Knitch Magazine

Title:

Author: Robin Hansen

Date Published: October 2011

Review Date: October 28, 2011

Who is this book for?

Robin Hansen, well known among knitters for her previous books on mittens, explores folk mitten construction techniques in a new book, Ultimate Mittens: 28 Classic Patterns to Keep You Warm. It is a scholarly look at mittens from distinct folk traditions, not a pattern book of mitten surface designs. A folklorist, Robin Hansen looks at the origins of the mittens, along with the traditions that surrounded their use. She examines the construction of Canadian Maritime, Scandinavian, Shetland, Norwegian, Polish, Lithuanian, and Maine mittens. Knitters devised various and ingenious methods for sealing out cold air to keep hands warm, and Robin describes them in detail. Following a careful study of the original mittens, Robin reworked those styles using modern materials and solving for problems of fit and comfort. An extensive glossary of terms and techniques contains the skills needed to knit all 28 mittens. The mittens range from very easy fulled mittens and Thumbies to the challenging Boston Street Vendor’s Afghan Glove and Gershwin Fingerless Gloves. Some are knit with one strand of yarn; others are twined or knit in the Fair Isle method. Some are not even knit – there are fleece and basket weave varieties too.

What Yarn Does it Feature?

Traditional folk mittens were worn hard, mended regularly and, when beyond repair, unwound to salvage bits of yarn for mending or knitting other mittens. Folk mittens were knit using wool yarn, and it is still the fiber of choice. Light weight and medium weight yarns are required to achieve the tight gauge needed for the mittens featured in the book. Robin Hansen lists several suppliers of fine quality wool yarn and roving for the mittens, along with their contact information.

What's Inside

Ultimate Mittens is an absorbing history of the story of traditional mittens as well as a detailed guide to re-creating them, imparting sound principles for knitting mittens in general. To prevent little kittens from losing their mittens, Robin includes suggestions for a variety of cords and ties to keep mittens together. There are also instructions for adding leather palms to mittens and gloves and a detailed guide on how to repair and care for them. The large format makes it possible to include near life-size photos of mittens and oversize schematics that clearly define each section of the mittens. Multiple sizes are provided for most mittens, but for a truly custom fit, Robin how to measure the hand and knit to fit using a percentage system based on the proportions of the hand and gauge.

Using It

Knitters are guided through the history and instructions for each style of mitten. First, chapters define the method used to keep hands warm. Various traditions used textured, stranded, filled or twined styles, to name a few. A short history printed on pastel pages introduces the method. Within each chapter, readers will find a complete set of instructions for one or more styles of mittens that employ the method under scrutiny. Robin passes along interesting anecdotes about each style, describing the original versions and her adaptations. In a brief section called “Technical stuff”, Robin adds her advice about points to pay attention to in knitting the mittens. Next is a set of numbered and illustrated knitting instructions. Tricky technical terms are printed in italics as a prod for the reader to refer to the technical glossary for a detailed explanation of the maneuver. A full page schematic of the mitten numbered to correspond with each step in the knitting instructions accompanies the directions. Hint: copy this page and make your notations on stitch count and measurements to make knitting mitten number two easier. Last, there is a size chart that includes the gauge, measurements, yarn requirements and even time to knit a pair of the mittens. Level of difficulty for each pattern is designated by one to four mitten symbols.

Best Pattern

This widely researched book covers even unusual mittens like the double knit wet mittens, sisal bath mitt and basket weave Polish mittens. You will learn what thumbies and eyunmsstovu are. Stories like the miniature mitten given to reject a suitor, and the fascinating tale of how Robin Hansen unraveled the custom, make the book fun to read, too. While it is interesting to learn about how these humble objects were used in the past, Robin Hansen updates the styles and makes them accessible with clear directions that modern knitters can follow. The lovely pine needle and candlelit mittens are not just museum relics; they are masterpieces you can knit and enjoy now.

Recommendation

We sit in awe of the wealth of information in this book: it truly is the ultimate mitten book. Anyone who knits just a few styles from this thoroughly documented and well researched book will gain confidence in knitting that can transfer to other projects, and they will be keeping traditions alive.

Overall Recommendation

Whether your interest is folk tradition or simply good knitting, Robin Hansen’s Ultimate Knitting Book is a valuable reference that serious knitters should have. I rate it #10.