Can you CanCan?
Before the holidays, I decided that I needed a pair of fingerless gloves to keep my hands warm. I knew that I wanted to use sock yarn to make them, and after a quick scan of the patterns in Ravelry, nothing drew my interest.
So, I sat down and worked out what I was looking for in a pattern, and then write my own. It had to have enough details to be interesting to knit. I wanted the gloves longer than wrist length so I could wear them comfortably with my three-quarter length sleeve jacket. I decided to incorporate some simple two-stitch cables because I enjoy knitting them. I ended up with a fitted pair of fingerless gloves.
I love the final gloves, and I wear them all the time. I wear them when I’m cold inside the house. I wear them when it’s damp and chilly outside. I’m wearing them now while writing this blog post.
I can’t take credit for the naming of the pattern. The twisted stitch cables ended up resembling a faux lacing on the gloves. Jim used this detail as inspiration for the pattern name, CanCans.
Pattern: CanCans
Designer: Erica Lomax
Source: TwistedLoops
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts
Socks that Rock Lightweight
Color: Corvid
Needles: 2.5mm
Started: November 25, 2008
Completed: December 8, 2008
It’s currently only available as a Ravelry download. It can be downloaded here.
Jan 25, 2009
These are awesome. I am a new convert to the fingerless glove and have been briefly experiementing with an original crochet pattern, these are truly inspiring.
Jan 25, 2009
I saw these on ravelry, they immediately caught my eye. I was amazed to discover that you offered the pattern for free, they’re beautiful
PS: Ravelry also provides download links that can be used to download your pattern for non-members, in case you didn’t know.
Jan 25, 2009
Very nice. Very you. And your nails look lovely to boot. I will definitely be adding them to my queue
Jan 26, 2009
Erica, these are absolutely gorgeous. As soon as I get more comfortable knitting, I’m so making them!
Jan 26, 2009
Great job : )
Jan 28, 2009
Super cute!
Jan 31, 2009
I want to make these ASAP! So beautiful!!
Feb 06, 2009
Very very nice!! You did a beautiful job on them!
Mar 03, 2009
Thank you so much for this pattern! I had been making fingerless gloves out of old store-bought socks, so as to have them be thin and fitted enough to wear with every day clothes. Your pattern was fun to knit and fits perfectly!
Oct 04, 2009
[...] CanCans by Erica Lomax [...]
Jan 11, 2010
I love these just what i am looking for many thanks for sharing x
Jan 13, 2010
absolutely beautiful – I have been looking for a pattern for over a month for some very pretty moss green hand dyed cashmere. Given the $$ for the yarn, I wanted a special pattern – thank you so much for sharing.
Jan 16, 2010
I love these gloves! Do you use double points or circular needles? Does anyone know?
Jan 21, 2010
These are awesome, I have never used a chart though, how about doing something easier for the 14 stitch pattern?
Jan 30, 2010
This is awesome, but quite complicated. I might settle for an easier project till I am a more experienced knitter!
Great job!
Jan 30, 2010
Quite lovely. Did anyone knit these on US needles? Since 2.5 mm doesn’t convert, did you use #1 (2.25) or #2 (2.75)? Thought I’d save myself the time and work of knitting a swatch, in case someone else has already done it. :=)
Jan 30, 2010
I would also like the American size needle. These are “super” Thanx!!!!!!!!!
Jan 30, 2010
I used US size 1 needles, double pointed and I had to slip a couple stiches from the second needle to the first. You need 5 needles.
Jan 30, 2010
I used the 2.5mm all of the time. It’s my own favorite for knitting most fingering weight yarns and is available in the US in needle brands such as KnitPicks or Addi.
I’m a fairly loose knitter. The US1 or US2 may not be the right the right needle for other knitters to get gauge. I’m always going to recommend a gauge swatch to make sure the mitts will fit. A quick browse through some of the finished projects on Ravelry seems to show more people used larger needles (#2 and #3) than smaller needles.
Feb 04, 2010
how do u knit i the round using straight needles no where does it say to use circlular needles
Feb 28, 2010
I think you have to use double points. 5 needles
Mar 11, 2010
[...] some arm warmers for a co-worker who has always been so nice to me. The pattern is called “CanCans” by Erica Lomax who blogs at Twisted Loops. I am going to use my Malabrigo Sock in [...]
