I have no real notion where the idea for this originated. Well, you all know it was supposed to be a pair of socks - but that got sidetracked :) Some small part of my utilitarian, pragmatic soul wanted something that was feminine and pretty. And not just feminine but over the top. That made me think of the Victorians who elaborately decorated everything and then decorated the decorations! If I could have infused this yarn with attar of roses, I would have :)
I also wanted to start using some of the yarn I’ve been so enthusiastically dyeing over the last couple of months but it didn’t seem that this splendid pink should go for something hum-drum and ordinary. There was also the idea that it might be fun to insert a design element into the purl troughs of the ribbing (letting no potential decorative space lie fallow!) and, finally, that off-setting that with the design element on the knit panels would present a pleasing sort of symmetry to the eye.
Dana Victoria
100 grams merino wool, fingering weight (I used hand-dyed KnitPicks yarn in Tea Rose)
Four size 1 US (2.25mm) needles (or five needles if you prefer, or two circulars, or one magic loop - whatever method for knitting in the round best floats your boat!).
2 stitch markers (I used a couple of silver jump rings left over from my beading days because size one needles are skinny!)
Gauge
About 9 sts per inch in pattern
Terms
K - Knit
K1b - Knit through the back loop
P - Purl
M1 - Increase by making a backwards loop
Inc3 - Increase by K1, yo, K1 into the same stitch.
Dec3 - Centered double decrease. Slip 2 together knitwise. K1. Pass the slipped stitches over and off the needle.
YO - yarn over
MB - Make bobble - Inc3. Turn and P3. Turn. Lift second stitch over first and drop off the needle. Lift next stitch over and off. One bobble stitch remaining on left needle - knit it through the back loop.
pm - Place marker
sm - Slip marker
Notes
This will make a glove which will smoothly fit a hand that is 8” in diameter (around the palm below the base of the fingers). That’s because both Myria and I have large hands :) However, the wide ribbing has lots of give and take so it should fit a fair range of sizes. To size it down, eliminate one of the repeats (12 stitches). If this would make it too small, try going up a needle size.
I won’t fib to you, at this scale the bobbles - even if you like them - are a mite fiddly to work :) However, you may enjoy working them anyways. I had a mini-party in my head every time another one popped of the needles successfully! If you would rather not have bobbles, simply substitute a purl stitch when the pattern call for a bobble to be worked.
The pattern is named, in part, for the sweet daughter of a dear friend who is having a “pink” year and in part for the elaborate and decorative Victorian era. In fact it occurred to me as I was finishing it up that knitting the first and last three rounds in black would have only enhanced that association.
Pattern
Cast on 72 stitches (multiple of 12) divided on three needles. Join and work three rounds of *K7, P5*.
Preliminary rounds
1. *K1, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K1, P5*; repeat around
2. *K7, P5*; repeat around
3. *K3, Make Bobble (MB), K3, P5*; repeat around
4. *K7, P5*; repeat around
Now you can continue with the written directions directly below or skip them and go down to the chart. Repeat this sequence for desired length to base of thumb gusset. Work through round 2 of pattern.
Commence pattern rounds - Written
1. *K1, SSK, yo, K1, yo, K2tog, K1, P2, Inc3, P2*; repeat around
2. *K7, P2, K3, P2*; repeat around
3. *K7, P2, K1, yo, K1, yo, K1, P2*; repeat around
4. *K7, P2, K5, P2*; repeat around
5. *K7, P2, SSK, K2tog, P2*; repeat around
6. *K7, P2, K3, P2*; repeat around
7. *K1, K2tog, yo, K1, yo, SSK, K1, P2, Dec3, P2*; repeat around
8. *K7, P2, K1b, P2*; repeat around
9. *K3, MB, K3, P2, K1b, P2*; repeat around
10. *K7, P2, K1b, P2*; repeat around
Commence pattern rounds - Chart
Chart notes
Since this piece is worked in the round, all rows (rounds) are worked in the same direction. The chart should be read from right to left for each round.
The boxes shaded in blue represent the leaf chart which is to the right of the main pattern chart.
The top row of pink boxes aren’t part of the pattern sequence, but are there to show how the bobble-lace flower and the leaf patterns fit together.
We are going to take over the first flower lace panel and use it to create the thumb gusset. So…
Next row: K3, pm, M1, K1, M1, K3 - and proceed with the rest of round 3 as usual.
Next row: K3, sm, K3, sm, K3 - and proceed with the rest of round 4.
