I think this should be the knitter's counterpoint to the carpenter's mantra of "measure twice, cut once."   The reason the photos show an item with the bottom edge of loose stitches hanging free is that I didn't math twice-- not even once, real

If you’re like many knitters, during the height of summer you may find yourself impatient for the brisk days of fall and even winter, when you can pull out those woollen items created with long hours of pleasant labor.  And yet-- human nature being what it is-- during those wintry periods, even knitters may find themselves remembering with longing those lazy hours on the beach in July or August:  the penetrating heat of the sand, the glints of light off the water, the cooling salt spray flying off the crests of the waves.  That’s why these gloves are a perfect anytime project:  during the warmer months, they’ll augur frosty days to come, and once those days arrive, the wavy stitches, deep ocean teal and crystal bead droplets will remind you of those carefree seaside afternoons. SizesWomen’s S-M (M-L)Circumference (unstretched):  7”/18 cm (8”/20.5 cm); to fit hand circumference of 7-8”/18-20.5 cm (8-9”/20.5-23 cm)Length:  10”/25.5 cm (11”/28 cm)DifficultyIntermediate knitter/beginning beader; skills required include reading chart and working in the round. MaterialsAlchemy Yarns Synchronicity (50% silk, 50% wool; 118 yds/108 m per 50 g skein); 30W: Spruce; 2 (2) skeins.Size S-M:  1 set US #5/3.75 mm double-point needles OR size to obtain gaugeSize M-L:  1 set US #7/4.5 mm double-point needles OR size to obtain gaugetapestry needle; waste yarn or stitch holdersbead needle for threading beads (I used The Big “Eye”) Clear glass beads, size 6/0 (4 mm), 52Suggested Yarn SubstitutesBrown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Superwash or Karabella Aurora 8 GaugeSize S-M:  24 sts/ 32 rows measured over 10cm (4 inches) in stockinette stitch (st st)Size M-L:  21 sts/ 28 rows measured over 10cm (4 inches) in st st Pattern NotesSee attached charts.  The original stitch pattern (“Seaweed” from Barbara Walker’s Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns) is used for the left glove only, while the pattern for the right glove is its mirror image. Both left and right gloves are fully charted to show the position of beads and construction of thumb gusset and fingers.  Directions are the same for S-M and M-L; altering gauge by using different size needles results in two finished sizes.  Follow written directions as well as charts!  Picked up and knit on stitches for upper hand and fingers are not shown on charts, but are worked following chart for stitches adjacent to each part.    Thread beads onto yarn before casting on, pushing beads down along yarn until they are needed.  Beads actually sit between 2 purl stitches; to place bead, purl first stitch, push bead into place, and purl second stitch.Click here to purchase pattern pdf ($3.50)!  Includes written directions, photos and full charts for both hands.  By the way, if your fingertips prefer to be covered, instead of binding off each glove finger, just continue the stitch pattern as established until each finger is slightly longer than your own, and then do not bind off:  instead break the yarn, thread it through all stitches, pull to close, and then fasten on the inside of the finger. 

I'm really quite fond of these gloves...but no, I don't normally wear them to the beach.  I dug up this photo from my archives of almost exactly two years ago, when I was planning to submit Seaside to Magknits for publication.<

Sadly, the Magknits site has been abruptly shut down; I will always be grateful to them for the chance to showcase several of my early designs to a wide web audience, and it's unfortunate that the same opportu

to get eye-catching photos!  Last April, while we were in Florida, I recruited the husband to play photographer, donned bathing suit and gloves, grabbed my hapless toddler's hand, and posed like an idiot on the beach, all in hopes of increasing the chances that my pattern for "Seaside," now in Magknits, would be accepted for publication.&nbs