A knitting episode (6): Spring-y/summer-y knits 

Thank you for this short video about how one handles loss, death, sorrow. My son, a grown young man of 36, committed suicide. It’s not quite two weeks yet. The first week, shock and devastation, and in order to not lose myself in complete deep depression, I find myself organizing, spring cleaning, and working in the garden. It’s not to say I haven’t had my moments where I fall apart. Today, I don’t seem to have the energy to be productive so I am sitting quietly listening to podcasts and knitting. This morning the sunrise was beautiful so I went outside to take a few photos. It wasn’t until this afternoon that I realized the coincidence that my son committed suicide at sunrise. In the moment of being outside taking photos, I was crying, talking out loud to my son, crying and praying to God to forgive my son and grant him peace. And maybe thinking the sunrise was a bit more beautiful because he is a part of the universe, and the heavens now. Thank you. I hope your husband and family are able to remember the happier times with Dad/Grandpa. StitchedbyMimi

Your podcasts are beautifully calming, thoughtful and inspirational.

I'm thrilled to be in the 'select' group that watches both types of your videos 😊. I love to see your vlogs of the Danish countryside and gardens and I find your knitting talk inspiring. Waving hello from 🇨🇦

I came for the knitting, but ended up watching your entire back catalogue 😂😊 I love all of your content! Your voice is so calming, you have a lovely way with words, we enjoy a lot of the same books, and travel is also a passion of mine. It was a great surprise to see a new video from you today 🖤

You're lucky you live in a place that's so cool in summer. In most states in the US, heat is a health hazard. Quite literally without AC people die in summer. When I was a kid, I lived in Arizona, it's in the south western region and summers get really quite hot, easily between 100 and 110 F (38 - 43 C), and stay there for months and months. I always remember seeing signs and commercials encouraging people, especially the elderly or those with children to go to public places like shopping malls or libraries to cool off if their air conditioning either stoped or wasn't working at full capacity. Now I live in Kansas City kind of in the middle. Here it stays in the mid 90s F (35C +or -)most of the time from June to August. I think the largest factor though is that our homes are very well inoculated because our winters, especially where I live now in Kansas City, can be really extreme some years. Seems like for the past several years we've gotten weeks of -15F (-26 C) or worse. Because of this our homes really hold on to heat. Great in winter but in summer it means we need to work extra hard to keep our homes cool with AC. Anyway, long rant but I hope you continue to do well. Your knitting is beautiful as always. :) Sending love.

Helle! Thank you so much for your kind mention of my channel. Also I truly loved the words by Anne Brontë. Wonderful quote

I live in Texas. I love knitting but my winter is as short as your summer and very mild. I can only realistically knit warmer weather wear. For this reason the kimono you are wearing and shawls are more to my liking. Please consider a knit along that would be fitting for those of us not in a terribly cold climate. My garden gives me much joy, thank you for sharing yours💕

As a fellow academic and knitter, I am so happy I found your channel! Watching this video as I am knitting the moby slipover

I have done Joni, it's so quick and easy to do. You wont need to get 3,25 needles, 3 will be fine. I altered my Joni in the round by using the twisted stitch as my side false seam.

The flowers and blossoms of May are really beautiful, I particulary like the white and purple liliac in my garden. You mentioned the English manor houses and I also can't get enough of them, especially the honey-coloured ones in the Cotswolds. I recently saw a video of an old manor house, now a hotel, near Castle Combe almost completely covered in Ivy and Wisteria. I'd really love to see it this summer. By the way, you look so great with these glasses on. It gives you a strong vibe of intelligence, grace and beauty. Your outer beauty perfectly relfects your inner beauty, thoughtfulness and profoundness. Greetings from Vicent, 35, from Germany. 😉

Wow your garden is trully a dreamy place 💜 A perfect place to sit and knit outside, or for a cat to wonder around, isn't it

You have inspired me to knit the Seon Kimono. Love your version.

