Hello lovely readers, have you missed me just a tiny bit? I am home, after 12 days of travel I am back in the comfort that is my messy studio. Here I sit, drinking tea and reminiscing about my trip to beautiful Denmark, meeting a bunch of wonderfully kind and creative people, learning to dye yarn and being part of the launch of some stunning new knitwear collections.

I spent most of my time at the Isager Yarn HQ, a Danish company who has been supplying beautiful quality yarns made from natural fibres for almost 40 years. Both loved and appreciated by knitters from around the globe, the yarns and patterns are sold in selected shops internationally. Classic yarn qualities made using only the best in natural fibres, in a colour range that rarely changes, and loved by knitters, weavers, embroiderers and crocheters alike. The yarns and colours have been created to work well together both within and across the qualities, and can be mixed to create unique pieces.

I had the privilege to spent some time chatting with both Marianne and Helga Isager about yarn, inspiration and forthcoming events, and I would very much like to share some of it with you.

Both Marianne and Helga are very much inspired by Japan and the Japanese culture. Marianne, who divides her living between Japan and Denmark finds lots of inspiration by living in Tokyo and visiting other cities and their markets. Helga, who studied Japanese in Japan and still travels there a lot, is influenced by Japanese style, their cities and culture. Young people and their individual style is also a great source of inspiration to Helga, and in contrast to Marianne for whom inspiration is followed by yarn and colour choice, for Helga colour and yarn comes first. Helga told me that the start of a new collection is the hardest thing and a lot of swatching is done before the first design is done to perfection. After that everything flows and a collection is put together with Helga almost always hand-finishing every piece herself.

Always full of enthusiasm, Marianne told me about the start of a very exciting new project. Having rescued the Old School in Tversted from demolition (the town Isager is based), she is going to set up a Textile Centre for knitting, weaving, spinning, dyeing, felting and much more. Here school children can come and learn everything about these old and traditional crafts, being taught by enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers. There will be workshops for adults too and the programme for next year is being worked on as I write.

Keep your eyes peeled on the Isager website for information about new developments as they happen. I can highly recommend a holiday combined with workshops in this beautiful landscape with never ending skies and light that is unique to this part of Denmark.

I had a truly magical time and have come home with a book full of sketches, inspiration and photographs. Marianne and Helga are both highly creative and inspiring designers. Both with their very own style and identity they have created a heaven of colour and tranquility that is the home of Isager…

…and the best news…they are coming to Ally Pally this year! (The Knitting & Stitching Show )

For the first time they will bring their beautiful yarns and designs to this great event. A great chance for you to come, feel and see all the yarns yourself and meet Helga Isager in person. I would love to meet you too, so go on and book your ticket now.

Hopefully see you there!

X.