Anne's Norwegian Knitting

In this episode, Anne and Steph step into the world of the Norwegian bunad – the national costume rooted in history, identity, and craftsmanship. They explore what a bunad really is, why it matters, and how it connects to family, region, and tradition. From rules and “bunad police” to modern interpretations and inclusion, this is a conversation about both preserving and evolving heritage. You’ll also hear personal stories, a bit of Norwegian history, and a closer look at the details – embroidery, colors, silver, and the incredible work behind each piece. A cultural deep dive with strong ties to the same traditions we carry in our knitting.   Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:40 Episode Setup with Steph01:13 What Is a Bunad01:59 Cost and Making One03:33 Rules and Bunad Police05:24 Regional Styles and Roots06:22 Inclusion and Access Debates07:47 Modern Fantasy Bunads08:59 When Bunads Are Worn10:30 Origins and 1905 Context10:59 Norway History Crash Course17:08 May 17 Traditions Today18:43 Preserving Bunads by Region20:07 Colors Motifs and Rosemaling21:20 Norway Regions Explained22:51 Steph Trondelag Bunad Tour24:50 Shoes Socks and Silver Details27:07 Hand Sewing and Embroidery28:52 Anne Shows Family Bunad Photos31:58 Bunad Silver Clasps and Brooches33:10 Filigree Jewelry Roots33:57 Family Bunad Photos35:18 Embroidery Details Up Close36:20 Rondastakk Origins37:59 Hardanger Beading39:48 Hair Rules and Bands41:15 Mom’s Bunad Shawl42:56 Marie On Bunad Story44:57 Embroidery Process46:29 Mike’s Men’s Vest49:13 Bunad Socks Class52:45 Looped Hat Tradition53:43 Wedding Outfit Wow55:42 Bunad Tradition Today56:58 Closing and Farewell Link to transcript and shownotes

This is a very visual episode, so if you’re listening on a traditional podcast platform, you might want to come back and watch it on YouTube as well. Podcast Episode 53 on YouTube In this episode, Anne and Steph dive into the story of pockets – not the sewn-in kind we’re used to today, but the beautifully personal, historical pockets worn outside (or hidden beneath) clothing. What begins as a simple idea for a small knitting project unfolds into a rich conversation about Norwegian bunad traditions, textile history, identity, and creativity. Along the way, they explore how pockets were used, decorated, gifted, and even restricted – and how this small accessory carries far more meaning than we might expect.   ✨ What You’ll Hear in This Episode The surprising origin of “pockets” – and why they weren’t always sewn into garments How Norwegian bunad pockets evolved from practical everyday items to decorative heirlooms The role of pockets as personal, expressive objects – often customized and deeply meaningful A glimpse into pocket traditions around the world, from Norway to England, France, and beyond The story of fashion dolls and how trends were shared before modern media Why women were once discouraged – or even banned – from having pockets The artistry behind traditional Norwegian clasps and what their symbols and initials represent The emotional side of pockets – including the kinds of personal items they once held The design journey behind Anne’s modern knitted pocket pattern Ideas for customizing your own pocket with embroidery, beads, and personal touches   Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast00:40 Meet Anne and Steph01:34 Why Pockets Matter02:50 Bunad Pocket Origins04:03 Steph Textile Expertise05:27 Designing the Modern Pocket08:18 Personalizing with Embroidery10:52 Bunad Standardization Story12:12 Pocket Show and Tell15:58 Pockets Around the World17:52 Fashion Dolls and Trends19:04 Fashion Dolls Pockets20:17 Women Banned Pockets21:14 Norwegian Clasps Art21:51 Initials And Heirlooms25:22 Pocket Keepsakes Hair26:49 Designing Our Pocket28:37 Pattern Challenge Ideas30:37 Tutorials Assembly Help34:23 Yarn Gauge Gift Plans36:24 Wrap Up   Link to transcript and shownotes

Picking colours can feel intimidating – especially for a project like the Eternity Shawl with seven colours constantly interacting in different combinations. In this Stranded Thought, Anne shares why picking colours is less about talent and more about experience. She reflects on testing combinations, why colours behave differently in colourwork, and how even experienced knitters rely on swatching and experimenting to find what works. This episode is a gentle reminder that colour confidence is built over time – and that ripping back is simply part of the process. Sign up for the Eternity Shawl waitlist here: https://www.annesnorwegianknitting.com/eternity-shawl-infoforation-LP And keep an eye out for the upcoming colour workshop later this month.      

