A Norwegian wool sweater, the real one
The traditional lusekofte and Setesdal sweaters in proper Norwegian wool — what to look for and where to find them in Bergen.
Tied to Bergen
The hand-knit Norwegian wool sweater (lusekofte) is the souvenir worth the suitcase space. Look for genuine Norwegian wool (from breeds like Spælsau and Norsk pelssau), tightly knit, with the traditional eight-petal Selbu rose patterns or the Setesdal black-and-white. Avoid the cheap acrylic stuff aimed at cruise passengers — it is everywhere on Bryggen.
For the real thing in Bergen: Oleana (Norwegian-made knitwear, modernized patterns) and Dale of Norway’s flagship are both reliable. Vintage shops on the upper streets sometimes turn up genuine 1970s sweaters at half the price of new.
What we plan to look for
One sweater between the two of us, in a pattern we can both wear, that will last twenty years.