The lovely Seon Kimona has just been added to my dream knits - gorgeous! For a summer knit I'm working on my 2nd Rock it tee in a combo weight lace linen/silk yarn in cream and brick/terracotta stripes. Not a quick knit for a slow knitter like me hence there will be exactly one summer knit for me this year. The garden shots were such a pleasure to see - the lilacs and wisteria absolutely dreamy in their beauty. I was inspired by you to choose a cardigan pattern by Anne Ventzel, using 3 strands resulting in a soft creamy pink color which will be a fall/winter knit but I couldn't resist beginning it and will enjoy continuing it after summer. Thank you for your generosity in sharing your life in so many contexts - I enjoy it so much!

I love your podcast. I really liked to see your garden through the windows in your background.

Wow! So many comments! Reading through them, there isn't anything I can add as they sum up my thoughts regarding your podcast...excellent, inspiring, thoughtful, educational, peaceful, perfection! And "Yes!" to a Nordic knit along. Looking forward to your next podcast. 👋 from Washington State, USA.

Please keep bringing your style forward. I have bought almost every pattern you have shown. A huge yes to a knits a long. It is fun when the knit a long has regular zoom meetings for everyone participating to get to know one another! 🐑♥️🐑♥️🐑

Such beautiful flowers! Yes to a KAL! And I had no idea that air conditioning isn't wide-spread in Denmark!

the background you have there of the neighbors' trees wow!😍

This is my first time watching your podcast and what a pleasure. I feel calmer and inspired. I was also drawn into summer knitting with the Joni pattern by Moonstruck Knits and I am delighted with my garment. I wanted to share two observations about the project and yarn, relative to your comments. First, the fabric created with El Linio, which I also used, is getting softer with washing and drying. I am doing both in the machine in a delicates bag, to soften and to restore its shape, as it did grow with wearing, exceptionally so. I just pull it out of the dryer for the final bit of drying to get the curved hem to lay just so. It is wonderful to have a knit that can be cared for this way, particularly as it is worn on hot days. It is very cool, cooler than a t-shirt, really, given the open weave and little cap sleeves but sweating is possible, as is direct contact with body lotions and deodorant that I don't want discoloring the garment. Second, I tried to launch another Joni and had to give it up and return the unballed skeins. Not all linen yarns are created equal. I now believe that the chainette construction of El Linio is key to comfort when knitting and the fabric created. I found the other 100% french linen yarn to be akin to Prada twine- expensive and stiff as could be. I do like the idea of knitting this pattern again in a silk or silk blend, particularly as I couldn't get the white El Linio for my Joni #1. . I look forward to watching more of your content! Lovely!

Thank you for sharing your knitting and garden and travels. So peaceful and inspiring.

Good morning ! I love listening to you while I'm knitting. Your so pleasant and I love all your information other tan knitting. You are very informative. i can sit and enjoy all your projects and also your lilac plants. Keep up the great work . Barbara from Walnut Ca.

i agree i enjoy the crinkling it reminds me of the gifts i got as a child for birthdays, and when im opening yarn packs those joyful feelings flood in. Don't apologize for crinkling. i feel we are too worried about stuff that might bother a few people.

Thanhs Helle I love your calm peaceful videos and I love your choice of yarns, colours and patterns- I find I want everything that you want haha! I’m sitting here knitting the final sleeve cuff on the Salty Days Sweater by Kutovakika! Thanks so much for sharing 😊

I found your podcast from Knit together with Kim and Jonna. I watched the knitting ones first and have gone back to watch your others. I really enjoy your travel adventures even your bike rides to your friend’s home. Your voice is very calming and you have such wisdom. You seem to know who you are and like which I’m sure we all aspire. 😊Thank you

Your garden is beautiful, thank you for sharing!

Your podcasts are very enjoyable and calming to watch... please don't stop making them !

Helle, your Seon Kimono is gorgeous!!!!! I love your lilacs! 🌷

So good to hear from you. I love all your makes. I'm so inspired. I laughed when you talked about air conditioning. I live in the Canadian prairies and today's high is in the 30s again. Normally it is 17C. Technically we only have 3 months of summer but most homes have AC. They also have to be well insulated for the -30C in the winter, too. Currently, I'm knitting the Frankford sweater by Corrina Ferguson with Manos del Uruguay Clara merino wool which I've had in my stash for about 3 years now. The colourway is obispo, which is tonal cranberry/burgundy etc. It is so warm to knit right now but i can't seem to put it down. Beautiful lilacs btw. Never seen any fade from pink to white. I'm off to garden a bring in a few lilacs now. Cheers from Canada.

