Northern Knits

Ottilia Twined Mittens

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:16:35 GMT

These mittens can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

I have long admired the outfits that the trolls and gnomes wear in John Bauer’s illustrations of Swedish folk and fairy tales. I especially like their tasseled and embroidered mittens. As trolls spend a lot of their time in woods and mountains, they would need extra warm and sturdy knitwear. So, they surely would have used the twined method of knitting. These wonderfully warm Ottilia mittens are knitted with Ullcentrum’s 2-strand pure wool, which is ideally suited to twined knitting. They have twined purl and chain-path stitch details and, once finished and embroidered, they are slightly felted.

Ulla Twined Socks

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:14:43 GMT

These socks can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

There are many fine examples of handsomely patterned twined knitted socks in the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm. These socks were usually knitted in one or two colors—often white, red, or naturals—and included patterned crook-stitch or chain-loop borders. These patterned borders were not only decorative but functional as the “drawing in” nature of the crook stitches proved useful for keeping the socks up.

These socks are knitted with Ullcentrum’s 2-thread pure wool on five needles, with twined purl stitch and simple embroidery details, and, of course, a twined tassel.

Märta Embroidered Bag

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:13:13 GMT

This bag can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Inspired by the vibrant work of Märta Måås-Fjetterstöm, one of Sweden’s foremost textile artists and pupil of Lilli Zickerman, who founded the Swedish Handicraft Association, the Märta bag is a lovely example of a well-designed, useful everyday object that is not only beautiful to look at but is beautiful to use.

Knitted in the round in Ullcentrum’s fabulous 2-ply pure Swedish wool, the Märta bag is embroidered with simple cross-stitches, French knots, and duplicate-stitch details before being handwashed and slightly felted.

Pia Laceweight Pullover

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:11:37 GMT

This pullover can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Swedish wool, with its long and glossy fibers, is usually of a very high quality, and Ullcentrum’s pure wool 1-ply lace yarn is no exception. Sourced predominantly from the island of Öland, which sits just off the Swedish coast in the Baltic Sea, this yarn is gorgeously soft and light. Pia’s sleeves and body are knitted in the round to the armholes. The marbled gray variegated natural tones of the yarn gives this light, easy-to-wear lacy sweater a distinctive Swedish look. Once completed, the sweater is washed in warm soapy water to create a slightly felted look and feel.

Ola Placket Pullover

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:10:08 GMT

This pullover can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

In the Nordiska Museet in Stockholm, there are some beautiful examples of simple white linen work shirts and shifts that have embroidered details of hearts, stylized flowers, and birds at the neckline and on the sleeves. The shortish and loose-fitting Ola sweater is a knitted version of those embroidered shirts. Using pure two-strand white Swedish wool, both the sleeves and the main body are knitted in the round, then embellished with simple cross-stitches and French knots. The three-quarter-length sleeves begin with a lovely red and white twined knitted cast-on. This sweater is ideal for layering.

Liv Patterned Socks

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:08:37 GMT

These socks can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Just as there has always been the need to protect hands from the bitter cold Norwegian winters, so there has been a need to protect the feet. During the second half of the eighteenth century there was a tradition in Norway for knitting strømpe—long, elaborately patterned socks with textured, patterned, or openwork cuffs. As with the original strømpe, these Liv socks are knitted on five needles and have several different age-old folk designs—dancing figures, eight-leaf roses, lice stitch, a decorative cuff, and a star toe.

Knitted in Dale of Norway’s pure wool Heilo yarn, these socks are not only lovely to look at, but are truly warm and comfortable.

Inger Ski Cap and Gloves

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:07:00 GMT

This cap and gloves can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Long knitted caps finished off with tassels have been worn in Norway for centuries. Although usually knitted in just two colors, caps for special occasions also include red, yellow, green, and blue and are densely patterned with initials and dates knitted into the design. The coordinating gloves were inspired by Norwegian handicrafts and the wonderful folk patterns of Selbu knitwear.

Both knitted in Dale of Norway’s pure wool Heilo yarn, the cap features a traditional lice-stitch pattern and eight-point star and small amounts of duplicate stitch for extra color. Following tradition, the decorative tassel includes all the colors knitted in the hat. The gloves are worked on five needles and have a traditional Norwegian thumb gusset. Simple embroidery stitches add texture and color to the traditional motifs.

