Isager Strik – a legacy of Danish knit design

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Katrine Rohrberg. Stylist: Marie Graunbøl

For more than half a century, Isager Strik has been a quiet cornerstone of Scandinavian knitwear design. Founded by designer Åse Lund Jensen and carried forward by Marianne Isager, who formally established the brand in 1977, the company has become synonymous with natural yarns, timeless patterns and an unwavering commitment to quality. Today, Marianne’s daughter, Helga Isager, carries the tradition forward alongside her mother.

Over the past nearly 50 years, Marianne Isager has been at the forefront of Danish knit design through her extensive production of patterns and books. From the small coastal village of Tversted in Northern Jutland, Isager Strik continues to carry forward her work in developing the old craft. The company’s headquarters, housed in a converted village school, remains the creative heart of the brand, where courses, pattern development, and product testing take place.

In recent years, the resurgence of knitting – fuelled first by online communities and later by the pandemic’s enforced pause – has brought remarkable growth, and Helga Isager believes that the benefits of knitting are truly worth sharing. “When I design, it demands concentration, but when I knit something simple, it’s like meditation,” she says. “You get into a flow. We all need a break from the digital – something analogue, whether it’s reading a book or working with your hands, and that’s what knitting gives you.”

Isager Strik – a legacy of Danish knit design

From mother to daughter

When Marianne Isager took over the firm from Åse Lund Jensen in 1977, she continued a Danish design tradition where structure, fit, and craftsmanship mattered as much as colour and pattern. “Åse had a background in tailoring, and that influenced everything,” Helga explains. “She thought about shape and fit in knitting at a time when many just knitted freely and hoped it would fit someone.”

Growing up among yarn cones and pattern sheets, Helga initially resisted following the same path. “It was the last thing I imagined doing,” she says. Yet the sense of texture, colour, and quality stayed with her. After studying Japanese and art history, she eventually felt the pull of design. In 2005, she opened a small shop in Copenhagen’s Nørrebro under the name Amimono – Japanese for knitted things. “I didn’t want to use my own name at first,” she recalls. “I needed to find my own voice before joining the family company.”

By 2008, she had joined the family firm, combining her own design sensibility with her mother’s deep technical experience. Today, she co-owns the company with her mother, who remains deeply involved. “My mother still lives and works in Tversted,” says Helga. “She’s incredibly productive – she’s published a large Strikkeliv book every year for the past few years, and I honestly don’t understand how she manages to produce so much.”

Today, Helga Isager heads the company alongside her mother, Marianne Isager.

Natural fibres and thoughtful design

Isager’s yarns are known for their soft, natural feel and refined colour palette. Many of the core qualities – such as the iconic Jensen Yarn – have been produced in the same spinnery for decades. “We don’t work with seasonal collections,” Helga notes. “Some of our yarns go all the way back to Åse Lund Jensen, and we still spin and dye them in the exact same way.”

Isager’s own spinning mill works to refine the quality of local Danish wool from a nearby farm.

The range includes alpaca, mohair and fine merino, sourced from trusted suppliers around the world, yet dyed to harmonise within a consistent, earthy colour scale. Alongside these international fibres, Isager also runs its own small spinning mill in Tversted, where locally sourced Danish wool is washed, spun and dyed. For now, production is limited, and the yarn can only be purchased in the Tversted shop and online – but there are plans to expand in the future. “It’s important that the yarns are natural materials,” she says. “We only add synthetic fibres where durability demands it – for example, in sock yarns.”

Beyond the yarn itself, the company offers patterns, knitting kits, and courses held in its former village school in Tversted. Here, visitors can stay in the guesthouse, enjoy local food, and take workshops in knitting, weaving, or paper craft. “People come to learn, but also to slow down,” Helga explains. “It’s a place where you can immerse yourself and meet others who share your interest.”

The shop, guesthouse, and course centre are located near Tversted beach, making for a perfect knitting getaway.

Patterns, presence, and the joy of making

Isager’s patterns have a reputation for sophistication, yet Helga is now developing a more beginner-friendly collection. “It’s a challenge,” she admits. “I’m very detail-oriented, so it’s about keeping the quality but making things accessible. The new patterns include video links and guidance, because many younger knitters are used to visual instruction.”

As the company’s reach has expanded, so have the translations: patterns are now available in ten languages, with warehouses in both the USA and Japan to serve international retailers. Still, the heart of Isager Strik remains in Tversted, from where it continues to share the joy of knitting, whether through its enduring yarns, elegant designs, or thoughtful teaching.

Isager hosts a range of knitting and handicraft courses at a former village school in Tversted houses.

Web: www.isagerstrik.dk
Facebook: isagerstrik
Instagram: @isageryarn, @isager_tversted, @helgaisager

Helga Isager’s five tips to get started knitting

Choose the right yarn. Start with medium-weight wool or alpaca blends such as Jensen Yarn or Alpaca 3 – they have natural elasticity and are easier to handle.
Knit something that you truly want to wear. Motivation is key; it is easier to finish a project you look forward to wearing.

Work with one colour or stripes. For beginners, it is best to keep things simple – one yarn, one texture. Do not ignore mistakes. If something feels wrong, start again; it saves frustration later and builds skill. Seek help and community. Visit a local yarn shop, join a knitting café, or find tutorials online.