Helle it's always a pleasure to hear your musings, knitting or anything else in the mix. Your cardigan is Beautiful. as well as your lilacs and wisteria, so pretty. Happy knitting! 😄

A paradise of lilacs! Thank you for this episode!

Hello from Arizona, USA where I don’t get to see lilacs anymore sadly. I miss the spring flowers that I grew up with in Illinois. I have been enjoying your knitting posts as well as your other Danish musings. Like you, I took a hiatus from knitting for over 20 years, and got back to it during the pandemic and became an avid sock knitter (which is amusing because I live in Arizona and who needs socks all the time, right? ) I am a passionate process knitter and thanks to You tube I have learned so many new techniques and since I am a visual learner , it’s so much better than reading from a printed out pattern. I find I am always trying something new to challenge myself. A pair of socks doesn’t take as long as a sweater to learn techniques. I am loving the neutral color palette as I have tended toward the bright colors for my socks for the most part, it’s been years since I knitted sweaters, but may go back to it. I am fascinated with the combining of 2different yarns and the patterns that you use with some of your sweaters. I never did that , but will add that to repertoire. Thank you for what you offer of yourself to knitters. I look forward to every new video.

In podcast 5 (I think) you answer a question about why most of your knits have you working with two strands of yarn. You mention several reasons, including that it is a trend. I have been knitting, off and on for fifty years or more and am now beginning to use silk and mohair strands with current patterns. I believe it is important to mention to a new knitter that the cost to knit the garment increases significantly.. Yarn for my current sweater, using Spin Cycle and Magpie Fibers together, is costing well over $200. The trend is toward softness and beauty, for sure. A new knitter will want to make sure they have gotten far enough along to nail the fit. I conclude by mentioning that I am sold on the luxurious results. Up til now I have been a fan of the most rustic yarns available. I still love Shetland wool. But the halo, the squish, the elegance of this “trend” is alluring. I am finishing Andrea Mowry’s “Illuminate” using her suggested yarns and color palette. Gorgeous!

Lovely relaxing videos. Love all the styles and colours you choose. 😊

How delightful to discover your podcast and IG today Helle! I thoroughly enjoyed sitting and knitting whilst you shared your own knitting, yarn , garden and thought. It was like sitting with a friend and chatting about our knits ♥ I too, love white shirts. You can never have too many! Quite a few of your dream knits are on my dream knitting list also. I think that the Easy Like Sunday Morning will be on my needles very soon. It would be a cosy addition to my winter wardrobe. A Nordic knit-along sounds like fun. As I'm in Melbourne, Australia, winter is here and it is always good to hunt for new designs/designers and also learn more about Nordic knitting in general. Having had my own IG account hacked, I can understand the frustration. It's such a nuisance, isn't it? It was lovely to 'meet' you today. I shall look forward to seeing more of your podcasts ♥

Absolutely yes for a Nordic knit along! ❤

Thank you for such a lovely podcast!! Beautiful knitting as always. 11:31

Love your musings and knits and garden. A nordic knit along sounds good.

I love seeing what you are knitting. I also enjoy hearing about your garden. ❤❤❤

Belle, I love any and all of your vlogs, merci!

And I love the knitalong idea!!!

LOVE your kimono! ❤

As usual, your video is beautiful and philosophical. I liked your verbal description how to knit this piece. It answers multiple questions came to my mind the moment I saw it. Thank you.

I love your content! It's so calming. I love the idea of a Nordic knit along!

