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December 31, 2005
Estonian and Latvian mittens
Yesterday, I got some great advice from Pamela. She pointed me to the books of Aino Praakli, Kirikindad I and II, about Estonian mittens. I started googling them and one thing led to another and....
Well, first of all, I ordered the first book from an Estonian online bookshop. I can't wait for it to arrive!
Then I googled the Latvian word for mittens, 'cimdi'. This gave me many great links, especially when I did a google picture search. I really like this one, it has lots of pictures of colorful Latvian mittens. But this one really made my heart beat a little faster: charts for Latvian mittens and gloves! Go check it out!
In my search, I also came across some very nice stamps from the Latvian Postal Service:
And this one from the Estonian Postal Service:
Wow!
By the way, I think Ajoursteek when questioning the gauge given with the pattern for Baltic mittens in Handwerken zonder Grenzen. It does seem very tight in comparison with the amount of stitches you work with. I wrote an email to the editor with this questions, and I'll let you know when they get back to me.
Do I need another hobby?
Mmmm, I suppose you would get different answers to that question depending on who you're asking, but the fact is yesterday my balcony looked like this:
And that's only half of it. Yes, I got four fleeces from a colleague who also runs a farm. I love the colors of the wool. The other two fleeces which aren't in the picture are very dark brown. The ones you see here are from the same kind of sheep, but from older ones. They turn grey with age.
So now I have to learn how to spin. I borrowed a spinning wheel, so maybe next week I'll give it a try.
Just to show T. I *really* am going to use this stuff, I made some things with a felting needle (also my first try).
A little bird, inspired by this website.
What else could I make from this beautiful fleece?
Posted by saartje at December 31, 2005 1:54 PM
Comments
Wonderful mitten links! I have the Mirdza Slava book that the charted patterns are from. It's a great resource. Latvian mittens are high on my list of projects for the new year!
Posted by: Jan at December 31, 2005 3:55 PM
Thanks so much for the links. Those charts are unbelieveable! I have a sudden jones for two colour knitting. Have a blast with theose fleeces! And a Happy New Year!
Posted by: julia fc at December 31, 2005 4:33 PM
What beautiful stamps!
Posted by: chelee at December 31, 2005 8:02 PM
Dear Saartje, many thanks for these beautiful cord on the left of. An insanity!!!! I am pleased much about it! Finally I can knit also so beautiful gloves with wonderful sample. I hope, it succeed to me also. And the fleeces are soooo nice. I wish a beautiful, lucky and successful new year 2006 you and your family
Maartje
Posted by: Maartje at December 31, 2005 8:51 PM
Visit this blog and see the NOv. 11th posting about felted ornaments using cookie cutters.. I could totally see some wonderful gingerbread men ornaments made from that fleece. http://bloominknitiot.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Willow at December 31, 2005 9:17 PM
Those links were great! Now I am dying to make mittens!
Posted by: Laura at January 1, 2006 3:39 AM
Hello Saartje! Thanks so much for the links; those latvian charts are gorgeous.
Happy knitting - and spinning - in 2006!
Posted by: Sophie at January 1, 2006 11:52 AM
Great links, thanks! I am giving your blog address to tricotnordique, our knitting group in yahoo, where it will have some success!
And I am happy to see that you gonna spin, I find it great!
Happy new year and health,
Fleur
Posted by: fleur at January 1, 2006 10:54 PM
Geweldige patronen die je gevonden hebt. Dat wij in Nederland nog niet zo'n mooie postzegels hebben!
Posted by: Berthi at January 2, 2006 11:37 AM
I think you would enjoy a book on Lithuanian gloves that I bought on eBay about a year ago: Lietuvininku pirstines by Irena Regina Merkiene and Marija Pautieniute-Banioniene. It's no. 3 in the Lietuvos etnologija series (ISBN 9986-34-024-1). I can't remember who I bought it from, but I have seen copies on eBay since then. It is a fairly new book (1998) and I think someone must have a stack of them that they are selling off one by one. It doesn't have patterns, but lots and lots of charts that you can follow and lots of examples of gloves and mittens. The book is written in Lithuanian and English. Thanks for these links!
Posted by: Brigid at January 2, 2006 5:29 PM
I love the Latvian charts! I am definitely going to use one for some mittens. I was really struck in looking at the charts how much better all the designs with 3 colors looked compared to the 2 color designs.
Happy New Year Saartje!
Posted by: Nanette at January 2, 2006 7:35 PM
You definately need a new hobby if it's spinning you're talking about. Everybody needs spinning! Have fun with your wool and wheel :)
Posted by: Tina at January 2, 2006 8:04 PM
Als je een leuke site zoekt over wol en wat er allemaal nog meer van wordt gemaakt en veel info hierover, kijk dan eens op de wol vilt en poppen club. http://www.clubs.nl/community/default.asp?clubid=251946
Hier wordt zoveel aan info gegeven over van alles wat met wol te maken heeft. Geen breien, alhoewel enkelen wel spinnen en hun breiwerken laten zien;-) Maar wel van alles over viltnaalden, natvilten enz.
Posted by: Martine at January 3, 2006 1:21 PM
Wow, what a wealth of great Latvian color designs! I've just started getting into two-colored knitting recently, so I'm gonna have to try these out. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Yuki at January 3, 2006 5:07 PM
Great links! Thank you so much.On the Latvian mittens site are also a lot of socks...
And look this at this one: http://www.liis.lv/cimdi
Happy New Year - may all your wishes become true.
Christa
Posted by: Christa at January 3, 2006 7:22 PM
Great post with links and the pictures.
What kind of fleece is the wool? It looks beatiful!
Do you have a spin instructor?
Posted by: Irma at January 4, 2006 12:45 AM
I've been admiring your gorgeous mittens for a while now and I think I need to try some myself. Thank you so much for the link to the charts.
Do you know any sites where I could get a free pattern for Latvian mittens online? I'm on a strict yarn diet for a while and can't buy any books right now, although trust me I want to! I could just sit and look at them for hours and dream about which ones to make. Thanks!
Posted by: Kimberly at January 4, 2006 12:53 PM
Thank you for all the great Latvian links! The stamps are just wonderful. Those are beautiful fleeces by the way. Do you spin?
Posted by: Cassie at January 4, 2006 4:44 PM
I forgot how I was linked to your wonderful site - I really enjoy it! I am a great fan of Nancy Bush also - thanks for the links to the Estonian sites. Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Terry at January 10, 2006 6:25 PM
Ooh, great fleeces! Do you also have hand cards or combs, or are you spinning the lock directly?
Posted by: MJ at January 11, 2006 1:00 AM
Thanks for the tip about the books! I might order them, although shipping to the US would be huge. I love all of your color work!
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