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I’ve always thought that one of the great joys of knitting is the space it gives you to try something new, without too much fuss. When I first picked up Color and Knit Mittens by Aleks Byrd, it wasn’t with a business idea in mind - it was simply because I fancied giving colourwork another go.
Now, I’ve been knitting for some years, but colourwork is a relatively recent addition to my repertoire. It’s the kind of technique that keeps me interested - a bit of thinking, a bit of planning, and a good excuse to play with colours. It turns out mittens are the perfect little canvas for experimenting, and Aleks has done a beautiful job of making that process both fun and approachable. After knitting a few pairs (for myself, really), I realised we had the perfect chance to create some kits. So that’s exactly what we did.
If you’ve been with Garthenor Organic a while, you’ll know that we don’t just make yarn - we make the yarn we want to knit with. For this project, I pulled together two of our favourites: Number 2 and Snowdonia. Both are breed-specific, GOTS-certified organic, and spun right here in our little mill in West Wales.
I’ve always loved how the undyed shades from our flock and beyond play together - something I first instinctively start to notice right back at shearing, and again when I’m blending fibres in the mill. With Number 2, you get a blend of various heritage breeds - soft, characterful, and brilliant for stranded colourwork. Snowdonia is a two-ply mix of Romney and Hebridean, and it’s a touch smoother, perfect for showing off a crisp contrast.
I had the luxury of laying out dozens of skeins on the bench while choosing pairings, which made the process a lot of fun. I wanted options that offered a good contrast - nothing too shouty, just a pleasing clarity when worked up. If you’re not sure about your own colour choices, I always recommend taking a photo and switching it to black and white - it’s a handy trick for checking contrast. Or just squint, if your phone’s out of reach.
What really drew me to Aleks’ book was its format - it’s part pattern collection, part colouring book, which makes it wonderfully interactive. There are twelve mitten designs in all, and the way Aleks has written them makes it easy to get going, even if you’re new to colourwork.
I appreciated the balance: a clear, simple base pattern, and then all the room in the world to make it your own. You can colour in the charts first (I did - very satisfying), and then pick your yarns and cast on. There’s enough variety in the designs to suit however much headspace you’ve got available.
Endless stocking stitch has its place - especially with a good film on a sunday afternoon - but I do like a project that keeps me thinking. With colourwork, it’s the rhythm and the attention that I enjoy most. Looking a row ahead, planning when to catch floats, and watching the pattern grow stitch by stitch - it feels mindful in a very practical way.
If you’ve not tried it before, I’d encourage you to take your time. Don’t pull your floats too tight, and keep an eye on the next row to see where you might need to anchor them. That tiny bit of thinking ahead really does make you feel more in tune with the project as a whole.
And if you’re feeling brave, you can always try knitting the mittens two at a time. I gave it a go - after a few pairs the usual way - and while it definitely took some concentration (especially as I’ve only used this technique a handful of times for socks, which are a touch less fiddly), it’s a lovely way to make sure you end up with an actual pair at the end.
There’s something very comforting about a project that doesn’t ask too much of you. The mittens are small enough to take with you - no giant bag needed - and they’re light in your lap, which is very welcome when the weather warms up. But it’s not just their size that makes them satisfying - it’s the feeling that you’re quietly getting ready.
For me, knitting these mittens feels like filling the log store, bringing in the hay, or digging up the last of the potatoes. They’re a way of preparing for what’s to come. That calm, steady readiness is one of the things I love most about making.
So, what you’ll find in each kit is two skeins of Garthenor Organic yarn (you choose the pairing) and a copy of Color and Knit Mittens by Aleks Byrd. You’ll also find space - space to experiment, to practise, to learn something new. And hopefully, to enjoy the process along the way.
If you’re new to colourwork, this is a brilliant place to start. And if you’ve been doing it for years, it’s a perfect excuse to play with colour and make something beautifully useful.
We’ve only put together a limited number of kits, and each pairing has been chosen by hand - by me, in fact, sat at my bench with skeins all around me. I do hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
- Sally