Pattern Previews for Laine Nordic Knits
Laine Nordic Knits is a captivating one-off issue of Laine Magazine, dedicated entirely to Nordic knitting traditions and aesthetics. Take a look at all the designs!
Jenny Ansah — Puro
This gorgeous cardigan features a textured pattern consisting of cables and bobbles inspired by pebble-bottomed streams (“Puro” is Finnish for “stream”.) The cardigan is knitted from the top down: first the back and then the front pieces. The sleeves and the double-knitted button band are worked separately and seamed into the garment at the end. The textured pattern runs down the sleeves from the shoulder to the wrist surrounded by stockinette stitch. Puro is worked in Laurentino by Laurelknits, a small Finnish hand-dyeing studio.
Jenny Ansah (@kotikotoni) is an Afro-Finnish designer based in Helsinki, who describes her designs as being “close to nature, with a classic twist”.
Kristin Drysdale — Anna’s Fana
This all-over colourwork cardigan is a modern take on a traditional Fana sweater — a Fanatrøye — that originated on the west coast of Norway and is part of the regional costume worn in the area. The steeked cardigan is knitted in the round from bottom up, with a square neck and drop shoulders. It is worked in 3-Tråds Strikkegarn by Rauma Garn, a yarn made of 100% Norwegian wool. Anna’s Fana features a lovely combination of sky blue and white. The cuffs and checkerboard hem are embroidered with yellow and red flowers.
Kristin Drysdale (@scandiwork) is a designer based in Salt Lake City, USA, whose patterns are influenced by her Scandinavian heritage. Kristin knitted this Fana for her daughter Anna the year she got married.
Ronja Hakalehto — Hilda
The colourwork stripes of the Hilda sweater were inspired by traditional Finnish colourwork patterns. The chart is easy to remember, so the pattern is great for colourwork novices! Hilda is worked seamlessly from the top down. You start by casting on stitches for the neckline ribbing and then continue to the yoke after a few short rows. The sweater is worked in Tukuwool Fingering in two shades. The Tukuwool yarns are spun and dyed in Finland, using only high-quality Finnish wool.
Ronja Hakalehto (@ronjahakalehto) lives in northern Finland. She creates timeless designs that you can wear both in the city and the forest.
Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk — Valnøtt Pullover
The textured stitch pattern, consisting of knit and purl stitches and small, cable-like twists, creates the chequered surface of the Valnøtt Pullover (“walnut” in Norwegian). The sweater is worked from the bottom up, first in the round and then the back and front separately. The neckband, cuffs and hem feature twisted rib. The neckband is folded double and attached by sewing. The yarn, Ask Ullgarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, is spun with 100% Norwegian wool. It is rustic yet soft and has good stitch definition — a perfect pair for this textured pattern.
The pattern was created by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, a Norwegian yarn manufacturer with long traditions and a range of yarns made mostly from Norwegian wool.
Tiina Huhtaniemi — Tuku Warmer Slipover
This cosy garter stitch slipover is worked with two yarns held together: the wonderfully rustic Tukuwool DK, made with 100% Finnish wool, and the beautiful Silk Mohair by Isager. The slipover is knitted in one piece from the top down. The ribbing on the back hem is slightly longer than the front, adding a nice detail to the design. The shoulder and neckline shaping are worked with short rows. The armholes and the hem feature a neat i-cord edge. The pattern features a turtleneck in 2 x 2 ribbing, but a shorter 1 x 1 ribbing was worked on the brown sample.
The pattern was created by Tiina Huhtaniemi (@tiinatitityy), the owner of Tukuwool. Tukuwool is one of the most internationally recognised Finnish yarn brands.
Caitlin Hunter — Nordic Bloom
This oversized layering piece features gorgeous stranded colourwork and comes in two versions: a vest and a cardigan. Nordic Bloom is worked in Vams by Rauma Garn, a 100% Norwegian wool yarn. The floral motif was inspired by a traditional Scandinavian design — the designer Caitlin Hunter wanted to interpret a traditional motif on a large scale in a garment with a very modern fit. The body is worked from the bottom up in the round and steeked at the end.
Caitlin Hunter (@boylandknitworks) is a knitwear designer living in Homer, Alaska. Her maternal great-grandparents emigrated to the US from Finland, and her grandmother was raised in a Finnish/Scandinavian community. Caitlin feels a connection to Finland through her. Caitlin’s knits combine classic, traditional styles with modern silhouettes.
Marianne Isager — Tokyo Shawl
This one is a true classic! The iconic Tokyo Shawl has fascinated and inspired knitters for years. The parallelogram-shaped shawl is knitted in one piece from end to end, and it features a mesmerising zigzag pattern. The shawl is worked with two strands of yarn held together throughout the pattern: one thread of Spinni by Isager and one thread of Alpaca 1 by Isager. The combination of wool and alpaca in different colours creates an interesting texture and a gorgeously marled look, offering endless possibilities for variation.
The Tokyo Shawl is designed by Marianne Isager — the founder of the Danish yarn brand Isager.
