By Laura Ricketts

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in Vol. 19, number 2, 2021 of Vesterheim, the beautiful magazine published by Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum..

“Everyday Mittens,” by Laura Ricketts.

From the article:

I have chosen three sets of mittens in Vesterheim’s collection to share their stories with you. All are everyday mittens belonging to individuals doing their everyday living. It was a difficult decision not to choose the bright and colorful, the embellished and embroidered. Those readily catch the eye. But these mittens would have been touched and used daily and relied upon. Their pattern was known, made frequently, and perfected by the skilled craftswomen who wanted to make a mitten just so.

You will find more evidence that mittens are important objects in Norway if you search the Norwegian digital museum site, Digitaltmuseum.no, with the word votter (mittens). More than 2400 records of mittens, or photographs including mittens, come up.