Leeni Hoimela : Urban Knit Classics

“During winter, I dress in darkness, and in summer, I wrap myself in light.”

Black and white have always fascinated me. While these colours create stark contrasts, with a spectrum of rainbow hues glowing in between, they appear natural, gentle, and forgiving to my eyes. Black and white reflect the Scandinavian mindset — the interplay of shadows and their counterbalance, which dictates the rhythm of the year in the North. During winter, I dress in darkness, and in summer, I wrap myself in light.

At the same time, black and white are timeless and enduring choices. When I open my wardrobe, I see familiar clothes from years gone by. Pieces whose age I can no longer recall, but which are still in use. By choosing classic style and materials like merino, silk, and cashmere, my clothes last for years.

The Urban Knit Classics book features knits designed for a long lifespan. Black turtlenecks, light cable-knit sweaters, and classic coats could just as easily have come from nostalgic photographs of my mother's youth as from today's fashion magazines. They will still look relevant in a decade's time.

The more I knit, the more I value my time, and the more particular I become about quality. If I spend a month knitting a sweater, the cost of the yarn becomes just a small part of the final result. Knitting takes as long as it takes, whether the yarn is alpaca or acrylic, and I don't want my work to go down the drain after the first wash. The one-off cost at the checkout evens out over the years of wear.

On the other hand, high-quality yarns can also be recycled if an old sweater is no longer being worn. Would you believe that the cable-knit sweater I'm currently wearing is made from yarn that was previously knitted and unravelled? It's become one of my favourites.

Although I am constantly dreaming about my next projects - after all, the excitement is the best part of knitting - these days, I pause for just a moment longer before picking up my needles. Knitting is a joy, but being more mindful allows for more valuable yarn purchases. Leftover metres can be used to make high-quality accessories.

The patterns in this book will remain useful even years from now, as they have no expiry date. I will be glad if, in the future, you pick up this book and find yourself inspired by the patterns once again.