Massively popular knitting designer Niina Laitinen: “When I’m sitting on my sofa knitting, I can’t fathom that thousands of others are also knitting my patterns”

Niina Laitinen, known for her knitting designs, started knitting kind of by accident. Now, she shares her story here: “Crafts were by no means my favorite subject in school. It was my worst subject grade-wise, I got an 8 in my report card. (In Finnish elementary and high schools, the best grade is 10 and the worst is 4.) I don’t know why but when I was expecting my first child, I thought it would be nice to knit something for the baby. My mother used to knit a lot back then, too. Small socks are also quick to make. I looked up the stitches and decreases in an old elementary school textile crafts book. My mother taught me how to knit a heel, and when I got the hang of it, knitting socks became enjoyable. I knitted all sorts of things for my children and relatives.

I started designing my own patterns because the ready-made ones were so hard to follow. Whenever I tried to follow them, my mind began to come up with a different version.

Niina Laitinen designs colorful colorwork socks.

When Niina finishes knitting one sock, her thoughts are already on the next pattern. That’s why she often gives at least the other sock for someone else to knit.

The charm of Niina’s knitting designs lies in that they often appear more complicated to make than they really are. She still adheres to the same principle she started with: the pattern should be so clear that the reader won’t need to guess or calculate anything.

Nature is an important source of inspiration for Niina. It is reflected in her knitting designs.

Choosing colors is a crucial part of the designing process because they can significantly affect the mood the socks evoke.

When I showed my work on my blog, people began asking for the patterns. I wrote my first pattern in such a straightforward, no-nonsense style that nothing needed to be guessed. I thought that that way, I’d understand it myself too. I still stick to that style. Creating the pattern felt really nice right from the start, and I hoped that it would meet the expectations of the followers of the Taimitarha blog I had back then. The positive feedback encouraged me to keep going.

It’s fun to recognize my designs when I see them on the street. When I’m sitting in the corner of my sofa and knitting, I can’t always fathom that thousands of others also knit my patterns. It has been bewildering how many have thanked me for the clear patterns or mentioned that they began knitting thanks to me. When people want to share pictures of the socks they’ve made, I think how amazing it is that my work has touched so many lives. I always keep those people in mind whenever I’m designing.

Niina enjoys designing knitting collections, and there is consistent theme in all her books. For her latest sock book, Villasukkien valtakunta (“Kingdom of Wool Socks”), she found inspiration from various places around the world.

Niina can immerse herself in designing a knitting pattern for hours. She has a clear vision of what the pattern should look like. “I can see when it looks just right.”

Niina strives to convey a story through the patterns and shapes on her socks. When she made her younger sisters their own signature socks, the more temperamental sister got sharper lace and cable designs than her gentler sibling.

Designing colorwork knits completely captivates me, and I can find myself drawing charts for hours. I am a logical and mathematical person, and I enjoy the meticulous work. That mixed with my more creative side is a fun blend. Each of designs tells a story. The greatest joy is seeing the mood of that story come to life in a finished sock.

Niina is always working on a knitting project. Only in the summer does she take a break, and at first, even watching TV can feel strange without her knitting needles.

Niina prefers to design colorwork knits, although she enjoys knitting lace and cable knits more. “Colorwork knitting is a boring technique for me because it’s so slow.”

Knitting and working on the computer take a toll on my hands, and I don’t always remember to check my posture or stretch. I go for a massage and dry needling at least once a month. If I neglect self-care, my hands end up hurting. At times, I’ve been hardly able to knit at all, and if I did knit then, it caused me a lot of discomfort.

It would be catastrophic if I could no longer continue. I have been knitting my entire adult life, and it is not only my work but also a means of relaxation. I do something related to knitting every day.”