Just over a year ago, the University of Eastern Finland got its very own knitting pattern for woollen socks, inspiring knitting enthusiasts across the country to knit socks with the UEF logo on them. Now, UEF has served as inspiration for knitting patterns for sweaters and mittens.
Last autumn, the University of Turku came out with a knitting pattern for a sweater boasting their logo. This inspired knitting enthusiasts at UEF, too, to design knitwork featuring the UEF logo.
“When I saw the University of Turku sweaters on social media, I wanted to try something similar with my own university’s logo. I contacted the university’s administration and asked if they’d be interested in a UEF-themed knitting pattern,” Hanne Piirainen says.
Piirainen studies western theology on the open university route and, when she’s not studying, she designs knitting patterns and writes about knitting.
“When I was designing the knitting pattern for the UEF sweater, my idea was to make sure that the logo is identifiable on the sweater. I was also fascinated by its multifunctionality: the logo is suitable for many other pieces of knitted clothing as well. I always use test knitters when designing a new pattern, and according to their feedback, the UEF logo is a good pattern even if the person has no links to the university. The pattern can also be knit in different colours.”
Piirainen says that during test knitting, the logo was slightly modified and so-called auxiliary loops removed, making the pattern clearer.
“It took me less than a week to knit the sample sweater, but the test knitters were given a little over a month to finish theirs.”
Test knitters provided support for the creative work
According to Piirainen, knit pattern design occupies most of her free time. She writes a monthly column for the Kauneimmat käsityöt magazine, runs her own knitting blog, and has an Instagram account dedicated to knitting.
“The test knitters I work with are scattered across Finland, and the group is quite established. For the UEF sweater, though, I looked for test knitters from outside social media. At first, I didn’t tell them that the pattern was for a university logo; instead, I wanted them to pick the pattern precisely because it would seem suitable and nice for the sweater.”
According to Piirainen, test knitters always provide valuable insight into the pattern at hand, making the instructions usable and functional – and also easy to read.
“The idea was to make the knitting pattern for the logo sweater such that even beginners would feel like it’s something they can take up. And I think we did an excellent job in that!”
At first, I didn’t tell the test knitters that the pattern was for a university logo; instead, I wanted them to pick the pattern precisely because it would seem suitable and nice for the sweater.
Hanne Piirainen
The logo sits on the sweater beautifully
Around the same time, Kati Kämppi, a student of craft science at the University of Eastern Finland, also got excited about the University of Turku sweater.
“I’m someone who likes competition, and when I saw the sweater designed in Turku, I decided that we, too, must get a knitting pattern for the University of Eastern Finland.”
Following the lines of Turku, Kämppi started to design a similar yoke sweater.
“I was delighted to see how well the UEF logo sits on this type of a sweater.”
Kämppi got some tips and ideas for her design from University Teacher Anne Posti, and she first tested them on logo-themed mittens and socks, after which it was quick to move on to the sweater. The sweater is knit from hem to shoulder, and the logo spreads sector by sector.
“It was quite a lot of work. It took me an entire day to knit the yoke, and another day to knit the sleeves. I knit the entire sweater in about one week – and I didn’t even skip meals or sleep,” Kämppi says, laughing.
It took her two days to knit a pair of socks, and two days to knit a pair of mittens.
“I don’t have any instructions for these, it’s all in my head. I’ve been knitting for so long that I can quickly plan and figure out what kind of a sock pattern is suitable for whom, and what is the best way to knit this sweater, for example. But it has taken a lot of time and effort to get here!”
Pride in the university’s craft science community
Kämppi started studying craft science at UEF last autumn, and she will graduate as a teacher of multi-material craft. She feels like she’s in the right place right now.
“Being 55 years old, I was wondering whether I could still learn new things and grasp broad entities in an academic environment. However, everything has been surprisingly easy.”
Crat science has dedicated facilities in the Taitola building, and Kämppi speaks very highly of the community spirit there.
“Every time I open the door to Taitola, I end up smiling. We have a great sense of community there. In my age, I’ve seen and been to many places but here, the feeling of belonging and willingness to help others just keep astonishing me. Here, staff and students are truly equal.”
Instructions for Hanne Piirainen’s UEF sweater
Hanne Piirainen on Instagram: @puikoillapeltolassa
