The Island and the Forest: A Knitted Correspondence

The Island and the Forest: A Knitted Correspondence is a beautiful collaboration between Swedish knitwear designers Erika Åberg and Lotta H. Löthgren. Through a series of heartfelt letters and 12 timeless knitting patterns, they share life in two very different landscapes—Erika on the island of Gotland and Lotta in the forests of southeast Sweden.

Inspired by the four elements—earth, water, fire and air—the book follows the changing seasons and the rhythms of the natural world. As they write to one another, Erika and Lotta reflect on everyday moments that lead to bigger thoughts about creativity, belonging and finding meaning in life.

Featuring 12 practical, wearable knitwear designs, the book invites you to slow down, connect with nature and enjoy the creative process. As Erika and Lotta explain, "The book you're holding is our attempt at interpreting our surroundings: the landscape, its atmosphere and the weather, in the shape of stitches."

About the authors

Erika Åberg is a knitwear designer and writer who lives with her family and dog on the Swedish island of Gotland. Deeply inspired by Scandinavian craft traditions, her designs celebrate nature, wool and island life. She also leads wool and walking tours to destinations including Gotland, Shetland and Iceland. The Island and the Forest is her eleventh book.

Lotta H. Löthgren is a knitwear designer, writer and hand-dyer based in a small village in southeast Sweden, where she lives with her family, dogs and chickens and runs her own yarn shop. Her designs transform the beauty of the natural world into timeless garments. Her first book, Observations: Knits and Essays from the Forest, was published by Laine Publishing in 2023.