What a find! Selbu gloves?

I walked into the local consignment/resale shop recently, hoping to find something that would catch my eye. And better yet, something I actually need. I've found a few things at this rather nice store over time--including a lovely quilted bedspread and some old knitting pattern booklets, not to mention a couple of sweaters from LL Bean. Sometimes they have yarn, but usually not of a very good quality. This time, they had quite a garish selection of eyelash yarn. But what did I care that the yarn was disappointing? Look what I found:

The tag was marked "late 19th century Swedish gloves." Swedish? And were they really that old? When I inquired, the owner said that the person selling them had said they were, and that the family had come to the US many years ago and settled in Kansas. They do feel very old. They are in pretty good condition. There is one hole, a few inexpert mending attempts, and some discoloration, particularly on the fingers, which you can see in the photo. (I wonder if it would be safe to gently wash them in one of my wool wash products?) But how fabulous a find!

I question the Swedish designation. I've read Selbuvotter by Terri Shea, and they sure look Norwegian to me. In fact, her Annemor #4 mittens have a very similar dog design on them. This pair has what looks like the number 8 under the dog's chin--I wonder what that signifies?

I thought it quite a coincidence that the only pair of gloves I've made using a pattern from Selbuvotter (Annemore #8) are green and cream--the same colors. And the patterning on the thumb and palms aren't that different from this old pair. The glove I made is on the right below.



It is intriguing to wonder where this old pair of gloves has been--it seems to be a very well traveled pair. And I am tickled pink with my find!

Twist Collective Trunk Show/Patterns by Robin Melanson

Last night a friend and I had the opportunity to go see Kate Gilbert, who'd brought a Twist Collective trunk show to Trumpet Hill yarns in Colonie (Albany), New York. She was delightful, and obviously very enthusiastic about Twist and the quality of the patterns that are being offered. Not only did Kate bring a selection of garments from the fall patterns, but some from the winter batch! This was quite a treat, getting to see them before they are made available on the site. She asked us not to post any pictures on blogs, etc., but since I didn't have my camera along, that is a moot point. I think I've found at least a couple of patterns from the winter selection that I'd like to buy--stranded items both. But I won't say any more than that. It turns out Kate's grandmother doesn't live at all far from the store, so perhaps she'll come again?

I don't know if this is just a quirk of the items Kate brought along, but sweaters and socks seemed to predominate--for both fall and winter. I've recently made two items designed by Robin Melanson, the Negative Space mitts from Knitting New Mittens and Gloves, and the fingerless stranded mitts she designed for Classic Elite. I've liked both patterns, so I am pretty sure I'll be getting her winter item from Twist. There is an interesting interview with Robin Melanson here. She mentions the Negative Space mitts a couple of times during the interview. I picked these because there were several techniques that were either new to me, or things I've not done much. They have a provisional cast-on, and since I'd just happened to watch a Lucy Neatby DVD, Knitting Essentials 2, a couple of days before, in which she explains a crochet cast-on technique around a knitting needle, I felt ok in that regard. Robin suggests crocheting a chain and then knitting into the loops, something I've not been very successful with in the past. The method Lucy demonstrated was much easier for me, particularly with mitt two, when I didn't switch the places of the first and last stitches for knitting in the round (it makes it much harder to unravel the chain if you do this!). The mitts also had an I-cord bind-off and applied I-cord. The mitts were a lot of fun to knit, and a great learning experience.

My friend and I went to another LYS, Wool 'n Word in West Sand Lake, in the afternoon. I've only been there a couple of times now, but the selections of yarns are most interesting. This time I bought some Jamieson's Spindrift for some stranded mittens, an orphan ball of Galway worsted for stranding projects, and a pretty moebius scarf pattern. I was hoping to be good, since the New York Sheep & Wool Festival is tomorrow in Rhinebeck, but no such luck. (Don't even ask about the yarn I bought at Trumpet Hill, or the box that came from KnitPicks today!)

Well, I expect I'll be reporting on all the tempations I succumbed to at Rhinebeck soon...