What a delicious book this is! Terri Shea, a knitter and designer from Seattle, has captured the heart of this beautiful Norwegian knitting tradition and done so with enthusiasm coupled with a historians eye to wonderful detail. Here we learn that what became one of Norway's most prominent cottage industry - in this case the making of richly patterned mittens and gloves - had its beginnings in a challenge between two farm girls. The challenge to create designs on mittens in two colors was met and when the two girls wore their new creations to church, well, one thing let to another and Selbu became world famous for its extraordinary mittens.

However, this is not only a history book, not by a long shot. In addition to reproducing original instructions and contemporary material from Selbu, Terri Shea has added over 30 mitten and glove patterns from both Annemor Sundbø's private collection and that of the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle. There are photographs, charts and just everything you want in a pattern -- including clear, accurate instructions! Knitting just doesn't get any better - this is a book to work from and to treasure for the heritage it passes along.

Enter the world of mittens - simple mittens, wondrous mittens, amazing mittens. They are all represented in this charming book that takes us around the world, stopping wherever traditional mittens are knit. Represented are traditional designs and construction from Europe, Asia, North America, South America as well as some whimsical newcomers of the author's fancy. The techniques sections does a remarkable job of conveying not only all the basics of mitten knitting, but illustrating and describing techniques and approaches that are unique to particular traditions. All in all, Marcia Lewandowski has given us a feast of history and knitting -- and some beautiful ways to keep our hands warm in the winter!

What a beautiful, rich book this is! Mittens in Latvia are in many ways the symbol of the ties that bind, not just bride and groom but the bride to her husbands new family. They are also, in many ways, the seeds of prosperity and fertility for the new couple -- when the bride has at at last given away the 100 to 200 mittens she knit throughout her childhood and youth in preparation for her marriage, the trunk in which they were carried remains open, and fills with the communities outpouring gifts for the new couple.

Latvian folk songs and poems festoon this book that is both sweet and exciting -- sweet with the heart's love that has always surrounded the making of these mittens; exciting because the use of color and folk designs opens new vistas and carries us into lands and lives both ancient and timeless.

In addition to cultural history and folklore, Lizbeth introduces us to the symbols that appear knitted into these amazing mittens, and then takes us district by district through Latvia, knitting mittens typical of each place along the way. There are wonderful and mysterious-looking cast-ons, edges, and finishes as well - all clearly explained for you to knit. Seeing these mittens and imagining all the pre-nuptual knitting a prospective bride might do to arrive at a trunk full of jewel-like creations to bestow upon her in-laws, well, it just warms the heart.

Good evening, maiden's mother
As you see my hands are freezing;
All the while my mitten knitter
Snugly in your room is sitting.

- Latvian Courting Folk Song