Mar 15, 2010
I just finished making these using Crystal Palace Yarns’ “Panda Silk” (it’s a bamboo/merino wool/silk blend), and they are STUNNING! This is a sweet pattern — all the little decreases and increases make for a really elegant fit. I am starting another pair for my daughter today (she doesn’t understand why I won’t just give her this pair…).
(BTW, I used 4 double pointed bamboo needles.)
Thank you, Erica!!
Mar 16, 2010
How can you use just 4 needles? I thought you needed 5. The no. of stitches doesn’t convert evenly. I’m confused! I’m still working on the first golve! How long do these take for other people? I took a long break, but am I just slow knitter?
Mar 17, 2010
I’m assuming these are knitted from forearm down to hand? I’m wondering if you have the correct gauge what are the finished measurements around forearm and wrist?
Mar 21, 2010
Melissa – The pattern is knit from the arm down to the hand. At gauge, the pattern is 7.5 inches around at the arm and 6.4 inches around at the hand. The mitts are designed with negative ease, so the measurements should be smaller than your actual arm or hand measurements.
Connie & Anonymous – The pattern is written in the round. The pattern does not specify the needle type because you can use whatever your preferred technique for working in the round is: 4 or 5 double points, magic loop, two circulars, or one small circular.
May 06, 2010
Thanks, I really enjoyed knitting these and they feel wonderful. The negative ease just keeps them snug enough. I knitting the longer (one more repeat version) great under a jacket or when typing on the computer. I’ve had a request from a friend, who has arthritis in her hands for a pair, which I’ll make out of superwash sock yarn. Good job.
May 18, 2010
Any tips on knitting these with size 0 needles? I have some abstract fiber yarn that really looks best on 0′s, but I don’t want to botch up the pattern by adding stitches in the wrong place.
Thanks!
I can’t wait to get started!
Jul 30, 2010
so we work in a circular way? connecting it the entire time??
’cause i searched and searched and didn’t see that mentioned at all in the download =(
and now i have halfway done not circular gloves
Aug 20, 2010
These are beautiful. My skill level is definitely not up to these yet but I’m practicing a lot so I’ll be able to tackle these beauties at some point.
Oct 06, 2010
[...] pattern can be found here. Also, I constantly referenced this site’s [...]
Nov 24, 2010
[...] Can Too! (Raveled!) Pattern: CanCans by Erica Lomax (download here) Yarn: Socks That Rock Lightweight, Rare Gems – I used just about half a skein Needles: 2.5mm [...]
Dec 24, 2010
To those having issues with the pattern and working in the round. It is specified in the cast on row of the pattern:
Cast on 56 stitches and join for working in the round.
Hope this helps everyone find the instructions.
Dec 29, 2010
Question? I have knitted one of these gloves already and it looks beautiful! However, when trying to reopen the download pattern, the link didn’t work – an error of some sort. Would you mind reattaching it?
Dec 31, 2010
It should be fixed now!
Jan 26, 2011
[...] Pattern: CanCans [...]
Jan 27, 2011
[...] desire to finish the sweater soon, I haven’t been only knitting it. Yesterday I worked on CanCans during class. Dark yarn + twisted stitches + a dark classroom = VERY difficult to see where to [...]
Feb 05, 2011
[...] finished the Cancans. I love them. They actually did not take as long as I thought they would, considering I almost [...]
Sep 15, 2011
I would love to make these as a gift for a dear friend – how do I get the instructions? Lovely work by the way, very talented person you are.
Sep 25, 2011
I am having trouble understanding the cable stitch part, anybody want to explain?
Thanks
Dec 30, 2011
These are my absolute favorite. My sister-in-law just swipped a pair I finished. Now my daughter wants a pair. I’m hoping to make a pair for me soon. LOL
Jan 10, 2012
[...] already making a glove in the original yarn). Needless to say, I’m getting pretty good at this pattern. Advertisement GA_googleAddAttr("AdOpt", "1"); GA_googleAddAttr("Origin", "other"); [...]
Jan 15, 2012
Hi, I just wanted to say, I really like this pattern and I think it is very well written and easy to follow, but there is a minor error in the right mitt thumb gusset increases, or perhaps I have an older version of the pattern. Instead of reading rows 58-60, it states “row 58-50″. Since you seem to dedicated to writing a clear, accurate pattern, I thought you might like to know. thank you for making such a beautiful pattern and sharing it with us.
-acs