Designer Profile: Kutovakika

How did you become a knitwear designer?

By accident, but also by fate, I’d say. I’ve been knitting since I was a kid and always loved crafting—anything that let me make something with my hands. But it never occurred to me that knitting could be a job. It was just this quiet joy in the background of my life.

I actually studied something completely different—dance. After years of pirouettes and pliés, I had a bit of an existential crisis (as one does), and knitting found its way back into my life like an old friend. It felt grounding, familiar, and oddly full of possibility. I started sharing my projects on social media, learning how to build a creative space online, and little by little, things started to click.

Then in 2021, I was approached to write my first knitting pattern book—and that changed everything. It was the first time I thought, “Oh, maybe this is what I’m meant to be doing.” Since then, designing has become my full-time job, and honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else now. It’s been a strange, wonderful journey—and one I’m incredibly grateful for.

Where do you find the inspiration for your work?

Inspiration comes from so many places, but lately I’ve been especially drawn to the quiet charm of cottagecore and that whole fisherman-meets-fashion aesthetic that’s having a moment right now. I spent all my summers growing up in the Finnish archipelago, so that rugged, sea-worn, windswept feeling is kind of in my bones. Woolly layers, practical textures, cozy knits with a hint of romance—it all just feels like home.

I also find a lot of ideas in both vintage and modern fashion. I love flipping through old pattern books and admiring the elegance of past decades (the 1970s have my heart at the moment—Jane Birkin forever!). And then I’ll turn around and watch the latest runway shows—like Chloé’s SS25 collection, which totally captured me with its bohemian, empowered vibe.

And of course, I’m endlessly inspired by people on the street—especially when I’m traveling. Copenhagen, for example, always sparks ideas. The style there is playful and relaxed, with just the right amount of quirk. I often catch myself mentally turning outfits into knitting patterns, like: “What if that coat was a cardigan?”

Which design project you are particularly proud of?

I think the project I’m most proud of is my wedding dress, which I knitted and crocheted myself in just six weeks in 2022. It was a mix of magic, mild chaos, and sheer determination—I wouldn’t necessarily recommend making your own wedding dress on a deadline, but I have no regrets.

Designing something that personal, for such a meaningful moment, was incredibly special. I poured everything into it—delicate lace, flowing textures, and all the love (plus a few late-night knitting marathons). I ended up documenting the whole process on YouTube, and the video unexpectedly went viral. That dress ended up becoming a bit of a turning point for me—not just as a personal project, but as something that helped me get noticed as a knitwear designer, even though I never made it into a pattern!

What made it so joyful was that I got to completely freestyle as a designer, without rules or restrictions—I was just making something for me. And now I have this handmade piece from one of the most important days of my life, something I’ll treasure forever.