Newsletter #05: Autumn in Helsinki - One Year Later

Dusted off my laptop and sent out a newsletter. This one was long and reminded me of the blog posts I used to publish, so here I am, including it on the blog. Anyways, you’re always welcome to sign up to the newsletter to stay in touch. More updates will be coming soon.

NEWSLETTER #05

Autumn in Helsinki - One Year Later

Hello, once again. Just realized that my last proper newsletter was almost exactly one year ago, October 28th 2025. Slightly embarrassed but let’s move on. I have been trying to find my way back into a routine that includes regular updates and posts. However, to be honest my priorities these past couple of months have not included much knitting and therefore, I felt I didn’t have much to say. During the spring and summer, I decided to focus on my non-knitting related job as a server. The restaurant was busy when the weather was good so I took advantage of that, pouring Aperol Spritz and serving up Toast Skagen. Now that the patio furniture is packed away, I am digging through my yarn stash, craving to cast something on and reconnect.

I want to simply say that I am still here, still trying to knit while I spend most of my waking hours in close proximity to a sandbox. Currently, I am rediscovering the joy of small projects like accessories. I may be able to get in one or two stitches while Neil and I spend these autumn afternoons at local playgrounds. Here’s to hoping I can share those few stitches with you, once again.

Park.

Playground.

Save Suvilahti DIY Skatepark.

In The Studio

Last winter it was busy with five different designes on the needles. You’ll already recognize some since they already had their release date. I’m going to try and touch on them again since they still are designs that I am proud of. Each deserves their own spotlight and I would love to go through the inspiration behind each one.

I only was able to visit a handful of times during the summer. Now, it’s about showing up, finding my studio practice and routines once again. Emails, bookkeeping and drafting this newsletter are my main tasks this week. I am also swatching again. Currently trying to decide on a new colour combination for my next sweater for Laine, pictured below.

A bundle of Isager yarns

New swatch.

Autumn light in the studio.

Besides my work for publications, I have few older designs that I would like to revisit, update with either fresh yarns or colours. There’s also a few that I would love to resize and publish as patterns for children. I’ve been saying this since Neil was born, let’s see if I can follow through on at least one sweater before he turns three next year.

Pattern Updates

You may remember seeing Pinehurst on the newsletter last year while it was in its early stages. Originally published this March, in Laine’s Issue 28: Open Water, Pinehurst is now available as a single pattern download. The PDF comes with the usual English and Finnish versions, however, this time around I tried something different.

Pinehurst in Issue 28, Open Water. Photography by Laine Magazine.

Last year, I was approached by the creators of Knitlingo, M. Carmen and Pedro, the mother and son team behind this website specifically created for translating knitting patterns into serval different languages. Finally, I was able to try out their services on Pinehurst, translating this pattern in to French and German. You will now have access to the four languages when purchasing Pinehurst.

Pinehurst uses two colours of Hobbii x Pom Pom’s Garland held together throughout most of the body. Only the button band and collar use one strand. I picked Terazzo (orange) and Mabli (pink) for the original sample. Knitters can really play with colour combinations to give them a painterly quality to this cardigan or keep it straightforward and classic by using only one colour. I think Pinehurst stands out beautifully against the blue Finnish spring sky but has also transitioned nicely into cozy autumn pumpkin vibes. See photo below, it’s one of my go to cardigans for the studio.

Pinehurst will be 20% off until the end of November, 30th 2026. The discount has been applied to my web shop and Ravelry, no code needed. Feel free to check out my test knitter’s projects on Ravelry, mockasian and centumsatem both posted their cardigans.

Beginnings of Pinehurst.

Pumpkin vibes.

Pinehurst in progress.

Other News

I was serious when I mentioned “finding joy in small projects” above. I have about forty-five minutes to an hour of travel time when I work at the restaurant. When with Neil, I try to complete a few rows from a nearby park bench, this is less productive than my commute. However, I want to start sharing what is on my needles for personal projects. I would like to get over the anxiety of needing to have something completed and styled before sharing it publicly.

Bus stop knitting.

Neil’s new Rye socks.

Ribber Watch Cap in cashmere.

First up, I did just finish a pair of wool socks for Neil. I used Tin Can Knit’s Rye sock pattern. Rye is a fantastic free pattern, sized for the whole family. Last winter I made Neil an orange pair. This time, I used amirisu’s Swing in the colour Leo, which they kindly gifted me a few years ago. (Swing is still available but the colour Leo is not.) The socks still need a wash and I’ll embroider Neil’s initials on them, incase they go MIA while at daycare this winter.

