Norwegian Knits with a Twist: Socks, Sweaters, Mittens, Hats, Pillows, Blankets, and a Whole Lot More

177 Pages·2019·22.35 MB·English

by  Arne & Carlos

ARNE & CARLOS
Norwegian Knits with a Twist
First published in the United States of America in 2014 by Trafalgar Square
Books
North Pomfret, Vermont 05053
Originally published in Norwegian as Strikk fra Setesdal.
Copyright © 2013 Cappelen Damm AS
English translation © 2014 Trafalgar Square Books All rights reserved. No part
of this book may be reproduced, by any means, without written permission of
the publisher, except by a reviewer quoting brief excerpts for a review in a
magazine, newspaper or web site.
ISBN: 978-1-57076-698-5
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014936077
The instructions and material lists in this book were carefully reviewed by the
author and editor; however, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The author and
publisher cannot be held liable for errors.
Translation by Carol Huebscher Rhoades Photography: Ragnar Hartvig Stylist:
Ingrid Skansaar Models: Ulrikke de Vibe
Book design: Hanne Marie Kjus
Illustrations: Arne & Carlos Printed in China
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1. LICE SWEATERS FROM SETESDAL
CHAPTER 2. MATERIALS
CHAPTER 3. TRADITION
CHAPTER 4. EMBROIDERY
CHAPTER 5. WEAVING
CHAPTER 6. CHRISTMAS CARDS
CHAPTER 7. STOCKINGS
CHAPTER 8. GRANDMOTHER
CHAPTER 9. RELIEF STITCH PATTERNS AND DOUBLE KNITTING
PREFACE
Arne’s grandmother was from Setesdal. Her name was Torbjørg Heistad and she
was born in the parish of Austad in Bygland on July 7, 1895. It was a long way
to Sørlandet when Arne was a child and even further up to Setesdal. It wasn’t
until he was an adult that he made it to Byglandsfjord and found a ramshackle
house behind the birches and underbrush. A house where children had played
and painted on the walls and where wood ants—and plenty of them—were now
the only inhabitants.
In the attic, the floor was covered with old magazines, letters, and Christmas
cards. On top of all the rubbish lay a picture of Arne’s mother when she was
young, a picture she had certainly sent to her grandmother. He took the picture
with him when he left.
Many years later, we met Annemor Sundbø outside the Opera House in Oslo.
We had arranged to meet there to talk about knitting, and she told us that she had
also been in the same attic where she found a Christmas card that she reproduced
in her book, Knitting in Art.
This book is based on the textiles, patterns, and books from our collection. Much
of the inspiration came from the attic of the old house, in pictures we found in
old books and on postcards, and in old knitting patterns and books.
An attic is not only the highest room in a house but also the house’s second floor.
In the old days, it was common to use the first floor as the living space and the
attic as dressing rooms and bedrooms. The house was like a two-story
storehouse:
“He brought in carpenters from Holland to build the attic. It was well made
overall. The lumber was finely hewn, planed, and finished. It was covered with
green fabric; vadmal (fulled woven fabric) was most common. One wall up in
the attic was covered with pictures from foreign countries.”
Finally, we should also say a few words about how we work: We wholeheartedly
believe that one should anchor new designs in the old traditions. That is what
happens when we go back in time and examine our cultural heritage and history
—we can bring something back to incorporate into our work and create
something new. At the same time as we create something new, we are also
contributing back to the old traditions.
The 33 patterns in this book have been inspired by Setesdal’s cultural heritage
and patterns—but they were designed with our own twist. We hope everyone
will be as inspired by Norwegian Knits with a Twist as we have been. We wish
you all good knitting!

CHAPTER 1
LICE SWEATERS
Lice sweaters (lusekofta) from Setesdal have a long tradition in Norway and have
been knitted in Setesdal since the middle of the nineteenth century. The patterns on
the Setesdal sweaters are the most recognizable in the Norwegian knitting tradition
and have come to symbolize the “authentic Norwegian” elsewhere in the world.
“They had begun to wear the ‘easterner’s clothing’ in Setesdal, and they put on so
much silver that the garments became terribly heavy. But the teachers kept to the
old ways: Olav Halvorsson and Bjug Åkre sold all their silver and vowed never to
adorn children with silver. Tor Bjørguvsson and Olav were the last men to wear
loose sweaters and short pants in Valle.”
The Norwegian version was loosely translated from Johannes Skar,
Gamalt or Setesdal [Old Ways in Setesdal]