Interviewee – Birger Berge

1) When did you start designing? Could you give us a potted history of your knitty and designing background?

My first serious design activity started in 2016, when I won a design competition in a Norwegian knitting magazine. I then designed and knitted a cardigan. I´ve always been adapting other designs though, adding or subtracting when I felt that something could be improved on a pattern that I was working on.

I have always been preoccupied with making and creating thing. I loved drawing, sewing, knitting, weaving and crocheting since early childhood. I used to draw dress designs for instance. Designing knitted garments has thus been a process from the beginning, since my love for textiles and designs has always been present and has developed during the years. I love making traditional Norwegian knitting designs with a modern twist.

I guess that social media is a big inspiration these days. It is so inspiring to see what people create and how they work. But my background is still my biggest inspiration. I come from a family of makers where a lot of my relatives were always creating something, for instance knitting socks. This combined with strong traditions back home in terms of traditional textiles such as the local folk costume, is echoed in my choice of colors, choice of patterns and so on.

I always look to nature for inspiration as well. I´m lucky enough to live in a country with beautiful landscapes and stunning changes of scenery during the change of seasons. A walk in the forest can bring new color combinations to mind, for instance by looking at yellow leaves against a grey background during fall.

I usually try out a new pattern and a new yarn by knitting a hat. Then I can see how the colors work together on a garment, and I can also check my gauge. My ideas usually change as I go. This means that the initial draft of a pattern can change totally during the process of knitting. Also; the draft that I made with a hat or a cowl in mind can quickly become a sweater or mittens if I find the pattern suitable for a larger or a smaller garment. Details from a mitten, for instance the cuff, can also become a new sock pattern. I´m not very good at designing intentionally, but rather I follow my whims as I go.