Thora Cardigan

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:04:20 GMT

This cardigan can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Since the 1950s, bright colors and bold patterning have been the mainstay of Norwegian knitwear, and skiwear in particular. Thora is a classic-styled cardigan inspired by this relatively new tradition. The bands of patterns that include birds, zigzags, and stylized leaves and flowers, are all inspired by Norwegian embroideries and are steeped in folk traditions.

Knitted in Dale of Norway’s naturally insulating pure wool Heilo yarn, this cardigan makes ideal skiwear, of course!

Annemor Pullover

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:02:04 GMT

This pullover can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Annemor is a classic turtleneck sweater inspired by the wonderful and varied designs of the traditional Norwegian lusekofte, the lice-stitch patterns and large stars that are so synonymous with Norwegian knitting today. Annemor is knitted in just two colors with subtle highlights added with duplicate stitch.

Knitted in Dale of Norway’s pure wool Heilo yarn, this sweater is ideal for outdoor wear, especially when snow falls.

Hester Chevron Pullover

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 22:00:09 GMT

This pullover can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Inspired by marvelous old photos from the 1920s of lady walkers in Shetland, this loose-fitting pullover makes good use of the Dimple Shale and Rib stitch, which is a variation of the Old Shale pattern used in classic Shetland lace. With its scalloped edge and dainty details, this stitch is reminiscent of foamy, gently breaking waves on a beach.

Knitted in Jamieson & Smith’s traditional 2-ply jumper yarn, this pullover is ideal for both indoor and outdoor wear. The range of colors available in this yarn is absolutely wonderful with some of the dye recipes having remained unchanged for decades.

Nell Shetland Cap

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:55:23 GMT

This cap can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

This sweet, simple cap is knitted from the top down and incorporates both a peerie pattern and a classic Shetland border pattern. Inspired by the vast array of vintage, traditionally knitted and patterned hats once worn as everyday wear on Shetland, this little cap is knitted in Jamieson & Smith’s traditional 2-ply jumper yarn and is ideally suited to keeping your head warm in the worst of fogs or the strongest of gales. Simple embroidery stitches provide extra dashes of color.

Effie Fair Isle Pullover

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:52:59 GMT

This pullover can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Effie is an elegant example of a contemporary Fair Isle Sweater. The vibrant, rich colors of Jamieson & Smith’s pure wool 2-ply jumper yarn (there are more than eighty shades!) have been used on Shetland to knit traditional Fair Isle sweaters for decades. Here, a combination of thirteen shades, with brights working alongside softer, muted tones, give the ancient Shetland OXO pattern its distinctive classic look.

Moth Short-Sleeved Top

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:49:16 GMT

This top can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

Jamieson & Smith’s Shetland 2-ply lace yarn is truly wonderful to work with. It is naturally soft (a touch of lambswool is added), light as a feather, warm, and cosseting. The naturally earthy colors and simple garter-rib pattern combine perfectly to make this pullover a delicate classic knit. The pattern is reminiscent of the markings on a moth’s wings, and the style is slightly retro.

Moth is easily worn under a jacket or cardigan or, with its little capped sleeves and pretty vintage buttons, it is sweet enough to wear just on its own.

Crowning Glory Cobweb Shawl

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:47:15 GMT

This shawl can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

This truly magnificent lace shawl is steeped in Shetland tradition—the intricate stitch patterns have been passed down from one generation to the next, and the wool is of the finest quality.

Jamieson & Smith’s traditional 1-ply Cobwebweight yarn, spun from the fleece of the native Shetland sheep, is as light and delicate as a cobweb, and just as beautiful. Surely, this Crowning Glory Cobweb Shawl is fit for royal Finn Folk or Selkie princesses.

Lilja Textured Jacket

emanuszak — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:44:59 GMT

This jacket can be found in Lucinda Guy's Northern Knits book.

This elegant jacket, knitted in simple but striking textural stitches with raglan sleeves, is knitted in Lett-Lopi, which, although finer than the Alafoss Lopi, retains all the naturally unique qualities of Icelandic wool. The Lilja Jacket makes a stylish statement and is ideal for wearing both indoors and out.

Lett-Lopi is light, warm, and durable and is available in a range of colors that do justice to Iceland, the island of fire and ice.