An older title found its way to our teacart recently, the table near the shop entrance where the newest books and yarns are usually displayed. Though it’s not a new release, we’re newly aware of it, and enchanted by it, as well – let’s look inside Mittens of Latvia, by Maruta Grasmane ($40).
This hefty hardcover book collects 178 traditional colorwork mitten patterns from Latvia, recreations of ethnographic mittens from the second half of the 18th century, the 19th century, and the beginning of the 20th century.
Chapters are organized by region, and Grasmane begins each one by noting the colors, motifs, and knitting motifs most commonly used in said region.
The mittens are photographed in close detail, and presented with their charts. Paging through Mittens of Latvia, I was mesmerized – all those tiny stitches and intricate patterns!
Because Grasmane is light on knitting instructions, Mittens of Latvia functions more as a coffee table art book than a user friendly book of patterns. But intrepid knitters who have made colorwork mittens in the past can likely fill in the blanks with experience, and I hope they do – I’d love to see some of these patterns in person, keeping clever hands warm!
Look for Mittens of Latvia here at the Hillsborough Yarn Shop – we’re open 11am-5:30pm, Tuesdays-Saturdays; masks required for entry.
