Saimaa ringed seal mittens: the rare Finnish seal captured in charming woolly mittens
The Saimaa ringed seal is a species of seal found only in Lake Saimaa in Finland. These mittens were inspired by the ring-like markings on the seal’s back, and the shades of sand and gray mimic the delightful diver’s coloring.
Size: women’s (men’s)
Saimaa ringed seal mittens: supplies
- Novita Nordic Wool yarn in shades Rock (048) just under 100(100) g and Sand (060) just under 50(50) g
- double-pointed needles size 3 mm (US 2.5) or size needed to obtain gauge.
Stitch patterns
Ribbing in the round: *k2, p2*, repeat *–*.
Stockinette in the round: Knit all rounds.
Stranded colorwork in the round: Work stockinette in the round according to the chart. In spots where the pattern is 5 sts or wider, secure the yarn floats by twisting the strands around each other on the wrong side.
Gauge
27 sts in stranded colorwork = 10 cm
How to knit the Saimaa ringed seal mittens
Left-hand mitten
- Cast on 52(60) sts in Rock on double-pointed needles and divide sts onto four needles. The start of each round is between needles I and IV, on the outer edge of the hand. Work ribbing in stripes: work 8(10) rounds in Rock; 2 rounds in Sand; 3 rounds in Rock; 2 rounds in Sand; 3 rounds in Rock; 2 rounds in Sand; and continue in Rock until the ribbing measures 7(8) cm. Then knit 1 round in Rock and at the same time, increase 1 st at the end of needles I and III by knitting the strand between sts through the back loop = 54(62) sts.
- Begin stranded colorwork at row 1 of Chart I(II). Repeat the 27(31)-st pattern twice. Work rows 2–44(50) of the chart. Note: when the palm measures about 6(6.5) cm from the ribbing, knit the last 11(12) sts on needle II with scrap yarn in a contrasting color for the thumb opening. Then return the sts to the left needle and continue knitting as usual.
- After completing row 44(50), work row 45(51) and make the decreases where indicated on the chart = 48(56) sts. Evenly distribute 12(14) sts on each needle. The palm now measures about 16(18) cm from the ribbing. Switch to Rock to finish the mitten.
- Begin shaping the tip (star decreases): knit 2 sts together in the middle and at the end of each needle = 40(48) sts. Work 2 plain rounds, then repeat the decreases = 32(40) sts. Continue decreasing in this manner every 3rd round until 8 sts remain total. Break the yarn, pull it through the remaining sts, tighten, and weave in the ends.
Right-hand mitten
Knit a mirror image of the left-hand mitten, placing the thumb opening at the beginning of needle III.
Thumb
Remove the scrap yarn and pick up the sts from the top and bottom edges of the opening onto your needles. Also pick up 1 st on each side of the opening = 24(26) sts. Distribute the sts over three needles and work in stockinette with Rock. On the first round, decrease 1 st on each side of the thumb = 22(24) sts. After working about 5(5.5) cm or when half of your thumbnail is visible, shape the tip: knit 2 sts together at the end of each needle until 4 sts remain. Then knit 1 st and lift the remaining sts over it from left to right. Weave in ends.
Lightly steam the finished mittens.
Tip!
For a playful touch, use yarn to add whiskers to the tips of the mittens.
Yarn inquiries: www.novita.com.
Download files
Saimaa ringed seal knitting charts(PDF)
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