Summer Memories: The Story Behind the Haikjeften Sweater

It’s funny how certain knitting projects stick a little extra close to the heart. While we enjoy quieter days here in Alfaz del Pi, with clicking knitting needles and perhaps a glass of good red wine at sunset, a wonderful memory popped up in my feed. Do you remember the summer of 2023? When our needles were practically on fire for a very special occasion?

We have to rewind a bit. Back to the excitement, the creativity, and the fantastic engagement surrounding the design competition for the Haikjeften festival.

For those of us who love yarn, few things are more fun than when our hobby hits the mark out in "the real world." And it really did that summer. Together with Elin (my wonderful co-designer!), we threw ourselves into it with a design we hoped would capture the essence of festival joy: Something tough, practical, and – not least – nice and warm when the Northern Norwegian summer evenings turned chilly.

And the response? We will never forget it.

"Then it's just time to get knitting!" wrote festival boss Stein Hjertholm when the result was ready. Seeing him pose proudly in the winning sweater, and reading all the fantastic comments from you cheering us on, was a prize in itself.

The design, with its characteristic hood and graphic "shark mouth" borders, quickly became a favorite. We saw it in classic white and green, but also in lovely variations of blue, yellow, and rust red as you put your own stamp on it. It was simply knitting magic in practice – a community creating something together.

Even though we are now enjoying life under the Spanish sun here at Casa de Lana, this sweater is a reminder of why we do this. It’s about the joy of creating, the community found in every stitch, and the pride of wearing something you’ve made yourself (or convinced a kind aunt to knit, as several hinted at in the comment section!).

Do you have a festival favorite?

Whether you are heading to a festival this summer, or just need a good hoodie for chilly evenings on the terrace, this design holds up just as well this year.

Are you ready for a new project? The pattern is still a favorite of ours, and we are happy to help you find the perfect color combination – whether you want the classic "Haikjeften look" or a variant that suits the sunset here in Spain.

See you in the lounge – or in the online store!

Hugs from us at Casa de Lana