Lorri mentions in the Comments that she’d like to see my Latvian mittens. Well, although I have used a Latvian braid, I did not use it on a mitten. . . I used a braid at 2 places in my first sampler scarf (pre-blog and pre-LYS-loss, around 2005).
Here’s the first braid: 
The process was frustrating, but the result was stimulating. I did another braid around the bottom edge of the tubular scarf. The second go was easier, especially when I kept in mind the reward. 
Across the Baltic Sea from Latvia . . . Fair Isle!
In this third major swatch-band, based on the Snow Sky sweater pattern in Sweaters from Camp, I’ve moved from MC brown to red.
Perhaps the original’s black & white snowflakes can be made to look like red & pink flowers . . . ?
Here’s the whole swatch so far.
This process is supposed to help me decide on which pattern to use in a sweater and/or vest. But it’s pretty enjoyable in itself! (Plus being good practice on stranding technique.)
The swatch is gorgeous! I’d love some of the patterns that you have used as well as knowing the technique of stranding that you used.
Suzanne
lickstone@charter.net