Meet the Designer: Klara Nilsson

Say Hej to the Swedish Designer Klara Nilsson and enter the universe where bright pops of color and patterns will make you smile ‘til your heart bursts! We are head-over-heels in love with our new mini collection with the wonderful Klara Nilsson!😍

Klara Nilsson is known to the crafting world as Klarybarry. Klara is on a mission to design knits that radiate happiness, often mixing textures in ways that feel totally fresh – like her genius combination of stranded colorwork and chunky cables! 🧶✨ 

 

Her new mini-collection with Hobbii, "Twisted Love," is like a love letter to Valentine’s Day (though we’ll be wearing these pieces all year long, thank you very much!). Featuring a classic vest, a lovely beret, and a chunky statement bag, the collection is a masterclass in using pinks, reds, and zig-zagging cables to create something truly special.

We caught up with Klara to talk about her "knitting love language," and the thrill of cutting into your knitting (hello, steeking!). So grab your favorite godis (Swedish for candy) and get to know the heart behind Klarybarry. 🍭🤩

Who is behind the instagram Klarybarry?

1. For those new to your world, can you introduce yourself and invite us into the "KlaryBarry" aesthetic?

Welcome to the colorful world of Klarybarry.

My name is Klara and I’m a textile designer from Karlskrona in southern Sweden. I work under the name Klarybarry, that comes from a nickname I got from my grandmother when I was little and I thought it was the perfect name that felt like me and represented my playful style.

My goal with Klarybarry is to design knits that make people happy. I work with a lot of bright colours and funky patterns and I love to combine textures and patterns, especially multicolored cable knitting.

I knit both by hand, designing knitting patterns so others can knit their own Klarybarry garments, and on my hand knitting machine. My plan is to start selling ready made Klarybarry pieces soon!

2. What do you enjoy most about knitting?

I love the possibilities. With just some yarn and a pair of needles you can make almost anything! And it makes it possible for me to make the things that I can’t find in a store.

3. Where is your favorite place to "date" your knitting? Are you a cozy-at-home knitter or do you take your projects to cafes?

My favorite place to knit is at home on the couch in front of the TV, but in the summer I also love to take my knitting out on a date and sit on a bench by the sea, listening to music, a podcast or an audio book.

Peek into the loving design process

4. The collection features 3 distinct designs, was there a specific "love story" or mood board that inspired this trio?

The theme for the collection was Valentine's Day and love, so I wanted to go very classic with a pink and red color palette. I wanted to work with multicolored cables and when I was looking around for valentines inspo, I saw some zigzag ribbons and thought that I could make a similar pattern with the cables. And then I of course had to include some hearts, so I placed them in between the zigzag cables so that’s how I came up with the pattern for the twisted love collection.

5. With 3 designs in the collection, how do they "talk" to each other? Do they share a specific stitch pattern or construction technique?

I wanted all 3 pieces to be based on the same pattern, that is a mix of stranded knitting and cable knitting. I used the same ”base” and then adjusted it in different ways to fit the 3 pieces.

6. Are there any specific techniques or stitches in these patterns that you are particularly excited about?

The vest was actually my first time steeking a project, which was really fun and exciting and it’s definitely something I’m gonna use a lot more in the future. 

I also loved working with different yarns for the different projects. All 3 pieces are based on the same pattern and colours, so it was really fun to not only place it in different shapes but also by using different materials and thickness of the yarn. For the vest I went with a wool yarn because I knew it would be steeked and that was the best option. For the beret I wanted to bring out that softness by bringing in some mohair and for the bag I worked with a really chunky yarn.

Love is in the air: 

7. What is your favorite piece from the mini-collection and why?

To be honest, I love them all, but I think I’m gonna get the most wear out of the vest. 

8. For someone who is a beginner but is falling in love with this collection, which of the three patterns would you recommend they start with?

I actually think the vest is the best beginner project. It’s a bigger project but the construction is relatively easy and a great way to get into the technique of working stranded cables. 

It’s worked bottom up in the round so you have time to get the hang of the technique and the pattern when you work the body up to the armholes, so when you start the armhole shaping you already know the pattern. The armholes and neck are steeked (cut open) which can be a bit scary but I say just do it!!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

I really loved knitting this collection and have lots of ideas on other pieces I want to make, like matching mittens and a sweater.

What you need to knit a heartfelt vest, a loving beret, and a cutesy statement bag:

The Twisted Love Vest is knitted in Friends Wool, (color 40 and 44).

All you need for the Twisted Love Vest all you need is: 

• Circular Needle Set, or

• • Circular needle 4.5 mm, 80 cm/ US 7, 31.5”

  • Circular needle 3.5 mm, 60 cm/ US 4, 23.5”

• Cable needle

• Stitch markers

• Scissors

The Twisted Love Beret is knitted in Friends Extra Fine Merino, held together with a strand of Friends Kid Silk, (color 40 and 44).

All you need for The Twisted Love Beret is: 

• Circular Needle Set, or

• • Circular needle 4 mm, 40 cm/ US 6, 16”

• Double pointed needles 4 mm/ US 6

• Cable needle

• Stitch markers 

The Twisted Love Bag is knitted in Friends Ribbon (color 40 and 44)

All you need for The Twisted Love Bag is:

• Circular Needle Set, or

• • Circular needle 10 mm, 60 cm/ US 15, 24”

• Cable needle

• 1 Magnetic Button, 20 mm

Spread the Love (and the Yarn!)

Whether you fell in love at first sight or are intrigued to try your first steek, these 3 free knitting designs in the Twisted Love mini collection will remind us all that knitting should be fun, bold, and full of love. 

Shop and fall in love with the Klarybarry x Hobbii "Twisted Love" Mini Collection right here!