The darkness of a cave, damp air, water trickling down stalactites: That’s the realm of the glowworm Arachnocampa luminosa, an insect species to be found only in New Zealand. Its bioluminescent larvae (puratoke in the Maori language) can turn the ceiling of any cave into the most magical sight, reminiscent of a subterranean sky!

Puratoke Mitts are part of a small collection of mitts featuring a decorative flap that shapes the upper part of the hand and defines the thumb hole when folded over. They keep your wrists and palms warm while leaving your fingers and thumbs free to move.

Measurements (unstretched) for sizes S (M, L):
Wrist: 12.5 cm/5’’ (14 cm/5½’’, 16 cm/6¼’’)
Hand circumference (including thumb): 17.5 cm/7’’ (19 cm/7½’’, 21 cm/8¼’’)
Length: 21 cm/8¼’’ (adjustable)
To be worn with 1–3 centimetres of negative ease.

Skills required: This is an intermediate pattern, requiring knitting and purling flat and in the round, casting on (using the cable or knitted method) and binding off, increasing stitches, working short rows, working simple lace stitches and placing beads on to stitches.
The pattern includes links to some online resources covering the required techniques. Both charts and written instructions are provided for the beaded mock cable ribbing.

Beads are incorporated throughout the cuff and at random places in the thumb section and on the flap like sparkling glowworms in the dark. You can easily omit the beads, if desired, and only focus on the texture of the mock cable ribbing.

Thank you to aimeeRN, cueTpie, dizzabell, Elizabeth11, JoEmy, JolaChris, kimmyz, OPKnitter, tri-kot and woolangel for test knitting and to JoEmy for tech editing. Your input was extremely valuable and it’s been a pleasure to work with you!