These charming Tunisian fingerless mitts are a great project for those who want to learn a few easy Tunisian stitches while making snuggly covers for cold hands. The mitts are worked flat, then seamed up the side. A standard single-crochet thumb can be worked in the round, if desired.

I’ve used a similar construction to Aklori Designs’ “Tunisian Quick Mitts” pattern that is available as a free download on Ravelry. However, there are some significant differences:

• My mitts are worked from the wrist up, rather than the top down. My students found it easier to work the Tunisian Simple Stitch wrist band first, before moving into the TSS/TPS pattern that forms the main part of the hand. This also allows you to work the upper part of the mitt to the desired height, instead of sticking to a set number of rows. (I have short fingers!) You can also weigh your remaining yarn at various points during construction to be sure you’ll have enough for 2 mitts, finishing the height of the hand before using up more than half your yarn.

• You’ll begin by measuring around the largest part of your hand (just below the thumb) and creating a number of chains for your foundation row that are based on your hand measurement and your stitch tension. People’s hands are different sizes and shapes, and different types of yarn allow differing amounts of stretch. Measuring and working from your own measurements allow for better fitting mitts, no matter what yarn you use.

• The Aklori mitts did not have a thumb, but I needed to have something covering a bit of my thumb, since that’s also part of my hand that gets chilly when I’m working in a cold room. My mitts are seamed up the side, leaving a hole for the thumb, and then stitches are picked up around the thumb hole and worked in standard single crochet to the desired height.