Rigel Mitts

Rigel Mitts by Evin Bail O'Keeffe

What is Being Made

The Rigel Mitts are a pair of knitted fingerless mitts designed to showcase colorwork in a simple, elegant way. Similar in design philosophy to the Rigel Cowl, these mitts feature small bursts of color that work beautifully with yarn colorways that have a dominant color accented by mini rainbow speckles or contrasting hues. The finished mitts measure 15cm in length, 8.5cm in width, and have a circumference of 18cm, making them a versatile accessory for adding warmth and style to your hands.

Techniques Used

The Rigel Mitts employ several fundamental knitting techniques suitable for intermediate-level crafters. The pattern is worked in the round using circular needles, which creates a seamless construction. The design incorporates colorwork integration, where non-dominant color yarn is strategically purled rather than knitted to create visual texture and interest. This approach allows knitters to work with multi-colored yarn without complex stranded colorwork or intarsia techniques, making it accessible while still creating striking visual results.

Stitches Used

The primary stitch structure in the Rigel Mitts is stockinette stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric. The pattern also features a colorway accented ribbing pattern that uses a combination of knit and purl stitches. When working in the round, the ribbing follows a K3, P1 repeat, where each non-dominant color yarn encountered on the needle is purled instead of knitted. This creates a subtle textural variation that highlights the color changes in the yarn. The ribbing provides structure and helps the mitts maintain their shape and fit around the wrist and hand.

Materials and Tools

The Rigel Mitts pattern calls for The Wool Kitchen BFL DK yarn in the colorway Cosmic Girl Dark. One skein is required, which contains 246 yards (225 meters) and weighs 100 grams. The yarn is composed of 100% Superwash BFL (Blue-Faced Leicester), a durable and soft natural fiber that is easy to care for. Knitters will need US6 (4mm) circular needles measuring 24 inches (60cm) in length, along with a stitch marker to track the beginning of rounds and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends. The recommended gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rounds over 4 inches (10cm) in stockinette stitch, which should be checked before beginning to ensure proper fit.

Difficulty Level

The Rigel Mitts are rated as an intermediate skill level project. This classification reflects the requirement for knitters to be comfortable working in the round with circular needles, maintaining consistent gauge, and understanding how to modify stitch execution (knitting versus purling) based on yarn color. While not a beginner project, the pattern avoids complex colorwork techniques, making it an excellent choice for knitters looking to expand their skills beyond basic stockinette construction.