Anne's Norwegian Knitting

🎥 This episode is especially well suited for watching, as many sweaters, hats, and historical details are shown and discussed on screen.

The link to the YouTube video for this episode is further down.

Anne and Steph explore the deep connection between Norwegian knitting and the Winter Olympics – how sweaters, hats, and motifs became carriers of identity, history, and national pride. They move through decades of Olympic knitwear, symbolism, fashion shifts, and craft, while Anne shares personal memories from the 1994 Lillehammer Olympics and the stories behind some of Norway’s most iconic knitted designs.

Click here to watch it on YouTube: Podcast Episode 44 on YouTube



Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to Anne's Norwegian Knitting Conversations
00:40 Recording the Podcast on Video
02:57 Honoring the Mountains with Our Sweaters
04:21 Winter Olympics and Knitting History
07:04 Iconic Norwegian Knitwear in the Olympics
14:49 The Little Devil Hat and Its History
19:08 Evolution of Norwegian Olympic Sweaters
26:21 1990s Fashion: Bold Identity and Oversized Styles
27:22 Olympic Knits: A Journey Through Time
29:26 Personal Knitting Stories and Olympic Memories
31:31 Iconic Norwegian Sweaters and Their Evolution
34:13 Norwegian Craftsmanship at the Olympics
39:59 Modern Olympic Knits and Their Unique Designs
47:00 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections



Link to transcript and shownotes

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 episode, Anne and Steph explore the history and atmosphere behind the Nidaros Spires sweater, drawing inspiration from Nidaros Cathedral – Norway’s most important medieval cathedral.

They talk about Trondheim’s role during the Viking Age, the story of Saint Olaf, and how the cathedral reflects Norway’s transition from Norse traditions to Christianity. Along the way, they touch on architecture, stained glass, sacred spaces, and how history and place can be translated into knitted design.

A reflective episode about stone, light, and the stories we carry forward – in wool and beyond.



Link to transcript and shownotes



Timestamps

00:00 Welcome to Anne's Norwegian Knitting Conversations
00:40 Introduction to Today's Episode
01:02 Relaunching the Nidaros Sweater Pattern
03:20 The Historical Significance of Nidaros
04:20 The Viking Age and Christianity in Norway
05:12 The Nidaros Cathedral: Architecture and Stories
15:34 The Rose Window and Its Significance
20:07 The Organs and Altars of Nidaros Cathedral
25:39 Personal Reflections and Experiences
29:13 Closing Remarks and Call to Action

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 week’s Stranded Thought, Anne reflects on how knitting patterns used to look – and how our expectations of them have changed.

Back in the day, even complex sweaters were knit from a single folded page with tiny text, small diagrams, and very few words. Today, patterns are longer, more detailed, and often expected to explain not just what to do, but why.

In this Stranded Thought, Anne explores the difference between:
– Patterns as instructions
– Teaching as a separate craft
– And why not everything needs to be understood right away to move forward

She also shares a familiar moment from her teaching: when the explanation hasn’t quite landed yet – and why sometimes the best thing you can do is simply follow the next step and let understanding come later.

A thoughtful reflection on trust, learning, and letting the knitting lead the way.