Nina’s Favorite Mittens and Socks from Around Norway: Over 40 Traditional Knitting Patterns Inspired by Norwegian Folk-Art Collections

In this cozy outing, craft instructor Sæther (Knits from Around Norway) collects her favorite Norwegian mitten and sock patterns. She provides designs inspired by her 2015 trek around Norway to study traditional mittens and updates the patterns to be more colorful and as “user-friendly as possible for modern knitters.” Highlights include black and green mittens modeled on the “oldest patterned mittens from Norway we can date with certainty,” made in 1858; beige socks that feature the distinctive combination of knit, twisted, and purl stitches typical of the traditional style of the Setesdal valley; and black and white mittens based on a pair in the West Agder Museum collection that were saved from a shoddy mill where they were to be shredded and spun into new yarn. The cultural tidbits fascinate and the knitting charts have simple keys that are easy to understand, but the charts’ unnumbered rows and columns are difficult to navigate and require knitters to manually keep track of their progress. Still, this will appeal to those who like some history with their knitting. (Mar.)