The two Norwegian wool sweaters worth buying are the Setesdal lusekofte and the Marius sweater. Buy the lusekofte from Dale of Norway, which knits it in Norway, and the Marius from a Husfliden shop, where it is knitted by Rauma in Norway. Expect to pay NOK 2,500 for a Marius and NOK 4,299 for a Dale lusekofte cardigan.
This guide is for visitors who want one good sweater, not a souvenir. Norwegians can read our Norwegian version on the lusekofte.
The two patterns you should know
The lusekofte from Setesdal
A lusekofte has single white stitches, the “lice”, spread across a dark body. It started as a men’s sweater in Setesdal in the mid-1800s, probably in Valle. The old ones are black with white patterns, and the main shoulder pattern is the cross and the knot. The cardigan version with a full front opening came in the 1920s, when tourists discovered the sweater.
The Marius sweater
The Marius sweater was designed by Unn Søiland in 1953 and sold as a knitting pattern to Sandnes Uldvarefabrik. It took its borders from the Setesdal sweater but dropped the lice. It got famous through the film “Troll i ord” from 1954, worn by the skier and actor Marius Eriksen. The most common colours are navy, white and red.
The brands that still knit in NorwayDale of Norway
The mill in Dale, near Bergen, was founded in 1879. Dale made the Olympic sweaters, and the 1994 Lillehammer sweater was its international breakthrough. Its Setesdal lusekofte cardigan costs NOK 4,299 on the Norwegian site, and the Setesdal sweater costs €389 on the European site. Both are listed as designed and knitted in Norway, with pewter clasps made in Norway.
Devold
Ole Andreas Devold started making wool clothing in Ålesund in 1853 and later moved production to Langevåg. Devold is the brand for warm, plain wool to wear every day. The Nansen Wool Sweater costs NOK 1,999 and the Nansen Legacy Sweater NOK 2,699 on the Norwegian web shop.
Oleana
Oleana was founded in 1992, against the trend of moving textile production abroad. Every garment is knitted, sewn and packed at its own factory in Ytre Arna, outside Bergen. The style is more feminine and colourful than the classic patterns.
Rauma and the Marius sweater
Production rights to the Marius pattern belong to Marius of Norway. Rauma Ullvarefabrikk got permission to make Marius sweaters in a factory in 2009. Norsk Flid Husfliden sells the men’s Marius sweater, knitted in 100 per cent wool in Norway, for NOK 2,500.
Where to buy
Husfliden shops
Husfliden shops sell Norwegian crafts, yarn and knitwear. The Marius sweater is sold in all the large Husfliden shops. Norsk Flid Husfliden does not ship abroad, so buy in the shop while you are here.
Oleana in Bergen
Oleana’s own shop is at Strandkaien 2A, across from the fish market. It opens Monday to Wednesday and Friday 10–17, Thursday 10–19 and Saturday 10–16, and it is closed on Sundays.
The Oleana factory in Ytre Arna
The factory shop opens Monday to Friday 10–16 and Saturday 10–15. You can walk through the production floors Monday to Friday 10–15. The shop has samples and discontinued pieces at lower prices. Take the train from Bergen to Arna, then a local bus to Ytre Arna sentrum.
Combine it with a city break
Bergen has Oleana and is close to Dale. Ålesund is across the fjord from Devold’s home in Langevåg. See our guides to things to do in Bergen and things to do in Alesund.
Knit your own
A Setesdal men’s cardigan kit from Sandnes Garn costs NOK 994–1,154 at one Norwegian yarn shop. The yarn, Peer Gynt, is 100 per cent Norwegian wool, and a 50 g ball costs NOK 59. The pattern is rated for experienced knitters. It is a cheaper and lighter souvenir than a finished cardigan.
How to get the VAT back
If you live outside Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, you can get Norwegian VAT back on goods you take home. One invoice must be at least NOK 250 excluding VAT. You must leave Norway with the item within one month. Use the shop’s tax-free form or a tax-free company’s form, and ask in the shop how it works.
Residents of Sweden, Denmark and Finland have a different rule: each item must cost at least NOK 1,000 excluding VAT.
How to look after it
Most good wool sweaters must be hand-washed. Wool does not need washing often; hang it outside to air it instead. Dale’s Norwegian-wool sweaters are heavy: the Setesdal sweater weighs 900 g in size L, so leave room in your bag.
Our verdict
Buy one classic, not three cheap ones. The Dale lusekofte is the most authentic and the most expensive. The Marius from Husfliden is the best value for a sweater knitted in Norway. Choose Devold if you want wool for hiking, and Oleana if you want design.
Avoid shops that do not say where a sweater was knitted. “Norwegian design” on a label is not the same as “knitted in Norway”.
More style guides are in our style section. Pair your sweater with a winter trip: read our guide to traditional Norwegian food.
A Marius sweater costs NOK 2,500 at Norsk Flid Husfliden, and the Dale Setesdal lusekofte costs NOK 4,299.