The story of Villahullu

Creating things with my hands has always been one of my great interests and knitting has been a hobby of mine since I was a child. In primary school, when others would knit a pot holder, I would knit a shirt.
As an adult, however, knitting was reduced to a seasonal hobby that seemed to pop up only during the darkest times of the year. You all know what I mean: when after a hot and sunny summer it is finally ok to just curl up in the softest corner of the sofa to enjoy the warmth of the fireplace.

Villahullu
Villahullu
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My needles remained in the drawer completely for a couple of years until all of a sudden I rediscovered my love of knitting. It was the end of 2020 when, scrolling through Instagram, I came across an Icelandic sweater with the most beautiful colours. I decided there and then to give coloured knitting a new chance, even though this had always been the style of knitting that I didn’t really seem to master. I finished the Icelandic sweater, whose pattern name was Riddari, in five days. And I haven’t let go of the knitting needles since then – not even on the hottest summer days. I designed my first sweater pattern, Sulkaneule, in early spring 2021.

Heli Nikula

In February 2021 I launched my Instagram account Villahullu. The account is as much about my ascetic island cabin living as it is about my knitting. Having worked over 17 years as a real estate agent in Tampere, my life has been very hectic and full of social contacts. My cabin on the island is where I go to wind down whenever possible. At the cabin I get to focus on complete mind relaxation with swimming and fishing all year round and knitting next to the warm glow of the fireplace.

– Heli Nikula