Norwegian Knitting Designs

Margaretha Finseth is one of several high profile knitting designers based in Norway. After training for several years in the production of costume and handwoven textiles, Margaretha directed her passion for clothing towards knitting design and since 1985 has had her own company selling and designing hand- and machine-knitted garments in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Margaretha has developed dozens of special designs for numerous magazines and fashion journals, and since the 1990s has written articles on design and trends in for publications such as The New, Fashion Journal, Women & Clothing, and Hers. Besides pursuing a career in clothing for high-end fashion markets and groups, Margaretha is an advocate for producing ecological handknitted clothing in pure materials and for supporting and consulting designers in the Eastern Hemisphere. She works closely teams in Nepal to producing collections that not only sustainably sourced but also reflect her passion for unique, beautifully patterned textiles.

This book is a reprint of a book originally published in North America in 2002, and in Norway in 1999. I remember when it came out – I was working at Interweave Press and all worked ceased as we passed the book around oohing and ahhing.I had the same reaction revisiting this reprint. Even though it’s 20 years old, I would still knit and gleefully wear most of the patterns in the book.12 Norwegian designers use traditional Scandinavian motifs and techniques but create garments that are determinately modern. They play with layering, shape, color and overall feeling.The designs are amazing, but not for beginners. The charts are complex, and there is tricky knitting to create such unique garments.

• Foreword 3Washing and care of wool garments 4Mette N. Handberg 6- 'Virgin' 8- 'The Siren's Heart' 16Lise Kolstad 24- Swan sweater with bird motifs 26- Embellished jacket with birds and flowers 30Solveig Hisdal 34- Garter Stitch jacket, cap and bag- Jacket 40Kirsti Bræin 44- Sweater with detached collar, cap and wristwarmers 46- Princess-line Sweater 50Kari Hestnes 54- Aran sweater 56- Rainbow jacket 60Iselin Hafseld 64- Short sweater in blue tones 66- Short, wide sweater with collar 70Irene Haugland Zahl 74- ’Eydehavn’ patterned jacket 76- ’Lunde' sweater with pleated welt and decorative bands 80Anne Helene Gjelstad 84- From Selbu to the Sahara 86- Carpathian black roses 90Kari Haugen 94- Child's sweater with a cat pattern 96- Fitted embroidered jacket 100Betty Hermansen 104- Jacket with hat 106- Short jacket with hat 110Margaretha Finseth 116- The darkness and light of winter 118- Grey stones, white sea trading and boat rugs 122Afterword 127