Below are the Jekyll starters I’ve developed and open sourced. Each theme contains the _layouts , _includes , Sass/CSS, JavaScript, and other sample files needed to build and host a site or blog.

The basic setup for each of my themes is roughly the same:

Install gem-based theme, remote theme, or fork the theme repository you’d like to use. Install Bundler gem install bundler and run bundle install to install all dependencies (Jekyll, plugins, and so on). Update _config.yml , data files (found in _data ), and replace sample posts and pages with your own.

For more specifics, review each theme’s documentation by clicking on the setup guide buttons below.

So Simple is a Jekyll theme for your words and pictures. Features include:

Available as a gem-based theme and remote theme.

Compatible with GitHub Pages.

A variety of layouts with clean and readable typography.

Microformats markup to make post content machine-readable and discoverable.

Disqus Comments and Google Analytics support.

SEO best practices via Jekyll SEO Tag.

Options to customize the theme and make it your own.

Setup guide Theme preview

Basically Basic is a Jekyll theme meant as a substitute for the default — Minima. Conventions and features found there are fully supported by Basically Basic, with a few enhancements thrown in for good measure:

Available as a gem-based theme and remote theme.

Compatible with GitHub Pages.

Clean responsive design with six customizable skins.

Curriculum Vitæ/Resume layout powered by JSON data.

About page layout.

Disqus Comments and Google Analytics support.

SEO best practices via Jekyll SEO Tag.

Setup guide Theme preview

A flexible two-column Jekyll theme with a minimalist aesthetic.

Setup guide Theme preview

A responsive Jekyll blog theme designed to give your site a modern and somewhat cliché feel.

Compatible with GitHub Pages.

Modern design with rounded rectangles and subtle gradients.

Animated main menu.

Built-in support for Sass and data files (requires Jekyll 2.x).

Setup guide Theme preview

A Jekyll starter based off of an older incarnation of Made Mistakes.

Compatible with GitHub Pages.

Built-in support for Sass and data files (requires Jekyll 2.x).

Off canvas menu.

Tile based archives.

Optional table of contents, share links, Disqus comments modules, and more.

Setup guide Theme guide

License

These themes are free and open source software, distributed under the MIT License. Feel free to modify them to suit your needs.