After finishing the socks on Monday, I cast on Churchmouse’s Ribbed Watch Cap & Beanie. Eero has been requesting a new hat. I previously made him this same hat a few years ago, a black one. He’s only request was a new, lighter colour. He picked out the yarn during a recent visit to Snurre, Cardiff Cashmere Classic, this time in Fumo, a medium grey. I also have a purple Watch Cap for myself. Let’s have a moment for patterns that you can knit over and over again.

Stay cosy.

SHELTER - A Home for Everyone in Moominvalley

It’s time, the release date has come for The Art of the Sea, Laine’s most recent publication. The book is thick and heavy, filled with pages of patterns inspired by characters created by Finnish artist and writer, Tove Jansson. This year marked the 80th anniversary since she first published her comic strip featuring the Moomins and all their wonderful acquaintances. Eighty years of storylines, illustrations, books, films and plays, no wonder this knitting book is the size it is. Truth be told, I am hesitant to say knitting book, this is a offering, a tribute to Tove Jannson and to those who have been touched by these stories.

Photography by Laine.

I must admit right away, that I did not grow up with the tales from Moominvalley. My mother, Wendy, who is a retired elementary school teacher, introduced many books and series during our childhood but never the Moomins. I was twenty-six, living in London, when I met a man from Finland at a brewery one night after work. A couple dates went by and I remember telling my housemates about my new Finnish date and they exclamed, “Finland! I love the Moomins!”. Turns out almost everyone in the UK grew up reading and watching them on TV.

Images from tovejansson.com

Now, on to the design. After gathering inspiration from Laine’s mood board, I decided to use Tove Jansson herself as the muse behind my design for the book. There are many photographs of her wearing knitwear so I decided to think of a piece that I could see her in while at the summer cottage. It may be the summer months but I wanted a hearty sweater that would easily keep the wearer cozy against the strong archipelago winds and sea spray.

Original Shelter sketch.

My proposal was for a relaxed, Johnny collared pullover. I noticed that collared sweaters and shirts were often featured in Tove Jansson’s wardrobe. The texture I picked for the front was Wheat Ear Rib, a faux cable worked over three stitches. The hem, cuffs and collar are worked in slipped stitched 1x1 ribbing.

Shelter flat lay - front.

Shelter flat lay - back.

For yarn, Laine and I decided on Brooklyn Tweed’s Shelter. It took a couple of weeks for the yarn to make its way to Finland and during that time, BT announced the end of their yarn production. I was surprised, as I’m sure many of their long time followers felt the same. Before the yarn was on my needles, it did cross my mind if I should continue in this direction, using discontinued yarn before the book even made it to publication. However, after some thought, I knew I wanted to use Shelter. Fully committed, I was excited to cast on one last design with BT yarn.

Shelter yarn arriving, colour Woodsmoke.

Working on the collar.

During the test knitting phase, I began to refer to this pattern as Shelter Sweater. In the beginning it was only a way to differentiate between the two sweaters I was knitting at the time. However, when it came time to pick a name, Shelter, began to feel just right. It’s a little nod to the various places of shelter in Tove Jansson life, her studio and well known summer cottage come to mind as safe places for freedom of expression. Then there’s Moomintalo, the iconic, blue tower-like home to the Moomins, a place known to welcoming everyone inside, adventures and dreamers alike. Plus, it’s a little homage to the yarn itself.

Shelter before blocking.

Shelter after blocking.

Shelter is worked from the bottom up. The body is started in the round and then separated when the underarms are reached. While working the front, the left and right sides are separated when the v-neck opening is started. After the shoulders are seamed together, stitches for the sleeves are picked up and worked in the round. To finish the opening, stitches picking up along each side and a band of ribbing is worked. When the bands reach the shoulder seams, more stitches are picked up around the neck for the collar.

Shelter at the studio.

Ten years later, after that chance meeting in a London pub, I’m drafting this blog post from a frost covered Helsinki. That same Finnish man made me coffee this morning, which I had in one of my Moomin mugs. The lunch bag I brought to the studio is decorated with a Moomin scene. Soon, I’ll leave the studio to collect Neil from daycare, where they have nicknamed him Nipsu, after a small, curious creature who was adopted into the Moomin family. My life is very much surround by the Moomins. I may not have grown up with them but I am starting to learn about their world through the eyes of my toddler and I’m looking forward to this journey into Moominvalley.

The Art of the Sea cover.

