
For the dark winter months. Not vintage, I know, but I’ve included some vintage styling of the jumpers.
I couldn’t justify buying an authentic (by Gudrun & Gudrun) Sara Lund jumper (or three), so I had a Plan B. None of the imitations on offer looked like the original, but more ‘inspired by’, so they couldn’t be accused of plagiarising, which is fair enough. If you want a job done properly…
I started with various photos and screen shots from Forbrydelsen (original Danish The Killing) and the official website selling the jumpers. Based in the Faroe islands, and knitted with natural, untreated wool from local sheep, led me to look for a similar wool that would knit up to the correct tension. My search led me to a Faroese site selling their local wool, probably from the same sheep! Others had come before me, in search of the same thing. A very useful post said the yarn weight and needle size that produced good results similar to the original. This saved lots of time knitting tension squares!
Using the photos, I laboriously counted the stitches and pattern repeats. I drew up the pattern, and bought a set of double ended needles. Although the wool looks thin compared to the chunky needles, it really worked!
I love the wool too, because it should rarely need washing, it keeps me warm like only real wool can and the jumper is like a second skin to peel on and off, so it’s now my size and shape.
It was so successful, I knitted a second one, and I think the blue one may be possible, now the colour is available.
If you’ve seen Sarah Lund’s jumper collection, which are your favourite? There’s the diamond, chevron and red jumpers too!
Here are some vintage styling ideas for lovers of Nordic Noir. And for those no nonsense days, I’ve thrown in Saga’s look from The Bridge.