Texel eBook

Fingerless Texels Knitting Pattern by Dagmar Mora

What is Being Made

The Fingerless Texels eBook contains instructions for knitting fingerless mittens inspired by the island of Texel in the North Sea. These mittens feature wave-like stitch patterns that evoke the visual movement of sea waves. The design is available in three women's sizes: XS/S, M, and L, with mitten circumferences of 17cm (6⅝"), 19cm (7⅜"), and 20.5cm (8⅛") respectively, fitting hands of the same size or larger. The fingerless construction makes these mittens versatile for activities requiring finger dexterity while maintaining wrist and hand warmth.

Techniques Used

These mittens are knit in the round using the magic loop or double-pointed needle method, which is a fundamental technique for creating seamless, tubular garments. The pattern incorporates colorwork opportunities, allowing knitters to work with multiple yarn colors throughout the project. Knitters can follow the pictured color scheme of sea and beach tones, or create abstract patterns by incorporating leftover yarn scraps, making each row of waves a different color. The wave stitch pattern is engineered to stretch well, providing excellent fit and comfort across the size range.

Stitches Used

The Fingerless Texels pattern utilizes stockinette stitch (St st) as the foundational stitch, which creates a smooth, classic fabric. The primary design element is the wave pattern, a textured stitch pattern that forms the distinctive visual motif reminiscent of ocean waves. The wave pattern has different row gauge than stockinette stitch, requiring separate tension measurements for accurate sizing and fit.

Materials and Tools

• Yarn: Fingering weight yarn such as Regia 4-ply; one 50g skein (210m/230 yards) of each color. The pattern shows examples in light camel mottled (color 0017) and blue-grey mottled (color 01980), though knitters may substitute other fingering weight yarns or combine multiple colors from stash yarn.
• Needles: Two sets of 5 double-pointed needles (DPNs) in 2.25mm/US size 1, or alternative needles suitable for knitting in the round. Needle size is provided as guidance and may be adjusted based on individual gauge.
• Additional Tools: Tapestry needle for weaving in yarn ends and finishing.

Tension and Sizing Information

Achieving correct tension is essential for proper fit. The pattern specifies two different tension measurements: 32 stitches and 44 rows equal 10x10cm (4x4") in stockinette stitch, while the wave pattern has a tension of 32 stitches and 70 rows per 10x10cm (4x4"). This significant difference in row gauge between the two stitch patterns is accounted for in the design. The wave stitch pattern is noted for its excellent stretch, which provides flexibility in fit across the three size options.

Difficulty Level

This pattern is rated as intermediate difficulty, making it suitable for knitters with foundational skills in knitting in the round and basic stitch work who are ready to expand their abilities with textured stitch patterns and potential colorwork elements.