Åse Lund Jensen — Åse’s Cap
This classic ribbed hat has a wide brim for extra warmth. Åse’s Cap is worked seamlessly from the bottom up. It is a quick and fun project that adds a special touch to your outfit. The cap features simple 1 x 1 ribbing and straightforward crown decreases. It is knitted in Alpaca 3 by Isager, combining alpaca and wool fibres.
The pattern was initially created by Åse Lund Jensen (1920–1977), a legendary Danish knitwear designer. The yarn ranges that Åse once launched are now produced by Isager, a Danish yarn manufacturer, who owns the rights to her eternally modern patterns.
Susanna Kaartinen — Sunde
This sweater plays with stripes and their directionality. “Sunde” is the Inari Saami word for direction. The all-over striped pullover is knitted flat, sideways from the centre out: first the back panels and then the fronts. The sleeves are picked up around the armscyes and shaped with short rows. The ribbed V-neck, hem and cuffs are worked in the round and edged in a contrasting colour. Sunde is worked in Mieli by Aara Yarn, hand-dyed in Finland on a superwash Merino and nylon base.
Susanna Kaartinen (@sanna_and_co) is a Saami designer who comes from Finnish Lapland but lives in Australia, close to Melbourne. Her style combines clean lines with interesting details.
Eli Leistad (Skeindeer Knits) — Hjartrosa
This sweater and hat were inspired by the Norwegian Selbu knitting traditions. “Hjartrosa” is the name of the more rounded Selbu rose (commonly known as “Norwegian stars”) that resembles hearts. The sweater and hat also feature the dotted “lus” pattern from the famous Norwegian lusekofter cardigans. The sweater is worked top down with steeks for each armhole. The boat neck is made when the shoulders are seamed together and can be modified in width. There are two hat versions to choose from — regular or slouchy — differing in the body length of the hat.
The knitwear designer Eli Leistad, known as Skeindeer Knits (@skeindeer), comes from Trondheim, Norway, but lives in London, UK. She likes to create new designs based on recognisable Norwegian knitting styles while using innovative techniques for garment construction and fit.
Lotta H. Löthgren — Loxia
A unique stitch pattern gives a nice twist to this classic top-down pullover. It was named after the scientific name for crossbill birds, whose oddly shaped bills are perfectly adapted to picking out seeds from conifer cones. The Crosshatch Stripes pattern is worked over four rounds in two colours and two different needle sizes. The wide collar, hem and cuffs feature twisted rib. This sweater was knitted in two versions in different yarns: the dark sample in Sol by Hillesvåg, made in 100% Norwegian wool, and the light sample in Borametz by Sägen.
Lotta H. Löthgren (@lottahlothgren) is a designer living in Southern Sweden, where she creates practical, nature-inspired knitwear.
Tiia Reho — Hexagoni
The intriguing hexagon motif of this sweater was created using knit and purl stitches, and it was inspired by Finnish designers and brands such as Aino and Alvar Aalto, Ilmari Tapiovaara, Vuokko and Marimekko. This cropped sweater is worked from the top down in the round using Léttlopi by Ístex (100% Icelandic wool). The charted colourwork patterns are worked on the yoke, the body and the sleeves. The colours of Hexagoni come from Finnish nature: the cool tones on crispy winter days or summer evenings during the blue hour.
Tiia Reho (@sysivilla) lives near Tampere, Finland and works as a doctor. She likes simple designs that still have a little edge.
Sandnes Garn — Loui Sweater
This versatile everyday sweater has a relaxed fit and a classic rib stitch pattern, making it an instant favourite. The sweater is knitted in a combination of wool and silk mohair (one strand of Tynn Peer Gynt and one strand of Tynn Silk Mohair by Sandnes Garn), which offers excellent opportunities for playing with colours. The sweater is worked from the top down in an all-over rib pattern. On every other round, the knit stitches are worked into the stitch below.
The pattern was created by the Norwegian yarn brand Sandnes Garn, the largest producer of hand-knitting yarn in Northern Europe.
Sandnes Garn — Tinde Sweater
A must-knit for all friends of classic Nordic yoke sweaters, this pattern features stranded colourwork and a relaxed fit. The sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down. The double-folded neckband adds warmth and cosiness. It is sewn in place after the rest of the garment is finished. The yarn — Fritidsgarn by Sandnes Garn — is a thick, 100% Norwegian wool yarn. Norwegian wool is durable, light and warm, making it perfect for outerwear use. Wear the Tinde Sweater on your morning walk to the neighbourhood bakery or for a foraging trip in the woods!
The pattern was created by Sandnes Garn, the Norwegian yarn manufacturer established in 1888.
Anna Sjösvärd — Urd
Urd is a colourwork yoke sweater knitted from the top down. Short rows are worked after the colourwork section to make the back longer. The sweater is worked in Léttlopi by Ístex, a yarn made of 100% Icelandic wool. The sweater was inspired by the myth of Urd, who is one of the three Norns (deities in Norse mythology). Urd has a well beside the big tree of Yggdrasil, and the The Latvian Braid at the yoke represents the roots of the tree which were watered from the well.
Anna Sjösvärd (@anna.sjosvard) is a Swedish designer whose main inspiration comes from Nordic culture, mythology and fantasy.
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