Making gauntlets/arm-warmers based on the Shell Pattern Manchettes in Miss Watts’ Ladies’ Knitting and Netting Book (1840).

Original called for “fine” needles and cotton, which I’m guessing would be US 00 or US 000 needles and crochet thread, and cast on 100 stitches. I’m using fingering weight wool and US 1, which I think will make an 8 or 9 inch (unstretched) circumference.

CO 70 stitches in the round. At first I used two needles held together and Norwegian cast on, but that wasn’t quite stretchy enough since the edge waves due to the shell pattern. Frogged and instead cast on using crochet cast on.

Set up round: knit

Round 1: (p1, k1, p1, k1, (YO, k1) 6 times) repeat around
Round 2: (p1, k1, p1, slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over, k9, k2tog) repeat around
Round 3: (p1, k1, p1, slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over, k7, k2tog) repeat around
Round 4: (p1, k1, p1, slip, knit, pass slipped stitch over, k5, k2tog) repeat around
Round 5: (p1, k1, p1, k7) repeat around

Repeat these 5 rounds for the shell pattern.

After 3 repeats of the shell pattern, the original knitting pattern called for a row of k1, YO to thread a ribbon through to secure the manchette to the arm, and to mirror that k1 YO row on the other end of the manchette. Since I don’t have a maid to tie the ribbon for me, I’m going to skip this row, however when I get to my wrist, I will do k1 p1 ribbing to secure the arm warmer more snugly to my wrist.