Before arriving in Ísafjörður for a residency at ArtsIceland, I began researching the knitting traditions of Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Ireland—approaching them through the lens of fashion history and material culture. Upon arrival, these threads began to connect: fishing gear lining the docks, local legends of drowned sailors identified by the patterns on their sweaters, and residents wearing Lopapeysur—the iconic Icelandic sweater that resurged after the financial crisis as a symbol of local resilience.
Knitting, historically rooted in women’s labor, has often been dismissed as utilitarian or decorative, and especially in our day and age of fast living and fast fashion, it can seem particularly pointless. In response, I initiated a sculptural project: knitting a Lopapeysa from discarded fishing rope. The soft sculpture explores endurance, gendered craft, blurring the line between tradition and absurdity.
Knitting, historically rooted in women’s labor, has often been dismissed as utilitarian or decorative, and especially in our day and age of fast living and fast fashion, it can seem particularly pointless. In response, I initiated a sculptural project: knitting a Lopapeysa from discarded fishing rope. The soft sculpture explores endurance, gendered craft, blurring the line between tradition and absurdity.
To conclude the residency, I hosted a “Knit & Drink” event at the Museum of Everyday Life, where Ísafjörður’s locals gathered for an artist talk and communal knitting!
Pictures from the event by Inês Quente
