Saltwater Mittens from the Island of Newfoundland

Saltwater Mittens from the Island of Newfoundland

More than 20 heritage designs to knit

by Christine LeGrow and Shirley A. Scott

Woollen mittens have long been a Newfoundlander’s best friend. The warmer the better. In a quirky climate of freeze, thaw, blow, and drizzle, good mittens made all tasks easier — to split birch, hammer a nail, gut a fish, draw and haul water, hang clothes on a line, shoot a seabird, or snare a rabbit. Social life, too, always required the finest mittens and gloves. This continues today.

These mittens are as practical as they are beautiful — double-knit with two colours means twice the warmth and wind resistance. The patterns are rated by difficulty and varied in style, including trigger mitts, wristers, five-finger mittens (a.k.a. gloves), fingerless mitts for wee ones, and, of course, classic mittens for all.

The dozens of colour photographs will inspire you to make your own bold colour choices. The nuggets of history, and tales of mittens and their knitters, make Saltwater Mittens a book knitters and non-knitters alike can enjoy.

Winner of the 2019 Best Atlantic Published Book Award.

A range of ChiaoGoo stainless steel and bamboo circular and double-pointed needles are available here.

Lykke circular and double-pointed needles are available here.