Beaded Wrist Warmers from Lithuania

Beaded wrist warmers are a vital, beloved, and beautiful part of Lithuanian traditional costume. That's how Irena Filomena Juskiene discovered them: As a member of a group of artists dedicated to classic Lithuanian dance and music, she wore them during performances. When she decided to explore the roots of these knitted accessories, Irena found they were a fascinating part of the regional history and culture of Lithuania. The results of her journey have now been brought together in a compilation of beaded knitting patterns that spans centuries, dialects, and multiple museum collections. Irena shares over 60 designs organized according to their place of origin within the current and historical borders of Lithuania. Projects are presented with straightforward instructions and easy-to-follow charts, along with full-color photographs of sample wrist warmer pairs. In addition, readers will find thoroughly researched discussions of the origins of wrist warmers in each region, a catalog of further historical examples of the craft, and personal accounts shared by local contributors.
It is in no small part due to the passion and work of one woman, Irena Felomena Juskiene, the first person to knit riesines after their 20 year absence from Lithuanian culture, that these bejeweled wrist warmers are so popular in Lithuania today.