Next row: K3, sm, M1, K3, M1, K1 - and proceed with the rest of round 5.
Next row: K3, sm, K5, sm, K1 and proceed with the rest of round 6.
Starting with round 7, you’ll increase every three rows while working the rest of the mitt in pattern (increase in the first row, knit the next two rows plain). Do this until the gusset is as big as you need it to be - for me it was 10 times total. If you find you’re getting the width you want but not the length, work a few more rounds plain (without increases) until you’re ready to close the gusset. Try to end with round 9 of the pattern.
Next round: K3, bind off all gusset stitches, M1 and join to the opposite side. Knit 3. You should now be back to your original 7 stitches for that panel and on round 10.
Work one more repeat of the bobble lace flower and then one more leaf.
Then work three rounds of *K7, P5* and bind off in pattern.
Now, make another one and grace your arms with your beautiful work!
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Those are spectacular, nice job Robbyn!
I can’t tell you how much I enjoy making any sort of mitten or wrist warmer or fingerless mitt, and these are by far the fanciest ones I’ve seen. I bow to your inventiveness.
Pinecone - Why thank you very much :) I hope you have a good time with these - they certainly aren’t a boring project!
Very creative and very pretty. These might just tempt me into making some fingerless mitts. Haven’t done that yet since they would show off my clipped-short, broken, and chipped nails, not the graceful and well groomed ones in the photo 
Rob - The nails in the photograph are carefully posed :) At leat one of them is split. Don’t let that stop you - fingerless gloves are so useful in the cold weather because they keep your hands warm without impairing your dexterity. Can’t imagine how I ever got through the winter without them!
well, the ‘sweet daughter’ is just speechless and insists upon a pair in pink- we’re honored (and, incredibly, sarah’s middle name is victoria!)-
those are truly lovely and i know how i will spend the weekend now- thanks for the beautiful pattern- you are sooo generous with your talents-
stay happy-
Wonderful job Robbyn.... lovely pattern and color. I could not make it to Chatters last night.
Those are simply gorgeous, Robbyn! Once I have a job again, I’m running right out for some cream and black yarn to make them for myself. Victoriana, indeed!
I’m distrubed by how much I love that thumb gusset. That’s a bit weird, right? Hmmm, well, regardless, I must print this out and file it ready for my travelling trip. The two patterns I’ve made were the someone stole the fingers...fingerless gloves (1 pair for my step grandmother in law and a variation for me) and the not-your-pattern pinwheel hat (I’ll show you a picture of that one day - it is a masterpiece which noone will wear).
Robbyn, I love it!!!
Barb - I’m not sure how much use they’ll be to her down there in Texas, but I’m glad she approves :)
Maureen - Thanks! No worries about Chatters - I’ll see you next time :)
Colleen - I’m so sorry that interview didn’t pan out - but I have faith :) I avidly look forward to your take on this idea!
Abi - I’ll tell you a secret - I love the thumb gusset too - and the little line of bobbles that runs up to it. Having never done it before with tiny yarn and needles, I was pleased to see how nicely it came out and how neatly the backwards-loop increase blended in.
Toni - Thanks!
Very pretty, thanks for sharing!
Aija - You’re quite welcome! I’d still like to make socks from this pattern - someday :)
The are lovely Robbyn and will go on my to do list. I haven’t done bobbles in a few years and it will make a nice change from the ribbed socks and bulky hats I have been knitting
Wendy - I’m glad you like them. As always, please let me know if you run into anything funky or if something in the pattern isn’t clear. Enjoy!
Robbyn - These are just lovely. Thank you so much for the pattern and pictures. I’m a bobble fanatic so I will definitely give them a go. I’m going to use my silver/gray baby cashmere from elann - I know it will be dynamite.
Laurie - Cashmere! Oh my - a droolworthy choice :) I hope you enjoy them and enjoy making them!
Wow, it looks fantastic. I love the way you’ve formed the gusset. It looks so stylish and comfortable. It’s all in pink too - you know how much I love pink :)
Pam - Thanks. I had thought about not bothering with a gusset, but I’m glad I did - makes the line of the design look neater.
Those are very pretty. I love all of the little details on them. Thank you for sharing the pattern. I will have to put this on my Christmas gift list for this year. :)
Wendy - Thanks - I’m glad they appeal to you. Have fun with the pattern!
WOW! What a great pattern! Thank you for sharing it. I can’t wait to cast on. Just gotta find the *perfect* stash yarn!
Nannette - I’m glad you like it and I hope you enjoy making them :)
