If you loved Bellfield why not try...

Colourwork patterns are some of our most popular designs, and we know that knitters love making them too. Snuggling down with a few different colours and a pattern you love can be the perfect thing to bring joy at this time of year.

The Bellfield hat was released this week, and that got us thinking.... Sometimes after finishing a knit you loved making it can be hard to work out what finds it way onto your needles next. We have this problem too - and so if you loved the colourwork in our Bellfield hat we've come up with some pattern suggestions to inspire you that we hope you'll love just as much, as well as developing your skills and giving you knitwear that you love. Or maybe you've just knit your first colourwork project, have fallen for the technique and want to know what to knit next? We're here to help.

Cairngorm

Often one colourwork hat just isn't enough, and people often cast on another straight away to use up colours. Cairngorm might be just the pattern, a simple beanie with a vintage feel. Using traditional motifs from Northern and Eastern Europe, this is a relaxing and satisfying knit.

Cairngorm uses one of our favourite yarns for colourwork, and the same as Bellfield, Rauma PT2 from Norway. You can find the full range of colours here, or pick up a kit.

Crassula

Crassula was originally designed as part of our Ysolda Club, and if you're looking to knit a colourwork accessory with an interesting construction, this is it. This double knit cowl is a tube, beginning and ending with plain stockinette making a pattern you'll be able to work on while talking. 

Crassula knits up quickly and features a fun stitch pattern that blends traditional fair isle patterns into a modern gradient. The simple, geometric pattern is easy to follow and perfect for colourwork beginners, while the shifts in pattern across the length of the cowl will hold the interest of more experienced knitters. So, something for everyone! Find the pattern here.

Öröm

Cosy slippers can be a dream gift to both make, and receive, so if the colourwork bug is still there Öröm would be a great option. Few people like mending their knitwear, so these slippers use multiple strands of a tough yarn held together at a tight gauge. These slippers are seamless, and the colour changes are made by dropping and switching the yarn strands which, trust us, is a lot of fun. Öröm use Rauma Strikkegarn yarn, or you can find a handy yarn pack with all the wool you need here.

Bleideag

If you're looking to get very, very cosy this winter as well as having fun with colourwork our Bleideag sweater pattern may solve all your problems. It's a great one too if you don't have much experience with sweater knitting and we have free tutorials to help you along the way. Knit from the bottom up and joined to the sleeves at the yoke, you then get the magic of the colourwork pattern emerging as you decrease towards the neckline. One of the most satisfying knits ever, and it keeps you warm while you work on it.

Broughton

The Broughton mittens are a fun, challenging project featuring design details inspired by traditional Norwegian and Estonian mittens. You can knit them either as traditional mittens or practical flip-tops. (Or maybe make a pair of each.) Not only do they feature gorgeous colourwork, but there are some really fun, new techniques to get to learn like the Estonian Kihnu braids at the cuff and the afterthought method to create the flip tops and thumbs. This is an idea project if you want something to focus on, but you also get the break of the more straightforward mitten lining to relax with. We still have some kits available here.

Need some help getting started?

If you're thinking about getting started with colourwork for the first time, or are just looking to refresh your memory with some of the techniques, we've put together a handy guide to get you started. Here you'll find some of the basic skills you'll need, tips and links to free tutorials, as well as even more pattern suggestions.

Have you knit any of these patterns? We'd love to know why you chose them so please do let us know in the comments.