WIP Wednesday - Dala horse Selbuvotter

One of my favorite aspects of knitting is that it's global. So many cultures have their own lovely traditions that it's almost impossible not to get swept up in some other culture's technique, symbolism, or history. I find all knitting traditions really interesting, but Norway and Sweden are the two countries at the forefront of my knitting-inspired fascination. I've spent long hours dreaming of a tour of Scandanavia and hoepfully that dream will come true one day. My love of Dala horses predates my love of knitting, though. I seem to remember having a Dala horse ornament on our Christmas tree as a child, but whenever I bring it up, the look my mom gives me suggests that I am mistaken. Regardless, someone in my early life had one of those beautiful, laquered red figurines and I was entranced by it. Last summer I was hoping some detour would take us close to Minnesota's Dala horse roadside attractions, but sadly, they were too far out of the way.

With that in mind, it's no surprise that from the moment I laid eyes on the Dala-selbuvotter pattern I knew I would end up making them. I cast on last September after being bitten by the selbuvotter bug that normally comes around when the air starts getting crisp. The fact that stranded mittens would be wholly unnecessary for sea-level PNW living was unknown to me at that time.

The brown is Patons Kroy Sock in "Flax" & the red is KnitPicks Stroll in "Scarlet." I had some tension problems with the first mitten (the horse is puckered). It bothered me at first, but when I'm wearing them it's not as noticable as when they're laying flat. The cuff is the cuff chart from the Egyptian Mittens with some Latvian braids.

Also, an FO:

Dad Socks. Just yer average, plain ol' stockinette sock. I originally intended for these to be part of my dad's Christmas package, but the yarn took more time to arrive than I had anticipated. My dad has never known the joy of handknit wool socks, so I wanted to make him some. The yarn is KnitPicks Swish DK in "Lava Heather" on size 4 dpn's. Now I need to mail them!

What's on (& off) your needles today?