In Latvia, mittens have served a much greater purpose than simply keeping the hands warm. In Mittens of Latvia, Maruta Grasmane explores such mittens as a record of the past. Their symbolism is widely evident in Latvian folklore.
It’s a good time to be a sock knitter thanks to the endless variety of sock yarns available today! I’m a handspinner, too. So I appreciate the yarn companies that also include unusual wool breeds in their yarn offerings.
Here in the offices of PieceWork, we come across yarns made with a myriad of fibers. But even with our proximity to the Rocky Mountains, we’ve yet to come across yarn spun with bear fur!
Barbara Morrison says, Cross-knit looping is an adaptable and easily learned technique; it’s also easy to transport and a good way to use short bits and pieces of yarn or thread.
The ingenious construction of the Richmond Gloves features a double layer of fabric to keep out the chill. Here’s Lesley to tell you more about the original pattern.
The brightly colored band of patterning on the cuff of Nancy Bush’s “Amish Stockings and Socks to Knit” delights the eye.
Buff knitting is a regional technique for knitting a shagged carpet-like fabric, specifically for work mittens.
To learn to spin, I tossed Jenna into the deep end and sat her down in front of a spinning wheel before teaching her on a spindle.
Heather tells us about her brother-in-law’s family tradition of knitting booties for each new baby that comes into the family.
Margaretha Franziska Lobkowitz’s stockings are among the most beautiful period stockings I have seen. No wonder they elicit a lot of admiration.