Description
Mittens have long played a part in traditional Latvian society. In the past, young women aspired to have from 50 to 200 pairs of mittens knitted for their wedding day when they would give mittens to in-laws, people who contributed to the wedding, and for hanging in auspicious places in the new home. The mitten as a symbol of friendship and esteem continues today. In 2006, at the NATO summit in Riga, 4500 pairs of mittens were knitted by the people to give to participants!
The design for these Latvian Fingerless Mitts was inspired by the book Latviesu Rakstainie Cimdi by Mirzda Slava, and contains several traditional techniques and motifs: the scalloped cuff, the Split Herringbone Braid, the afterthought thumb, the purl ridges, a picot hem at the top, and classic Latvian motifs.
You can buy the kit here!
Finished Sizes
Women’s Medium (Large):
7 3/4″/19.5 cm (8″/20 cm) hand circumference
7 1/2″/19 cm (8 1/2″/21.6 cm) long
Gauge
Women’s Medium: 26 sts and 30 rnds = 4″/10 cm
in two-color St st with sport weight yarn
Women’s Large: 24 sts and 26 rnds = 4″/10 cm in
two-color St st with worsted weight yarn
Materials
- Brown Sheep Nature Spun, 100% wool yarn, sport weight (worsted weight): 1 skein each of #730 Natural (Main Color-MC), #308 Sunburst gold (Contrasting Color1-CC1), #N24 Evergreen or #N56 Meadow Green(CC2), #N85 Peruvian Pink (CC3), #117S Winter Blue (CC4)
- Women’s Medium: One set 3.5 mm double-pointed needles
- Women’s Large: One set 4.0 mm double-pointed needles. If you are proficient in the Magic Loop or working withtwo circs, use those appropriate needles.
- Tapestry needle and stitch markers
