Guardian Gloves

Guardian Gloves by Rebecca Blair

What Is Being Made

Guardian Gloves is a pair of fine-gauge, elaborate stranded colorwork gloves inspired by the bright tile ceiling in the atrium of the Guardian Building in Detroit. The design features a bold diamonds-inside-diamonds pattern rendered in a bright color scheme. While the knitted version is simplified substantially from its architectural namesake, it maintains the distinctive geometric aesthetic and vibrant palette of the original inspiration.

Craft and Primary Technique

This project is created using the knitting craft. The primary technical focus is stranded colorwork, a method in which multiple yarn colors are carried simultaneously across rows or rounds to create intricate patterned designs. Working stranded colorwork with three colors at once requires careful tension management and coordination to produce even, balanced stitches while maintaining the pattern integrity.

Stitches and Techniques Used

Guardian Gloves employs a comprehensive range of knitting techniques suitable for an intermediate skill level:

• Provisional cast-on – a temporary cast-on method that allows stitches to be picked up later, commonly used for seamless glove construction
• I-cord – a tubular cord created on double-pointed needles, typically used for decorative edging or straps
• Picking up and knitting stitches – essential for connecting different sections and creating seamless transitions
• Stranded colorwork with three colors – the signature technique that creates the diamonds-inside-diamonds pattern using multiple yarn colors worked in the same round
• Yarn over – a technique that creates decorative eyelets or lace effects by increasing stitches
• Knitting through the back loop – a stitch variation that twists stitches for textural or shaping effects
• Decreasing with k2tog and k3tog – methods for reducing stitch counts to shape the gloves
• Duplicate stitch embroidery – a finishing technique worked with a tapestry needle to add additional color or detail after knitting is complete

Materials and Gauge

This project uses Knit Picks Palette yarn, a 100% wool option offering 231 yards per 50-gram skein. The color palette consists of five distinct shades: Jay (main color), Sweet Potato (CC1), Safflower (CC2), Pimento (CC3), and Clover (CC4), with one skein required in each color. The yarn is a 4-ply weight, providing the fine gauge necessary for detailed colorwork.

Construction requires one set of US #11/2.25mm double-pointed needles, or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 41 stitches and 44 rounds over 4 inches in stranded colorwork. Additional materials include a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and scrap yarn for the provisional cast-on technique.

Design Details

The gloves feature an elaborate geometric pattern inspired by architectural tile work, utilizing the bright, bold color scheme characteristic of Art Deco design. The diamonds-inside-diamonds motif creates visual depth and complexity while remaining achievable through intermediate-level stranded colorwork techniques. The combination of knitted colorwork and embroidered duplicate stitch allows for refined detail and color layering in the finished piece.