Pickles Window Takeover: Siv Romsdal

At a time when much of knitwear design is presented digitally, Pickles Window Takeover gives both emerging and established designers a physical arena to showcase their work. We want to present a wide range of knitwear design – from small, independent talents to more established names – to highlight the diversity of the knitting community.

This time we have the pleasure of highlighting Siv Romsdal and her designs, rooted in Sámi culture, language and landscape, in our shop window in Markveien.

In Markveien, right in the heart of Oslo, we give knitwear designers the opportunity to exhibit their creations in our shop window. This is a unique chance for designers to showcase their work to a wide audience, while celebrating knitwear design as an art form.

Siv Romsdal is a knitwear designer and author, with a clear grounding in Sami culture and tradition. She comes from Nordkapp in Finnmark, with roots in Porsanger, and works with knitwear as a way of exploring and highlighting Sami history, identity and craftsmanship. Her designs are based on both traditional Sami patterns and her own interpretations of nature and the landscape in the north – the plateau, the light, the seasons and the places.

I met her at a knitting event at Vestlia Resort, where she got to know Pickles Pure Wool for the first time. She fell in love with the yarn and has since knitted up some of her own favorite garments, which are now on display in our window.

For this takeover, she has selected four garments from her books Sapmi Knit and Sapmi Knit 2.

Beaivi – The sun
Beaivi means sun. Here she has combined Pickles Pure Wool with Silk Mohair, which gives the sweater a softer and airier look than the original.

Gárasavvon – Karesuando
A place name from the north, on the border between Norway and Sweden. A landscape that is reflected in both culture and knitting traditions.

Geasseduottar – Sommervidde
Directly translated to “summer view”. Open landscape, low horizon and long, bright days.

Šearfa – Scarf
Simple and functional – “scarf” in North Sami.

Knitwear that carries history
For Siv, knitwear is not just about garments. It’s also a way of reclaiming and perpetuating a cultural heritage. She works with references to Sami craftsmanship and puts them into modern garments that can be used today.

We have created yarn packs for all the garments in the window, which you can find in the online store.

Come by and see the window in Markveien 56 in Oslo!