Nordic Simplicity
Nordic Simplicity Podcast
Emanating Sophia Loren while raising chickens
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Emanating Sophia Loren while raising chickens

...and the shared love of knitting, libraries and notebooks

Keturah graciously accepted the challenge of being a guest on my podcast, after submitting images for an ROOTD post (this one if you’re curious, and I hope you are, because it’s lovely).

Channeling a Sophia Loren vibe while ready to chase chickens

And what fun we had, talking about how Keturah reinvented herself with the help of a stylist who guided her through the process of finding her style and her colours. we also explored knitting, libraries and TV series.

Knit designers Keturah talks about

Kathleen Dames is the designer behind the shawl that Keturah wears in the ROOTD post. The design is called Brassaï and you can find it here on Ravelry. The shawl pattern can also be purchased directly from the designer here.

Shawl Yarns

These are the yarns Keturah used for her shawl: Brown Sheep Wildfoote sock yarn in Blue Blood Red SY-80 and Goldenrod SY-45.Claudia Hand Painted Yarns in "Blue Terracotta". It is a coral base with splashes of warm soft blue, deeper coral, mustard/gold, and brown.

The shawl looks completely different in other colours. Here is the image of the shawl from Kathleen Dames’ Ravelry pattern page:

Brassaï shawl by Kathleen Dames

And this is what it looks like in the colours Keturah picked:

Keturah’s version of Brassaï

Keturah also talks of Elizabeth Zimmermann. All of her patterns, archived newsletters, books, DVDs, etc., are for sale at Schoolhouse Press

Stephen West of Westknits has fabulous shawls, that require a certain degree of knitting skill but are very distinctive.

Cotton blend yarns 

We also talked about knitting with cotton yarn. I don’t care for knitting with cotton, but Keturah mentioned a cotton blend yarn that is super soft, and if you are curious about that, it’s Knit Picks Comfy, 75% cotton, 25% microfiber. It’s available in multiple weights and as Keturah mentions in our chat, it gets softer and softer with each wash. And as an added bonus is easy on knitter’s hands. 

Another cotton blend yarn is Holst Garn Coast, 55% Merino lambswool, 45% cotton,
a light fingering weight yarn. You can easily use 2 or more strands for heavier gauge knitting. Extremely soft, even suitable for babies.

Knit designers that Jorunn talks about

The Norwegian knit designer Lene Tøsti that has exquisitely feminine knitting patters. You can find her patterns here on Ravelry.

If you like feminine cardigans, you can also check out the knit design of Kate Davies.

Reading tip about Scandinavian lifestyle

The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell (this book was one of the books that Fiona Moss recommended during our chat in this podcast episode)

Keturah’s favourite TV series

Frasier! British TV series: Lovejoy, As Time Goes On (the one that Keturah mistakenly called "You Must Remember When" in the show-- oops!), and Pie In The Sky. Star Trek.

Jorunn’s favourite TV series

Downton Abbey, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Atypical, Love on The Spectrum

How to connect with Keturah:

You can find Keturah on Substack as Flora’s Flat

Keturah is on Ravelry as livevintageously, and you can also find her on Instagram as woolhensjoy for knitting, hens, baking, and life joys, and as darkautumndarling for Dark Autumn Seasonal colour explorations!

How to connect with Nordic Simplicity:

You can find more content from me and lots of stuff about simple and efficient dressing with Scandinavian simplicity here.

Would you like to be a guest on my podcast?

Write a DM to me here on Substack or click here to write me an email.

Discussion about this podcast

Nordic Simplicity
Nordic Simplicity Podcast
Listen to me chat with friends and strangers about life choices, favourite books, what to read next, how to recharge, and other important topics like cat sniffing and rescue chickens.