Pretty Knitted Hands

This stylish and beautifully photographed book contains 27 knitted mitten patterns for women and men. The book is split into seasons, with eight pairs for spring and summer, seven pairs for autumn and twelve pairs of mittens for winter.

Using lots of different styles, stitches, patterns and colours, there are lacy, fingerless types for spring, summer and autumn and thicker, enclosed mittens for the winter patterns. From the warmest wool to the sheerest silk, a wide range of yarns are used and there are mittens suitable for occasions as diverse as a summer party, a wedding, everyday country walks and the coldest of winter days.

Some of the mittens, such as Sigrid and Elisabet, are delicate and lacy, others such as Elsa and Helga are worked in single colours; while others, such as Doris, Astrid and Ivar are beautifully patterned, and some are worked in stunning cable designs, such as Stina, Rune and Rolf.

The variety of mittens in this book is simply superb and the patterns are suitable for both competent beginners and more advanced knitters.   1. Hetty
   2. Sigrid
   3. Barbara
   4. Olga
   5. Elsa
   6. Elisabeth
   7. Lottie
   8. Rita
   9. Stella
   10. Rachel
   11. Ivy
   12. Beau
   13. Hilda
   14. Lily
   15. Kerstin
   16. Astrid
   17. Vicky
   18. Martha
   19. Doris
   20. Bethan
   21. Esther
   22. Sacha
   23. Sian
   24. Sam
   25. Francis
   26. Otto
   27. TalulaBooklist 2016
Mittens and wrist warmers are popular items to knit, and these 27 patterns cover a range of styles. Many are designed with warmth in mind, but none are without a fashionable sensibility. The patterns are divided by season (spring and summer are combined into one category), with 7 to 12 offered for each time of year, and range from traditional colorwork to lace openwork to cables. As both authors live in Sweden, the influence of traditional Scandinavian stranded colorwork is strong, and more than half of the patterns feature this type of design. Many require the knitter to work in the round using two colors simultaneously. A brief introduction features details on choosing to use double-pointed needles or the magic-loop method as well as basic skills, including casting on and casting off. All but a few of the patterns use 2.5 mm (U.S. size 2) knitting needles and lace or fingering weight yarn, and all are charted with accompanying short written directions. The charts are produced in color and are large enough that following them is easy on the eyes. — Anne Heidemann

Library Journal 2016

Swedish knitters Falk and Svanlund present a selection of seasonally inspired mittens and wrist warmers, ranging from lightweight pieces suitable for a cool morning to cozy mittens ideal for the chilliest winter day. The Spring/Summer section features a variety of light- to medium-weight wrist warmers embellished with cables or lace, while the Fall section includes heavier-weight wrist warmers with cables and colorwork in an autumnal palette. The Winter section focuses on mittens, featuring stranded knitting with traditional Scandinavian motifs and embellishments, such as Latvian braid and colorful embroidery. The majority of the patterns include clear, easy-to-follow charts, and the designs are appealing. VERDICT Knitters looking for attractive and sophisticated accessories will appreciate this collection—especially if they enjoy colorwork.Kamilla Svanlund learned to knit as a child, but it was when she was a teenager that knitting really became a big part of her life. She started knitting mittens for her friends in upper secondary school, and it was fun to be able to give them something unique. That was how she started designing mittens – she could knit them quickly and there was room for lots of motifs on them, so she was able to give her creativity free rein.

She started her blog in 2008 mainly to find other people with the same interest who were not at least 25 years older than her. Writing it has helped her to find lots of new friends and started discussions and debates on craft-related issues that are close to her heart.


Blog: www.hemslojd-tidningen.se/argastickaren

Clara Falk has knitted every day since she was about 14. At that time it was about having something unique, something that few other people had. Since then, knitting has developed into something that she needs to do to feel happy – knitting is calming and provides an outlet for her creativity, as well as time to reflect. In 2007 she started a blog, as she did not know many people who knitted at that time. The blog became a forum where people responded to what she was doing, and at the same time she got to know other people who knitted and could discuss things with them and be inspired.


Blog: www.clarastickar.blogspot.com,  WEBSITE: www.clarafalk.se