The Cellar - Sept 16, 2009: Mittens

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Sept 16, 2009: Mittens

Mittens... Latvian mittens... Latvian NATO mittens.

Quote:

What will 9,000 hands have in common during the NATO Summit in Riga this November? 4,500 pairs of traditional hand-made Latvians mittens!

That’s what the NATO Summit Latvia Task Force is preparing for Summit guests. The mittens are being specially knitted by hundreds of women and men around the country ranging in age from 30 to 86. At least half of the mittens have already been produced, turning 190 kilos of Latvian wool into 2,250 pairs of traditional mittens steeped in Latvian folklore, customs and beliefs.

http://cellar.org/2009/mittens.jpg

What a unique gift, a pair of mittens unlike the other 4,499 pair. :thumb2:

Quote:

Each pair features a unique design, utilizing a wide variety of traditional colors, patterns and symbols. For Latvians, mittens are much more than a way to warm your hands. Every ethnographic Latvian mitten tells a story, marks an anniversary and represents a specific region in Latvia. Some mitten designs are specially intended for weddings or other special events. There is even a rich tradition of folkloric etiquette associated with the wearing, storing and displaying of mittens.
While most Latvians will not be able to attend the NATO summit, you could say that hundreds will have a hand in making the NATO guests feel at home. Many of the knitters are producing an average of three pairs for the Summit, although many, excited by the prospect of sharing their traditional skill with the world, are eager to produce more*. For most Latvians, this project is a special source of national pride, because it combines tradition, culture and history with something of lasting practical value that will be enjoyed around the world.

*Well, give those people my address. :D

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What a purl of an idea. It'll keep them in stitches. But how will they operate their mobile phones?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum (Post 595148)

What a purl of an idea. It'll keep them in stitches. But how will they operate their mobile phones?

They'll be far too busy pulling hot trays of cakes from the oven to answer calls.

It would be cool to have a pattern for those, but I don't know if my meager knitting skills would be up to it. I've never done multicolor pattern work.

"...traditional mittens steeped in Latvian folklore..."

I don't remember ever seeing Latvia making mittens. Maybe Simka made them while Latvia was busy working in the garage.

That's Latka, not Latvia, in the garage. :headshake

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce (Post 595234)

That's Latka, not Latvia, in the garage. :headshake

I thought that was potato pancakes.

:D

No doubt they're a close-knit group...

This thread is incomplete without some kittens.

Quote:

Each pair features a unique design

I can see three the same:

bottom row right-hand side, red background with yellow hexagon pattern and pairs of black dots
Three rows above this one, the same pattern again.
5 rows above that one and slightly to the right, the same pattern again.

they might be different on the inside

Even if the patterns appear identical, you always screw something up somewhere along the way, making each one unique.

Lots of stitches. The knitters have apparently been told not to use the swastika on the mittens. Delegates will also be given honey. I wouldn't want to risk a jar of honey in my luggage, and liquids are frowned upon as carryon items. Hmmm... http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article...4&in_page_id=2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wombat (Post 595311)

But you can't see the whole mitten.

Quote:

Originally Posted by boodoggy (Post 595355)

Carry on? This in NATO, they all come in bombers. :haha: