NoRtHeRn knits

Designs inspired by
t he knitting traditions of Scandinavia,
Iceland, and The Shetland Isles

Lucinda Guy
 introduction
The rich diversity and proliferation of folk art and handicrafts from the northern areas of
Europe are owed in no small part to the long, dark, cold winters that forced people inside
during the endless winter months. The home and everything relating to it was all-important, and it
was only natural that attention and care was taken to transform everyday domestic objects into hand-
some decorative pieces and that many hours were spent knitting and stitching impressive, beautiful
clothes for festive occasions. Folk handicrafts are directly representative of the people who made
them, the way in which they lived, their customs, how they survived and managed their lives.
I have always been deeply interested in northern European folk art, and since I first started
designing, I have been heavily influenced by traditional folk textiles. Shetland, Iceland, Norway,
and Sweden have always held a particular fascination for me, each with a rich heritage of unique
knitted folk art—Shetland Fair Isle sweaters and lace shawls, Icelandic bulky round-yoke sweaters,
Norwegian black-and-white Selbu mittens, and Swedish twined knitted mittens.
Our lives are still influenced by the cycles of the natural world, by the rhythms of the seasons,
and, despite our central heating and cheap abundant mass-made woolens, handknitting remains a
means for making warm and protective clothing beautiful. The designs in this book, in true handi-
craft fashion, are not only inspired directly from the past, but use elements from our rich heritage of
folk art to combine the new with the old.

northern knits 3
 ffie fair isle
p u l l ov e r
finished size
35½ (40½, 45½, 50½)" (90 [103, 115.5, 128.5] cm)
bust circumference.
Sweater shown measures 40½" (103 cm).
Knitted seamlessly in the round, just as Shetlanders
yarn have always done it, Effie is an elegant example
Fingering (#1 Super Fine). of a contemporary Fair Isle sweater. The vibrant,
shown here: Jamieson & Smith 2-Ply Jumper Weight rich colors of Jamieson & Smith’s pure wool 2-ply
(100% wool; 130 yd [119 m]/25 g): #54 dark gray
(A), #203 light gray (C), #FC43 sand (H), #121 yel-
jumper yarn (there are more than eighty shades!),
low (J), and #125 dark orange (L), 3 (3, 4, 4) balls have been used on Shetland to knit traditional Fair
each; #93 bright red (E) and #202 beige (G), 2 balls Isle sweaters for decades. Here, a combination
each; #27 medium gray (B), #FC6 pink (D), #1403
dark red (F), #FC7 peach (K), #75 pale turquoise
of twelve shades, with brights working alongside
(M), and #14 light blue (N), 1 ball each. softer, muted tones, give the ancient Shetland OXO
pattern its distinctive classic look.
needles
Size U.S. 3 (3.25 mm): 16" and 32" (40 and 80 cm)
circular and set of 4 or 5 double-pointed (dpn).
Adjust needle size if necessary to obtain the correct
gauge.

notions
Markers (m); stitch holders; tapestry needle.

gauge
30 stitches and 34 rounds/rows = 4" (10 cm) in
charted color patterns.

northern knits 5
 gallery

Ola Placket Pullover

Annemor Turtleneck Pullover

Crowning Glory Shawl

Ulla Twined Socks
 Märta Embroidered Bag
Otillia Twined Mittens

Moth Short-Sleeved Top

northern knits 7
Celebrate the traditions
and history of wool.
Northern Knits opens with an introduction that explores the traditions of
quintessential European knitting cultures, from the wool and yarns to
the history of the garments traditionally made from them. Accompanying
the information is a breathtaking montage of photos showing vintage
traditional garments, landscapes, and sheep from Iceland, Shetland,
Norway, and Sweden.
The collection of 20 women’s garments and accessories uses traditional
knitting techniques and folk motifs inspired by these regions to showcase
these classic wool yarns. The projects explore a range of techniques and
knitwear construction ideas that are both interesting to knit and very
wearable.

Featured techniques include:

knitting in the round
lace
Fair Isle
twined knitting
embroidery

Rowan designer Lucinda Guy’s newest collection includes the best of new
and old in knitwear: the inspiration of folk traditions, the wholesome
purity of natural wool yarns, and the styles of today’s knitter.

Paperback, 8½ × 9, 144 pages

80 photographs, 30 illustrations
ISBN 978-1-59668-171-2
$24.95 contents
Available March 2010
Introduction norway
iceland Annemor Turtleneck Pullover
Hulda Striped Pullover Thora Cardigan with Pewter Clasps
Ennid Shawl Inger Ski Cap
Yrsa Laceweight Fingerless Mitts Elise Colorwork Gloves
About the author
Unnur Icelandic Pullover Liv Colorwork Socks
lucinda guy is a knitwear and textile designer Lilja Textured Jacket sweden
and author of four books of handknitting for kids, all
shetland Ola Placket Pullover
originally published by Rowan in the U.K. (Trafalgar
Crowning Glory Shawl Pia Laceweight Pullover
Square in the U.S.) and all designed and illustrated by
Moth Short-Sleeved Top Marta Embroidered Bag
her partner, François Hall. She started her knitwear
Effie Fair Isle Pullover Ulla Twined Socks
career designing swatches for women and menswear
Nell Shetland Cap Ottilia Twined Mittens
and successfully sold designs to Edina Ronay, Laura
Hester Chevron Lace Pullover Glossary
Ashley, Marks and Spencer, and Rowan Yarns.
Sources for Supplies
Index