Product Description
Freydis mitts
Shetland and Orkney have been part of Scotland for only 500 years or so. Our culture, history, language and place names remain Norse and there is evidence of Viking history everywhere. Freydís, was a Norse woman said to be the daughter of Erik the Red, who is associated with the Norse exploration of North America.
The Freydis mitts pattern features picot edging at the cuff to give a decorative and stretchy edging. The pattern is one size adult but the actual size can be changed quite dramatically using larger or smaller needle sizes.
Please pay particular attention to the required tension as my knitting tends to be close.
Any 2 ply jumper weight Shetland wool would be suitable for this project. I have used six colours in this project.
Freydis Mitts by Alison Rendall
What is Being Made
The Freydis Mitts are a pair of hand-warming mittens inspired by Norse heritage and culture. Named after Freydis, daughter of Erik the Red and a prominent figure in Viking exploration of North America, these mitts celebrate Shetland's Norse history and traditions. The finished mittens feature a hand circumference of 20 cm, a cuff circumference of 16.5 cm at the narrowest stranded colourwork section, and a total length of 18 cm, making them a practical accessory with cultural significance.
Techniques Used
The Freydis Mitts are constructed using stranded colourwork, a traditional knitting technique that incorporates multiple yarn colors within the same row to create patterned designs. The mittens are worked in the round using double-pointed needles or circular needles, which is the preferred method for creating seamless small circumference projects like mittens and gloves. This construction method eliminates the need for seaming and creates a more refined finished garment. The stranded colourwork section is most prominent at the cuff, where the circumference measures 16.5 cm at its narrowest point.
Stitches Used
While specific stitch abbreviations are not detailed in the provided content, the pattern employs stockinette stitch as the foundation fabric, combined with stranded colourwork patterning. The mittens are worked in rounds, which creates a continuous spiral of knit stitches. The pattern requires attention to tension and stitch count, with a specified tension of 34 stitches and 38 rounds to 10 cm after blocking. Achieving correct tension is emphasized as important for proper fit and finished dimensions.
Materials and Yarn
The Freydis Mitts are designed to be knitted in Uradale jumper weight organic, unbleached yarn, which is equivalent to 4-ply or fingering weight. This yarn is 100% Shetland wool, sourced in 25g balls. The pattern requires 2 × 25g balls of yarn A (the main color) and 1 × 25g ball each of yarns B through F (the contrast colors used in the stranded colourwork design). The sample shown in the pattern was knitted using UK 3mm needles, though knitters should adjust needle size as needed to achieve the specified tension of 34 stitches and 38 rounds to 10 cm after blocking.
Difficulty Level
The Freydis Mitts are rated as an intermediate knitting project. This difficulty level reflects the skills required to work stranded colourwork while maintaining even tension, manage multiple yarn colors simultaneously, and knit seamlessly in the round using double-pointed or circular needles. Knitters should have foundational knowledge of basic knitting techniques and be comfortable with color work before beginning this project.
```Specifications
| Brand: | Independent Designer |
| Yarn Weight: | 4 Ply |
| Pages: | 0 |
| Designer: | Alison Rendall |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
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