What type of knitting is associated with the Sámi? The majority of traditional Sámi clothing is made of reindeer skin or wool felt. Traditionally, very little is knit, except for mittens. This course will explore a knitting motif of the North Sámi in Norrbotten, Sweden. False Entrelac mittens are based on a beautiful pair of Sámi mittens the instructor observed at the Nordiska museet (Nordic Museum) in Stockholm. The original pair were obtained from Jukkasjärvi in 1925, along with four other, colorful pairs. The colors and patterns mimic those found in the North Sámi gákti, or traditional dress.

Join instructor Laura Ricketts in working these historical mittens while examining the Sámi’s rich tradition in wool. Students should know how to knit, purl, knit in the round and have stranding experience.

Required Tools

• Yarn: Rauma Finullgarn (100% Norwegian 2-ply wool yarn, fingering weight; 191 yards [175 m] / 50g [1.75 oz.] ball); two balls in #418 red (MC), one ball each of #4405 yellow (CC1), #437 royal blue (CC2), and #458 green (CC3). You can purchase these yarns from Ingebretsons in Minneapolis, they can mail yarn or have it ready for curbside pickup. You can reach them at Ingebretsons.com or 1-800-279-9333.
• Needles: Set of 5 double pointed, size US 1 / 2.25 mm, or size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: Scrap of smooth waste yarn for thumb, 2 markers, a tapestry needle and a credit card or same size cardboard for making tassels

Project dimensions

• Finished size: 9 ½ inches [24.5 cm] long and 4 inches [10 cm] wide after blocking, excluding braid and tassel
• Gauge: 16.5 sts x 20 r = 2 in / 5 cm over stranded pattern