Workers Knit Beanie - 100% Merino - Karg (Adults)

*New! Cosy 100% wool beanie for winter, knit in a simple pattern inspired by traditional Swedish work mittens.

This classic Merino wool beanie is knitted by Öjbro Vantfabrik in Sweden and dyed in traditional colours. Soft, warm, and wonderfully cosy for chilly winter days.

Öjbro Vantfabrik is dedicated to preserving and sharing Swedish knitting heritage. The Karg pattern is inspired by the simple working mittens once used in the barren north of the Gothenburg archipelago. See below to read the Karg story.

Colour: Karg Hyppeln (Navy)

One size: Large (58cm head circ.)

Brand: Öjbro Vantfabrik
Designed in: Sweden
Origin of Fibre: Italy
Country of manufacture: Sweden
Fabric structure: 100% Merino wool - mulesing free
100% biodegradable: Yes
Machine Washable: Yes (see our guide to washing wool)

Care: Handwash using a gentle wool shampoo recommended for best results. To machine wash, choose a cold wool cycle, skipping the spin cycle. Dry flat on a towel, gently reshaping while wet. Do not tumble dry. Wool feels comfortable and dry, even when you sweat. It can absorb a lot of moisture (up to 33% of its dry weight). Air between uses, wash only when required. 

The story of the Karg pattern:With this design, Åse Öjbro, founder of Öjbro Vantfabrik, was inspired by simple, traditional work gloves and the harsh and barren climate on the island of Rörö.

Far out in the northernmost parts of the Gothenburg archipelago lies Rörö. The word "rör" comes from the Bohuslän dialect and Old Norse, meaning reed. Still today, you can see large reed beds on the southwest part of the island. Rörö is a well-known destination for nature lovers and bird watchers. The unique nature, where about 406 hectares of the western part of the island is a nature reserve, displays boulders and giant's cauldrons from the Ice Age. The island is barren and almost completely treeless, with a population of 260 people.

One of the most peculiar inhabitants of Rörö throughout history is "Otter-Anders" (1885–1980), who lived as a hunter, fisherman, and boat builder. Otter-Anders and his father, Stin-Olle, lived in a house that was partly built of wreckage from boats. Many stories are told about him, including how he shot a walrus with three shots in the same place. The walrus is stuffed and displayed at the Gothenburg Museum of Natural History.

Åse Öjbro writes, "the Karg pattern came to be on a winter day on Rörö. I was taken by the barren landscape, which reminded me of my grandparents Axel and Axi. They lived a frugal and often strenuous life. Axel was a stonemason, while Axi took care of the family and worked for self-sufficiency to cover the family's needs. To extend their grocery funds, Axi went to the market and sold the eggs and vegetables she could do without. With the pattern, Karg, I want to capture the feeling of reverence and gratitude that I, and many of us, feel for our families and ancestors who struggled hard for their livelihood, not so long ago."