The smell of wood burning, the crunch of leaves under your feet, and a chill in the air…all welcome signs of autumn. These mittens are cozy companions for any outdoor adventure a fall day could bring.

My inspiration came from summer hikes through the Catskill region of New York. I found myself wanting a pair of rustic but chic mittens that could be stuffed in a backpack or coat pocket for fall hiking or an urban adventure.

Briar Mittens feature a simple but intriguing ombre technique and a long gauntlet, which can be either worn long or scrunched up at a jacket cuff. I wanted to make mittens that were easy and fun to knit. The ombre is simple but keeps the project interesting all the way to the fingertips.

By using one of my favorite yarns, soft and tweedy Loft by Brooklyn Tweed, the project remains enticing to the end. The palette of Loft has seemingly endless color combinations, making the most challenging part of this project choosing your colors! As a bonus, there is more than enough left over from each skein to make a hat or even another set of mittens for a jealous friend.

I can’t wait until the weather turns to chilly again so I can sit by the bonfire at night with my mittens and favorite drink.