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.

Nordic Mandala socks Mandala socks - Nordic women's ankle socks

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.

Nordic Mandala socks - Nordic Mandala socks offer something new to basic socks, but are not that difficult to make. There is an easy rib, that is a bit lacy. The rib stays in place because there is a sturdy and long enough reinforced heel. The stranded color work is quite easy with a clear chart - just remember the yarn dominance, and the toe is kitchener-free! You can find the pattern here Mandala socks - Nordic women's ankle socks

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 2026. This Cowl got a great response from the test knitters - easy and satifying knit and a beautiful accessory. A basic for the fall season.

Here it is: Nordic Lichen Cowl

The pattern is now released and you can find it here Nordic Lichen Cowl

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

 This pattern is to be test knitted very soon. I will still knit it myself one and check my pattern as I go. Then I will organize the test knit. The test knit is on in August 2026 from the 24th till the September 25th. I have already got some great feedback from the test knitters. And they are fast! This is a 6-7 hour knit for many of them. I will post their feedback with more details here in the blog after the test knit is over.

The release of this pattern is in December 12th 2026 in Neule Christmas digi-magazine. That is just in Finnish, but I will post all my patterns in English as well in my Ravelry Shop here RiittaMarjo Designs 

This Kaarna Cowl got such a great response from the test knitters so far and a suggestion to use the pattern further, so I decided to do just that. And for my personal need for fingerless mittens and a head band I decided tho start with those.

The designing work is is progress and once again I am designing from the point of view of the usage. I need ling enough wrist piece, tight enough knit, beautiful enough to wear and warm enough to protect my fingers during the fall season. So far I have started over three times. This is the fourth attempt, and I am liking it and how it fits. Maybe this is it.

I always need to knit few pairs before deciding on the pattern, and the I knit a pair while I write the test knit pattern. Usually, I knit a pair with the test knitters also to follow their line of thought. Maybe these are ready for test knit in mid September.

#kaarnakammekkaat #kaarnakämmekkäät # kaarnafingerlessmittens

And the head band is on its way as well. So, far I have started two, but not satisfied with the weight of yarn and the yarn I am using. So, work in progress.

I am really thinking about woolly socks with this pattern as well. Let's see about that later. Decreases with a structure knit are very challenging to get beautifully finished. So, there is a challenge there.

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

 Sometimes (quite a few actually) the idea is not that great when you knit it - like now. I don't think this will be it, or at least not with the yarn I chose. But I like the yarn. Let's see how this goes.

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.

The Every Season Socks (DK) yarn and Year Around Socks (worsted) are an example of socks I have designed earlier and would suit other knit wear in this collection. You can find them here: Nordic Every Season Socks and Year Round Socks

And there are already Tapio Socks - In the old folk tales Tapio was a guardian of the forest - tahat are inspired by our Finnish traditions and crafts. You can find Tapio socks here: Tapio socks Tapio is a men's sock pattern with many sizes and one of the test knitters actually made pink socks because she liked the pattern, but wanted to make it brighter. The colours for the Tapio socks are from the Northern Ostrobothnian traditional woven wall hanging with a little modern twist and muted color palette. 

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. My husband ans sons like fishing in this season and fingerless mitterns would suit the need, but they will need to be machine washable to get that unavoidable fishy smell of of them.

Maybe fingerless mittens in the spirit of Tapio socks.

My Nietos Collection Nietos - Drift of Snow - mittens is one example, but I am designing new ones as well. That collection will also get a new piece as the Nietos Cowl is ready for test knit soon.

I will update how this designing project is going😊

Well, I did go for a hike and took dozens of photographs for the first knits for this collection. I wrote a a bit about that in another posti here in my blog. I sincerely encourage combining hobbies and things that make you happy. I did: hiking, knitting, friends and photography. We were also blessed with the weather.

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

You can contact me through my ig.