Photography by: Rick Jackofsky; Model: Erica Jackofsky

The return of Spring and warmer weather often leads people to rush outside at their first chance. Festivals, concerts, and other outdoor gatherings begin popping up. While this is certainly a beautiful time to celebrate, it can still be chilly. As a performing musician Spring heralds the beginning of the busy season and sometimes hours of strumming and fiddling away while exposed to the elements. These gloves are inspired by the many performances I have spent wishing I had a little something for my hands. They are thin enough to allow movement, but just warm enough to help fend off that nip lingering in the air.

Sourwood Mountain is a traditional old-time American dance tune. Exact geographic origin is unknown, however, it usually appears in collections of southern mountain songs. Variations of this tune were collected by folklorists dating to the early 1900s spanning across North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Missouri.

All three sizes of this glove may be completed with two skeins of yarn. However, if you extend the pattern, or wish to keep your gauge swatch, you will need a third skein for the largest size. The leaf pattern on the hand is worked across one needle for ease of keeping your place. If you find that the purls at the beginning and end this needle are showing ladders, try purling through the back loops of these stitches to pull them in.