Knit a motif Membership
NOK149 per month
About Knit a motif
When rain, snow, and wind beat against the windows of our house on a small island off the west coast of Norway, my mother answered with wool. She would settle by the lamp, let the weather set the rhythm, and knit into the evening. That feeling of safety, a handmade layer between me and the cold, never left me.
Today Mum lives with Parkinson’s. Her hands are shaking when she knits, but the purpose behind each stitch is unchanged: someone will feel loved because I made this. Knit a motif exists so that purpose can keep travelling, carried forward by anyone who picks up the needles.
My own path has circled the globe. The further I went, the clearer one truth became: whether we speak English, Chinese, or the dialect of a small Norwegian fjord, we all want the same things. We want to belong, to express who we are, and to give something real to the people we care about. That is what you hold when you choose one of our patterns.
I run this company with the same values that guide my life: honesty, respect for people and animals, and the simple joy of making others smile. Every supplier relationship, every line of copy, every pattern has to meet that standard. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t leave the studio.
So when you sit down with a Knit a motif project, I hope you feel what I felt as a child: the world outside can be rough and fast, but inside these stitches is a pause, a place where care is the only thing that counts.
Thank you for letting our story become part of yours. Together, let’s knit warmth that truly lasts.
With gratitude,
Lise
Founder of Knit a motif
Get in touch
Love to hear from you. Don't hesitate to reach out.
Our values
Belonging
Every design starts in a living room in Norway but grows through the hands of knitters everywhere. The moment you cast on, you join a quiet, generous circle that spans time zones and generations.
Self-expression
Clear, thoughtful instructions leave room for your own colour choices, memories, and small imperfections, the details that turn a garment into yours.
A gift that matters
Long after trends fade, a hand-knitted piece still carries the intent you wove into it. It says, “I spent my time on you,” and that sentence never gets old.
FAQs
-
A: Knitting a motif means adding a specific design or picture into your knitted fabric, often using colorwork or intarsia. It’s a way to make your project personal and unique. In knitting, a motif can be anything from a heart to an animal or geometric pattern, worked directly into the fabric instead of being added after.
-
A: Yes — you can add motifs after knitting using duplicate stitch or embroidery, but for the cleanest result, knit the motif into the fabric as you go. Duplicate stitch is good for small areas, but intarsia or stranded knitting is best if you’re starting from scratch.
-
A: You only need your regular knitting needles, yarn in different colors, and a chart or pattern for the motif.
-
A: Start at the bottom right for flat knitting or bottom right of the round for circular knitting, and work each square as one stitch in the color shown. Every row or round on the chart represents a row or round in your knitting.
-
A: Find the middle stitch of your project and the middle stitch of your motif, then align them. Mark the center with a stitch marker.
-
A: Puckering happens when floats are too tight or stitches are pulled unevenly. Relax your tension and block your work after knitting.
-
A: You may not be twisting yarns at the color change. Always cross strands when switching colors.
-
A: Use duplicate stitch to cover small errors, or ladder down to re-knit the section. For big mistakes, it’s sometimes easier to rip back.
-
A: Weave into the back of the same color section to keep it invisible. Avoid pulling too tight so the fabric stays flat.
-
A: If you follow yarn care instructions, your motif should keep its shape. Wool may need hand washing to avoid felting.
-
A: Yes. Just make sure the new colors still have contrast. Test swatches before committing.
-
A: Yes. Use a letter chart and intarsia or duplicate stitch. Keep letters bold and simple for readability.
-
A: Yes, but check that they fit together in size and style. You may need to rechart for alignment.
-
A: Simple shapes like hearts, stars, or stripes are easiest for beginners because they have clear outlines and few color changes. These motifs often fit within 10–20 stitches, so they’re manageable without complex charts.
-
A: We use wool blends for durability and stitch clarity. Specific yarns depend on the project.