Thanks so much for this beautiful episode. Re 3.25 - I realise I’m using more and more these ‘interim’ sizes, particularly 3.25 and 3.75. It helps me adjust when I only have a minor diversion to the pattern gauge. I’m also using a 1/4 bigger size for the bust part of sweaters, to ease a bit around the breast. The difference of needle size is small enough that you don’t notice in the texture, but it just gives this little additional room. But I’m sure you can do without and knit a bit looser (which I find difficult as then I’m not in control of my tension any longer). Regarding suggestions: Since you knit a lot of garments, I’d be really interested in knowing how you pick sizes. I do make a big swatch, wash it, etc as per the book, but then my gauge always changes when I’m knitting the garment, with some important (usually) oversize results. I’m curious how others manage. Thanks again, I love your meditative tone, it’s such a pleasure to listen to your musings.

I enjoy the content You are making the way it is - some exquisite knits for treating my eyes and some life thoughts. Thank You!

Good Sunday from Montreal 🇨🇦 I love to watch your videos, it’s like sitting with a friend who likes knitting! Like you I picked up knitting about a year ago. I haven’t knitted in a good 25 years ! I must say I AM HOOKED AGAIN ! I started the Sunday Cardigan from Aegyoknit in a light greyish mohair! I had to stop because of of a retina detachment situation…. But hope to be able to knit soon….. I miss it 😊

I love how calming your videos are 😊 currently watching and knitting melange sweater junior as a gift ❤️❤️

Aw Helle!! Haha I laughed when you talked about how I had an entire plan worked out for us meeting without actually letting you know! Classic Car! So so so glad it worked out and those were some of the best hours I’ve ever spent! Just complete kindred spirits and we are definitely friends and can’t wait until we get to meet up in person again!

This was wonderful! I enjoyed it so much.

Love to watch you late at night. I love your work. Your flowers are beautiful.

Another beautiful episode Helle! I love the quote you shared at the beginning, what a wise student you had! Thanks for showing us your garden in addition to your knitting. I studied in Canterbudy for a year over 20 years ago (gulp!), and visited Sissinghurst which wasn't too far. What a speacial, beautiful place! I'm just knitting a pattern by Anne Ventzel so I'd be up for a Nordic knitalong - there are so many talented Nordic designers. I also got the pattern for the Joni top which I hope to knit after I'm done with the Shore tee - you version in white is so pretty. Have a lovely week!

Ohhhh the lilacs! To me, spring spells lilacs, I just love them. And yay for Canadian yarn and Canadians, speaking as a Canadian who lives in Chicago. I have so enjoyed your channel, thank you for sharing your knitting and thoughts with us.

Beautiful vlog! I always enjoy your talks about knitting & more! It sounds fun to join in on your Nordic KAL 😊 I will keep watch for more info. Your garden is stunning. Beautiful home, too! Take care and thank you, Karen 🇨🇦

I do love ALL of your videos!!!!!

It’s beautiful! The colour is perfect!

I love the new backdrop to this video. As always you are a terrific knitter and if you think you are slow then I can attest to the fact that I have projects started from a couple of years ago and not finished life can sometimes get in the way . As always thanks for sharing. I also enjoy the travel blogs you make.

So amazing 🤩 that you and Carmen were able to spend the day together 🎉❤ 🤗!!! She seems like such a wonderful person! I hope you both had an amazing day!!!

Love the lilacs thanks for sharing your garden also enjoyed the podcast.

I enjoy your wonderful podcasts. Your style is lovely. Your garden looks amazing.

Beautiful podcast. Love your knits your choice of colours and your beautiful garden. ❤️

I love ur podcasts.

That kimono is stunning! Your nets always speak to me they’re my absolute favorite. And I just really enjoy your channel so much.

Thank you so much for your presentation. Your sion kimono is beautiful, Helle. Thanks for sharing your gardens, too. My gardens are beautiful this year as well. The peonies and roses are opening today! Wonderful place to refresh yourself! Happy knitting.

Lovely color for you, the kimono! Looks like a fun pattern to try

Such a beautiful setting. Love your wisteria, such a spring bloom for us as well. We also have Jacarandas blooming late in spring. At the moment, we will begin our winter , though not a barren as the northern hemisphere or cold ... we still reach 20 degrees celsius here in winter but begin the day on 2 or 4. I am nearly finish with my Sunday Cardigan from petiteknits and was inspired by you to hold two yarns together for the first time as well as knitting from the top. Great experience and the melocoton coloured mohair has made my burgundy wool look amazing. Thanks for the inspirations and thoughtfulness you share with us.

