HELGA ISAGER

Helga Isager

Helga Isager is co-owner of Isager Yarn. Her ability to put traditional knitting techniques into a contemporary context, together with the curious exploration of the endless possibilities that is hidden in a ball of yarn and a set of knitting needles, resonates especially with a younger audience.

Helga’s collections are based on craftsmanship, but with her sense of aesthetics and fashion, she manages to strike an expression that is at once modern and timeless. Helga Isager has over the years held numerous courses and workshops around the world, and has also served as a visiting teacher at Skals – Højskolen for Design og Håndarbejde. She is behind several knitting books published both in Denmark and internationally.

Helga Isager has studied Japanese language and culture at the University of Copenhagen, and she still has a deep connection with Japan, and visits the country often.

HANDCRAFT (2021)

Handcraft is a cooporation between Helga Jóna Thórunnarsdóttir and Helga Isager. This knitting book has one basic pattern for finger gloves and one for mittens, but various knitting patterns and different edgings. Beautiful drawings done by Japanese illustrator Toshiko Koikegami demonstrate the techniques used in the book.

THE LINEN PROJECT

A collection in Hør Organic designed by seven Danish and international knitwear designers

The island (2021)

Autumn colours and landscapes of a small Danish Island.

Alpaca 3 (2020)

Five patterns knitted in Isager Alpaca 3 and with a focus on details, and new constructions

STITCHES (2019)

In English ’stitches’ refer to both knitting and embroidery and this means that there is no distinction between using a tapestry needle and tapestry yarn or knitting needles and knitting yarn in your craft. The idea that you need not limit yourself to one single craft, but on the contrary can combine elements of embroidery, weaving and knitting in one and the same design has been an inspiration to me. One of the advantages of working in this way is that you can prolong the process and work in several layers and stages. All the patterns in this book can stand alone, but by adding embroidery or weaving you can change the look significantly. Embroidery with many strands of yarn can add an almost three-dimensional finish and you can renew your sweater – even long after it is finished – by adding a new colour or by using a completely different material.

K (Knit) (2018)

Simple patterns for new and intermediate knitters

The Artisan (2017)

An artisan (from French: Artisan, Italian: Artigiano) is a skilled craft worker who makes or creates things by hand that may be functional or strictly decorative, for example furniture, decorative arts, sculptures, clothing, jewellery, household items and tools or even mechanisms such as the handmade clockwork movement of a watchmaker. Artisans practice a craft and may through experience and aptitude reach the expressive levels of an artist.

Room 606 (2016)