Folk Mittens & Knitting little luxuries

As is often the case, when I get interested in a subject, I read every book I can get my hands on that is related. This winter I have been learning how to take my knitting abilities beyond scarves and the knit stitch. As such I have had a steady stream of knitting books coming in and out of the house from my library. A few that have really caught my eye:

"Folk Mittens" by Marcia Lewandowski. This book features traditional folk patterns for mittens from all around the world including Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, Asia and more. There are instructions for making a lined mitten and everything from the most simple solid color mittens to the most complex mittens using all the colors of the rainbow. If you have ever seen a Scandinavian sweater with all the complex snowflakes and stars, you can get an idea of what this book can teach you do with a mitten. I am hoping to give one of these patterns a try, if only I could make up my mind which pattern to try!


"Knitting little luxuries" by Louisa Harding. The pictures in this book are gorgeous and beautifully laid out. My librarian Melissa said that just looking at this book made her want to learn to knit! These are simple projects that are presented so appealingly that you might think the projects are complicated and beyond a beginner's skill. The book's presentation is what I would call Modern Victorian and the projects are divided into, "Eclectic and Quirky", "Textured and Modern", "Pretty and Feminine", and "Traditional and Folk". Every pattern has an updated modern feel. There are patterns for handbags, little neck scarves, gloves and mittens, lots of adorable hats, and more. The book includes a chapter on yarn information and a chapter on techniques, stitches and terms. This is one rare how-to book that I would consider purchasing. It would be a great source for gifts for all the females in your life.