Decorative, colourful and textural constructed textile techniques used in folk knitting from Northern, Scandinavian and Baltic countries are a constant source of inspiration for me. The Shetland Islands, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland and Denmark all share an inheritance of Viking traditions, a deep rooted love and appreciation of the natural world, and a wealth of traditional handicrafts and a unique history of traditional knitting techniques.

I have always found the folk art and crafts from these areas fascinating particularly the construction of knitted folk mittens, gloves and socks.
These can range from the simple, utilitarian and everyday to the exuberantly textural, braided, tasseled, coloured and patterned pieces reserved for holidays and other special occasions.
 When you study this rich source, you soon realise that there are many, many different ways to knit the decorative and constructed detailings and that there is much to learn…