Fingerless Texels

Fingerless Texels by Dagmar Mora

What Is Being Made

Fingerless Texels are a pair of fingerless mittens designed by Dagmar Mora, inspired by the island of Texel in the North Sea. These mittens feature distinctive wave stitch patterns that evoke the visual rhythm of ocean waves. The design is available in three sizes to fit Women's XS/S, Women's M, and Women's L hands, with mitten circumferences of 17cm, 19cm, and 20.5cm respectively. The fingerless construction makes these mittens ideal for maintaining dexterity while keeping hands warm, and the stitch pattern stretches well to provide a comfortable, forgiving fit across the size range.

Techniques and Construction

Fingerless Texels are knit in the round using the circular knitting method with double-pointed needles. This technique creates seamless mittens without the need for seaming. The pattern includes shaping for the thumb opening and is designed to be worked from the cuff upward. The wave stitch pattern features excellent elasticity, allowing the mittens to stretch and conform to different hand sizes within each size category. Knitters can personalize their mittens by working each row of waves in different colors, making this an excellent project for using up leftover yarn scraps.

Stitches Used

The pattern employs stockinette stitch (St st) for the base fabric and a specialized wave stitch pattern for the textured sections. The wave stitch creates the distinctive visual pattern that inspired the design name. Tension is critical for proper fit: stockinette stitch should measure 32 stitches and 44 rows over a 10x10cm (4x4 inch) swatch, while the wave pattern stitch should measure 32 stitches and 70 rows over the same 10x10cm measurement. The difference in row gauge between the two stitches reflects the density created by the wave pattern texture.

Materials and Tools

Fingerless Texels are worked in fingering weight yarn, such as Regia 4-ply, which provides the delicate drape and stitch definition necessary for the wave pattern to display clearly. The pattern requires one 50-gram skein (210 meters or 230 yards) of each color used. The project shown uses two colors: 0017 light camel mottled and 01980 blue-grey mottled, creating a sophisticated sea and beach-inspired colorway. Knitters will need two sets of 2.25mm (US size 1) double-pointed needles or any needles suitable for knitting in the round, plus a tapestry needle for weaving in ends. The needle size provided is guidance; knitters should adjust needle size as needed to achieve the correct tension.

Difficulty Level

This project is rated as intermediate difficulty. While the fingerless mitten construction is relatively straightforward, the wave stitch pattern requires attention to stitch placement and pattern repeat accuracy. Knitters should be comfortable reading stitch patterns, maintaining even tension, and working in the round before beginning this project.