Knitting Rabbit Holes: Sweaters, Shops, and Small Joys
My promise to you, travel stories, fresh finds, and a little knitting joy in every post.
Honestly, when I first started, it felt a little lonely. But now, we’re more than 130 knitting aficionados! It’s amazing how knitting brings together people from all ages and backgrounds—each of us with our own story, but united by this shared love of creating.
I tried joining a knitting gathering once. They’re such a great way to chat about projects and connect. But between work and travel, showing up once and vanishing for months didn’t feel right.
That’s why I started The Knitting Explorer. It’s my way to stay connected, no matter where I am. While I can’t make it to weekly meetings, I’m committed to writing to you every week or two.
Every comment or like feels like a moment shared in this virtual knitting circle. Keep them coming—I love hearing from you!
And while I usually share deep dives into knitting analyses and project updates, this week I’m trying something different. These are the random bits that fill my knitting notebooks—the little discoveries that don’t make a full post but bring so much joy to the life of a knitter.
The Quest for the Perfect Fisherman Sweater
It all started with my boyfriend’s search for the perfect navy fisherman sweater. Naturally, I fell down a knitting rabbit hole.
After watching a video about Guernsey sweaters, I got curious about the history of the iconic Gansey fisherman's sweater. Ganseys, or guernseys, were traditional jumpers knitted from 5-ply, un-oiled, worsted-spun sheep’s wool. They were usually made with indigo blue yarn but cream, red, or white were used as well. One of their main visual characteristics were their prominent purl stitches.
Moreover, did you know each family had its own pattern on the upper chest and arms? While these patterns showed off the knitter’s skills, they also served a grimmer purpose—helping families identify their loved ones if tragedy struck at sea.
These patterns were passed down from mother to daughter, creating an identity, each telling its own story. The blend of practicality and heritage got me thinking: what would a "modern heirloom" look like? Could I create a sweater that feels as timeless and meaningful as the original Ganseys?
I already have a few ideas brewing, but I want to finish other projects first! In the meantime, have you ever tried knitting something inspired by tradition? If so, I’d love to know what sparked your inspiration.
Yarn Shop Adventures: Barcelona and London
During my recent travels, I made time to explore yarn shops, and it was so rewarding.
Note to self: When you travel a lot for work, it’s important to carve out time for yourself. Life isn’t all about work—finding that balance is tough, but it’s worth the effort.
First, there’s Loop London. It’s a classic favorite (how could it not be?), but this trip also led me to two new gems: Knit with Attitude in London and Lalanalu in Barcelona.
At Lalanalu, I discovered new Spanish yarns by WoolDreamers—affordable, entirely sourced in Spain, and beautifully textured. Then there was Soc una Troca!!!, a local indie-dyed sock yarn brand. I loved all these Spanish yarns, but couldn’t leave without a few skeins of MyYak, one of my favorite yarns of all time!
At Knit with Attitude, I found the perfect yarn for my long-planned Gujo sweater. Oversized, cozy, and with a collar you can hide in, it’s a pattern that’s been calling my name. Half fisherman’s rib keeps it interesting but not overwhelming.
For the first time, I also got to touch the famous Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk yarns. The hype? Absolutely deserved. These yarns are the opposite of superwash—they’re rustic, textured, and promise to get better with time. I paired their Tinde yarn with Pickles Soft Fuzz for a dreamy blend. Was it expensive? Sure. But worth every penny.
Then came Loop, and my plans completely unraveled (pun intended). Seeing Gujo’s original yarn (Woolia by Gepard Garn) in person, I realized my dense combo wouldn’t work. The solution? Buy more yarn, of course. I left London with 25+ balls and zero regrets.
Have you visited any yarn shops recently that made you feel like you’d struck gold? Or stumbled on a yarn that changed your plans? Let me know—I’m always looking for new spots to explore!
A Lint Remover That Actually Works
Sometimes, it’s the little tools that make the biggest difference.
As knitters, we pour hours into creating (and sometimes investing in) our woolly treasures—so why not treat them to some TLC? I tried the much-lauded Gleener after hearing endless recommendations, but it didn’t wow me. Then Amazon suggested an electric lint remover. I was skeptical—aren’t we all with those “life-changing” gadgets? But I gave in.
Plot twist: day one, I cleaned every sweater I own. Even my socks got the treatment.
I’m curious—am I missing something? Those of you with experience using these gadgets, are there any downsides I should know about? And if you’ve found a tool that’s revolutionized your knitting life, I need to hear about it!
This is it, friends—these are the little things that fill my knitting days: unexpected rabbit holes about sweater history, yarn shop discoveries that change your plans, and tools that make you wonder how you lived without them.
While my next post will be back to my usual deep dives (looking at you, fisherman sweater), I loved sharing these bits and pieces with you.
What about you? Found any tools, shops, or stories that brought unexpected joy to your knitting life? Let me know—I’d love to add them to my list of woolly wonders!
The Knitting Explorer,
P.S. Stay tuned for my modern take on the fisherman sweater—it’s shaping up to be an heirloom in the making!
I am a novice knitter at best. But the tradition of. Knitting is what spoke to me. There is no one item that has to be made, although my first project was a knitted christening gown for my son. All three grandchildren wore it for their christening days. Our fourth grand child is due any minute and I hope she will wear it as well.
What I love about knitting is it works my brain and when I am the most confused and then work it out, it makes me feel like I am defying age related mental decline. Lol.
I have mixed feelings about fiber pill removers. Yes, it feels good to cut or brush all those pills away but I swear all those cut ends of fibers just pill more easily and the pilling escalates. I’m thinking about rubbing a fabric softener dryer sheet on a sleeve I’ve depilled to see if it prevents new pills from forming.
I have a couple of tools I can’t function without: rubber grippers from ChiaGoo to tighten/loosen interchangeable needles, the “Wanda” hook/point needle in 3 mm from Lacis to use as a cable needle, pick-up needle, and repair needle, and the On the Go notion kit from Thread & Maple. There is room for the rubber grippers and repair hook in the On the Go, which comes with stitch markers, tapestry needles a scissors in a tiny package. I’ve been thinking about putting a grommet in the OTG so I can attach a retractable measuring tape and all my must-have notions would be in one package.