Description ~ Swedish Color-Twined Knitted Mittens

The 400-year-old Swedish technique of Twined, or Two-End, Knitting yields lots of possibilities in both texture and color.  This unusual method of knitting produces a very warm, firmly elastic fabric. In this six-hour class, knit one of a pair of mittens while learning a traditional twined cast-on, a half-braid, and working traditional motifs. Different techniques for twining in color will be practiced. Learn how to manage your yarns so that untwisting becomes a cinch!  Reading Twined Knitting charts is also included. 

Materials Needed ~ Swedish Color-Twined Knitted Mittens

Two skeins of worsted weight wool yarn, about 2 oz. of each color.  The skeins must be wound into one center-pull ball because you will be working with both ends (see below). No single ply yarns!  Heathers and fuzzy yarns obscure the patterns.  Four ply yarns show the textures best.  You do not need to worry about whether the yarn is "S-plied" or Z-plied".

• One set of size 6 or 7 (4 or 4.5 mm) DP needles or two circulars of any length.
• Stitch markers, sticky notes or a magnetic board to keep one's place on the chart.

Homework ~ Swedish Color-Twined Knitted Mittens

 Using a ball-winder, wind the first color into a center pull ball, but do not remove it from the winder. Tie the outer end of this ball to an end of the other color and continue winding to create a two-color ball. It should not be heavier than 4 oz, and can be less than that.  Find both ends of the ball before class.  (There may be ball winders brought on the ship you can use.)