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Interview of the month - April 2008
Mrs Petersson
How long have you been knitting?
I started when I was about 5 years old, which means I've been knitting for 30 years by now. I got really serious in my teens, made my first sweater at 12, and started collecting books on traditional knitting at 15. Since then I've been a true addict.
Who taught you?
Even though my Icelandic mother is a great knitter, and my Swedish grandmother was a master of crochet, I actually started in pre-school. My family thought I was a hopeless case because I was left-handed. When I came home with my new skills they were quite surprised, but it turned out I was actually ambidextrous (double-handed), which has been useful at times. For both my mother and grandmother knitting and other textile skills were a natural part of life and a way to be creative and they passed that on to me.
Do you have a favorite technique?
The great thing about knitting is that it is so easy to change techniques. After a big sweater in two colours, it is nice to switch to lace for a while, then cables, then something else. I love learning new tricks all the time. Right now I really like modular knitting, making squares, triangles etc. and combining them into larger pieces, preferably without sewing. The technique that is closest to my heart is probably traditional Nordic patterns with two colours.
Which material do you prefer?
I think wool is the greatest material for knitting. You can feel that the techniques were invented for it. Unfortunately me and my family are warm-blooded, so for things to actually get worn I often look for lighter materials like cotton and linen. Other natural materials, like silk, are also nice for a change.
What inspires you?
I started out with traditional patterns, like Lopi sweaters, lace and Aran patterns. Even though there is so much more out there now these older elements still draw me in, but I appreciate when there is a modern twist to it. I like browsing the net, but books are still my favourite source of patterns. My knitting friends inspire me when it comes to yarn, they always have something extraordinary in their bags.
Tell us about something you've knit that you're really satisfied
with! (A picture of said thing would be lovely, and if you want to tell
us about more than one thing, that's fine too!)
These are my two-coloured favourites. The top sweater is shown from the back where you can see my husband's initials. The front has a 15 cm opening with two hooks. It's a classic Norwegian model in Heilo by Dale. I knitted it for our second Christmas together, and when he opened the present his sister spontaneously said "That's love".
On the left is a true Scandinavian mix. The pattern is a basic Norwegian Setesdal without the "lus", because the owner didn't like them. The yarn is Icelandic Létt Lopi by Álafoss in aubergine and white, which is a lot thicker than the original, so I simply took a pattern for a child and without any changes the result became XXL. Finally the buttons show the symbol of the Medelpad region in Sweden, where I live.
Last, but definitely not the least work, my own cardigan from the west coast of Sweden, where my father grew up. I wanted it wearable and washable, so instead of wool it's made in Mandarin Petit by Sandnes, a yarn for babies and summer in 100% cotton. Like with the others I have changed the colourway, this time into my two favourite colours emerald and dark red. All the sweaters where traditionally made in combinations of red, blue, black or white.
What does knitting mean to you?
Knitting is something I will always be doing. When I was younger I thought it was going to be music, because it is also creative and requires practise for a good result, but it is also social. Now that knitting is a social thing it has taken over completely, and it is also more useful. I'm also much better at it it than I've ever been at music.
Knitting also has the added benefits of making me happy, calm and focused both when I'm sitting there doing it and for a long time afterwards.
Do you knit together with others on a regular basis?
Yes. Since I accidentally ended up at the Nordic Knitting Symposium in Härnösand in 2002 I've been to as many local courses and knitting cafés as possible. At the moment there is a very active group of knitters meeting here in Sundvall every Wednesday, and I also help arranging classes and cafés at Hemslöjden.
Do you work with knitting in any way, or is it a hobby only?
It is a hobby, I'm really a language teacher. This winter I had the pleasure of filling in as a handicraft teacher for a couple of weeks, and it was great fun, but in the long run I'd rather keep it as my private passion. In the future I'd love to teach eg. evening classes, when my children get older.
Do you have a website and/or blog?
Yes! I only started blogging last summer when I got a decent camera, but I started out with some older favourites.
http://mrspeterssonknits.blogspot.com
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