Visiting the museums around Lithuania and seeing the different styles of hand- knit accessories in each collection was one of my favorite parts of the research I did for this book. These mittens are based on a pair June and I saw in the Šiaulių Aušros Muziejus (Šiauliai “Aušros” Museum).

The originals had a very odd, asymmetrical colorwork pattern above the cuff. I could not tell if it was meant to be a geometric design or a floral motif, or if, perhaps, a young girl was making one of her first pairs of mittens and had miscalculated when trying to knit a motif that was beyond her skill. Whatever the story behind these mittens might have been, I fell in love with their shape and colors and I knew I would make a pair for myself.

To keep the design simple, I chose a tiny clover motif that allows the cuff colors to be repeated just above the wrist. There are only five rows of stranded knitting in the entire mitten, and the lacy cuff pattern is very simple, making this a perfect project for the new color or lace knitter.

The clover motif reminds me of honey, and the shape of the mitten tips remind me of a honey pot. Honey is a popular natural treat in Lithuania and is sold at farmers markets every summer. Beehives are found all over the countryside and there is even a “Museum of Ancient Bee- keeping” (Senovinės bitininkystės muziejus) in the Aukštaitija National Park.