Little Skater is so named for the dreamy world of ice-skating of the 1940s and 1950s. I have a number of vintage patterns for skating outfits - lovely flared dresses with matching knitted knickers! They often feature colourwork designs and really are about being warm and stylish when you’re out on the ice. I had no desire to produce a pattern for a skating dress, but I like to think these little gloves would be a lovely addition to a winter outfit, we too can be stylish on the ice and with a lot less effort.

If you’ve not knit a lot of colourwork before, you will find these a good learning project. Little Skater is knit at a nice, tight gauge and the stranded work makes the cuff extra warm. The top of the mitt is worked snuggly, so they don’t gape. These are great little cold and wind cheating coverups for the hands.

Materials

• 0.5 skein of Vintage Purls Sock yarn (100g/384m) in background colour.
• 0.25 skein of Vintage Purls Sock yarn (100g/384m) in foreground colour.
• 2.25mm needles or size that gives you gauge. Magic Loop, Double-Point Needles or Two circulars.
• A small quantity of smooth waste yarn for working a provisional cast on and holding stitches.
• A spare needle of similar or smaller size to hold stitches when working hems.

Gauge
42 sts and 44 rows per 10cm in colourwork.
36 sts and 48 rows per 10cm in plain stocking stitch.

Size
This pattern will fit a hand about 19cm - 20cm (7½” - 8”) around. The length of the hand is adjustable to your requirements.

The model used 45g of background coloured yarn and 12g of foreground coloured yarn for the pair of gloves.

This pattern debuted as the second instalment in the Vintage Purls Winter Sock Yarn Club 2014