Paris Nights Wristlets

By Christina Skye

Copyright 2010

You never forget the first time you saw Paris…

You don’t forget the smell of baking bread or the restless pattern of the chestnut trees on the gravel in the Tuileries Gardens.

With the sun on your shoulder, you lean out over the weathered stones of the Point Neuf and watch the silver line of the Seine snaking past a thousand years of memories.

My gloves aren’t black or even French blue. The yarn didn’t come from Paris, but this sinfully soft muted merino makes me think of the night sky glowing over the Seine in the moments just before dawn when the air softens and the city is hushed with unspoken potential. You never forget that rich silver-gray light.  You never forget the dreams you had there.



These wristlets are soft and practical, guaranteed to make you feel elegant ~ even if you’ve been walking hand in hand for hours. 

And like Paris these have great lines.

Their color is effortlessly classic and always chic. Don’t ever expect it to go out of style! Enjoy them with a glass of champagne and a chocolate macaron or two. And remember the first time you saw the Seine at dawn…

Using worsted weight yarn and size 7 needles, cast on 33 stitches using the cast on of your choice. Leave a 12” tail for hemming later.

Row 1. (RS)

*(K3 ,P3)* across. End K3.

Row 2 and all odd rows.(WS)

*(P3, K3)* across. End P3.

Row 3.

*(K3, P3, Yo, K3tog, Yo, P3)* across. End K3

Row 4. Repeat row 1.

Lace rib pattern--repeat rows 1 to 4.

Continue in lace rib pattern for desired length. Suggested length in my sample is 7"  {fairly long, but mileage may vary! Make it your own.}

Bind off on right side in ribbing on a pattern row 2, leaving a 15-inch tail for sewing up the seam. Note: go up a needle size for a loose bind off.

Make 2.

Right and left hands are the same.

Yes, really.  Watch and see.

Sew up seam loosely so the rib is not pulled out of shape. How?  Turn wristlet with right sides out and fold vertically, matching the sides. Mark thumb hole on your hand using a hair clip or sewing pin. {Plastic, spring-loaded orchid clips work perfectly here. See the picture for how well they work.  Check your local garden or home supply store.  They come in all colors and sizes.  Really.  Who knew?}

But back to the seams.  With the right side facing you and the insides touching {not turned over, as in an interior seam} sew in a seam one stitch from the knitted edge, using matching yarn and a blunt darning needle.  Start at the bottom and stitch through both layers. {mattress stitch}. This makes a slightly raised rib, which nicely picks up the pattern.

Continue sewing until you reach the bottom of the thumb hole, which you marked with your orchid clip. Break yarn, leaving 8 inches to weave in. Sew the top of your seam in the same way above the thumb hole, leaving another 8 inches of yarn. Sew securely in place and then weave in all ends.

Wear with elan and enjoy your toasty hands.

And when you’re finished with your masterpiece ~ send me a picture for my wristlet gallery! Don't forget a link back to your shop! scarfaholic@gmail.com

For tutorials about various cast on styles and all common knitting stitches, see http://knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-glossary  This is an excellent and immensely helpful site for all knitters!


This pattern is copyright 2010 by Christina Skye. Please feel free to use it for your own personal use and for gift-making. I must insist, however, that under penalty of law, this pattern not be resold in whole or in part and that it not, under any circumstances, to be used commercially.