Mostly Mittens: Traditional Knitting Patterns from Russia's Komi People

I was very fortunate to find a new copy of this in a knitting store, at regular price. The patterns and writeups are wonderful. I'm hoping that Lark Books puts this book back into print. Socks seem to be the popular small object to knit these days (witness Charlene Schurch's 2 socks books). However, mittens are equally quick, and fabulous ones like these always seem to create a stir when worn. The patterns in this book are typical of the Komi people, and are quite a bit different than Latvian patterns. Charlene has included the use of handpainted fiber for backgrounds with solid for the reticulations and other pattern features. This lends a very contemporary look blended with the great folk patterns. All thumbs use a gore for better fit. This book is well worth an interlibrary loan or, if one is lucky, a purchase.

I received this book in the mail about a month ago, and the first thing I noticed was that these are absolutely beautiful mittens! I spent awhile just flipping slowly through the pages making mental notes of the ones I wanted to try. And there are so many! The second thing I noticed was great photography. All mittens are shown fairly close-up so that you can use the photos in conjunction with the charts. So many knitting books don't show enough detail of the actual knitted product, but this one is great in that respect. I would classify myself as an intermediate knitter; I've made mittens before, but simpler than the ones in this book. Charlene Schurch does a great job of explaining the construction techniques (how to work the thumb gore, etc.) so that I haven't had to worry that the mittens are too difficult for me. I am working on my first pair now, and they are turning out beautifully. All of my friends and family will be getting mittens from this book at some point -- if I can part with them.

Don't let an initial scan of this book scare you off. The pattern charts and techniques are much easier to follow than one would think possible for such intricate looking mittens. The patterning flows with an inherent logic that my fingers understood long before my brain did, making the complicated looking charts in this book a breeze to follow. If you prefer "sore thumb" mittens for wearing comfort as I do, you will also find the author's thumb gore technique to be one of the most pleasing and satisfying gores you will ever knit. I am a big fan of Anna Zilboorg's "Magnificent Mittens," but I found the patterns in this book to be even more fun and soul-satisfying -- and that's saying a LOT.

Finally, a patterned method mitten technique for the pattern-challenged! I attempted complex patterned mittens before, but couldn't figure out how to follow patterns when other knitting stuff such as gussets and other increases and decreases were happening. And this author gives a technique for using bands of plain color in between the mitten and the thumb that allow you to start the pattern fresh at the gusset. This way, you're not reading two pattern charts at once (which I find very confusing).Also, this book gives detailed instructions on how to follow purely charted patterns for mittens, when other charted pattern books just left me to fend on my own.This is the best mitten book I have. Now I can attempt those pattern mittens I saw in Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts book. :-)