Lovikka Mittens: The History, the Yarn and How to Brush Them
How Erika Aittamaa created the Lovikka mitten in 1892, which yarn and needles you need, how much yarn it takes and how to brush the mittens.
The short answer: the Lovikka mitten was created in 1892 by Erika Aittamaa in the village of Lovikka in Norrbotten. It is knitted in thick wool yarn, then washed and brushed with a wool card so the surface turns fuzzy, dense and warm. With Järbo’s Lovikka yarn and 5 mm needles, an adult pair takes about 150 to 200 g.
The history of the Lovikka mitten
Erika Aittamaa lived in Lovikka, a village on the Torne River in Pajala Municipality. Her family was poor and had many children, so she knitted mittens to sell. One time she knitted an extra thick pair that turned out so stiff the customer did not want it. She washed the mittens and brushed them with a wool card, and then they became soft. That is how the Lovikka mitten was born, in 1892.
The Lovikka mitten was registered as a trademark in 1961, and between 1994 and 2007 the mittens were also made by machine in the area. In Lovikka there is now a small museum about the history of the mittens.
What makes a Lovikka mitten
- Thick wool yarn. The mittens are knitted in thick, plied wool yarn.
- A brushed surface. Once the mittens are knitted, they are washed and brushed with a wool card, so the wool fibres stand up and the surface turns fuzzy and dense.
- A double cuff that can be folded down to make the mitten longer.
- An embroidered band around the wrist, often with crosses in contrasting colours. The band works like a snug wristband that keeps the snow out.
- A braided cord with a tassel, which keeps the pair together and lets you hang the mittens up to dry.
Yarn and needles
The classic yarn for mittens in the Lovikka style is Lovikka from Järbo, a thick wool yarn that also works well for beginners.
| Lovikka from Järbo | |
|---|---|
| Fibre | 100 % wool |
| Ball | 100 g, about 60 m |
| Needles | 5 mm |
| Gauge | about 14 stitches and 20 rows to 10 cm |
| Yarn needed | 150 to 200 g for adults, 100 to 150 g for children |
The yarn is thick, so the mittens are quick to knit, which makes them a good first mitten project.
How to knit mittens in the Lovikka style
Follow a mitten pattern written for the yarn, for example one of Järbo’s own, and keep these points in mind:
- Knit a swatch and compare it with the pattern’s gauge. Here is how to measure your gauge, and the gauge calculator turns it into stitch counts. It is a good idea to wash and brush the swatch too, so you can see how the knitting changes.
- Work out how much yarn you need with the yarn calculator, and buy all the balls at once so they come from the same dye lot.
- Plan the band. If you want to come up with your own pattern for the band around the wrist, you can draw the crosses in the knitting chart maker before you choose the colours.
How to brush the mittens
- Wash the mittens following the care instructions on the ball band.
- Brush the surface with a wool card until the wool fibres stand up and the surface turns fuzzy. Brush calmly and evenly over the whole mitten, so it turns equally fuzzy all over.
- Embroider the band and sew on the cord when the mittens are finished.
A well-brushed Lovikka mitten is dense and warm, and the surface protects against both cold and wind.
Lovikka in our shop
We run Knytfolket, the craft shop behind Knytstudio, and we stock Lovikka from Järbo. More Järbo yarns are on the brand’s page in the shop, and you can read more about Järbo’s yarns in our guide to Järbo yarn. We ship from Sweden, within Sweden and to the rest of the EU.
Frequently asked questions
Who created the Lovikka mitten?
Erika Aittamaa in the village of Lovikka in Pajala Municipality, Norrbotten, in 1892. Her family was poor and she knitted mittens to sell.
How much yarn does a pair of Lovikka mittens take?
Järbo's mitten patterns allow about 150 to 200 g of Lovikka for an adult pair and 100 to 150 g for children. A 100 g ball holds about 60 metres.
What needle size is used for Lovikka mittens?
With Järbo's Lovikka yarn, usually 5 mm. Järbo's patterns give about 14 stitches and 20 rows of stockinette to 10 cm.
Why are Lovikka mittens brushed?
When the mittens are brushed with a wool card, the wool fibres stand up. The surface turns fuzzy and dense, which makes the mittens softer, warmer and more windproof.
Why do Lovikka mittens have a cord with a tassel?
The cord keeps the pair together and lets you hang the mittens up to dry. The embroidered band around the wrist works like a snug wristband that keeps the snow out.