Knitamore: A love of knitting made to last

By Signe Hansen | Photos: Trine Ellegaard

For more than four decades, knitting has been a constant thread in the life of Trine Ellegaard. What began as a childhood hobby has evolved into Knitamore – a creative universe shaped by patience, curiosity and a deep fascination with nature. With carefully crafted patterns, hand-dyed yarn, and an upcoming book on plant dyeing, Ellegaard’s work reaches far beyond Denmark, connecting knitters worldwide through a shared love of slow, thoughtful making.

Having knitted since she was just five years old, Ellegaard is the founder and creative force behind Knitamore. Combining the English word knit with the Italian amore, the name is a quiet declaration of love – and perhaps a subtle hint at the borderless appeal of the brand. Through knitting patterns, yarn, workshops and books, Knitamore has built an international following, but sustainability and the tactile pleasure of the craft have remained front and centre. “For me, nature and sustainability are fundamental,” Ellegaard says. “Knitting can be a quiet form of protest against the fast pace of life. You choose to make something slowly, with care, and you keep it for many years.”

Alongside pattern design and constant experiments with colour and materials, Ellegaard is currently finishing her first book. The business involves her entire family – from modelling knitwear to winding skeins and helping with administration. Knitting, for her, is not a trend but a way of life shaped over more than 45 years.

Trine Ellegaard’s two daughters, Savannah and Sophia, wearing the Callie Sweater and Callie Cardigan.

Knitting, nature and colours – a way back into life

Trained in literature and communication, Ellegaard spent years working and teaching within those fields. Gradually, however, a desire for something more tactile began to surface. “I had this feeling that I was sitting in front of a computer screen while life was passing by outside,” she explains. “I needed something sensory, something handmade.”

Knitamore began quietly, alongside paid work. In 2021, she launched a web shop and a handful of patterns. In 2024, she left her full-time job to focus on writing her book and developing Knitamore. Then, last autumn, she took the final leap – quitting her part-time work to become fully self-employed, with Knitamore and her authorship as her sole income. “It’s almost five years ago since I started,” she says. “And it still feels like the right decision.”

Trine Ellegaard is the creative force behind Knitamore. Photo: Savannah Liv Ellegaard

Alongside Knitamore, Ellegaard writes the popular gardening and lifestyle blog frahaventilmaven.dk inspired by her passion for gardening and cooking with natural ingredients. Eventually, this passion also led to an interest in plant dyeing, and what began as curiosity soon turned into systematic exploration. “I started dyeing and thought: what can you actually use? What gives colour? How do you control it?” she explains. After hundreds of experiments – more than a thousand colours tested and documented – the idea for a book emerged.

Her forthcoming publication, Tinctoria, is the first volume of a two-part work on natural dyeing. The first focuses on plant dyes found in Danish nature, while the second will explore more exotic materials. “When something fascinates me, I need to understand it fully,” Ellegaard says. “That’s how I work.”

In her upcoming book, Tinctoria, Ellegaard explores the world of plant colours. Photo: Allan Trolle

Developing patterns and patience

Despite her many other projects, Ellegaard publishes at least twelve patterns a year, depending on their complexity, and works methodically through every stage of development. “There’s something about slowness that really appeals to me,” she explains. “I like taking the time to do things thoroughly and properly.”

Photo: Allan Trolle

Each design moves through sketching, yarn selection, multiple test knits and fittings across sizes before photography and release. The process is demanding, but it is precisely this care that knitters respond to. Feedback consistently highlights the clarity of the patterns and the quality of the fit. “People tell me that they enjoy knitting from my patterns,” Ellegaard says. “That the patterns work, that they’re easy to follow – and that makes them want to knit more.”

Tinctoria is due to be published in May 2026.

Workshops form another important part of Knitamore, offering Ellegaard the chance to step away from what can otherwise be solitary work. “It’s important for me to meet people,” she says. “Designing is wonderful, but it’s also lonely. Workshops allow me to connect with others who love yarn as much as I do.” Today, she is invited to festivals, yarn shops and folk high schools, and runs workshops all over Denmark.

The final leg of Knitamore is a small collection of hand-dyed yarn, coloured in small batches, with each skein treated as a unique piece rather than a uniform product. “I work with small pots and bottles. Every batch is different,” Ellegaard notes.

Knitamore: A love of knitting made to last

Slowing down and taking inspiration from nature

Rooted in the desire to slow down, feel and savour life, Knitamore was never conceived as a fast-growing brand chasing fashion cycles. Rather, it pushes back against overconsumption and fleeting trends. “You can be inspired by Instagram, of course, but I prefer timeless, simple pieces with strong details rather than something that’s just fashionable right now,” says Ellegaard and rounds off: “For me, it’s important that you can make your own quiet stand by choosing one thing over another. Yarn costs money, but knitting costs time – and what you make can last for many years.”

Knitamore: A love of knitting made to last