20: The Journey of the Selbu Rose

In this Stranded Thought, Anne lingers on the threads of tradition, culture, and memory that wove through Norwegian Wool Month 2025.

From sheep, spinners, and mills to the landscapes and communities that keep wool alive, the month was full of stories. One story in particular keeps calling Anne back: that of Marit Emstad, often called the mother of Selbu knitting.

You’ll hear how the Selbu rose – the iconic star-shaped motif – traveled across centuries and continents before becoming deeply rooted in one Norwegian village, and how it remains a powerful symbol of identity and craft today.

This episode is a reflection on how knitting traditions are never frozen in time. Each stitch we make carries history forward, connects us to one another, and creates heirlooms for future generations.

Anne also looks ahead to the Norwegian Virtual Knitting Retreat in early 2026 – a chance to continue exploring wool, culture, and connection together.

In this episode:

• Why Norwegian Wool Month is about more than yarn

•  The story of Marit Emstad and the Selbu rose

• How a motif can travel across continents and centuries

• Tradition as something living, moving, and evolving

• Carrying history forward in every stitch we knit