Anne's Norwegian Knitting

After a short summer break, Anne and Steph are back behind the microphones – and celebrating one full year of the podcast! In this episode, they look back on a wonderful in-person retreat in Norway with 18 knitters from North America and continental Europe before turning their attention to one of the highlights of the knitting year – Norwegian Wool Month. You'll hear the story behind how Wool Mont...

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 a...

In this episode, Anne and Steph talk about choosing colors – why it can feel tricky, and how it becomes easier with a bit of understanding and practice. They explore different ways to find inspiration, from nature to everyday moments, and share real examples of what works, what doesn’t, and why. You’ll also hear why swatching matters more than you think, and how small adjustments can completely ch...

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...

Before we start, this is a highly visual episode, so you might watch it on YouTube here: Podcast Episode 52 on YouTube In this episode, Anne and Steph dive into everything Eternity. From the original inspiration to color choices, design evolution, and how the project has grown into a full collection, this conversation explores the story behind one of Anne’s most beloved designs. You’ll hear how th...

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...

In this episode, Anne and Steph explore what Easter looks like in Norway – and it’s probably very different from what you’re used to. From week-long mountain trips and outdoor waffles to Easter chickens, mystery novels, and knitted decorations, Norwegian Easter traditions blend nature, culture, and cozy creativity. You’ll hear about: Why Easter in Norway starts early and often means a full week of...

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,...

In the past, most clothing was made to fit the person who would wear it. Today, we are used to buying standardized sizes designed for an “average” body. But knitters have something special – we create our own garments. In this short Stranded Thought episode, Anne reflects on why understanding garment fit is one of the most empowering skills a knitter can develop. With just a few foundational conce...

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 whe...

In this video-recorded episode, Anne and Steph are joined by three Level 2 knitters who share how Norwegian Knitting Magic Level 2 changed their confidence, their understanding of gauge, and the way their sweaters fit. They talk about: – Learning to adjust patterns to your own body – Continental knitting and colorwork – The power of community during live teaching – Why some of them are already kni...

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 wal...

🎥 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 th...

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...

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 architec...

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 th...

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 explo...

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 ref...

In this first Stranded Thought of 2026, Anne reflects on something she noticed while working on a long-awaited new design – the Eternity Sweater. Using the same yarn, the same needles, and the same techniques she worked with five years ago when designing the Eternity Shawl, Anne discovered that the fabric had changed. Her gauge had shifted – quietly, consistently, and without drama. This short epi...

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 t...

In this episode, Anne and Steph step slightly away from the needles and dive deep into Norwegian culture and history. While knitting is always close by, this conversation is less about stitches and techniques, and more about the traditions, beliefs, and seasonal rhythms that have shaped Norwegian life for centuries. Together, they explore the Winter Solstice – the moment when the sun turns and the...

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 momen...

In this episode, I sit down with Steph – our knitting coach, multitalented maker, and the one who brings so much depth, history and humour into our community. We talk about her Norwegian heritage, her deep dive into Viking Age textiles, the unexpected twists that led her into knitting, and how her life experiences shape the way she teaches today. From woodcarving to quilt making, from Montana to N...

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...

In this week’s Stranded Thought, Anne reflects on a season filled with gratitude and how knitting brings calm, presence and steadiness into a fast–moving world. She shares how the community – from the early Mountain Journey members to the Northern Lights founding knitters – has shaped her days and continues to be one of the most meaningful parts of her work. Inside the episode, Anne talks about: –...