Colour, craft and character: inside Knit by Moltrup

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Knit by Moltrup

From her small workshop at her home in Jutland, Danish Christine Moltrup Holm dyes every skein of Knit by Moltrup yarn herself. Working with natural fibres such as merino, silk and alpaca, she colours small batches by hand, building each shade through a slow, deliberate process. The yarn is made to be knitted and worn, but its depth and variation offer more than function. Some customers begin projects straight away; others appreciate the air of craft and beauty that the yarn brings to their home.

Colour is at the centre of everything Holm does. With hundreds of pigments to work from, she blends and layers shades intuitively, experimenting with techniques and combinations. Some colours become permanent parts of the range; others appear as themed collections. A recent Harry Potter-inspired series has attracted customers who approach the yarn as something to collect as well as knit. “Not all hand-dyed yarn ends up becoming a sweater,” she says. “For many, it has a decorative value in itself.”

Knitwear made from knitting patterns and hand-dyed yarn from Knit by Moltrup.

Holm’s passion for hand-dyeing began in 2019, when she began dyeing yarn in her kitchen, experimenting with colours and writing knitting patterns alongside. At first, it was a hobby business, driven by curiosity rather than commercial ambition, but when the pandemic arrived, something shifted. “Especially during the second lockdown, a lot happened,” she says. “People were at home, and working with yarn became something meaningful.” Demand for both patterns and yearn grew quickly, and within a short time, she decided not to return to her teaching job after her maternity leave ended.

Soon after, Knit by Moltrup moved from the kitchen into a dedicated small workshop built in 2022, designed specifically for dyeing and production. Solar panels cover the roof, supplying much of the energy – a conscious choice aligned with Holm’s focus on responsible production.

Colour, craft and character: inside Knit by Moltrup

Today, Holm’s customers range widely, and though her main product is her unique hand-coloured yarn, she also offers factory-made yarn, natural yarn, patterns, and workshops. What connects her customers is an interest in materials that feel personal and distinctly made. For Christine, that sense of individuality is essential. “The fact that it is hand-made by me right here and not in a factory, gives it that special craft quality,” she says.