Creating community through crafts

Knit & Gather carries on a family tradition in a new way

Photo courtesy of Laila Simon
Laila Simon and Kate Running show off Kate’s original Julbock Sweater design. You can learn how to knit this sweater at Knit & Gather in Minneapolis or purchase the pattern online at their new webshop at knitandgather.com.

Laila Simon
Minneapolis

Knit & Gather is a new craft brand that is rooted in Scandinavian tradition. Founded by Laila Simon and Kate Running, Knit & Gather’s mission is to share the craft of knitting and other fiber arts and provide the highest quality tools and notions to support this goal.

Knitting can be thought of as a craft only for older generations, but popularity in the fiber industry has been booming for all ages since the pandemic. Crafting in community has also become a trend that Knit & Gather wants to embrace through both formal classes and informal meet ups and craft nights.

Kate and Laila want to see more people in their generation knitting and want to help spread that knowledge in a way that is accessible and fun.

Kate learned to knit from her grandmother Esther. After later visiting the Vesterheim Museum in Decorah, Iowa, she taught herself how to do the traditional Norwegian art of colorwork knitting.

Colorwork—or stranded knitting—is knitting using at least two colors of yarn at the same time to make a contrasting design (see photo above right).

Now, Kate designs her own knitting patterns and has been teaching knitting for over six years.

In 2022, Laila and Kate began teaching knitting together and in fall of 2023, they started their own creative business, Knit & Gather, and took their teaching to the next level. They teach knitting, crochet, and felting, and hope to continue to expand their offerings.

For the two entrepreneurs, teaching is a way for them to share their passion and with two instructors, the hands-on help they can give students doubles.

Currently, Laila and Kate teach in the greater Twin Cities area in Minnesota, but they hope to start offering online tutorials and possibly virtual classes in the future.

Photo courtesy of Laila Simon
There has been a long tradition of Scandinavian arts and crafts in Laila Simon’s family, who operated a store, Gagga’s Imports, in Seaside,Ore., for many years. Seen from left to right in an old photos from the shop are Gagga, Laila, Otto, a store employee, Laila’s mother, Helle, and her uncle Henrik.

Their individual Norwegian heritage has had a heavy influence on their business. Laila’s grandparents immigrated from Norway in the 1950s and opened their own import store in Seaside, Ore., Gagga’s Imports. They sold Scandinavian food, gifts, skis, knitwear, and more.

Gagga also imported Norwegian yarn and knitting patterns and would hold intimate knitting classes in the shop.

Kate and Laila plan to create more original pattern designs, inspired by traditional Norwegian knitting, but offering a modern take. Honoring their families has been a special part of starting this brand.

In addition to teaching, Kate and Laila are designing original knitting tools and notions, made with a laser cutting machine. Their hope is to make the types of tools they want to use and to inspire other crafters.

You can find out more at knitandgather.com, and if you’d like to follow along as their business grows, make sure to get on their email newsletter list for the latest updates, product launches, knitting tutorials, and more!

This article originally appeared in the August 2024 issue of  The Norwegian American.