North Sea is a collection of patterns loosely inspired by the knitting traditions of the Scandinavian region, and named for flora, fauna, and geographical features of the area. The collection includes two accessory patterns: a small, textured shawl with practical, Faroese-style shaping, and a hat sized for babies through adults with a Norwegian-inspired colorwork snowflake motif (and a Latvian braid detail - remember: loosely inspired). Then there are three sweater patterns: both a kids’ and women’s version of a riff on the iconic circular-yoked Icelandic Lopapeysa sweater, as well as a fitted, steeked women’s cardigan with a cozy shawl collar and a simple, stranded zigzag motif that can be found in colorwork patterns throughout the region.

The patterns are knit in a range of Malabrigo bases: a variegated colorway of luxurious Silky Merino is a perfect match for a slipped-stitch pattern in the shawl, ultra-comfy Merino Worsted in strongly contrasting semisolids for the cardigan lets the colorwork shine, Chunky gets the snuggly, relaxed yoked pullovers done in short order, and Rios makes a durable, soft, and warm hat for kids and adults alike.

eBook published in December 2014