I watch EVERYTHING you post because your podcasts bring me real joy!! Keep going-your visits are wonderful! ❤

Thanks for sharing your knits. I love your blogs and watch them while knitting too. I love thé kimono, the colours and yarn you choose. The peaceful surroundings and the chats about things I love too is quite relaxing. As a Brontë fan, I loved the quote on the card too.

I really love your kimono. Adding to the top of my list!

Thank you for a lovely episode 😊 I am knitting on my second Ranunculus.

❤Love your garden and beautiful lilacs and for sure would love a garden tour 😊. Thank you for another video, such a relaxing treat after a full day of teaching Kindergarten kids 😅!

The lilacs & wisteria! Beautiful. I always look forward to my small handful of bright red oriental poppies as it reminds me of my mom. She loved red whereas I’m not normally a red “person”.

I enjoy your podcast intensely Helle ❤ I am knitting my coin shawl when listening to you. I saved all the patterns and yarns you have shown and think I do like the aegyoknits work a lot. I am a reader so even better.

Thank you for another beautiful video ❤

Thank you for an inspiring knitting episode 🧶😗

Helle! Another lovely video and beautiful finished cardigan. The soft colors, lilacs and view of your garden felt very peaceful and inspiring as well. I'm looking forward to seeing the completed white summer tee. What a pretty pattern! Our summers here in California are so uncomfortably hot, we can't live without air conditioning. Right now I'm enjoying some beautiful spring weather, which like your lilacs, doesn't last very long. I'm currently knitting a very breezy shawl out of silk yarn. See you next time!

This is another beautiful and inspiring podcast with many lovely patterns. After seeing that your Instagram account was hacked I went on (I have an account but rarely use it), oh my, your photos are gorgeous. That is another talent you have. Exquisite lighting and always perfect composition. Your lilacs are wonderful, such delicate and pretty blooms. I've never been ro Sissinghurst, despite being in the south of England but in Hampshire, not Kent. Still quite a journey and I don't drive but maybe on day I'll get there. Usually private homes in the UK don't have air con either but as our summers get hotter, I wish that they did!

Helle, I so enjoy your podcasts. Thank you so much for crafting and creating such calm beauty for us to enjoy as we knit with you! As you speak I am working my way through Byron, by Moonstruck Knits, for my son. He chose the same colours as the original and the texture is just magic - though I do think this is going to take a long time to knit. Sitting in front of me is the yarn to knit Joni in linen and silk by Akara yarns in a neon pink. I think it will be fun for the hot days of summer. So as it heats up, the Holst wool will soon be taken over by the linen. Watching you for Haliburton, Ontario, Canada.

Hello Helle, I was searching for ‚knitting‘ and ‚denmark‘ on RU-vid and voilá , I found your podcast. And I‘m very glad I did, I love both the knitting and the live content, watching you is very relaxing to me! I‘m living in the north of Germany, just about an hour away from the danish border and I love denmark, spent my 50th birthday in april in Ringkøbing. The weather/climate is similar here, still waiting for warm and sunny days! I hava also a very sensitive skin so I‘m following your experiences in trying out different yarns. I made good experiences with brushed alpaca as I can‘t wear for example isager alpaca1. And I love your garden, Sissinghurst is on my bucket list! Looking forward for your next episodes wether it is knitting related or not 😊 Kærlig hilsen Astrid

Lovely video

Thank you for your lovely episode, love what you knit and the colours are so beautiful. The flowers in your garden are so beautiful too. I wish I could have such a beautiful flowers in my garden here in Iceland🌼

The lilacs are beautiful and yes they smell so lovely. The yarns for the sweaters and shirts are beautiful. Your garden is lovely. I dont use instagram, because it and Facebook are so easy to hack.

