Everywhere I went in Lithuania, I was amazed by the beautiful and strong voices of everyday people who fearlessly sing at any opportunity. Visiting the Mėguva wool and craft group in Palanga, on the edge of the Baltic Sea, June, Dominic, and I were stuffed full of chocolate, coffee, and brandy as we were serenaded by the group’s members, who perform traditional folk songs while dressed in reproductions of National Costume ensembles. On the table in front of us, surrounded by coffee cups, was a pile of knitted wrist warmers. Many were made in the traditional holiday style with garter stitch and beads, but several others were made with stranded colorwork, and would probably have been worn in everyday life during the nineteenth century.

These colorwork wristers are a reproduction of one of the pairs we were shown while visiting the Mėguva group. Knit in the round with an ancient geometric design, these are given a modern touch with the addition of a lace edging.