WEAR

The signature knitwear of chilly places evoke warm memories Karen Gardiner

Travel during a pandemic without getting cold: Sweaters of the world.

This winter, I'm traveling via my sweater collection. I buy few souvenirs when I travel. But there are some parts of the world that require me to leave ample room in my suitcase: good sweater places. I'm drawn to cold climates and northerly latitudes — and wherever harsh weather exists, you're likely to find tough wool sweaters knitted for the purpose of surviving it.

A good wool sweater can make a great, long-lasting souvenir. Those rooted in place channel the spirit of the cultures from which they come and are ambassadors for local craftsmanship and ingenuity. In tough, isolated destinations, techniques and designs are created and passed down through generations. Some sweaters become so tightly knitted to their place of origin that we know them simply by their place names: Fair Isle, Aran, Cowichan.

Although I'm grounded this winter, pulling on a sweater takes me to the place where I found, and fell for, it. There's a sweater from a Lerwick, Scotland, wool broker where I went into a backroom to watch staff sort and grade piles of soft wool from Shetland sheep; a yoked cardigan bought upon arrival on the Faroe Islands and worn every day of my trip; a classic “Islender” crew neck I found in a little store in Norway at 70 degrees north. And, while the most severe weather I'll endure this winter will probably involve outdoor dining, wearing my favorite pieces reminds me of the icy adventures they have kept me warm on, from the Arctic Ocean to the wintry streets of Moscow.

I will also be building up my winter wardrobe. While the pandemic has stopped me from revisiting my favorite places, it has created a new way to experience the joy of their sweaters. Some knitters have pivoted to selling products online — from strictly traditional designs to those with contemporary twists, but all deeply rooted in place. I might even pick up some needles and try making my own with one of the kits and patterns sold online by knitters from Ireland to Iceland — ideal for creating peaceful moments in a stressful time. Here are some of my favorite kinds of sweaters, and how you can experience them, too.

MATUSDUDA/GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO The sheep on the Faroe Islands come prepared for cold weather.