has decided to focus her creative energies on her writing (which you can learn more about at catherinedepasquale.blogspot.com), but graciously took me up on a long ago offer to host her free crochet pattern for Victorian Texting Gloves.
I am delighted to be able to make sure that her pattern stays available, and I hope you enjoy making her patterns as much as I have.
Materials
Yarn: 4 oz. worsted weight (I used Red Heart Super Saver)
Hook size: F (or whatever size you need for approximate gauge, adjustments may need to be made for hand size)
Gauge: 5 sc = 1 inch
Basic stitches:
single crochet (sc)
double crochet (dc)
slip stitch (sl st)
chain stitch (ch)
Advanced skills:
increasing (inc)
decreasing (dec)
in back loop only (blo)
Cuff
You will begin the cuff by crocheting ribs (2 rows of single crochet = 1 rib)
Chain 16 loosely
Row 1) sc in 2nd chain from the hook and in each chain across, ch 1, turn (15 sc)
Row 2-25) in blo, sc in each stitch across, ch 1, turn (15 sc)
Row 26) in blo, sc in each stitch across, ch 1, do not finish off
sl st together row 26 and beginning chain to form a cuff. The joining of row 26 and the beginning chain will become the “seam.”
The cuff is now worked on both ends. You will first work on the bottom part of the cuff, crocheting around.
The rest of the cuff and glove are crocheted in both loops. The gloves are crocheted in rows, not in the round, meaning you end each row with a slip stitch to the first stitch in that row. You do not turn the work at the end of a row.
Row 1) chain 1, sc 1 in each row end (two sc in each rib), sl st to 1st sc (26 sc)
Row 2 & 3) chain 1, sc in same stitch and in each stitch around, sl st to 1st sc (26 sc)
Row 4) (inc row) chain 1, 2 sc in same stitch, sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 8 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 7 stitches, 2 sc in the last stitch, sl st to 1st sc. (30 sc)
Row 5) (inc row) chain 1, sc in same stitch and in the next 11 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 11 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in last 5 stitches, sl st to first sc (32 sc)
Row 6) chain 3, 4 dc in same stitch, skip next stitch, sc in next stitch, skip next stitch, (5 dc in next stitch, skip next stitch, sc in next stitch, skip next stitch) repeat around cuff, sl st to 1st stitch and finish off. (40 dc, 8 sc)
You will now work the top of the cuff and continue with the rest of the glove.
Find the seam on the cuff (where you joined row 26 to beginning chain). Join yarn with a sc on the top side of cuff at the seam. The yarn must be attached here, so the “seam” will be in the palm of the glove.
Row 1) sc 1 stitch in each row end (two sc in each rib) around top of cuff, sl st to 1st sc (26 sc)
Row 2) chain 1, sc in same stitch and in each stitch around, join with sl st to 1st sc. (26 sc)
Row 3) (inc row) chain 1, 2 sc in same stitch, sc in the next 10 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 10 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in last 3 stitches, sl st to 1st sc (29 sc)Row 4) chain 1, sc in each stitch, sl st to 1st sc (29 sc)
Row 5) (inc row) chain 1, sc in same stitch, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch, sc in next 9 stitches, 2 sc in next sc, sc in last 7 stitches, sl st to 1st sc (32 sc)
Row 6- 9) chain 1, sc in each sc, sl st to 1st sc. (32 sc)
The next section is a little tricky because there is now a distinction between left and right gloves. There are changes in rows 10, 13, and 14 depending on which glove you are working on.
Row 10) (Left glove only) chain 1, sc in same stitch, sc in next 5 stitches, chain 6, skip next 6 stitches on row 9 sc in next 20 stitches, sl st to 1st sc (26 sc, 6 chains)
Row 10) (Right glove only) chain 1, sc in same stitch and in next 22 stitches, chain 6 skip next 6 stitches on row 9, sc in the last 3 stitches, sl st to first sc (26 sc, 6 chains)
Row 11) chain 1 sc in same stitch and in each sc and chain around, sl st to 1st sc (32 sc)
Row 12) chain 1, sc in same stitch and in each stitch around, sl st to 1st sc (32 sc)
Row 13) (Left glove only) (dec row) chain 1, sc in same stitch and in next 5 stitches, (dec over next 2 sc) 3 times, sc in last 20 sc, sl st to 1st sc (29 sc)
Row 13) (Right glove only) (dec row) chain 1, sc in same stitch and in the next 23 stitches, (decrease over next 2 sc) 3x, sc in last 2 stitches, sl st to 1st sc (29 sc)
Row 14) (Left glove only) (dec row) chain 1, sc in same stitch and next 7 sc, dec over next 2 stitches, sc in last 19 stitches, sl st to 1st sc (28 sc)
Row 14) (Right glove only) (dec row) chain 1, sc in same stitch and next 25 stitches, decrease over next 2 stitches, sc in last stitch, sl st to 1st sc (28 sc)
Row 15-16) chain 1, sc in each stitch, sl st to 1st sc (28 sc)
Row 17) chain 3, 2 dc in same stitch, skip next stitch, sc in next stitch, skip next stitch, (3 dc in next stitch, skip stitch, sc in next stitch, skip stitch), repeat around, sl st to beginning stitch, finish off.
Thumb
Row 1) join yarn with sl st on palm side of thumb opening. Sc 12 stitches evenly around thumb opening, sl st to 1st sc. (12 sc)
Row 2 – 5) chain 1, sc in same stitch and in each stitch around, sl st to 1st sc. (12 sc)
At the end of row 5, finish off.
The pattern can be altered in many ways. The cuff can be shortened by using just the ribbing portion of the pattern. (But that is not very Victorian!) The cuff can be lengthened by adding more rows of single crochets to the top portion of the cuff pattern, creating a more elegant evening glove. When the gloves are completed as designed, the cuffs can be rolled down for more versatility. Add buttons and other embellishments for a more personalized glove. Use your imagination and explore the possibilities.
© 2011 by Catherine DePasquale
