My Nordic forest collection

 

Now in 2026 I feel like making a collection of socks, mittens, cowl and maybe something more in single colour structure knit. Even though I like colour work in knitting and it has its purpose in making the knit warmer and making it beautiful and colourful, I want to concentrate on texture knit with just a little bit of colour work. Lets see how it goes. You can read about this journey here.

The inspiration

I have gathered photographs over the years and made mental notes about what they inspire me to knit, but now they start to over flow and I need to actually do something about that. They are the mood board for this collection.

We have four seasons here in Finland and we do wear wool and knitwear in all seasons - yes, also in the summer time.

This is a forest through which my skiing route goes.

With these inspiration pictures I start designing knitwear with a purpose to be used everyday. First I draw, what I have in my mind already - what I have imagined. And sometimes they turn out just as I imagined, but many times they don't. A great idea and expectation can be anything but. So, I sketch and I knit and repeat and develop etc. I count stitches and select yarn and try to keep the keep at it even when it is a challenge. And I go on following the key words in mind:

- natural colours, but still colourful

- inspired by Nordic nature

- knitwear with a purpose and made to be used

- timeless and wearable

- not too complicated to knit - knitting is for everybody

- clear patterns and instructions to follow

 Words for the inspiration  at this point are: 

bark, lichen, moss, lingonberries, rocks, water, autumn leaves, rivers and lakes

Yarn selection is essential with this collection, and I want to use affordable, but natural fibers. Lively single colour yarn with texture and variation in colour. I want the nature inspiration to be obvious in the texture and style. Cowls I want to add to my collection because I want larger surfaces and 100% wool. Mittens and leg warmers can easily be 100% wool as well. Socks need tencel or other strengthening fibers to last in use.

If I get inspired, I will design a beanie as well, but I am not sure. I know mittens and socks, cowls and legwarmers as well. Beanies I have never designed before, but I have knit many, and a shawl is my 'hopefully one day' design goal.

This is what I chose to use in this collection; all DK weight yarn for their functionality and warmth. Do you like the colours?

- Vuonue Pentti - yarn with beautiful a bit rough texture. 80% wool (240m/100g)

- Vuonue Tarmo - similar to Pentti but forced with tencel

- Pirkka sock yarn - loosely bind affordable skein with vibrant colour. The loose bind looks even in the finalized knit

- Mainio by Lankava affordable and even quality and gives a neat flat surface.

I will use needles and cables sizes between 3mm to 4mm EU. Some will be knit loosely and some tightly even with the same yarn. With the cowls, I could even use worsted weight yarn. Mitten s and cowls could be 100% wool, but socks need actual sock yarn and I prefer machine washable because we wear wool socks everyday in our family.

So, first I knit (read: try and fail and repeat until) the samples my self in one or two colours each. Calculating the stitches and adjusting the measurements (read: starting over and over again) and writing down everything, so you don't have to try and any errors.

Next, I will write the pattern in Finnish and In English. This is one of the most difficult parts - how to explain clearly. I Make clear charts in both languages.

Once I get a good wearable knit and written pattern done comes my favourite part - taking the pictures; one flat, one while wearing, one in nature, some might need close ups of the details. Then editing the pictures and adding to the written pattern. This takes hours and effort, but I sincerely enjoy it. I carry my came when we go hiking and always back some knits to photograph with me.

Proofreading the pattern myself and by another persons comes next. You never notice all your own mistakes or repetitions, so this is an important part before test knitting.

Then comes the hardest part, gathering the courage to organize a test knit and hoping to get participants. Getting ready for the critique. Rewriting the pattern according to the test knit feed back. Proofreading once more.

Making the final adjusting and editing. Adding drawings and a journal page for notes.

Getting ready to let go. Changing the format and once more checking the editing.  

Loading the pattern in Ravelry with pictures, and start marketing. Letting people know that the pattern is released and out there. Waiting if anybody notices. This is one of the hardest parts for me.

This process, it is all inspiring, motivating, exciting, scary and thrilling at the same time. If you want to follow my journey with the next knits I am designing, you are more than welcome. Here we go! I will update the process as I go - Hope you enjoy the ride!

The Nordic forest collection is on its way.

The First one is Lichen Cowl - light lacy cowl in light gray DK yarn. Timeless and usable.  In the process of test knitting in July

The Second one is Bark cowl -  thicker cowl and therefore warm. I have something else planned for this release later in the autumn.

The third cowl will be green and exists in my drawing book at the moment.

There will be men's socks and women's socks. Both are on my drawing books at the moment. I notice that structures knits are more interesting to me at the moment, but there will be some colour work in the socks.

I am also planning mittens for winter and fingerless mittens for the autumn are on the planning stage. I think I need to do them soon before the autumn comes.

I will update how this designing project is going😊

Thank you for your interest in my knitting pattern designing process and the inspiration behind it. 

You can contact me through my ig.