Grandfather Clock

Grandfather Clock Knitted Gloves by BeckyinVT

What Is Being Made

Grandfather Clock is a pair of men's knitted gloves designed by Becky Herrick and available as a downloadable PDF pattern. These are classic, tailored gloves inspired by the aesthetic of stately grandfather clocks, featuring a distinctive slipped stitch cuff that creates a slowly changing color pattern. The design is available in three sizes to accommodate men's small, medium, and large hands, with specific measurements provided for hand circumference, hand length, and cuff length.

Sizes and Measurements

• Men's Small: 8"/20.5 cm hand circumference, 4"/10 cm hand length, 2.5"/6.5 cm cuff length
• Men's Medium: 9.25"/23.5 cm hand circumference, 4.5"/11.5 cm hand length, 2.75"/7 cm cuff length
• Men's Large: 10"/25.5 cm hand circumference, 5"/12.5 cm hand length, 3"/7.5 cm cuff length

Knitting Techniques and Stitches

This intermediate-level knitting project employs several fundamental techniques to create a refined finished garment. The primary construction method uses stockinette stitch, which creates the smooth, classic fabric characteristic of traditional gloves. The most distinctive design element is the slipped stitch cuff, which works in conjunction with the variegated yarn to produce a slowly changing color pattern that evokes the elegant visual appeal of grandfather clock styling.

The gloves are constructed using in-the-round knitting on double-pointed needles, a traditional method for creating seamless tubular garments. The pattern includes separate sections for the thumb gusset, which is worked using increases to accommodate the thumb's width, and individual finger sections, each worked separately after the main hand is completed. Scrap yarn is used to hold thumb stitches while working the hand, and stitch holders manage the finger stitches during construction.

Yarn and Materials

The gloves are knitted using Crystal Palace Yarns Mini Mochi, a 4-ply weight yarn composed of 80% superwash merino wool and 20% nylon. This fiber blend provides durability, easy care, and a soft hand suitable for close-fitting gloves. The colorway shown in the pattern is Feldspar. The pattern requires 2 skeins of yarn, with yardage requirements varying by size: 234 yards for men's small, 295 yards for men's medium, and 345 yards for men's large.

Needles and Notions

The gloves are worked on US 1.5/2.5mm double-pointed needles (DPNs), or a size adjusted to obtain the specified gauge. Additional notions include 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats and shaping, scrap yarn for holding thumb stitches during construction, stitch holders for managing finger stitches, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends after completion.

Gauge

The pattern is worked at a gauge of 30 stitches and 41 rows per 4-inch (10 cm) square in stockinette stitch. Achieving the correct gauge is essential for obtaining the proper fit across all three sizes.

Construction Notes

These are straightforward men's gloves with simple, refined styling that appeals to traditional tastes. The slipped stitch cuff is the primary design feature, creating visual interest through the interplay of the yarn's color changes and the textured stitch pattern. For knitters who wish to create identical pairs, careful attention must be paid to starting both gloves from the same point in the yarn's color repeat, ensuring consistent colorway placement across the pair.