The taotie is a mysterious creature found on ancient Shang dynasty bronze pots. Neither dragon, nor tiger, nor ox, its meaning been lost over the past 3000 years. There have been many theories: is it a fearsome man-eating ogre, a ritual shaman mask, or a link to the ancestors?

The taotie is always depicted as two symmetrical but separate halves. It can be seen as one creature staring out at you, or two creatures facing off. Only the taotie knows for sure, and it’s not saying.

Size
Fits a hand approximately 19 cm/ 7 ½ inches measured
around the knuckles, excluding thumb. (Women’s size medium)

Difficulty
Advanced. Techniques include knitting in the round, stranded colourwork, tubular cast on and cast off, and corrugated ribbing.

Pattern style
This pattern contains charts for the colourwork design and the thumb gusset. Written instructions are also provided the thumb gusset. Links to online tutorials for the techniques involved are included.

Gauge
31 sts and 36 rows to 10 cm/ 4 inches in stranded colourwork stockinette in the round.

Yarn
Heavier fingering or sock weight yarn in 2 contrasting colours.

110m/120 yards of colour A (dark green in photo), and 75m/80 yards of colour B (light green).

Some tips:
Despite all being categorized as fingering or sock weight, different yarns can vary slightly in weight. It is recommended to use a heavier fingering or sock weight yarn unless the wearer’s hands are smaller than the specified size. Pick two colours of the exact same weight, because slightly different yarn weights can affect the gauge and make the knitting look pinched or lumpy.

Strongly contrasting colours are recommended in order to make the design stand out clearly

Needles and other materials
2.5 mm/ US size 1.5 double pointed needles, or a circular
needle at least 80 cm/32 inches long if using magic loop. Depending on your knitting tension, you may need to go down to a 2.25 mm or up to a 3.0 mm to get gauge.

1 extra set of knitting needles for use in tubular cast on
and cast off (optional, depending on technique used).

Scrap yarn or stitch holder.

Marker for beginning of round (optional)