Book Review: Easy Knitted Fingerless Gloves

Japanese knitting patterns are popular with knitters all over the world for the simplicity of their presentation. You don’t really have to know how to read the language because the patterns are presented in chart form.

If you’ve been wanting to give Japanese knitting patterns a try but were intimidated by the concept (or you’ve just heard of them and want to give knitting one a go), Easy Knitted Fingerless Gloves by Nihon Vogue is a great place to start.

The 21 patterns cover a range of knitting techniques, including stranded knitting, lace, cables and beaded knitting. Some projects are worked flat and seamed while others are worked in the round. Some just have a hole for the thumb (or are mitts that don’t go over the thumb) while others have thumb gussets.

Because this is a knitting book aimed at the English-speaking market that may not have experience with Japanese knitting patterns, there are plenty of instructions on the techniques, how to read patterns and more detailed notes than you are likely to find on typical Japanese patterns.

While the chart style is a little intimidating at first, it’s really not that hard to understand with the help of the notes and the additional charts for the colorwork. Like learning anything new, if you just take your time and make sure you understand what the pattern is asking you do, it shouldn’t be a problem.

These patterns are a great way to gain confidence in your knitting skills because you are trusted to understand what you need to do, and that can be a big confidence boost when you find you can complete the project successfully.

Some of my favorite patterns include the Weave and Lace pattern pictured on the cover and designed by Tomo Sugiyama; the Aran Motif gloves, which have both a long and a short version by Mariko Oka; and the Slouchy Spiral Mitts by Makiko Okamoto, which use a knit a purl spiral pattern and are worked almost the length of sleeves.

The patterns are not on Ravelry so I did a quick Instagram video to show you the interior of the book. You can view it here (and give me a follow while you’re over there if you like!).

About the book: 84 pages, paperback, 21 patterns. Published by Tuttle Publishing, 2019, suggested retail price $12.99.

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I hadn’t heard of Laura Sebastian’s fantasy series Castles in Their Bones until I stumbled upon Mary P. Hunt’s knitting patterns inspired by the series, but if you’re already a fan (of this series in particular or fantasy in general) you’re sure to enjoy these designs.

The book series, in case you’re curious, follows triplet princesses who each marry a prince on their 16th birthday as part of their mother’s master plan to take over the whole continent of Vesteria. (Thanks, GoodReads!)

I don’t know how I found the (all these links ahead are to Ravelry, FYI) Star-Touched Hat knitting pattern, but it was the first one I saw. There’s also a coordinating cowl and mittens if you want to complete the full set.

All of them prominently feature stars and have a sort of Art Deco feel. They call for DK weight yarn in two colors, so you could make them all to match or use different colors for each.

The hat comes in five sizes, ranging in circumference from 18.5 to 22.3 inches (or 47 to 57 cm). It can be worked with a short brim or a folded brim.

The mittens come in small and large adult sizes, with extended sizes for both (more length is included in the extended sizes). These feature a cool Latvian braid at the top of the cuff, which is a fun skill to learn.

And the cowl is one size, on the smaller side as cowls go, measuring about 13.5 inches/34.5 cm tall and 26 inches/66 cm around.

The designer suggests you can hold a bit of metallic thread along with your yarn to give it more of a sparkly, regal, celestial feel, but that’s totally up to you!

As mentioned above you can get all of these patterns on Ravelry. As of this writing there doesn’t seem to be a discount from buying all three, but maybe that will change.

[Photo: Mary P. Hunt]

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