Nordfjordkofte Pattern

InspirationIn 2021, I visited the National Nordic Museum and fell in love with a sweater. The museum tells the story of Scandinavian immigration to North America. In the middle of the Norwegian immigration story display hangs this classic grey and white hand-knit Nordfjordkofte. Honestly, it haunted my dreams. From the first moment I saw it, I felt compelled to recreate it. Fast forward two years, and I was able to fly to Seattle and spend a day with the sweater in preparation to teach this class. Wearing a pair of gloves, I examined it inside and out. The overall motif is a common one. But this version has such personality. The gauge is finer than most versions I’ve seen, but that’s exactly why I love it. It has a square neck. It is cropped and fitted. There is no button band because the buttonholes are in the fabric of the body. The cardigan was knit in the round and steeked, which is common. But the inside is lined with linen (a beautiful finishing touch). The front features a lovel