Faroe Islands

It is not easy getting boys these days to wear hand knits, but the boys pictured of the 1950s on Faroe Islands don’t seem to mind!

The Faroese Fisherman have been wearing these jumpers out to sea since the 1900s, and in Faroes, with each design one could recognise the fisherman by his jumper. I guess with harsh island conditions, there is no better way to rug up with wool! The sheep manage the harsh conditions, so it is easy to imagine their ancestors following suit (no pun intended).

Since Forbrydelsen(The Killing), Faroes was put on the map for me and I am sure many others, as the main Character, Sarah Lund, sported the now very famous jumper from Faroe Islands. The jumper was made in and from wool from Faroe Islands, and has the typical Scandinavian Snowflake design.

 

As I have a Swedish sister in-law, I have long been inspired by the stranded colour knitting of Scandinavia, and over the years I have knitted many jumpers and even dresses knitted with the patterns inspired by their counties.

After a couple of knitted garments I dived straight in the deep end with a few Fair-isle and Scandinavian knits, and have not been afraid to tackle these types of patterns, and am surprise by some knitters fears.

So for new knitters, and seasoned ones that have not been game to try it out, here are a few tips; choose a garment with smallish and repetitious designs, only 2 colourways on a given set of patterns or over a few rows, and something knitted in the round, this way you always see the right side of the pattern and it is much easier to follow. If you have not yet worked in the round, stick with the first 2 tips and the purling rows are not too difficult. When knitting loosely carry the yarn across the back, and remember to iron (under a cloth on woollen setting) to set the pattern, and this will also remove any lumps and bumps.

Lastly, here is a great reference book for Scandinavian designs and the book that inspired my knitted tablet cover!