Anne's Norwegian Knitting

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

Norwegian Wool Month is almost here, and I need your help!   This episode can also be watched on YouTube. In this Stranded Thought, I share the story behind Norwegian Wool Month – why it started, how it has grown over the years, and the tradition of designing a brand-new pattern each August using beautiful Norwegian wool. This year's pattern is a hat, and before I cast on the Lofoten Wool version, I need to choose the colors. That's where you come in! Leave your favorite color combination in the comments and help decide what this year's hat will look like. Happy knitting! 🧶      

After a short summer break, Anne and Steph are back behind the microphones – and celebrating one full year of the podcast! In this episode, they look back on a wonderful in-person retreat in Norway with 18 knitters from North America and continental Europe before turning their attention to one of the highlights of the knitting year – Norwegian Wool Month. You'll hear the story behind how Wool Month began, why it has become such an important tradition, what's happening during this year's event, and why supporting Norwegian wool, mills, designers, and small makers matters so much. Anne also shares how this year's projects came together, what participants can look forward to, and why Wool Month is about much more than knitting patterns. Whether you're joining Norwegian Wool Month for the first time or returning for another year, this episode will give you a behind-the-scenes look at what makes August such a special month in our community   Timestamps 00:00 Podcast Return01:05 Football And Knitting04:38 What Is Wool Month05:47 Origin Story12:54 Naming The Event14:28 This Years Schedule16:54 Speakers And Recordings21:03 Why Selbu Matters24:43 Adding Lofoten Wool25:37 Crafting Association Finds26:21 Supporting Small Makers27:56 Lofoten Wool Journey29:28 Selbu Mitts Origins32:20 Cowl Pattern Showcase34:59 Socks Year Challenge36:23 This Year Hat Plan38:38 Yarn Notes Gimra40:23 Wool Month Panels44:31 Free Signup Wrap Up   Link to transcript and shownotes