 Knitting has a strong tradition in Norway
And the technique found in today's handmade woolen sweaters has been practiced since the 9th century.
Originally, the wool from Norwegian sheep has been used, because it was practical for making warm
garments for long and cold winters. The Norwegian wool is especially suited for high-quality handmade
knitwear. The wool's fibers are long and curly, which when made into the yarn give strength, lightness
and warmth. Today, wool is popular not only for its practical advantages, but also because of the fine
handmade patterns and exclusive garments that can be created. When you slip into a handmade woolen
Norwegian sweater, you can feel the refined softness of the wool, a luxury touch of a life.
Not surprisingly, it didn't take too long before people all over the old continent and later on in the America
and all over the world found the benefits of original Norwegian handmade sweaters.
From all the producers in Scandinavia, Dale of Norway is probably the most recognized brand name when it
comes to woolen Norwegian sweaters. It represents the traditions and quality Norwegian knitwear is famous
for. Ever since 1879, Dale of Norway has been producing the first class quality products.
Today, Dale of Norway is the largest manufacturer of original Norwegian knitwear in the world.
Furthermore, Dale of Norway is one of the Scandinavia largest manufacturers of fine hand-knitting yarns.
Dale of Norway stays close to nature—pure natural fibers are the natural ingredient in all
Dale of Norway products and technologies used to manufacture these sweaters are very ecological.

Old patterns
Representative of a particular area vie with contemporary ones in popularity. The Fana, a two-color design
named for its place of origin in the Bergen district, has enjoyed a surge of popularity over the last years.
Distinguished by a broad band of rose motifs across the shoulder, a striped body and checkerboard square
border at the bottom and cuffs, the Fana shows up in many colors, including gray, red, navy and brown,
combined with white.
These 2 patterns are the same, I used different colors, can you see what a difference it makes ?
Norwegian design
usage of different colors

these 8 patterns on
1 knitting page
The earliest sweaters were of homespun wool in natural gray, white and black as it came from the sheep,
but Norwegians soon started experimenting with natural dyes and producing navy, dull red or dark green
which they combined with white. Even today when so-called fashion colors are used extensively, red, navy
and white remains the most popular combination, and natural blacks, grays and white are much in demand.Originally a man's sweater had a dark ground,
natural black for example, with the pattern worked in a
lighter shade, possibly natural white. Conversely the woman's version had a white ground and black pattern.
Today people wear whatever they please. The pewter buttons are a relatively new development.
Originally, silver clasps were used as fasteners and cardigan openings were edged with cloth braids or
bands hand-embroidered in flowing floral motifs. Pullovers had an embroidered band at the neck and a
front opening fastened by one clasp. Today few people are willing to take the time for hand embroidery
so clasps, in pewter rather than silver, are used primarily on machine-knitted garments with
machine-embroidered bands.

For repeating patterns; the knitting chart shows only one or two repeats, and indicates where you are to begin
and end the chart, for the piece you are knitting.
Each square represents one stitch, and the color given in each square represents the color in which you work
the stitch. Changing the charts in your own colors, will often make the pattern more interesting.
Norwegian Nordic Fair Isle patterns
All the Norwegian knitpatterns
shown here above, on 1 knitting page.
Fairisle sweater + knitting graphs
All the Norwegian knitpatterns shown
here above, on 1 knitting page.
More Fair Isle knitting patterns
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All the
Norwegian knitpatterns above, on 1 knitting
page.
These Norwegian knitting designs are not so difficult to knit, the colors changes every few rows, that's it.
Use beautiful knitting wool and different kinds of yarns, fluffy, cotton, wool.
Knit every now and then, a Purl side, on the right side of your knitting work, like in Bohus knitting,
for a special effect in your sweater or cardigan.
Beautiful Norwegian sweaters and details to inspire you, most of them are Dale sweaters.

Combining colors can change your pattern so dramatically, check my latest Norwegian knit patterns here.
Changing the colors of your knitting yarn, and knit them in your favorite colorway, is so much fun to do.
The patterns I have made here, are just a small example of what your imagination and creativity can do.
More Fair Isle knitting patterns
All the Norwegian knitpatterns above, on
1 knitting page.
All the Norwegian knitpatterns above, on
1 knitting page.
All the Norwegian knitpatterns above, on
1 knitting page.
Color knitting patterns for a Fair Isle sweater
_small.jpg)
All the Norwegian knitpatterns above, on
1 knitting page.

All the
Norwegian knitpatterns above, on 1 knitting
page.
Fairisle sweater + knittinggraphs
All the Norwegian knitpatterns above, on
1 knitting page.
_small.gif)
All the Norwegian knitpatterns above, on
1 knitting page.
2012 Dutch Postal Service Christmas stamps
Yes, I will make patterns for these soon.
2007 Holiday Knits
In 2007, the U.S. Postal Service will warm up for the holidays by issuing Holiday Knits, four stamps featuring
classic winter-time imagery designed and machine knitted by nationally known illustrator Nancy Stahl.
These beautiful stamps consist of a dignified stag, a snow-dappled evergreen tree, a perky snowman sporting
a top hat, and a whimsical teddy bear.
In recent years, knitting has become quite popular again, both in the United States and internationally.
Inspired by original Norwegian sweaters and knitted Christmas stockings, Stahl decided on "something cozy"
for this year's holiday stamp issuance. She used a computer software program to draw her original designs and
convert them to stitches and rows.
Then she downloaded the information to an electronic knitting machine and used it to knit her creations.
The machine's smaller stitch gauge didn't provide quite the effect Stahl was hoping to achieve.
So she transferred the designs onto punch cards and used a different knitting machine that works something like an old Jacquard loom and has a larger
stitch gauge.
Stahl scanned the finished pieces into her computer and retouched the photographic images to ensure that all the
stitches aligned properly. The result is a set of four colorful and "cozy" stamps that will add an extra touch of
warmth to seasonal correspondence.
Source: USPS

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