My favorite crochet flowers!

This post is actually a pre-requisite to a new pattern I'm working on. I love all the flowery headbands on Ravelry, but I don't love having to create each flower individually, and then fasten them together. I'm determined to make a flower chain headband that isn't such a hassle.

I looked around for a good five-petal flower pattern, and I found this one over at Attic24. So far, it's my favorite!

I've only just started my flower chain headband, but already i'm pretty excited about how it looks. Crossing my fingers that I'll have the pattern up by the middle of the week!

Cuff'd Fingerless Gloves

 My best friend in high school had a pair of fingerless gloves she wore all the time. I could not for the life of me understand their purpose. Fingerless gloves? What is that? How are those supposed to keep you warm? It wasn’t until I made my first pair quite recently that I understood the allure. Now I’m a huge supporter. Fingerless gloves! Fashionable and functional!

In case you are a skeptic like I was, here’s a list of all the things you can do with fingerless gloves that you can’t do in regular, old, knit gloves:

• Use your IPhone
• Easily text
• Pick up objects
• Eat food without eating yarn hairs
• KNIT (that’s a big one)
• Turn pages
• Show off your nail polish
• Look bohemian
• Pick your nose
• Play guitar
• Play the flute
• Pet a dog
• Do origami

If you’re not convinced yet, take a look at this adorable fingerless glove pattern, and then tell me you aren’t in love.

That’s what I thought.

This pattern uses a lateral braid, which, if you don’t know how to do, is a very useful little trick. Check here for an awesome tutorial on the lateral braid. If you’re still totally intimidated, you can eliminate the braid and simply purl those rows...but you should learn the braid!

Alright, let's get to the pattern!

CUFF’D

 Yarn: any variegated worsted yarn will do- the skein I used was homeless, and had tag or wrapper on it

Recommended Needle Size: US #8

Notions:

Stitch markers

Yarn needle

Stitch holder or scrap yarn (scrap yarn works better for thumb gusset)

Gauge:

16 stiches x 25 rows = 4in by 4in in the round

Pattern Notes:

M1: make one stitch by picking up the yarn in between the stitches from back to front and knitting into the front

pm: place marker

sm: slip marker

CO: cast on. I recommend long-tail cast on for this

ssk: slip two stitches knit-wise, knit both together

k2tog: knit two stitches together

yo: yarn over

BO: bind off. I recommend using the k2tog bind-off method

wyif: with yarn held in front

sl1kw: slip one stitch knit-wise

Reverse Linen Stitch: worked over four rows

1: k

2: *(wyif sl1kw, k1); repeat from * around

3: k

4: *(k1, wyif s11kw); repeat from * around

Directions:

CO 30 stitches, place marker and join in the round

Rows 1-3: knit

4: *k2tog, yo; repeat from * around

5-7: knit

8: purl

9: k

10: p

11-12: k

13: *k2tog, yo: repeat from * around

14-15: k

16: p

17: k

18: p

19-20: k

21: *k3, k2tog; repeat from * around – 24 sts

22: work lateral braid

23-30: work reverse linen stitch, ending on a pattern row

31: work lateral braid

32: k

Both hands are worked exactly the same up to this point.

Right hand:

33: k1, pm, k1, pm, k to end

34: k1, sm, m1, k to marker, m1, sm, k to end

35: k

Repeat rows 34 and 35 until you have 13sts between the markers. Knit three rows plain, then set up before dividing for the hand:

k1, remove marker, k2tog, replace marker, k to last 2sts before marker, place marker, ssk, remove marker, k to end – 9sts between marker, 26 on hand

Divide for hand:

1: k2, place thumb sts on holder, k to end – 26sts

2-8: k

9-12: work in 1x1 ribbing

BO

Left hand:

33: k to last 2sts, pm, k1, pm, k1

34: k to marker, sm, m1, k to marker, m1, sm, k1

35: k

Repeat rows 34 and 35 until you have 13sts between the markers. Knit three rows plain, then set up before dividing for the hand:

k to marker, remove marker, k2tog, replace marker, k to last 2 sts before marker, pm, ssk, remove marker, k to end – 9sts between marker, 26 on hand

Divide for hand:

1: k to marker, place thumb sts on holder, k to end – 26sts

2-8: k

9-12: work in 1x1 ribbing

BO

Thumb:

1: k 9sts from holder, pick up 7sts along the hand – 16sts

2: k

3-6: work in 1x1 ribbing

BO

Repeat on the other hand

And that’s it! Wear them around looking fancy, or have your artistic roommate take pictures of you drinking out of a mug that isn’t yours.

Please do not sell the pattern or the finished product, as I’m planning on selling these in my Etsy store once I get it on it’s feet, but make as many pairs as you’d like for yourself or your loved ones! As always, credit back to The Life Artistic. Ciao!