Selbuvott (also known as selbu mittens) is a knitted woolen mitten, based on a pattern from Selbu in Norway.[1] Like all mittens, the purpose of selbuvott is to keep hands warm during winter, with one large space for fingers and a separate smaller section for the thumb. The pattern is a Selburose, which is a traditional rose from the Selbu area, shaped like an octagram. Marit Guldsetbrua Emstad (born 1841) first knitted the pattern into a pair of mittens in 1857,[2] and sold it through Husfliden in Trondheim in 1897. Selbuvott is possibly the most-worn knitted pattern in Norway.
Marriage Tradition edit
Although traditionally only worked with two colors, patterns for these mittens could often be very intricate. Because of this, Selbuvott was used as a form of a dowry for young girls since selbuvott required an intense amount of time, care, and skilled practice in order to perfect the technique and get the desired look.[3] A girl would start knitting these mittens from a very young age so that she could present them to her future husband and wedding guests.[3]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "The Story of the Selbu Mitten – Selbuvotten". Thor News. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ Sarappo, Emma (2018-11-25). "The Star of Norwegian Knitwear". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
- ^ a b "Romantic Story in Knit Mittens". Democrat and Chronicle. 1938. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
Further reading edit
- Shea, Terri (2007). Selbuvotter: Biography of a Knitting Tradition. Spinningwheel LLC. ISBN 978-0979312601.