Sapphic Handshake

sweet mother, I cannot weave —

slender Aphrodite has overcome me with longing for a girl

— Sappho

Historians may quibble over the exact translation of the original Greek, but every sapphic knows

this verse, and the sentiment it expresses.

While I originally designed this without any particular queer association in mind, when a sapphic friend pointed out the visual similarity to a notorious lesbian meme, I couldn't un-see it.

The pattern includes a multitude of fingering — I mean, finger — options, so you can mix and match digit lengths to best suit your intentions and desires.

The motif, of course, can also simply be scissors, a symbol of craft, or anything else the tool may signify for you. Much like Sappho's poetry, how you interpret it is entirely up to you.

Sizing

2 sizes. Finished glove measures 8.5" / 21.5 cm long (without fingers), with a circumference of 5.5" (6.5") / 14 (16.5) cm.

Gauge

40 sts x 36 rounds = 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm) square, knit in colourwork pattern on 3mm needles

Yarn requirements:

• MC: 200 yds fingering weight yarn
• CC: 120 yds fingering weight yarn

Yarn used in sample: Sandnes Garn Sisu

Required skills

• Knitting in the round
• Lifted increases
• Stranded colourwork
• 1x1 twisted ribbing