Anne's Norwegian Knitting

Join Anne and Steph alongside past attendees as they share what makes the Virtual Norwegian Knitting Retreat such a memorable experience. From Norwegian culture, history, and inspiring designer sessions to natural dyeing, special surprises, and meaningful connections, hear firsthand why knitters return year after year. Plus, get a sneak peek at the 2027 Virtual Norwegian Knitting Retreat, happening February 25–28, featuring the theme “Symbols,” a new yarn mill, and plenty of exciting experiences to come.

The Virtual Norwegian Knitting Retreat is about so much more than knitting. In this episode, Anne and Steph take you behind the scenes of creating an immersive weekend filled with Norwegian knitting, history, culture, traditional crafts, wool and community. They share how the retreat began, how it has grown – and how much thought, care and, sometimes, self-doubt go into bringing it all together. They also give you a glimpse of what is coming for the third Virtual Norwegian Knitting Retreat, taking place February 25–28, 2027. This year’s theme is symbols and symbolism in Norwegian knitting and craft. You’ll hear about: – How the idea for the retreat began– The work and emotions behind creating the weekend– Why every presentation is live– Personal Q&A sessions with the speakers– Norwegian history, culture, music and traditional crafts– Sit & Knit sessions and time to meet fellow knitters– Gentle yoga and stretching created especially for knitters– Norwegian wool, exclusive patterns and a special red-listed technique– Some of the wonderful speakers already confirmed for 2027– How the retreat brings the experience of travelling through Norway into your own living room Registration for the 2027 Virtual Norwegian Knitting Retreat opens Sunday, September 20, with a special early-bird offer available for one week. Come and spend four days immersed in Norwegian knitting, traditions, wool, history and community. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave us a rating or review. It helps more knitters find us. Anne’s Norwegian Knitting — Norwegian knitting, traditions, wool, history and community.

Today was supposed to be a very different podcast episode. But on the morning of August 28, 2026, King Harald V of Norway passed away after 35 years on the throne. Before you listen, two little corrections from me. This was a very spontaneous conversation recorded on an emotional day, and somewhere between my brain and my mouth, the royal numbers got muddled. Throughout the conversation I call King Harald V “King Harald VII”. He was, of course, King Harald V. You will also hear us talk about a “coronation”. Norway no longer has coronations – the ceremony we are talking about is a consecration, as King Harald V and Queen Sonja had in Nidaros Cathedral in 1991. This one was partly me reaching for the right vocabulary in English while we were talking. With that cleared up... Steph and I had planned a completely different episode for today. But when we sat down to record, it didn't feel right to simply carry on as planned. So instead, we talked about King Harald, the Norwegian monarchy, what the Royal Family means to many Norwegians, what happens when a king dies and another takes his place – and a little of the long history behind it all. This isn't a history lesson. It is simply a conversation recorded on a day when history was happening around us. Takk, Kong Harald. Alt for Norge.

Norway has a centuries-old tradition of marking handmade objects with dates, initials, and symbols. Anne and Steph explore how these simple marks can preserve family stories, identity, important life events, and the legacy of the people who made them. Through examples of Norwegian chests, bunad accessories, samplers, carved objects, and a 1943 painted sewing box, they uncover the stories that can be found in these personal marks. They also explore Norwegian naming traditions and why marking handmade work can help preserve the names and stories of women and families. The tradition continues today through the merkelapp, or maker label. Anne and Steph share simple ways to add your own mark to knitting using duplicate stitch, embroidery, or fabric labels. 📄 Download the PDF Alphabet: [Click Here] A thoughtful look at how the things we make can carry our names, our stories, and a piece of our history for generations to come. To get more from Anne’s Norwegian Knitting check this out: https://www.annesnorwegianknitting.com/    Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and Theme03:10 How the Session Works05:05 Centuries Old Maker Marks08:20 Trunks and Family Stories12:11 Purse Handles and Anno13:40 Wool Month Dates in Knits17:02 Symbols Before Literacy20:04 Why Dates and Initials Matter23:57 Norwegian Naming Traditions27:27 Patronymics and Swedish Banter32:31 Genealogy Naming Patterns36:06 Bringing Marks Into Today36:29 Reclaim Maker Identity37:16 DIY Knit Labels38:20 Stitching and Materials41:56 Merkelapp Tradition42:52 PDF Alphabet Download45:26 Audience Q and A52:11 Women and Craft Legacy57:37 Inheritance Rights Update01:02:07 Wrap Up and Next Events   Link to transcript and shownotes

Is knitting a race? Anne and Steph don't think so. In this episode, they explore why quality matters more than quantity, how slowing down can make you a better knitter, and why creating garments you'll love to wear is worth the extra time. They also talk about practice, ripping back, overcoming perfectionism, and embracing knitting as a lifelong journey. Because in the end, it's not about how fast you finish – it's about creating something you'll be proud of. To get more from Anne’s Norwegian Knitting check this out: https://www.annesnorwegianknitting.com/    Timestamps 00:00 Welcome Back Update00:28 Quality Over Quantity01:14 Heirlooms Wear Your Knits05:20 Speed Culture Rant08:31 Fast Knitter Example12:00 Tedious Sections Take Time16:21 Time Out Projects17:43 Continental For Health19:19 Perfect Vs And Gauge21:20 Practice With Small Projects22:39 Fixing Puckering Floats24:28 Ripping Back Lifelines26:13 Repeating Course Levels29:50 Progress Over Perfection31:28 Step Numbered Patterns36:05 Sister Pattern Struggles38:34 Brave Pattern Modifications40:35 Quality Over Quantity41:47 Final Takeaways Signoff   Link to transcript and shownotes