In this relaxed episode, Anne and Steph record from two very different vacation spots – snowy Norwegian mountains and sunny Costa Rica. After the recent virtual retreat, both took a week away from work to recharge before returning to everyday life. Of course, knitting still came along for the trip. Anne and Steph chat about the projects they packed for travel knitting, including mittens, sweaters, and retreat samples. They also talk about yarn choices, gauge differences, and how even a small change in yarn thickness can make a surprising difference in how knitting feels in the hands. Along the way, the conversation drifts into Norwegian knitting words, funny translation moments between Norwegian and English, and a few reflections from the retreat. Toward the end of the episode, Anne shares a bit about the Perfect Fit workshop and why understanding simple fit tools can completely change how knitters approach sweater knitting. A cozy, unscripted knitting conversation – just yarn, projects, and a little knitting talk from two different corners of the world.   Click here to watch it on YouTube: Podcast Episode 49 on YouTube   Timestamps 00:00 Vacation Podcast Setup01:01 No Work Week Reset02:52 Travel Knitting Mittens04:15 Yarn Talk Gauge Feel05:34 Sonda Yarn Saami Stories07:21 Norwegian Knitting Words08:09 Sun Wall Easter Weather10:11 Orange Hat Surprise11:20 Same Hat Many Colors13:16 Packing for Photo Content15:43 Project Planning for Travel16:01 Retreat Cardigan Progress17:31 Gifts and Sweater WIPs18:43 Knitting in the Heat20:16 Perfect Fit Workshop Updates22:59 Why Fit Tools Matter26:33 Wrapping Up and Next Time28:02 Yarn Colors and Final Goodbye   Link to transcript and shownotes

A slightly unpolished podcast episode made from the mountains :D During the recent retreat, one of Anne’s knitters inside Anne’s Norwegian Knitting community said she would happily pay good money for a course on how to fix mistakes in knitting. It is a request Anne hears often. However, it is also a request she will most likely never meet. Why? Not every mistake is actually a mistake. And even when something does need fixing, the answer always depends on the context – the yarn, the placement, the project, and you. In this episode, Anne talks about confidence, letting go of perfection, and why she won’t create a course on fixing mistakes in your knitting.

This episode is best watched on video here: https://youtu.be/iBVKc_Q8YkQ In this week’s Stranded Thought, Anne takes you behind the stitches and into the full world of the Mitten Bonanza.  What started with a new blue and white January mitten – designed with a little Valentine feeling in mind – opens into a deeper conversation: a mitten is not just a mitten. From January to December, Anne walks through all twelve designs and reveals the deliberate variation behind them.   Check out our February Mitten Bonanza Campaign HERE  

Measuring mittens sounds technical, but it’s really about something much more important: warmth. In this episode, Anne talks about how to measure for mittens, why ease matters, and how fit affects warmth far more than exact numbers. Inspired by a recent question inside the Level 1 self-study course, this episode explores mitten sizing as a practical, lived experience – not just a calculation. Anne shares: How to measure your hand for mittens Why tight mittens are often colder than roomy ones The importance of air pockets for warmth Why cuffs and thumbs matter more than length When it’s better to size up rather than down   🎁 Podcast listener bonus: Use the coupon code found below to get 20% off Mitten Bonanza. The code is valid until February 28, 2026. 👉 https://www.annesnorwegianknitting.com/offers/FedoFeVG/checkout  👉 Coupon code: FEB2026   About the Mitten Bonanza Anne has created Mitten Bonanza – a self-study mitten collection designed to build confidence and understanding. It includes: 12 mitten patterns – one for each month Around 30 technique tutorials covering everything you need for mitten knitting Clear, well-written patterns that guide you through construction and fit It’s not about speed or shortcuts – it’s about understanding mittens so you can knit them with confidence.  

In this Stranded Thought, Anne reflects on the power of symbols – and why a simple knitted red hat has carried meaning across centuries. The episode moves from the red caps of ancient Rome to the bonnet rouge of the French Revolution, and then to Norway during the Second World War, where red knitted hats became a quiet but powerful symbol of resistance. Anne shares personal family history from the Norwegian resistance, including the events of April 9th, 1940, when German forces entered Norway via the Oslofjord, and how the delay of the warship Blücher made it possible for the Norwegian king and government to escape. The episode also explores how red hats were later officially banned by occupying forces – a reminder of how much meaning a handmade object can carry. This is a reflection on knitting, history, heritage, and why symbolic acts – even quiet ones – matter.

