Proud knitting men wiser for the experience

Six men in Hrísey began a knitting course with retired textile teacher Svanhildur Daníelsdóttir on February 1st—and a seventh joined later. The project: to knit a traditional Icelandic lopapeysa sweater for themselves. They completed the task this week. “It went wonderfully, and they’ve learned a great deal,” she says.

The goal was to finish the sweaters before Seamen’s Day or the Hrísey Festival, which began yesterday. “They were enthusiastic, positive, and hardworking,” says Daníelsdóttir. “We met at my home on Saturday mornings—and sometimes more often—though three of them missed many sessions due to work and travel abroad.” They received extra lessons, and everything came together in the end.

All the men chose the same pattern using lightweight lopi yarn of their own color preference—except for one, who had to use a different yarn due to a wool allergy. “They learned how to read and understand a pattern, how to cast on and bind off, knit and purl, increase and decrease.” More than that, they shared many meaningful moments together.

Daníelsdóttir says she is proud of the men and that they gained confidence through the project. “My teacher’s heart swelled when the project was finished and the men walked out into the field with straight backs, proud and uplifted.”