Meet The Designer Behind Spektakelstrik

Love the Fri Sweater Woman? Knit your own with the Fri Sweater Woman Pattern or the Fri Sweater Woman Kit.

Your designs feel modern but also very wearable.

How would you describe your aesthetic, and where do you find your inspiration? 

My aesthetic is very graphic, simple, and easy to understand. I love working with colour, but I also want my designs to be wearable and practical. 

Over the years, my designs have probably become more wearable and less experimental. In the beginning, they were perhaps a little less commercial and a bit more playful.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve found more balance and calm, and I think that naturally shows in my work as well. I find inspiration everywhere. Sometimes it starts with a yarn that immediately sparks an idea. 

Other times it’s fashion, architecture, textures, colours, or something I’ve seen months earlier.

I tend to absorb inspiration constantly, almost like a sponge, and then draw from that mental library when a new design starts to take shape. 

Interestingly, colour is often what triggers a new idea. A particular shade can make me start imagining how it might work in a knitted piece.

Can you tell us a little bit about your design process?

Is there something that usually comes first - the yarn, the silhouette, or does it all happen at once? 

It can start in many different ways. Sometimes it’s the yarn, and sometimes it’s simply an idea that appears in my head. Usually, I begin by sketching the design by hand.

After that, I start making swatches and experimenting with different yarns and techniques. Some ideas work immediately, while others don’t work at all. 

There are many ideas that never become finished designs, and that’s an important part of the process. If something doesn’t feel quite right, I’d rather let it go than force it into becoming a pattern. Some designs also need time to mature.

I have projects that sit for months or even years before I return to them and finally understand what direction they should take.

What are you looking for in a yarn when you're designing pieces that are meant to be worn over and over? 

I love natural fibres, especially pure wool, but colour is also incredibly important to me. I'm always drawn to yarns with beautiful colour palettes that invite creativity and play. 

I also enjoy yarns with a distinctive character - whether that's a textured flammé yarn, a soft angora blend, or another fibre with a strong tactile quality.

Those sensory qualities can add something very special to a design. At the same time, durability matters. If you're investing time in making a garment, it should be something you can wear and enjoy for years. 

Australian winters are really quite different to Scandinavia - we might pull out a chunky knit for a few weeks and then it's back to mild weather!

Do you have any tips for adapting your designs for layering or different climates? 

Absolutely. Many designs can be adapted simply by choosing a lighter yarn while maintaining the overall silhouette.

You can achieve the same oversized look with a much lighter fabric, making the garment suitable for milder climates. 

Cardigans are also incredibly versatile because they work well as layering pieces and can easily be adjusted throughout the day. And although people often think of cotton as a summer fibre, I use cotton garments all yearround.

Many of our cotton designs, particularly in the Sidewalk collection, work beautifully across multiple seasons.

Feeling inspired? Knit your very own Spektakelstrik Beanie.

What do you enjoy most about seeing knitters put their own spin on your designs - different colours, different yarns, their own interpretation? 

I simply love seeing people knit them. Sometimes knitters make colour choices or yarn substitutions that I would never have thought of myself, and it's always exciting to see where their creativity takes a design. 

What means the most to me, though, is seeing the role these garments play in people's lives. 

I've seen knitters wear Spektakelstrik pieces for weddings and other special occasions, and that's incredibly meaningful. Whenever I see someone wearing one of my designs, I feel proud and grateful. 

What's on your needles right now, and do you have any exciting projects coming up? 

Right now, I'm working on a version of the Sidewalk Texture Blouse in a flammé cotton yarn that has a wonderful 1980s-inspired feel. 

I'm also preparing an exciting collaboration with BC Garn, where we’ve been developing yarn colours together. Those yarns will inspire a number of upcoming designs. 

Lately, I've been drawn to the bold colours and playful silhouettes of the 1980s, so you'll definitely see some of that influence in future collections. 

One upcoming design is a blouse worked from cuff to cuff with subtle batwing sleeves, and there may also be cardigans, skirts, and colourwork projects on the horizon. 

One of the joys of being a small independent company is that I don'thave to design years in advance. I can create designs that feel relevant and inspiring right now. 

And we have to ask: any plans to come to Australia any time soon? 

Nothing is planned at the moment, but never say never! If I ever make it to Australia, I would love to come and meet the knitting community in person. 

And finally, we all know how important it is to stay hydrated and nourished when you're busy knitting.

We'd love to know your favourite go-to Danish snacks that keep you fuelled row after row. 

My knitting fuel is actually quite simple: coffee in almost any form; filter coffee, café latte, iced coffee, or an Americano and a freshly baked sourdough roll with butter. 

When I need a small snack between meals, I usually reach for almonds or a piece of dark chocolate. Nothing too complicated, but enough to keep the knitting going.