In this first Anne & Steph episode of 2026, they settle in for a reflective and honest – but also warm and smiling – conversation about transition: leaving one season behind and stepping into another, both in life and in knitting. They talk openly about fear, habits, and what the past year has carried with it, while gently turning their attention toward what lies ahead. Along the way, they reflect on the value of knitting journals and creative notes, and why writing things down matters more than we think – especially over time. The conversation also weaves through what’s happening in the knitting world right now, with updates on courses, upcoming patterns, and a warm reminder that there is no such thing as “not a real knitter”. It’s a calm, thoughtful, and quietly joyful conversation, with laughter woven through the reflections – the kind of episode that keeps you company as you knit, one stitch at a time.   Link to transcript and shownotes   Timestamps 00:00 Welcome to Anne's Norwegian Knitting Conversations01:08 Reflecting on 2025 and Welcoming 202602:09 A Personal Story: Fear of Snakes07:37 New Year Resolutions and Goals14:36 Knitting Journals and Creative Projects18:15 The Eternity Sweater Project19:19 The Challenge of the New Design19:52 Importance of Keeping a Journal21:39 New Beginnings in the Community23:32 Upcoming Pattern Release: Anita Aspires28:46 Encouragement for New Knitters33:02 Podcast Plans for the New Year

When Tradition Is Not Copied – But Continued In this Stranded Thought, Anne reflects on winter in Norway and pulls together the threads behind the 2026 Virtual Norwegian Knitting Retreat. She shares why this year’s floral theme goes far beyond decoration, how Norwegian silver (sølje) has shaped her visual world since childhood, and how an inherited piece of silver revealed the inspiration behind the Eternity motif. This episode explores tradition as something living – carried forward through hands, memory, and shared experiences – rather than something simply repeated. The 2026 Virtual Norwegian Knitting Retreat takes place in February – March 2026 and is a fully live experience, with conversations, sit-and-knit sessions, and cultural storytelling happening in real time. The December campaign price is available until the winter solstice.  Link to Signup/Information Page and if you need to send us an email, send it to hello@varmdesign.no and we will get back to you soon. Until next time – knit some beautiful stitches.

In this week’s Stranded Thought, Anne shares why she knits exclusively with natural fibres – and why acrylics, superwash yarns and other synthetics just don’t belong in her designs. Anne offers a warm but clear reflection on sustainability, heritage and the materials we place in our hands. A deeper conversation with Steph on this topic is coming later this winter – but for now, enjoy a short moment of pause and perspective.

Please keep in mind that this bonus episode was originally delivered on video, so you may hear moments that reference visuals or people on screen. The audio has been shared here for a short time only. This bonus episode shares the audio from my recent information call – a simple, informal walkthrough of Levels 0, 1 and 2, along with the Mountain and Fjord Journeys. Many knitters asked for clarity before choosing their next step, so this audio-only version gives you the essential guidance without the visuals or the live-room moments. Inside, you’ll hear how the levels fit together, what each journey includes, and the kinds of projects and skills you can expect. It’s a friendly, helpful overview designed to make your next decision feel clear and grounded. In this episode, you’ll hear: – A walkthrough of Levels 0, 1 and 2 – The differences between the Mountain Journey and the Fjord Journey – How the courses build and connect – Tips on choosing where to begin – Answers to common questions from knitters who attended live Availability: This bonus episode will be available for a short time only. Links mentioned in this episode:Book a 1:1 with anne: https://annesnorwegianknitting-9.youcanbook.meAnne's Norwegian Knitting web page: https://annesnorwegianknitting.com  

In today’s Stranded Thought, Anne follows two gentle threads. First, she shares that she’ll soon be interviewing Steph – her co-podcaster and knitting coach. Many listeners know Steph from the long Wednesday episodes and community calls, and for this upcoming conversation, Anne would love your help. What would you like her to ask Steph? Send in your questions, big or small. The second thread is for anyone wondering about their next step in Norwegian knitting. While the Northern Light Journey is full, enrollment for the Fjord Journey and Levels 0, 1, and 2 is open now. Fjord and Level 2 close on December 7, and live teaching for Level 1 begins in January. To help you find clarity, Anne is hosting a live information call on Wednesday, November 26 at 9 p.m. CET (not recorded). She’ll walk through the options and answer questions directly. Time zones:  8 p.m. UK/Ireland / 3 p.m. Eastern / 2 p.m. Central / 1 p.m. Mountain / 12 p.m. Pacific Two threads today: ✨ Send your questions for the Steph interview to hello@varmdesign.no  ✨ Join the information call if you want guidance on the next step. Register here! Check out the overview page here Check out the Google doc here