Nina Skarra is a name you recognise if you are into fashion and Norwegian. She is a fashion designer whose name I only recognised from the media until Tuesday, when she launched her first book – a knitting book, no less!  We have seen her galla dresses worn by Angelina Jolie, Livia Firth and the Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, as well as on the catwalk in New York. But now it is time for knit. It is Nina Skarra herself wearing one of her designs on the cover of her book! Here is a detailed photo of the pullover with intarsia flowers on the ballon shaped sleeves. I was fortunate to spot a few friends in the long queue before the doors opened at the publisher Cappelen Damm on Tuesday evening. We were given a raffle ticket on entry, a selection of fruit and sparkling wine. It did not take long until all the table and chairs were taken. Nina Skarra was interviewed by editor Kaja Marie Lereng Kvernbakken who had knitted the long jacket from the book called Nina’s favourite jacket (see below) and told us how the book started a few years back and how she nows want to focus on handknit.

The book contains 29 amazing patterns, all for women except one cable sweater for men. She uses different techniques and has also created a few new ones, especially for this book. All the garments in the book are made in Norwegian yarn, and yarn kits are available from her newly created website www.ninaskarrastrikk.no. All the garments are photographed on several different models to show how they look on different ages and body shapes. Included in the book is also pages with photos on how the garments will look in different colours and how to choose the colours that suit you best. At issuu.com you can take a sneek peak inside the book. We were hoping for a fashion show, but had to make do with studying the samples on the stage, and seeing the stunning photos displayed on the wall. One lucky winner of the raffle won a yarn kit for the Genser med bobler/Pullover with bubbles & book. The Nina Skarra Strikkebok in Norwegian is available from selected bookshops and directly from Cappelen Damm. Nina Skarra plans to frequently add new yarn kits on her website, so stay tuned to it.