These cuffs were inspired by the designer imagining young ladies of Jane Austen's novels wearing Empire-style dresses with lovely tiny flower buds printed on the fabric. While there is no evidence that knitted wrist warmers were worn in the early nineteenth century, this style of cuff might have fit well with the costumes worn. After all, those cotton dresses probably weren't warm enough in drafty English countryside homes.

The cuffs are worked in a strip and then seamed, so you can knit the piece long enough to fit comfortably around your wrist. The garter-stitch structure is fairly elastic. To adjust for larger or smaller sizes, work with a tighter or looser gauge by changing needle size. Feel free to stop mid-pattern when the cuff is the right size. If you have to split a pattern, do so with the bead motif rather than the lace motif.

Finished Size: 6" circumference; 5 ½" long.
Yarn: Isager Alpaca 2 (50% alpaca, 50% wool, 273 yd [250 m]/50 g): #100 natural white, 1 skein.
Yarn Weight: #0 - Lace
Needles: Size 00 (1.75 mm). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge. Notions: Markers (m); beading needle size 10; 12" strand of cotton sewing thread; tapestry needle; beading mat is useful. Size 11Ëš Japanese matte AB glass seed beads, see project for complete details.
Gauge: 36 sts and 80 rows = 4" in garter st.
Originally Published:Jane Austen Knits, 2011