Sandnes Garn: Peer Gynt, Fritidsgarn and the Other Norwegian Classics
A guide to Sandnes Garn from Norway: Peer Gynt, Tynn Peer Gynt, Fritidsgarn, Double Sunday and Alpakka Ull. How they differ and what to knit.
The short answer: Sandnes Garn is Norway’s big yarn brand. Choose Peer Gynt for classic sweaters and colourwork, Tynn Peer Gynt when the garment should be thinner, Fritidsgarn for warm pieces and felting, Double Sunday when it should be soft against the skin and Alpakka Ull when you want warmth without weight.
About Sandnes Garn
Sandnes Garn started in 1888 as Sandnes Uldvarefabrik in Sandnes, in the Norwegian county of Rogaland, and today describes itself as the largest supplier of hand-knitting yarn in Northern Europe. Fritidsgarn is made entirely at the mill at Foss-Eikeland in Sandnes, from washing the wool to the finished ball.
Peer Gynt has been around since 1938 and is the yarn many people associate with classic Norwegian patterned sweaters. Norwegian wool gives clear colours, good bounce and garments that keep their shape.
The yarns at a glance
| Yarn | Fibre | Weight | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peer Gynt | 100 % Norwegian wool, 4-ply | DK, 50 g about 91 m | Sweaters, cardigans, colourwork |
| Tynn Peer Gynt | Norwegian wool, 3-ply | Fingering | Thinner sweaters, children’s clothes, colourwork |
| Fritidsgarn | 100 % Norwegian wool, woollen-spun | Worsted / aran | Warm sweaters, mittens, slippers, felting |
| Double Sunday | 100 % merino | DK | Soft sweaters, cardigans and hats |
| Alpakka Ull | Alpaca and wool | DK | Warm garments that do not feel heavy |
Which yarn should I choose?
- A classic Norwegian sweater: Peer Gynt. The wool is springy and hard-wearing, keeps its shape and gets softer the more the garment is worn. On 3.5 to 4 mm needles you get about 22 stitches to 10 cm. It is a yarn for garments that should last and be handed down to the next generation.
- The same wool, thinner garments: Tynn Peer Gynt. It arrived in autumn 2022 and has the same qualities as Peer Gynt but gives a thinner, lighter fabric. Good for colourwork with small motifs and for children’s clothes.
- Warm and tough, or felted: Fritidsgarn. A light woollen-spun yarn for warm sweaters, hats, mittens and slippers. It felts beautifully, so it is a good choice for felted slippers and mittens.
- Soft against the skin: Double Sunday. Merino keeps you warm, wicks moisture and stays warm even when damp. It can be knitted single or with the yarn held double.
- Warmth without weight: Alpakka Ull. Alpaca’s insulating fibre and wool’s elasticity give warm garments that still feel light, such as sweaters, cardigans, hats and scarves.
Planning a colourwork pattern? Draw it first in the knitting chart maker, so you can see how the colours work together before you buy the yarn.
Sandnes Garn in our shop
We run Knytfolket, the craft shop behind Knytstudio. These are the Sandnes Garn yarns we stock:
- Peer Gynt: the classic in 100 % Norwegian wool.
- Tynn Peer Gynt: the same wool, a thinner strand.
- Fritidsgarn: woollen-spun Norwegian wool, ideal for felting.
- Double Sunday: soft merino that is not superwash treated.
- Alpakka Ull: alpaca and wool, warm and light.
Everything we have from Sandnes Garn is together on the brand’s page in the shop. We ship from Sweden, within Sweden and to the rest of the EU.
Caring for Norwegian wool
- Air it instead of washing. Wool breathes and rarely needs washing.
- Wash gently. A separate, gentle wool programme works for Peer Gynt, Tynn Peer Gynt, Double Sunday and Alpakka Ull. Fritidsgarn should be washed by hand and not left to soak.
- Dry flat on a towel, and skip the laundry bag: the friction can felt the garment.
Before you cast on
- Knit a swatch and compare it with the pattern’s gauge. Here is how to measure your gauge, and the gauge calculator turns it into stitch counts.
- Work out how much yarn you need with the yarn calculator, and buy all the balls at once so they come from the same dye lot.
- Substituting yarn in a pattern? Check the weight in the yarn weight chart.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Peer Gynt and Tynn Peer Gynt?
They are made from the same Norwegian wool. Peer Gynt is a 4-ply and Tynn Peer Gynt a 3-ply, so Tynn Peer Gynt is thinner and lighter. It suits thinner sweaters, cardigans, children's clothes and colourwork.
Can you felt Fritidsgarn?
Yes. Fritidsgarn is a woollen-spun yarn of 100 % Norwegian wool and felts very well, for example for slippers and mittens.
Is Double Sunday superwash?
No. Double Sunday is 100 % merino that has not been superwash treated, from sheep that have not been mulesed. Wash it on a gentle wool programme and dry it flat.
How do I wash garments in Norwegian wool?
As rarely as you can: wool breathes, so airing is often enough. In the machine, use a separate, gentle wool programme, spin well and dry flat on a towel. Do not use a laundry bag, the friction can felt the garment. Fritidsgarn should be washed by hand.
What needle size is used for Peer Gynt?
Usually 3.5 to 4 mm, which gives about 22 stitches to 10 cm. A 50 g ball holds about 91 metres.