Kinsley Hat & Mitts in West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Colours - DBP0074 - Downloadable PDF

Kinsley Hat & Mitts Knitting Pattern by Sarah Hatton – West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Colours

The Kinsley Hat & Mitts is a beautifully coordinated knitwear set designed by Sarah Hatton and published as a downloadable PDF pattern by West Yorkshire Spinners. The pattern covers two accessories — a hat and a pair of mittens — making it an ideal project for knitters looking to create a matching cold-weather set with a rustic, heritage-inspired aesthetic. Rated at an intermediate difficulty level, this pattern is well suited to knitters who are comfortable with standard shaping techniques and are ready to explore the satisfying rhythm of aran-weight hand knitting.

About the Designs

Kinsley Hat

The Kinsley Hat is a classic knitted hat designed to be worked in West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Colours aran yarn. As part of a coordinating set, the hat shares the same yarn, needle size, and overall aesthetic as the accompanying mitts, making both pieces ideal for wearing together or gifting as a set. The design reflects the timeless, rustic appeal that is central to the The Croft collection, drawing on the rich heritage of Shetland wool craftsmanship.

Kinsley Mitts

The Kinsley Mitts are a pair of knitted mittens designed to complement the Kinsley Hat. Mittens are a traditional knitted accessory that typically involve working in the round, thumb gusset shaping, and decreases to close the top of the hand. These techniques place the project firmly in the intermediate category, rewarding knitters with a practical and stylish finished accessory.

Techniques and Stitches

As an aran-weight knitting pattern at intermediate level, the Kinsley Hat & Mitts is likely to draw on a range of well-established hand knitting techniques. These may include:

• Working in the round – both hats and mittens are traditionally constructed using circular or double-pointed needles to create seamless tubes
• Ribbing – commonly used at hat brims and mitten cuffs to create a neat, stretchy edge that holds its shape
• Stocking stitch – a smooth, classic fabric created by alternating knit and purl rows or rounds, ideal for showcasing the rich solid shades of The Croft Shetland Colours
• Crown decreases – shaping the top of the hat by working decreases at regular intervals to draw the fabric to a neat point or gathered finish
• Thumb gusset shaping – a key mitten technique involving gradual increases to create a comfortable, fitted thumb opening
• Cast on and bind off methods – foundational skills applied at cuffs, brims, and mitten tops

Materials – Yarn and Needles

The pattern is specifically written for West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Colours, an aran weight yarn made from 100% Shetland wool. Each hank contains 100g / 166 metres / 182 yards, giving knitters a generous amount of yarn to work with. The recommended needle size is 5mm (US 8), and the stated tension is 18 stitches over 10cm / 4 inches in stocking stitch. Achieving the correct tension swatch before beginning is particularly important for ensuring a well-fitting hat and mitts.

About West Yorkshire Spinners The Croft Shetland Colours Yarn

The Croft Shetland Colours is a collection of timeless solid shades produced by West Yorkshire Spinners in association with Jamieson & Smith of Shetland, who are based in Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands, and are long established as the islands' primary purchasers of the Shetland wool clip. The yarn is available in twelve solid shades, each named after towns and villages across the Shetland Islands — including Norwick, Belmont, Fetlar, Ollaberry, Voxter,