Hi Helle, Thank you for sharing your gorgeous knits! I love the lacey T-shirt that you’re working on. You will too. ☺️ I’m working on something mindless and casual. It’s the Summer League Cutoff by Two of Wands. I’ve combined 100% cotton yarn with a lace weight baby alpaca. Your garden looks beautiful! I could almost smell the lilacs.🤣 Enjoy the springtime! 🧶❤️

Your content is so refreshing, thank you for this wonderful podcast. I enjoy your thoughtful manner so much. LOVE the knitting and your beautiful garden.

The color of the Seon Kimono compliments your coloring so well!

I love your quiet colors. Thank you also for Natasha lace pattern might be nice over my white summer dress. I live in Virginia. So I know heat and humidity. Though it has not been hot at all this may, which is very unusual….and congratulation on the yoga certificate…loved the champagne.

Another lovely video (showing my age here) or podcast.. my queue of knits continues to grow after watching! ❤ thank you for sharing your thoughts and garden 🪻

Love your knit ensemble. Interesting pattern selection e.g. the unstructured kimono intl patterns and other lovely mix

Helle, What a wonderful episode! You provided so much inspiration. I have some linen yarn that has tried unsuccessfully to be several different sweaters, and only two days ago I was considering Natasja Hornby's Joni, which I first saw on a Fruity Knitting episode; so it was fun to see that you are currently knitting it. The Linea Blouse also caught my eye as a possibility. Your kimono is gorgeous and definitely something I will add to my knitting queue. And the green of your new Sonder Yarn! The icing on the cake is your lovely garden and lilacs. Thank you for yet another lovely, calm, and sophisticated episode.

Hi Helle!👋 Your cardigan is lovely, and that color is one of my favorites right now…perfect for spring.🌷 Thank you for posting another great knitting video…and for the shout-out! Also, your garden!😮 So beautiful.

I really enjoyed this podcast❤

Lilacs are my favorite! I just bought my brother a new lilac bush for his anniversary! I really enjoy your channel and love that work in progress!

Your garden is lovely and oh the lilacs- amazing. I don’t think mine grow nearly as full- likely due to the hot dry weather we have in the interior of BC 🇨🇦. The Natasha Hornby tank is so beautiful. Andrea, of Fruity Knitting, is making it too, but in a colour. I love your kimono sweater. Thanks for sharing the making process. I think I might give it a try. I am currently knitting the Corran Cardigan by the Creabea in a blue cotton and so far enjoying it and finding it knitting up fast. I have just the tassels to add to a Harry Potter scarf that my granddaughter requested. It is knit in burgundy and gold, which are not colours I like together, so it has definitely been a product knit. I am now starting some rainbow socks in honour of LGBH month, which will likely be for my eldest niece, who has recently identified as bi-sexual. Sonder yarn is on my wish list of dream yarns to try. The colours and yarn co tent are amazing.

Love the crinkles ❤

I was so excited to see you reviewing and modelling Seon Kimono as this will be my next project. We are going on a lovely trip from New Zealand to Italy in July and I thought this would be a fun project to take with me and knit on planes… It will be my first project working with Silk (I’ll use her recommended Kinu and Sensai combo) and I am quite excited to learn. 😊

Nice to see another video. Your kimono type cardigan is beautiful. I would love something like that. You look amazing in all the pale soft colours but you can definitely wear some brighter colours too. When you hold up the bright pink and coral colours, they will great on you.

I could not wait for that shawl pattern to come out! I have read thru it and will knit soon in cashmere in purple color.

I so enjoy your videos. Have a great summer. 🇨🇦

I totally relate to your idea of summer knitting. Not into the cutesy look either. You nailed the concept I was trying to understand about the white and light look with a vintage/Edwardian vibe!! Thank you for sharing your style!!

I’ve been watching your videos while riding my Peloton bike and I find them much more interesting and motivating than the loud music and the normal riding programs. So thank you for keeping me exercising!

Beautiful video. I'm a newer knitter and I love comments that let me know the challenges a newer knitter might have with their garment. I'd love a knit along with you. What a wonderful idea! I am knitting Purl Soho's Striped Half + Half Triangles Wrap for myself, my daughter and my daughter-in-law. I am sneaking in socks for myself during these massive projects.Enjoy your beautiful garden.