In the classic Norwegian Selbu mittens that inspired Belyse the thumb is typically worked entirely on the palm side, with a symmetrical gusset. This looks beautiful but can feel restrictive. For greater freedom of movement the thumbs on Belyse are positioned closer to the side of the hand, and shaped with a single column of decreases on the palm. The shaping follows the life line on the palm, and allows the colourwork pattern to flow from the back of the hand over the thumb. If you're new to stranded colourwork, or working larger motifs, the pattern includes helpful tips for handling the longer floats.

The fingers are worked flat, for a less fiddly project, using an innovative technique that was first developed by Meg Swansen, building on techniques developed by her mother, Elizabeth Zimmermann. It's just like knitting an I-cord, and is fully illustrated with step-by-step photos.