Book Review: Knits from the Heart of Norway

Irene Haugland, author of Knits from the Heart of Norway: 30 Sweaters, Hats, Socks, and Mittens Inspired by the Telemark Region, describes her style as “traditional knitting in a new style,” but to outsiders it still looks really traditional except perhaps for some brighter colors and some alterations in shapes from traditional garments.

Her book captures the knitting traditions of her local part of Norway, and includes sets of patterns with eight different design motifs used on different projects.

The first section, for instance, is Karen and Marthinius, named for her parents, and features green snowflakes and checkboard designs with embroidered trim. The same motifs are shown on a woman’s cardigan, a man’s pullover, hat, stockings and mittens.

Three other pattern sets include sweaters for men, while the other four are just for women and children (and the first pattern set is the only one that doesn’t include patterns for children).

The patterns aren’t on Ravelry, but you might be able to imagine traditional motifs like snowflakes and flowers, bright colors, lots of stranded colorwork and surface embroidery.

The patterns are beautiful but definitely not for beginners or those who lack patience. Steeks are required, as well as lots of chart reading. The charts are decent sized, but you might still want to make copies you can use to keep easier track of your knitting.

The photographs of the garments are lovely and often show close-up details, which is helpful for when deciding what to knit as well as to compare your work to.

Of course you will be richly rewarded in your work if you make one of these sweaters for yourself or a loved one, or one of the accessories like a pair of socks or a hat (which might be a good place to start if you’re not super comfortable with colorwork already).

This book is a great choice for a color knitting lover who enjoys the knitting traditions and scenery of Norway.

About the Book: 128 pages, hardcover, 30 patterns. Published January 2016 by Trafalgar Books. Retail price $24.95.

Looking for more knitting patterns for knitted Cardigans? Check out these Knitting patterns we found on Etsy.

Specific to knitters, you can join our Knitting Patterns Only group to get, well, knitting patterns, ask questions and gain inspiration for what to knit next.

Looking for Yarn online? Check out Lionbrand our preferred source for purchasing yarn online.

As we get into the part of the year with a lot of food-forward holidays, it might be time to start thinking about knitting some new things for your table. While a few of these are more fall/Thanksgiving focused, just changing up the colors would make others work for Christmas, or keep it neutral and use them all year long.

What got me started thinking about this was the lovely and simple Fresh Bread Dishtowel, a free pattern from Purl Soho. Worked in a lovely cotton and linen blend, the towel is mostly stockinette stitch with a bit of texture on the borders.

You could use this same kind of pattern to make anything from placemats to a table runner, but let’s look at some specific patterns for those kinds of projects as well.

The easy moss stitch table runner from Glass Bird Knits is beginner friendly can can easily be modified to fit your table (or, again, to make placemats instead of or in addition to a runner). This version is worked in macrame cord, but you could also use bulky yarn.

Emielle Design has a garter stitch runner pattern that’s made with braided cotton cord for a lot of texture without a lot of work. But be sure to take a lot of breaks when knitting with cord because it can be rough on your hands!

I also love the diamond pattern on the Hamilton Table Runner from Wyndlestraw Designs. It calls for a DK weight cotton and linen blend yarn and comes in three sizes with different widths and lengths. The pattern has both written and charted instructions.

Amy Marie’s Table Pumpkins (on Ravelry) is a fun mosaic knitting pattern that would be great to use as a table runner through the fall and for Thanksgiving. It uses a worsted weight cotton yarn in two colors, and you can make it as long as you like for your table.

The no cable knit placemats from Yarn Culture Studio have a fun faux cable look that would be great for the table through the fall and winter.

Or here’s another pattern from Wyndlestraw Designs, this time for an easy knit and purl stitch placemat pattern that looks different but still good on both sides. It calls for worsted weight cotton and comes in two sizes for placemats, but also has instructions for coasters, a hot pad and a table pad all using the same stitch.

Have you read?