At High Spede

I´ve just spent another weekend at HV, at the "Knit Trip", learning about the knitting traditions on the island of Gotland.

Everyone had brought their Spede samples that we started the last time, in August. It was fun seeing all the different variations. 

  
 

Such beautiful results!

The old patterns from Gotland that we looked at this weekend were also very pretty and very inspiring. 

I made a few swatches, but found that knitting swatches is not something that I enjoy a lot. I do appreciate having learnt some new techniques, though – like fågeltramp and kråkspark.

I´d brought my fair isle sweater to work on instead. When I made the pattern I started off with two Gotland patterns – and if you know your Hermanna Stengård (the lady who wrote a book in 1925 about the knitting tradition of Gotland) you should be able to trace them.

Can you see the sun wheel (solhjulet) hidden in there somewhere?

I´ve nearly finished the body now and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel gives me energy to knit on. I´ve been calling this sweater  "Kakel Spektakel" until know, but it struck me that of course it ought to be be named Hermanna, in honour of Hermanna Stengård. So Hermanna it is.

Last weekend was equally nice, because I had a visit from Tålamodspåsen. We both love vintage knitting and Eva-Lotta had brought some of her favourite vintage magazines for me to look at – while she went through my knitting library. 

And just look at that beautiful sweater she´s wearing, made from a vintage pattern!

Eva-Lotta had brought a special treat to show me – a sleeve from a Dala-Floda sweater that she had found in a thrift shop. 

It´s one of the prettiest pattern that I´ve ever seen and although Eva-Lotta has shown it on her blog already, I can´t resist posting a picture of it here, too.

Enjoy!

Comments

[Pat Brunner]

It's so great to hear from you that there are still people in Sweden who are studying traditional designs! And I love the idea of your combining traditional Gotland motifs with Fair Isle shading. The color combinations are just stunning1 Can't wait to see that finished.