Tuesday 24 January 2017

What's in a Name? The question of the "Newfie Mitt".

When I was at University, my room mate in third year was from St John's, NL. I learned much from Anne but one of the main things was that it isn't politically correct - as we would say today - for non Newfoundlanders to use the term "Newfie", although they are more than happy to use it among and about themselves. 

So imagine my discomfort during the first few months when I had the store, and I would get people asking me at least a couple of times a week for a pattern for "Newfie" Mitts. And to add to my discomfort was utter confusion: not being familiar with exactly what a Newfie Mitt was, I would have them describe it to me. Unfortunately Customer Mary's description would have no resemblance to Customer Suzie's explanation of what a Newfie Mitt looked like. After a few weeks, I started keeping notes and researching for myself and discovered the following.

 Today if you Google Newfie Mitts, you will find pictures of the three styles of mittens that apparently all enjoy great popularity in Newfoundland and Labrador. And no wonder - the multi colour and multi layer aspects of all 3 designs lend extra warmth and durability to each.

Exhibit A - The Honeycomb Mitt.

 These worsted weight mittens are made using 2 strands of different colours of yarn and a slipped stitch pattern to create this honeycomb effect. What you can't tell by looking at them is that they are incredibly warm for  medium weight mittens as the honeycombs trap the warm air in their little pockets. They are also really fun to make and quite stunning when the contrast yarn is multicoloured. You can find the pattern for our version of The Honeycomb Mittens on our Free Pattern Site. We also offer KnitTraders Kits of these mittens in a wide variety of colour combinations available in store and soon to be featured online.


Exhibit B - The Thrum Mitt

 Back in the mid 90's when the store opened, thrum mitts were just becoming known in Ontario. There was only one commercial source of fleece (almost always white) to create these super warm mittens that incorporate tufts of sheep's wool into every 3rd stitch on every 4th row. Since then, their popularity has grown immensely and "thrums" are added to hats, slippers, socks, and muffs on a regular basis. You can choose to make these in either version:  Thrum Mitts on 2 needles. 
or Thrum Mitts on 4 needles.
These too are available in kits  at the KnitTraders store, featuring local wool from Topsy Farms and hand dyed, multihued Canadian wool thrums of the most stunning colours.



Exhibit C - The Trigger Mitts 

These Trigger Mitts are obviously popular in a region who's (nearly) official provincial motto is: "Gotta get me moose, b'y". Just about any mitts that free up the index finger can be considered Trigger Mitts, but the truly authentic "Newfie" Trigger Mitts feature some version of this easy, warm and durable fairlisle pattern of fine natural coloured pure wool. 


And finally, although not an official member of the "Newfie" Mitten parade are these: MY  Newfie Mitts that I began as my husband and I turned on to Hwy 401 at Montreal St. in Kingston a couple of years ago on our way to that amazing home of cod cheeks, Screech, Toutins (fried circles of bread dough) with jam, and tea as strong as molasses.  What a wonderful province!
I don't even remember the name of the pattern, but I fell in love with it when I read that the designer had spent some time knitting her version of these mittens when she and her family were on a trip to the Maritimes. They had stopped by the St Lawrence River somewhere near Cornwall or Morrisburg (my stomping grounds for a good period of my life) and she wrote a blog post about her lovely mittens. I felt a kinship with her and her delicate design. 

 I had decided that it had been too long since I'd given myself the luxury of knitting something so intricate for myself. In my version (which I wear constantly and they still look great) I chose the navy from Cascade's Heritage Sock yarn, and the multi hued gold is Fino from Manos del Uruguay.

It might be a good thing to point out that we hadn't even made it to Gananoque, 20 minutes down the 401, when I announced to my husband that it would likely to be a very quiet trip as the pattern was taking up every ounce of my attention. But once I got onto it I thoroughly enjoyed knitting the fine fairisle and have allowed myself such a treat-project each year since then.  

I'm in the process of planning my next pair to celebrate Canada 150.
These beauties are called Lonn and are the work of Solveig Larsson in her stunning book:

The background colour for mine will be "Mossy Rock" green in the Cascade Heritage (as it has held up so well in my other mitts,) and the leaves will be of a Regia multicoloured sock yarn that I've had in my stash, and shows flowing colours of fall maple leaves.

I guess there are two things that I want to get across in this little essay:
A. Don't get hung up on names and details. We could (with apologies to Mr Gershwin) sing our way through a version of : "You say cast off, I say bind off..." but there are often as many differences as there are areas where traditions surface.
B. Don't postpone any form of creative expression because you think that you don't have time for it. I can't tell you how much I've learned and enjoyed making my mittens. They remind me that it's important for me to focus on intricate things  in order to keep my balance in life. If you have the yearning and drive to long for something, these energies will help you figure out the How  to make it happen.

Fibres make us happy. Until next time.
Anne