Ole Reindeer Mittens by Lucinda Guy

Ole Reindeer Mittens

Knitting
October 2014
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
31 stitches and 36 rows = 4 inches
in chart patt in the round after washing
US 2 - 2.75 mm
460 yards (421 m)
6" (15 cm) hand circumference and 6" (15 cm) long.
English

First Frost Cozy Folk Knitting is available in print and eBook.

Traditional knit ting techniques from several different Northern countries have been combined to create an unmistakably Nordic-looking pair of cozy little mittens. The reindeer motif is a very old and sacred Nordic symbol, and images of stylized reindeer and other antlered animals have been found in ancient cave paintings and stone carvings throughout Scandinavia. The stylized reindeer pattern is synonymous specifically with the stylized black-and-white motifs of traditional Norwegian Selbu knitting. These sacred reindeer shapes would often be accompanied by a small geometric stylized sun symbol, just as they are here.

The Ole Reindeer Mittens have been knitted in the round with 5 double-pointed needles in a fingering-weight, pure Shetland wool and have a two-color Estonian braided cast-on and traditional Norwegian patterns. These patterns and the reindeer are decorated with simple duplicate stitches and embroidery stitches and, once completed, the mittens are washed in warm soapy water and left to dry flat.

Needles Set of 5 size U.S. 2 (2.75 mm) double-pointed (dpn). Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct gauge.

Notions Marker (m); holder or waste yarn; tapestry needle.