Introducing LAINE x Novita
The Discovery
For my birthday this year I decided to treat myself to a trip to h+h Americas. An extended weekend without any household obligations surrounded by yarn and other crafters? Yes, please! The trip was made better than I could have imagined when I waked into the exhibition hall and learned that LAINE Publishing and Novita were going to be launching a yarn collection.
A Finnish knitting magazine publisher and the largest Finnish yarn manufacturer were collaborating on a collection of yarns - could there possibly be anything more perfect for Finnished Knits? Nothing I can think of, that's for sure! To say I was giddy would be an understatement.
I even had the chance to meet and chat with Jonna Helin, the genius behind all of this!
Would you like to know more?
Who Is Novita?
If you're from Finland, you already know about Novita, whether you knit or not. Their yarns are sold even in the grocery stores, it's what most people mean when referring to yarn. They are the largest manufacturer of handicraft yarns in the Nordic countries. Their spinning mill in Koria is conveniently along the way from my parents' house to Helsinki so it's a familiar stop to and from the airport.
Novita was founded in 1928 by Ernst Gylfe, who wanted to offer higher quality knitting yarn in Finland. This very much mirrors my desire to bring the Finnish yarns I am so fond of to the USA. The company is still family owned, and has a focus on sustainability and slow fashion.
Who is Laine?
Laine is a publishing house in Tampere, Finland, that publishes not only the international knit and lifestyle magazine Laine but also books on knitting, crafts, food, and lifestyle. It was founded in 2016 by Jonna Helin and Sini Kramer founded Laine in 2016 and today it is one of the most recognized independent book publishers in their industry.
I'm sure there are plenty of titles from Laine that you're familiar with, like their 52 Weeks of series. In addition to the regular quarterly issues Laine magazine also has occasional special editions like Nordic Knits and Finnish Knits.
The Collaboration
LAINE x Novita is a exclusive collaboration between Novita and Jonna Helin, the founder and CEO of Laine Publishing. Jonna has spent the past year working closely with the highly skilled team at West Yorkshire Spinners to create exquisite yarns from some of the world's finest wools and fibers, in absolutely delicious colors.
The Novita Signature Collection pulls inspiration from great Nordic artists and
designers, storytellers and creators - Helene Schjerfbeck, Edith Södergran, Aino Aalto, and Laine Publishing. Their unique styles have helped curate the color ranges for these gorgeous yarns.
The Yarns
LAINE x Novita DK and 4PLY
These two yarns are made from 70 % Falkland Island wool, 15% Bluefaced Leicester, and 15% Bluefaced Kerry Hill. Its soft and airy twist makes it perfect for a wide variety of knitting and crochet projects.
Laine x Novita DK is 255 meters per 100-gram skein (246 yds / 3.5 oz), and comes in 12 solid colors.
Laine x Novita 4PLY is 400 meters per 100-gram skein (437 yds / 3.5 oz), and comes in 18 solid colors. It also works beautifully with Edith, a wonderful blend of mohair and silk!
Helene
Helene is a soft and light fingering-weight yarn that's made of 60% luxury Merino Wool, 30% Silk for sheen and softness, and 10% Super Kid Mohair for a gentle halo.
Each 50-gram (2 oz) ball has 200 meters (218 yards) of yarn, and they come in 20 solid colors.
The yarn is inspired by Helene Schjerfbeck, a Finnish modernist painter known for her realist works and self-portraits, and also for her landscapes and still lifes.
Edith
Edith is poetry in yarn form, dreamily soft and feather-light. It is made of 70% Superfine Kid Mohair and 30% Low Sheen Silk, and pairs beautifully with the other yarns from the collection for an on-trend, luxury mohair finish.
Each 25-gram (1 oz) ball has 210 meters (229 yards), and they come in 20 solid colors.
The yarn is inspired by Edith Södergran, a Swedish-speaking Finnish poet.
Aino
Aino a fluffy bulky-weight yarn that combines beauty with practicality. The yarn is constructed of a recycled polyamide mesh, and the baby alpaca and merino wool is blown into the core, creating a substantial yet wonderfully soft and airy yarn.
Each 50-gram (2 oz) ball has 110 meters (120 yards), and they come in 15 solid colors.
The yarn is inspired by Aino Aalto, a Finnish architect and a pioneer of Nordic design.
A Few More Details
The entire collection will be ready sometime in late July / early August 2025. An exact date has not yet been announced. I have set up all of the yarns in my shop so that they can be pre-ordered right away. All orders will be shipped as soon as the yarn arrives from the spinners.
There will also be 15 new patterns that have been designed specifically for the Novita Signature Collection yarns. Three of the patterns have been designed by Jonna Helin herself, and another four have been designed by Kolibri by Johanna. Veronika Lindberg who is known as Kutova Kika has also designed two patterns, and the design team at Novita has six designs for the collection.
