Valley Yarns Opal Knitting Pattern

Valley Yarns Opal Fingerless Mitts

What is Being Made

The Valley Yarns Opal is a pair of fingerless mitts designed by Susan Baron. These mitts are crafted to keep your hands warm while leaving your fingers free for everyday tasks and activities. The fingerless design combines practical functionality with stylish appeal, making them suitable for personal use or as gifts. The finished mitts measure 7 inches in circumference (unstretched) and 7½ inches in length.

Techniques Used

This project employs several advanced knitting techniques appropriate for advanced beginner skill levels. The mitts are worked seamlessly in the round using the bottom-up construction method, which creates a continuous tube without seams. A gusset thumb is incorporated into each mitt, with specific construction differences between the left and right mitts to ensure proper thumb placement. The pattern features a twisted stitch zigzag design that creates a mirror image on each mitt, adding visual interest while showcasing your stitchwork. Increases are worked using M1R (make one right) and M1L (make one left) techniques to shape the thumb gusset gradually.

Stitches Used

• Stockinette stitch – the primary stitch used for the body of the mitts, creating a smooth, classic fabric
• Ribbing – worked at the wrist for elasticity and a finished edge
• Twisted stitch zigzag pattern – a decorative stitch pattern that runs vertically and creates the signature design element
• Cable techniques – incorporated into the overall stitch pattern work
• Increases – M1R and M1L stitches used for shaping the thumb gusset

Materials and Tools

These fingerless mitts are worked in Valley Yarns Amherst, a 100% merino wool yarn that is both warm and soft. The project requires 2 balls of yarn in Light Gray, with each ball containing 50 grams and 109 yards of yardage. Construction requires US size 8 (5.0 mm) double-pointed needles (dpns), or the size needed to achieve the specified gauge of 18 stitches and 21 rounds equaling 4 inches in stockinette stitch when unstretched. Additional materials include 2 stitch markers for tracking pattern repeats, a cable needle for working cable techniques, a stitch holder or waste yarn for holding stitches during construction, and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Pattern Details

The pattern is available as a downloadable PDF and is sized as one size. Construction begins with a Long-Tail Cast-On method to create 36 stitches divided evenly across three double-pointed needles (12 stitches per needle). The mitts are worked from the cuff upward to the finger opening, with the zigzag pattern worked on one needle while stockinette stitch is maintained on the other needles. The thumb gusset is increased gradually over multiple rounds, with 3 gusset stitches initially placed between stitch markers and eventually expanding to 15 gusset stitches before being placed on a holder for later completion. Separate directions are provided for the Right Mitt and Left Mitt to accommodate proper thumb placement on each hand.