These beautiful Skolt Sami mittens are based on a pair held in the The National Museum of Finland. The original was knitted by Satu Moshnikoff and obtained from Sevettijärvi, Finland (the homeland of the Skolt Sami) in 1987. According to the museum records, this mitten was inspired by one made by Anastasia Moshnikoff (b. 1893) and inherited by the knitter. The pattern is called “jaurash” in Skolt Sami, which can be translated as “forest ponds.”

While Skolt Sami knitting is normally in white or grey base yarn with red and blue accents, this mitten was knitted in grey, red, yellow and green. The green shows the influence of the neighboring Inari Sami peoples, who regularly use green in their traditional garments. The yellow most likely indicates the original mitten was used by a woman. Lastly, the original yarn was spindle spun. Enjoy participating in a beautiful tradition by making these lovely mittens. Students should be able to knit, purl, work in the round and have some experience with color work.

Required Tools

• Yarn: Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool, 220 yards (200 m) / 100 g (3.5 oz) skein); colors: #8401 Silver Grey (MC), #2413 Red (CC1), #9430 Highland Green (CC2), and 3 yards of #1033 Nectarine (CC3)
• Alternate yarn: Rauma Vams PT3 (100% Norwegian wool, 90 yards (83 m) / 50 g (1.75 oz) ball); colors: two balls of #03 Heathered Light Grey (MC); one ball each of #24 Red (CC1) and #34 Dark Green (CC2), and 3 yards of #25 Yellow (CC3)
• Needles: set of 5 double pointed, size US 5 / 3.75 mm or size needed to obtain gauge
• Notions: Scrap of smooth waste yarn for thumb, 2 markers, and a tapestry needle
• Gauge 12 sts x 12 rnds = 2 in over stranded pattern