The Art of the Sea is available in English and Finnish, along with digital copies as well. Head to Laine’s web shop or ask your local yarn shop if they’re planning on stocking this collection. Twenty-two other designs can be found alongside Shelter. In total there are 15 sweaters, 1 cardigan, 3 vests, 1 poncho, 2 scarves, 1 pair of socks.

Thank you to Laine for including me in this treasure of a collection. Plus, many thanks to the amazing team of test knitters while helped finalize this design. This was my entry back into knitwear design after my maternity leave and what a piece to start with! Some of the test knits can now be seen on Ravelry. Take a look there if you’re looking for the right substitute yarn for your Shelter. If you have enough of BT’s Shelter in your yarn stash, then you are very lucky!

PihlaLija, violetar, kseacrist and eveilletts’s Shelters on Ravelry.

Photography by Laine.

Photography by Laine.

Photography by Laine.

Photography by Laine.

Photography by Laine.

Laine Publishing photography: Jonna Helin & Riikka Kantinkoski.

Stylist: Ida Berfors

Makeup & Hair: Anu Levy

Model: Sally Niiniranta

I'm still here and I have a newsletter

I’m finally breaking the silence on the blog after three years. This spring I decided to start a newsletter, it’s mostly about what I’m currently up to, the lack of knitting I’ve been doing and the occasional pattern update. I thought I would start posting them here as well, so the blog doesn’t feel so naked.

I do plan to start blogging again, now that new work will be coming out more regularly. I’m also looking at the many unfinished drafts and feeling very guilty for not publishing those. Perhaps, the Internet will eventually see those abandoned thoughts too.

But for now, here’s my first newsletter from this summer. The sales have long since expired but if you’d like to get the info on new patterns, release dates and sales in realtime, I’d recommend signing up.

NEWSLETTER #01

Here it is, my first newsletter…

Here it is, my first newsletter. Let’s jump right in.

Back in February my maternity leave official ended. During that year, I barely picked up my knitting needles. One pair of socks, one cardigan and a couple of baby sweaters are the only items I managed to make. I didn’t even attempt any designing and that’s ok.

At first, I gave myself a few days to finally relax and do nothing. It’s been a learning curve to refocus energy towards myself, especially when someone else (side eyeing our boy, Neil), has consumed every waking thought this past year.

I began to reopen my business in March. It was busy with lots of bookkeeping, submitting new ideas to knitting publications and all while trying to survive the colds and viruses Neil brought home from daycare. Honestly, not much knitting was accomplished during March either, only a handful of swatches.

However, April has been more successful. New ideas of designs are starting to bubble up from the depths and make it to the sketchbook pages. I am also trying to managing expectations for how quickly I can work these days. This part has been the hardest. I started to work from of a shared studio space in Kallio near my home. While I only spend a couple of hours there during the week, each hour feels more productive compared to working from home, where I would be noticing my rearranged Pom Pom mags or the layer of dried porridge on our kitchen table (side eyeing Neil).

Anyways, I now have two new projects on the needles for future publications!

Pattern Updates

In March, Imatra, a cotton colour block cardigan from Laine’s Issue 21 became available as a single download. I love the original version I made for the magazine but I am now dreaming of knitting a second one for myself in one colour. I think using a dk wool would make it perfect for fall.

In April, Maplewood, a teddy bear like pullover originally published in Laine’s Issue 16 was also made available as a single PDF. Maplewood is currently a part of my Pink Moon Sale and will remain 20% off until May 11th, 2025.

Pink Moon Sale

Fort Grey, Phōs and Maplewood: 20% off until May 11th, 2025.

Other News

With new work now on my needles, this means I will be looking for two groups of test knitters soon. I’ll give you a quick description of each, just incase one sounds interesting. You can keep an eye open for the official call later this month.

One test knit will be for a chunky cardigan, knit on 7mm needles using Pom Pom x Hobbii’s Garland. Two strands of Garland are held together making this a quick knit. I’m already loving the marled look and comforting weight of the cardigan.

The other test knit call, will be for a worsted weight pullover. Small columns of faux cables cover the front so no cabling is required. The yarn I’ve used in this design is Brooklyn Tweed’s Shelter. News that BT will soon be ceasing its yarn production just was announced. I’m sadden by the thought and grateful they are providing yarn support, one last time.

My hope for May, is that the progress continues on these sweaters. There’s plans for a new full moon sale, to republish one, maybe two older patterns and to find some test knitters. Happy knitting and I hope spring has found you!