Happy Nordic Knits: Modern Stranded-Colorwork Designs from the Heart of Scandinavia

Knitwear designer Oksvold blends traditional Norwegian knitting with bold designs and colors in this vibrant collection of patterns for cold weather clothing. For each design, Oksvold draws influence from her personal life. The colors and textures of the Lucie Oversized Sweater, for instance, were inspired by a sweater Oksvold’s mother-in-law knitted in the 1980s and later passed down to her. Similarly, the striking colorwork in the Une Sweater symbolizes Oksvold’s joyous return to hiking after being diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. A section of “zero-waste projects” offers creative ways to use leftover yarn, including a striped sweater that can be made with either worsted or bulky yarn, felted insoles for shoes, and hats. While Oksvold’s anecdotes are uplifting, the patterns are largely geared toward experienced knitters, as she assumes familiarity with reading color charts, and some projects require steeking, or adding extra stitches that can be cut to form openings like armholes. Still, Oksvold offers plenty of valuable advice, like knitting a 7”x7” swatch to check gauge before starting a garment, adding a wet towel to the dryer to encourage friction for felting pieces, and freshening wool garments by airing them out or placing them in the snow instead of washing them too frequently. Skilled knitters will be inspired. Photos. (Oct.)