The knitting of the beanies that all medal winners at the 2027 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun will receive has now begun.
On Sunday, a well-attended knitting kick-off event was held at Dalarna Museum, bringing together the knitting heroes.
— What care and commitment! It really warms my heart, says Kajsa Sjösvärd, CEO of Falun 2027.
Plans for a unique World Championship beanies were presented in mid-April. The inspiration comes from a Dalarna tradition of patterned knitted caps which, during the 1970s, became a strong symbol of local identity and culture. The beanies were often decorated with parish coats of arms and colours clearly connected to the local community.
The World Championship beanies is knitted in five colours – red, dove blue, navy blue, ochre yellow and natural white. The material is wool from Swedish Finewool sheep, a breed whose wool is particularly valued for its softness and high quality. The yarn has been spun and dyed at the historic Wålstedts Spinneri in Dala-Floda.
Interest in becoming one of the so-called knitting heroes making the World Championship beanies has been high. More than 550 people applied, and 190 were selected for the task. On Sunday, 180 of the knitting heroes gathered at Dalarna Museum to receive the knitting pattern and Finewool sheep yarn in the hat’s five colours:
— I have been knitting all my life. When I saw the news that there would be an opportunity to knit the beanie for the World Championships, I signed up immediately. And when I was told that I had been selected, I was absolutely delighted, says Barbro Järleskog.
Who would you like to receive the beanie you have knitted?
— I haven’t thought about that. But I would say Gustaf Berglund. He’s from Ludvika Municipality, after all. So it should be him. Or Ebba, says 85-year-old Barbro Järleskog with a smile. In addition to knitting the World Championship beanies, she is also a member of a knitting group that meets once a week at Grangärde Church.
Barbro Järleskog.
Foto: Malin Fuhr, Falu. 2027
The oldest of the knitting heroes is 90-year-old Elisabet Granström from Söderbärke:
— I don’t even remember when I started knitting. But I do knit, and I enjoy it very much. It was perfect to be able to make these for the skiers. I’m interested in skiing, you see. Or rather, my husband and all the children have skied. I was in charge of looking after the packed lunches. If they came back too late, the food was gone, says Granström with a hearty laugh.
The vast majority of the knitting heroes are from Dalarna, and all 15 municipalities in the region are represented among them. Twenty per cent of the knitting heroes come from other counties, and only people living in Sweden are knitting the World Championship beanies. This is for sustainability reasons.
Linnéa Zetterqvist och Malin Antonsson från Dala-Floda är två av de yngre stickhjältarna.
Foto: Malin Fuhr, Falun 2027
Linnéa Zetterqvist and Malin Antonsson from Dala-Floda are two of the younger knitting heroes.
— My interest in knitting began during crafts class at school. That’s where I developed an interest in different textile techniques, including knitting, says Malin.
— I remember knitting my first mitten when I was seven. It only resulted in one mitten, though, says Linnéa, continuing:
— It feels really special to be able to take part and contribute to this. I actually have a photograph at home from the 1950s of my great-grandmother Karin Lejon sitting at home with her friend Britta, knitting caps for the World Championships. The plan is to take a similar photograph when I sit at home knitting my beanie for this winter’s World Championships in Falun, says Linnéa.
This autumn, knitting kits will be made available for sale, allowing you to knit your own World Championship beanie and get ready for Falun 2027, starting on 24 February 2027.