In this episode, we talk about folklore-inspired knitting and traditional knitting techniques. Many of our projects are inspired by Scandinavian and Northern European styles, especially Icelandic and Fair Isle knitting. We share finished pieces, current works in progress, and thoughts about future projects.
Welcome to this new Taixtile Podcast Episode!
In this episode, we talk about folklore-inspired knitting and traditional knitting techniques. Many of our projects are inspired by Scandinavian and Northern European styles, especially Icelandic and Fair Isle knitting. We share finished pieces, current works in progress, and thoughts about future projects.
If you’re interested in further episodes on this topic, you can also check out our Taixtile Podcast Episode No. 4 about Fair Isle knitting, available on our blog and on YouTube.
Done & Delighted
One of Clara’s finished projects is the Unst Cardigan by Mary Wallin, knit with the recommended Spindrift yarn from Jamieson’s of Shetland. The yarn was a special birthday gift and had to be ordered directly from Shetland, which made this project even more meaningful to her. The cardigan is worked in traditional stranded colorwork and was technically the most challenging piece finished so far.
The original knitting pattern is knit completely flat. As purling in Fair Isle proved to be quite challenging, Clara decided to knit the bodice in the round and to steek the front opening and the armholes and neck hole. Steeking for the first time felt intimidating, but it worked out well in the end. The fit is quite boxy, which is typical for Mary Wallin designs, but it is very warm and has become a garment that she loves to wear. Small details, like the colorwork ribbing, make the cardigan especially beautiful.
Another one of Clara’s finished projects is the Ugla Sweater by Védís Jónsdóttir. It was knit using Ístex Plötulopi, an unspun yarn, held together with Ístex Einband, a lace-weight yarn. This combination creates a very warm and insulating fabric. The sweater is inspired by traditional Icelandic knitting and features a colorwork yoke.
The yarn for this project was bought during a trip to Iceland, which makes the sweater feel like a wearable souvenir. While the fit is slightly boxy and a bit longer than planned, Clara is very pleased with the result.
Work in Progress
One of Nany’s ongoing projects is the Temperature Sweater mentioned in the Taixtile Podcast Episode No. 4, which is currently put on hold, but may be picked up soon again.
Another one of her current projects is a hooded sweater for her partner, based on the design Sturmhaube from Lasse L. Matberg’s book Viking Knits: Over 40 Scandi Knits for Men, Women & Children. The goal was to create a warm garment that works well for autumn weather. The sweater is knit bottom-up and features a simple Fair Isle knitting pattern that gives it a subtle Viking-inspired look.
This project needed several alterations, especially due to having a different gauge. Therefore, the shoulder width and the hood had to be altered. Some parts also had to be re-knit, but the result is slowly coming together and already looks very promising.
Clara’s ongoing project doesn’t feature any Fair Isle techniques, but was designed by a Danish knitting pattern designer. It is the Dagmar Jacket by PetiteKnit, which features all over Aran-style cable and moss-stitch patterns. The yarn is the Soft Donegal by Studio Donegal, that was purchased during a trip to Ireland.
The pattern is knit top-down and then joined in the round. For the sleeves, stitches are picked up around the armholes and then the sleeves are knit in the round to the desired length.
Future Projects
Choosing colours when ordering yarn online can be difficult, so working with yarns that are already familiar feels easier and more reliable. Both Clara and Nany are exchanging small yarn samples to build up smaller yarn sample cards, which can help when planning and designing future knitting projects.
To be more specific, Nany is planning to knit a Norwegian-inspired 1940s pattern from the book Continental Knitting in the colours blue and white.
Clara is inspired by the colourwork knitting patterns from Jenna Kostet’s book Kalevala. She thinks about taking the colourwork charts and combining those with a 1940s sweater shape, for example by taking the basic shape of the Homefront Jumper by Sydney Roseweck.