The Tesserae pattern is for simple fingerless mittens that are worked in the round from the wrist up. The cuff is worked in a single-colour 2x2 rib, then the hand is worked in stranded colourwork, followed by another 2x2 rib. This ensures a snug fit at the wrist and around the fingers. The mittens have folk-style forethought thumbs that are worked at the end of the project. The thumb is positioned by using waste yarn while the main part of the mitten is being knitted; after the rest of the mitten is complete, the waste yarn is removed, and the thumb is worked in stocking stitch, with a 1x1 rib to finish it.

Pattern details

Sizes
To fit palm circumference: 19 cm | 7.5 inches.
Finished circumference: 20 cm | 7.25 inches.

Yarn
Jamieson’s of Shetland, Shetland Spindrift (4 ply; 100% Shetland wool; 105 m | 115 yds per 25 g skein).

Purple & pink colour way:
Yarn A: Loganberry 1290: 1 x 25 g skein.
Yarn B: Rose 550: 1 x 25 g skein.
Yarn C: Sherbert 188: 1 x 25 g skein.

Green & blue colour way:
Yarn A: Peacock 258: 1 x 25 g skein.
Yarn B: Aqua 929: 1 x 25 g skein.
Yarn C: Eucalyptus 794: 1 x 25 g skein.

Needles & Accessories
3.25 mm | UK 10 | US 3 knitting needles of your preferred method of knitting small circumferences.
2.75 mm | UK 12 | US 2 knitting needles of your preferred method of knitting small circumferences.
1 lockable stitch marker, for marking the start of the round.
Length of smooth contrasting waste yarn for forethought thumb placement.
Mitten blockers (optional).

Gauge | Tension
32 sts and 32 rows to 10 cm | 4 inches over stranded colourwork stocking stitch, using 3.25 mm needles after washing and blocking.

Other details
The Tesserae fingerless mittens pattern is suitable for knitters new to Fair Isle knitting, because it requires the use of just a few colours and techniques. The background is in one colour, and each peerie pattern is in a different colour. There are no more than three adjacent stitches worked in any one colour, so the only stranded colourwork technique used is stranding.