One Little Mitten Selbuvotter Style

I've tweaked the charts for the Squirrel Mittens a bit: changed the direction of the main motif so that the squirrels will be facing each other when worn, broken up some (but not all) of the long stretches of a single color, substituted a different side border. I debated whether the squirrels should have their heads toward the wrist or towards the fingertips. Since the mittens are for a child, I decided that the squirrels should be right side up when the wearer looks at his/her hands, so it's "heads toward fingertips". The new charts (in pdf format) are here.


These are charts only, and do not include line by line directions. If you have ever knit Norwegian style mittens you will know that a chart is all that is needed.


The sample was worked in Knit Picks "Telemark" DK weight wool at a gauge of 6 1/2 sts per inch, giving finished measurements of 6 inches around the palm. This resulted in a pretty firm fabric, and if I were doing it over I would probably shoot for 6 sts/inch. For larger mittens worsted weight could be used at around 4.5 sts/inch to make mittens measuring 7 1/2 inches around the palm.






This is what the back looks like. You will notice that at the left side of the top decrease section there is a bit of goofiness. While I cannot exactly say "I meant to do that.", I will quote Terri Shea:


"Selbuvotter are folk objects, not high art. A hallmark of folk art is the small mistakes and inconsistencies; they are what give a piece its life and liveliness..."


All the same, I'll be aiming to get it right on the second mitten.

While I'm on the Nordic Theme (I was going to say

on the Nordic Track, but that's something else altogether, and I've never been on one.)

Oh yeah, Nordic Theme. For my birthday, my lovely daughter gave me this

It's Rosemaling, and I love it. It's a little plaque about 6" across. I've been walking around the house holding it up to the walls, and I think I've found the right spot. Now I just need to get out the hammer and a nail.

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When I posted the Squiddle Mitt pattern, I forgot to mention that it's set up for the left hand. When working the right, you have to reverse the whole thing. It is really not that difficult to read a color chart backwards, but to make things easier, here's the right hand chart. I didn't do the thumb again, because that's the same either way.

squiddle mitt

In other words, I've been messing around with graphs for a little mitten with a squirrel. This is the front.



The squirrel motif came from Nomis Scandinavian Sweaters by Kajsa Lindqvist and Natalie Hebert (Nomis Vol 1), 1946. I added the bits that are supposed to look like leafy branches.

Knit at a gauge of 6 sts per inch, this should fit a 3 to 5 year old. I've posted the complete chart here. At this point, it's only the chart, but if you have ever knit this style mitten that will be sufficient. White square = Main Color, Black square = Contrast Color. Any squares that are pale green or grey = no stitch. M = make one increase. / and \ = decreases. The horizontal red line indicated the thumb opening. Work a cuff in 2 x 2 rib (or cuff of your choice) before you start the color chart. Other than that, so far, you're on your own.

I will get around to writing full directions at some point. It may be a while before I actually knit these. If anyone else wants to do it and send me a pic I would be delighted.