“We shall fight for the things which we have always held nearest our hearts--for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own governments.” -- Suffrage banner quoting President Woodrow Wilson

Jailed for Freedom fingerless gloves honor US suffragists, who in 1917 were the first persons ever to picket the White House. Beginning in January and continuing each day Congress was in session for more than a year, suffragists stood in silence on the sidewalk holding banners aloft. These Silent Sentinels were spat upon, attacked, arrested, imprisoned, and tortured for “obstructing traffic.” In December of 1917, women who had been imprisoned were presented with a silver Jailed for Freedom pin in gratitude for their sacrifice.

Jailed for Freedom fingerless gloves feature a heart-shaped lock and chain like those on the jail door pin given to the suffragists. Post stitches echo the texture of the jail door, and a tiny key at the wrist symbolizes that we, the people, hold the key to our government by exercising our right to vote. Hearthside Fibers Galaxy yarn in Wingtips conveys the darkness of the conditions the women faced, while the metallic strand in the yarn suggests their steely determination.

The pattern includes instructions for making the gloves in three sizes (ladies small, medium, and large), and you can make several pairs from a single skein.