Perlenstulpen Lancea

Perlenstulpen Lancea: Beaded Knit Mittens by riwollis

What Is Being Made

Perlenstulpen Lancea are decorative beaded mittens (or wrist cuffs) designed by independent designer riwollis. These are knitted accessories featuring integrated beadwork, combining functional warmth with ornamental embellishment. The mittens are worked in a horizontal construction method, allowing the crafter to customize both length and circumference based on personal preference.

Knitting Techniques

This intermediate-level project employs several specialized knitting techniques to achieve its beaded effect. The primary construction method is horizontal knitting, where stitches are cast on to determine the length of the mittens, while the number of pattern repeats controls the circumference. The fabric is worked entirely in garter stitch (knit stitch on all rows), which creates a textured, reversible surface ideal for showcasing beadwork.

A key technique featured in this pattern is twisted stitches (verschränkte Maschen), which are worked throughout to add structural integrity and visual interest. The beads are pre-strung onto the yarn before knitting begins, then incorporated into the fabric as you work, allowing them to sit prominently on the finished surface. The pattern is worked from a stitch chart (Strickschrift), which guides bead placement across the 16-row repeat.

Stitches Used

• Garter stitch (kraus rechts) as the primary fabric structure
• Twisted stitches (verschränkte Maschen) throughout for texture and durability
• Beaded stitch integration following the 16-row pattern repeat
• Blind cast-on (blinden Anschlag) using a helper yarn for a refined edge

Materials and Yarn Specifications

The sample shown uses Merino 160 by Fernerwolle, a 100% merino superwash yarn in colorway 419 (black), with a yardage of 160 meters per 50-gram skein. This sport-weight yarn is ideal for creating fine, drape-friendly mittens with excellent stitch definition.

For beadwork, the pattern specifies Rocailles beads in matte finish with silver lining (Rocailles matt mit silbereinzug) from Pracht, item number 9550-4, measuring 2.6 mm. These small, uniform beads create a sophisticated shimmer against the dark yarn base.

Needle size used: 3.0 mm knitting needles for the sample. The pattern accommodates needles ranging from 2.0 to 3.0 mm depending on individual gauge and yarn choice. Additional materials include a beading needle, sewing thread for stringing beads onto yarn, a helper yarn for the blind cast-on, and an embroidery needle for seaming.

The pattern notes that alternative 4-ply sock yarn can be substituted, provided the yarn weight allows beads to be threaded onto it successfully. Any yarn compatible with bead-stringing can work for this project.

Sizing and Gauge

The mittens are worked horizontally, making sizing highly customizable. The sample finished dimensions are 15 cm in length and 17 cm in circumference. The pattern provides a gauge guide for planning:

• 40 cast-on stitches = 12 cm length
• 50 cast-on stitches = 15 cm length
• 60 cast-on stitches = 18 cm length

Circumference is determined by the number of 16-row pattern repeats worked before binding off, giving complete flexibility in the finished size.