Woollen mittens have long been a Newfoundlander’s best friend. The warmer the better. In a quirky climate of freeze, thaw, blow, and drizzle, good mittens made all tasks easier—to split birch, hammer a nail, gut a fish, draw and haul water, hang clothes on a line, shoot a seabird, or snare a rabbit. Social life, too, always required the finest mittens and gloves. This continues today.

Christine LeGrow has been a knitter since early childhood. Her keen interest in preserving the traditional handknits of Newfoundland and desiging new ones with the same flavour has taken her through life. Christine has been recognized by the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador for these efforts and awarded both the Award for the Preservation of Traditional Craft Skills and the Award for the Interpretation of Provincial History. She is the owner of Spindrift Handknits and makes her home in St. John's.

Christine LeGrow's profile page

Shirley A. Scott, also known as “Shirl the Purl,” has made her home in St. John’s since 2006. A librarian by profession, in 1989 she wrote Canada Knits, a history of Canadian knitting. Shirley is a lifelong knitter with a keen interest in the fascinating traditions of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Shirley co-authored four popular books, Saltwater Mittens, Saltwater Classics, Saltwater Gifts and Saltwater Socks. Saltwater Mittens won the Best Atlantic Published Book Award in 2019 and the Saltwater Knitting series won the 2021 Atlantic Canada Craft Award for Excellence in Product Design.

Shirley A. Scott's profile page

• Winner, Best Atlantic-Published Book Award 2019