We all know that hygge is the latest trend. This definition comes from Hygge House:
Hygge (pronounced hue-gah) is a Danish word that is a feeling or mood that comes taking genuine pleasure in making ordinary, every day moments more meaningful, beautiful or special. Whether it’s making coffee a verb by creating a ritual of making it then lingering over a cup to a cosy evening in with friends to the simple act of lighting a candle with every meal. Hygge is being aware of a good moment whether it’s simple or special.
So being the book addict that I am, I searched my library catalogue for all books hygge. Most of them are already out and/or reserved for the next hundred years, but this one, The Year of Living Danishly: Uncovering The Secrets of the World's Happiest Country, came up.
This book also fed my strange fascination with all books with 'The Year of Living ...' in the title. I just love reading them, maybe because they always offer a snapshot of another life and always seem to have lots of facts and information of which I was unaware.
The author's husband is offered a job with Lego (what a dream job!) so they leave London to head for rural Denmark. So there are lots of random Lego facts, such as there are 86 pieces of Lego for each person on the planet (and I step on them all on a regular basis!), there is a huge community of adult Lego lovers called AFOLs (Adult Fans of Lego) including David Beckham and Brad Pitt; seven Lego sets are sold every second; Lego is officially the world's largest tyre manufacturer.
The author, being a journalist, decided to spend the year discovering why the Danes are consistently found in polls to be the world's happiest people, studying such topics as education, health, family/work balance, house design, leisure and many more. I found this book extremely interesting. I am almost finished, just November and December to go, where apparently Denmark practically closes down for winter as everyone locks themselves away to hibernate.
I must be on a Scandi theme currently, as my knitting comes from Arne and Carlos, who hail from rural Norway!
I am very happy that I have finally finished my knitted heat/table mat. And it is gorgeous! Such a simple but effective technique that I want to make many more. Although the knitting did take longer than I was expecting. It also finished at a larger size and thicker than I was expecting, but that is a good thing!
I am loving having a pretty mat for my teapot, especially with autumn/winter approaching. Picturing lots of winter knitting days with my trusty teapot at the ready.
Now I am moving on to a knit from February 1937's issue of Stitchcraft magazine. I was so excited to receive this issue. It is in amazing condition, considering it is 80 years old, and the embroidery transfer was intact and perfect.
Lots of gorgeous knits, as always, in this issue, but all would need to be re-sized for my figure!
I have chosen this one as my knit from this issue - rib being so stretchy and forgiving!
Hoping to show some progress on this project next week!
That books sounds very interesting. I"ll have to put it in my Goodreads queue.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good read!
DeleteLove the mat, a real delight.
ReplyDeleteThank you, I definitely want to make more.
DeleteI have the book...just need to find time to read it :) xx
ReplyDeleteIt is a quick read!
Deletehmm, I might have to take a look at that book! My son loved Lego and so did my daughter. We bought our fair share while they were young and still own the sets...your heat mat is lovely and very valentine themed!!
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about that, but it does look Valentiney! Lego is always a winner, such a fabulous invention.
DeleteYes, why are the Danish always at the top of the polls? The few articles I have read about Denmark consistently say the same thing...happiest!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like a very interesting read, as does the concept of Hygge. Do you not think Hygge was, at some point in history, the way people lived before our modern lifestyles made everything so complicated?
Your teapot mat is also interesting. I would never have guessed it was knit. I will also have to peek back to see your vintage sweater, intrigued to see your yarn choice for it!
Definitely, reading this book makes me think hygge is the way we all would have lived. Especially important to them is the 'hibernating' in winter and spending those cold months with family at home. And the simplicity of it too.
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