Finding Solace in Stitches: A Journey of Love, Loss, and Norwegian Knitting Traditions



Today, I want to share a deeply personal and heartfelt story with you - a story of love, loss, and the healing power of wool and knitting traditions. Life has a way of surprising us, and this summer, it threw an unexpected curveball my way. In the midst of what was supposed to be a joyous holiday, I experienced a profound loss that made my world stop.

I lost my best friend one week into the holiday - a friend who’s been in my life since I was 14 years old, and a person who brought endless laughter, love, and happiness. Her departure was sudden and without warning, leaving me grappling with a mix of emotions that seemed impossible to comprehend. How does one cope with the permanent absence of someone they hold dear? The truth is, there's no single path to navigate through the labyrinth of grief, but for me, two things have been my guiding lights: talking and knitting.

There was a lot of talking going on during the first couple of days. But when the words ran dry, and the pain seemed too much and was about to take over the day, I turned to my knitting needles—they have always brought me comfort and solace. I knit a lot during the second week of my holiday. A LOT!  

In the third week of my holiday I had planned a road trip - to Selbu and the Trøndelag area in Norway - an area with rich and strong knitting  traditions. Norway has a long and storied history of wool and knitting, and in Selbu, the art of knitting is deeply intertwined with the local culture and heritage. The plan was to visit Selbu and Selbu Spinneri on the journey to prepare for and gather information for our upcoming Norwegian Wool Month. And what an amazing journey this turned out to be … more to come during Wool Month in August. 

Through these serene Norwegian surroundings, I found comfort and a kind of renewal. Nature has an amazing ability to heal, and in the midst of breathtaking scenery and fascinating history, I found moments of peace and clarity. The beauty of the landscape and all the defining history echoed the beauty of the memories I held dear, and made me see (what I had actually known all along) that my best friend's spirit would forever live on in my heart in spite of how overwhelming and all consuming the sorrow seemed right now.

As I sit here, pouring my emotions onto these pages, I am reminded once again of the incredible power of love, friendship, and the simple act of knitting. Life may throw us unexpected challenges, but it also gives us the strength to overcome them. Through knitting, we find solace, and through the knitting traditions of Norway (or any other country for that matter) we find a deeper connection to the past and the present.

So, my dear readers, as you embark on your own journey through life, remember this: cherish your loved ones, embrace the healing power of your passions, and find comfort in the timeless traditions that connect us across generations.

With love and stitches,
Anne, xx

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