Ieva Ozolina - Knit Like a Latvian: Accessories: 40 Knitting Patterns for Gloves, Hats, Scarves and Shawls

Ieva Ozolina

Dear knitters, thank you for choosing my book!

Many of you are already familiar with my booksKnit like a LatvianKnit like a Latvian Socks. In this book, I continue the theme of beautiful Latvian patterns.

The book was written in a difficult and unusual time for the entire world, during the Covid-19 pandemic. This time has created many unfamiliar experiences and challenges for all of us. However, we have also learned from these experiences and hopefully, some of you enjoyed having more free time to knit. The demand for handicraft materials has grown rapidly around the world. This means that our hobby is still with us, it gives us a lot of joy and makes us stronger especially during tough times.

Latvian designs are used in each of the books knits. Latvia is a small country located in the northern part of Europe, on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The territory of Latvia has been inhabited since before our era, but the first evidence of knitted gloves and socks dates back to the 13th century. The humid coastal climate has promoted Latvian knitting traditions. Knitting is very common in Latvia, until recently it was taught in schools.

The patterns in this book use designs from different parts of Latvia. As Latvian museums and their archives were not accessible during Covid-19, I have used previously collected materials, images and books with carefully preserved historical heritage. It is a special pleasure and pride for me to introduce you to Latvian gloves, which have been knitted and worn in Latvia for several hundred years.

Although hats, scarves, and shawls are not part of the long knitting tradition of Latvia, I have created these patterns as my vision for a new use of traditional Latvian designs.

The purpose of this book is to help you knit beautiful accessories. Here you will find patterns for gloves, fingerless gloves, hats, ear warmers, scarves, cowls, wraps and shawls.

The book is intended for knitters with some knitting experience in multicolour knits. The book combines ancient Latvian designs with modern applications.

I hope you will find your perfect Latvian accessories within this book.

Good luck!

Ieva

Here are some of the most common symbols featured in Latvian accessory patterns, with an explanation of their meaning.

Natural 2-ply 100% wool is traditionally used for Latvian accessories. This is the best choice, because this yarn is most similar to hand-spun yarn, which was used in ancient times. Another reason to use wool yarns is the huge range of colours available.

All the patterns in this book are designed to be knitted with 2-ply 100% wool (350m per 100g). If you prefer more modern options, you can knit with 4-ply sock weight yarn (400m per 100g).

Each pattern provides information on the number of colours used, including the base colour.

• Glove patterns will use a total of 75-100g.
• Hats and berets will use a total 100-125g.
• Ear warmers will use up to 35g.
• Scarves and cowls will use a total of 250-300g.

Use the pattern chart to work out the proportions of each colour each square on the chart represents one stitch to be worked in the yarn colour indicated.

The shawls and wraps are all different, so the yarn quantities for these are listed separately below.

• Sea Wave Wrap: 200g blue gradient, 200g white, 35g red.
• Meadow Wrap: 250g light grey, 75g each contrast colour.
• Big Ornament Shawl: 200g white, 200g dark grey, 50g anthracite.
• Chocolate & Berries Wrap: 250g dark brown, 25g each contrast colour.

These amounts are intended as a general guide only.

In ancient times knitters used tiny metal needles, but now we can choose from steel, aluminium, bamboo, resin or wood. Any of these are suitable for these accessories and you can use your preferred option.

We traditionally use five double-pointed needles for knitting Latvian gloves, and all the gloves shown in this book have been knitted with double-pointed needles in sizes 2-2.5mm. The other patterns use circular needles ranging in size up to 4mm.

• A pair of sharp scissors for snipping yarn.
• A see-through ruler for measuring tension (gauge).
• A tape measure for measuring the length of longer pieces of knitting.
• A blunt-ended tapestry/wool needle (a pointy needle will split the yarn and spoil your knitting).
• A cable needle for more complex stitches.
• Rust proof pins with glass heads (for visibility) for measuring your tension.
• Stitch markers to indicate the start of the round, or to mark a pattern repeat.
• Waste yarn for marking the thumb position on gloves and for casting on some projects. A smooth yarn that is the same thickness as your main yarn is best for this.
• Row counter to keep a note of how many rows or rounds youve knitted.
• Notebook and pen, as an alternative to a row counter, or to make notes of your tension or any adaptations you make to a pattern.

Follow the steps below to knit the patterns featured in this book.

Read the Notes, which specifies the type of yarn required and recommended needle size.

Check your tension (gauge) following the instructions below and make a note of the needle size you need to use to achieve the required tension. To maintain tension with Fair Isle knitting, you may need to change to a larger needle size for stocking (stockinette) stitch Fair Isle or to a smaller needle size for garter stitch Fair Isle.

Choose your pattern.

Choose your yarn and colours, making sure you have enough of each colour (see ).

Cast on the required number of stitches as specified in your chosen pattern and follow the instructions and charts provided.

For glove patterns refer to the for detailed instructions.

Refer to where indicated.