Boat's Bow

Besides small scale reindeer herding, the Skolt Sami traditionally practice sea fishing and netting river salmon. This Skolt Sámi traditional pattern, Boat's Bow, has the deep, sideways “V” like the prow of a boat. Boat's Bow is a characteristic Skolt Sámi mitten: it has an open, patterned cuff with multi-row slyngborden border. The pattern is worked every other stitch; it has a plain hand, peasant thumb with cupped tips and is finished with a braid and tassel.

This pattern was copied from a mitten donated to the Vesterheim Norwegian - American Museum in Decorah, Iowa. The author has also viewed a similar mitten from the Sør-Varanger area of Norway, part of the Skolt Sami's traditional homeland. The antique photo shows this mitten on a Skolt Sámi man.