Knitting is a big part of Norwegian history, and knitwear has evolved from essential workwear to highly-valued fashion. But why do we love knitting so much today?
Why you should love
NORWEGIAN KNITTING
Knitwear is HOT!
If there is one souvenir you won't regret bringing home from your visit to Norway, it's a knitted sweater!
Everywhere you go in this country, regardless of weather or season, there’s a chance you'll spot someone in knitwear!
Wool is just the best!
Wool is breathable, insulating and keeps moisture away from the body. It is also temperature-regulating and self-cleaning.
Nothing beats thick outdoor sweaters with beautiful patterns when it's cold ...
... or fluffy, colourful sweaters on Nordic summer days!
And who knows?
Maybe wearing a Norwegian wool sweater makes your heart so warm, you just fall in love.
Knitting is hot!
Half the Norwegian population is running around in hand-knitted sweaters, scarves and mittens in a wide variety of colour combinations.
If you're travelling in Norway, there's a great chance you'll spot someone knitting at a café, on public transportation, during meetings or lectures, at a bar – and even on a hike! Knitting is an integral part of Norway.
Some get knitted garments from their grandmothers, but many make them themselves. Women, men, and even teenagers express themselves through knitting.
No one knows how old the art of knitting is, but it's believed that knitting has been widespread in Norway since the early 16th century, or even before that.
The mechanised knitwear industry began in the 18th century. Local patterns developed, and in some villages, knitted garments became part of local folk costumes and folk culture.
Local knitting patterns
Norway is known for having a wide variety of knitting patterns.
Many places in Norway have their own local sweaters with unique patterns, for example, Setesdal, Telemark, Valdres, Lofoten, Fana, Haukeli and Henningsvær.
Check out these local patterns from all over the country.
Some of the most famous knitting patterns associated with Norway are the iconic Marius sweater pattern, and the Selbu rose pattern used for Selbuvott (mittens) and Selbukofte (jackets).
Wearing a knitted woollen sweater is like wearing nature.
Annemor Sundbø is referred to as "the mother of knitting" because of her research on the cultural history of knitting. She is also a handicraft teacher, textile designer, and author.
In 1983 she took over a small woollen business outside of Kristiansand called Tweed og Ulldynefabrikk, which recycles wool. This is where her knitting research started.
"I think knitting is hot because people nowadays want to take care of the environment by reusing clothes, so they take down their old kofte from the attic."
Kofte are in style!
"It looks like Norwegian kofte (wool tunic-type sweaters) have become a fashion trend!"
Sundbø thinks it has something to do with their beautiful patterns. She also thinks that social media has had a big impact on the popularity of knitting.
"Online we can discuss techniques and patterns with people living on the other side of the world! Knitting is a social activity that brings people together."
Knitting has no age
"Knitting relaxes me, and I can take it wherever I go. I think it's a popular hobby because people these days care more about the environment, slow fashion, and have a 'do it yourself' mindset. That's a nice way to carry on the tradition."
Tonje Hærnes Doseth is a 19-year-old knitter from Gudbrandsdalen. She started knitting at the age of 10 after learning it from her grandmother and YouTube tutorials, and made her first sweater in 2020 during the pandemic.
She launched her own knitting account on Instagram and became part of a group called "young knitters". Since then, she has made a lot of different garments for herself, family, and friends.
"I think knitting is getting popular with young people because knitting influencers share their work and inspire us. Learning to knit and finding inspiration is vastly more accessible today due to social media."
Knitting has no gender
Arne Nerjordet and Carlos Zachrisson are known for their original, colourful and visually striking designs inspired by their Scandinavian background. In 2001, they established their brand, Arne & Carlos.
"We think knitting is popular because you have the opportunity to wear and use what you make. Norway is a cold country, so we get to use our creations all year round," say designers, textile artists and authors, Arne and Carlos.
The statistics say most knitters are female. "We don't know why knitting is more common among women. We know a lot of men that knit!"
Big in the USA
"For us, knitting started as a hobby, but now we have millions of views on YouTube where we share knitting tutorials."
Their YouTube channel has over 178,000 subscribers, which makes them the top knitting channel in the USA!
"Knitting is very popular in the USA. Many Norwegian Americans are interested in Norwegian cultural heritage, so there are a lot of people walking around in Norwegian knitted sweaters in the USA as well!" they explain.
The Norwegian knitting wave
Unn Søiland Dale is known as a knitting pioneer and has been called 'Norway's first career woman' for having made traditional Norwegian knitting patterns famous around the world. She worked with French fashion houses and influenced international fashion trends.
Dale's grandfather taught her to knit at a very young age, before she could even read.
Her most iconic designs include Marius, Eskimo, and Geilo, which became popular after famous skiers Stein and Marius Eriksen were spotted wearing them.
The Norwegian film Troll i ord, released in 1954, features actors dressed in knitwear designed by Dale's. The film sparked a major knitting wave in Norway.
Dale's Eskimo and Geilo designs were both featured in British Vogue in 1954. Eskimo was also shown on the cover of French Vogue. More and more international celebrities started appearing in traditional Norwegian sweaters made by Dale's company.
The trend gave rise to the concept of 'Norwegian sweaters' and her designs remain the most popular knitting patterns in Norway to this day.
In 2024, Unn's daughter opened an exhibition in Haugesund, Unn's birth place, showcasing world-class handknit designs. The exhibition Exclusive Handknits is open throughout the year and has the same opening hours as Haugesund Tourist Information.
Where to buy?
If you haven't yet mastered the art of knitting yourself, you can buy beautiful handmade or factory-made sweaters of high quality from shops!
You can find a large variety of knitted sweaters in handcraft, clothing, and sports shops in Norway.
Handmade sweaters, mittens, socks, hats, etc. are often sold at markets and farm shops as well.
You can find machine made quality sweaters in knitting shops all over Norway and at factory outlets like the Devold Factory Outlet in Langevåg (near Ålesund), and Dale of Norway in Dale (an hour or so from Bergen). You'll also find a lot of quality knitwear at Norsk Flid Husfliden (link is in Norwegian only), which has 28 shops across Norway with products created by Norwegian designers.
If you would like to knit yourself, you can buy yarn in knitting shops. The best-known Norwegian yarn brands are Sandnes Garn, Rauma Garn, and Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. It's also possible to order both yarn and knitwear online. There is also a range of smaller, local yarn producers who make yarn from sheep, alpaca, and even rabbit!
PS: If you know a Norwegian, you stand a good chance of receiving knitwear for your birthday or as a Christmas gift.
Learn more about Norway's most famous mittens!
Now you know what the perfect Norwegian souvenir is!
A legendary Norwegian knitting pattern: the story of the Selbu rose
The story of the famous Norwegian knitting pattern - the Selbu rose and the little Norwegian village of Selbu is a true Christmas miracle!
Norwegian knitting pattern: the story of Selbu Rose | VISIT NORWAY
Handicrafts in Norway
Want to splurge on yarn or pick up a traditional knitted item? Here's where to go!
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