Mittens

Mittens is my main specialty. When knitting mittens, I keep to the best traditions of Latvian knitting, choosing elements of the national patterns. Sometimes I develop my own patterns. Usually when I knit mittens for a certain person, the colors are related to my associations with that particular person.

Where possible, I have added a pattern that I have used for the mittens, but it may have different color scheme. Most of the patterns are originating from the books “Slava, M. Latvian Ornamented Mittens, Zinātne, Rīga, 1990” (MS). and some of them – “Grasmane, M. Mittens of Latvia, Senā klēts, Rīga, 2014” (MG). Some patterns I have designed myself (GB).
The numbers of the knitting charts include the initials of the author (e.g. MS, MG, GB) and the number of the pattern (original pattern number, pages of the pattern in the book, individual number), and in some cases the letters h (hand), c (cuff) and hp (hand palm) are added. If the patterns of the pair are symmetric for right and left hand, then the knitting chart is marked with numbers 1 and 2 (the knitter can always choose which is the right and which – the left mitten),

Presenting the mittens, I have tried to keep to the standard layout – the photo of my mittens, a digitized knitting chart (used to count and calculate the stitches for each pattern, yarn and size of mittens), and the original of the pattern.

This is my 2020 “innovation” – different mittens for each hand. Usually I knit them for people who prefer wearing different color socks and shoes, or are artists by profession or disposition.

MS # 316. This is one of my favorite patterns. I have not counted how many mittens I have knitted using it, but here are some of the examples

The texture of the “Latvian braid” in the knit

*Warm, double-knitted mittens, much more joyful colors than the original*

*These mittens are very close to ethnographic pattern (both pattern and coloring), according to MG, p.86 pattern. The pattern originates from Cesvaine, Vidzeme region, Latvia.*

These mittens are knitted in April 2022. The basic element of the pattern is the Star. The patterns and color is modified from the original pattern to match the person they were knitted for.

*These mittens are knitted in 2015, using old, sharp Danish sheep wool (except white). Used Latvian ethnographic ornament which associates with little flying bats.*

*MS_285 – very nice, but very time consuming pattern*

*The basic element of the pattern – a complicated image of the Sun*

2025. Double mittens The original pattern is adjusted to the right and left hand. One white stitch is added to each flower to emphasize the contrast. The cuff-the purl stitches are knitted with stripes.

Patterns of my own design.

These patterns are designed for a particular person, particular yarn. In some cases I use the ethnographic elements. Because of the individual character, I have not developed a knitting chart for each pair of mittens. Sometimes I develop the pattern in the knitting process. Therefore you will not find a knitting chart for each of them.

GB4. Mittens inspired by heavy snow in Jena, winter 2021. Knitted for a boy who loved building snowmen. My own drawing and design.

GB1. These mittens have my own design. The basic element – the Morning Star comes from Latvian ethnographic signs, but its location in the mitten is my design. The coloring of the mittens – dark red and white corresponds to the colors of the national flag of Latvia.

*Mittens from soft merino wool, knitted double (with lining). In the middle – ethnographic Aka (Water Well) sign*

After knitting this first pair of mittens, there were many people who liked them so much, that repeated this pattern with other color variations. They all are double-knitted and very warm. All knitted 2023.

After starting closer communication with China, I picked up the famous Yin Yang sign, and developed a knitted patterns from it, which I applied to mittens. There are particular people, to whom this sign matches very well.