Aghaa’ is Navajo for wool, and Ála’ is Navajo for hands. Put them together like I did, and you have “wool hands.” Navajo has some rather complex word arrangements, so I don’t know if the name is correct, but like these mittens, it’s inspired.

These wool hands couldn’t be easier or faster to finish—two colors, simple chart, large needles, worsted weight yarn, a three-needle bind-off for the mitten body, and k2tog closure for the afterthought thumb.

I wanted to stay true to traditional Navajo colors and finally settled on the rustic charm of these contrasting shades of brown. With some embroidery skills, these could easily incorporate other traditional colors of ecru, red, gray, and black.

Disclaimer: I am not of Navajo descent and do not represent this product as the work of the Navajo Nation.

Skills
Working in the round, reading a chart, two-color stranded (Fair Isle) knitting, decreasing, three-needle bind-off.

Size
S(M/L) Hand circumference, excluding thumb: 7(8) inches, stretches to 8(9) inches; Cuff edge to fingertip: 10(11) inches. Go up or down a needle size and/or yarn weight for larger or smaller mittens.

Yarn
(MC) Knit Picks Wool of the Andes™ Worsted (100% Peruvian Highland wool; 110yd/100m per 50g skein); color: Briar Heather; 1(1)skein*
(CC) Knit Picks Wool of the Andes™ Worsted (100% Peruvian Highland wool; 110yd/100m per 50g skein); color: Fedora; 1(1) skein
* If you knit to gauge and are careful with the length of your yarn ends, you can get a pair of the M/L mittens from a single skein of MC. If you knit loose, buy a second skein.

You can also substitute Cascade 220 in Walnut Heather (#8013) for the MC and Van Dyke Brown (#7822) for the CC.

Needles
Size S: 1 set of 4 US #4/3.5mm double-point needles.
Size M/L: 1 set of 4 US #5/3.75mm double-point needles. Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions
Stitch marker, tapestry needle for weaving in ends; 1 or 2 scrap lengths of yarn in a contrasting color for afterthought thumb.

Consider joining the A Texas Girl Knits group.