Traditional Knits from the Faroe Islands

Navia was founded in 2004 as a business-college project for the then 22-year-old Óli Kristian á Torkilsheyggi, now the CEO.Navia is a family-run company that continues a long tradition of sheep-rearing and wool-spinning. Óli Kristian’s great-grandmother, Suffía Gregersen, employed women to knit for her and sold sweaters in the Faroese village of Syðrugøta, where the family had a spinning mill; and the family’s farm had a flock of 200 sheep, so Óli learned about wool at an early age.The first items produced by Navia were 1-, 2- and 3-ply yarns in six natural colours, and a small amount of plain-coloured sock wool. These were sold to yarn shops, cottage industry associations and even to small supermarkets all over the country.In the years that followed, Navia grew bigger and produced a wider range of yarns. A new knitting book came out each year, more colours were added to the palette of yarn colours, and the yarn began to be sold overseas.Since 2004 Navia has grown from a one-man enterprise with only a few different types of yarn to a company exporting yarn worldwide.www.navia.foInstagram: @naviafaroeislands

This is a beautifully presented book with photos that will inspire you to knit some of the patterns. There is a great section on the culture of the Faroe Islands and I like the fact that the patterns cover a range of ages from a baby to an adult. The patterns are not for a novice knitter but would suit a person who would like to develop their knitting in the round, brioche, fair isle, lace and cable skills. The patterns have black and white charts to guide you with the stitches. Most of the garment patterns are knitted in the round up to the armholes and then are divided for the sleeves but could be adapted to straight knitting.The patterns give one a good choice from slipovers to shawls and jumpers.

• THE FAROE ISLANDS, THE FARM AND THE SHEEPThe Faroe IslandsFaroese sheepTorkilsheygsgarðurThe Torkilsheygsgarður sheepThe perfect sheep FAROESE KNITTING CULTUREKnitting traditionsSchool sweatersKnitting patternsWool is gold NAVIAHistoryYarnSustainabilityInspirationKnitting patterns and designsThe people behind Navia INSTRUCTIONS FOR NAVIA PATTERNSLeaf-pattern cardiganChildren’s leaf-pattern cardiganSweater with retro pattern (child)Traditional sweaterBaby clothes and blanketStar pattern short-sleeve sweaterPatterned SweaterAll-over pattern high-neck sweaterBoys’ sweater (child)White unisex sweaterSweater with circular yokeRaglan sweaterPatterned sweater (child)Daisy sweaterGeometric sweaterSweater with patterned yokeLadies’ sleeveless sweaterCardigan with patterned yokeLace-pattern shawlFestival sweaterWave cardigan (child)Leaf-pattern sweaterChildren’s leaf-pattern sweaterTop and leggings for infants