5 Reasons Why We Love Hygge SO Much

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Not everybody knows what hygge means. Some on the North American side of the pond see it as a trend. That would be incorrect. It’s a Nordic way of life. What typically gets lost in translation is the fact that hygge revolves around kinship, nature and simplicity. “In essence, the world of Nordic hygge is about getting back to basics, prioritizing what’s important, and simplifying your life,” explains Signe Johansen, author of How to Hygge: Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life (affiliate link).

We find the handmade life hits the hygge sweet spot. Surrounding yourself with a comforting hobby could not be more hygge. Read on for 5 reasons why we love this Scandinavian sense of simple pleasure and happiness, plus ideas for knitwear that will foster a deep desire to maintain that all important hygge life balance.

1. It’s a fun word to say.

It’s common to pronounce this Danish word phonetically.

Hi-gee = wrong.

Hoo-gah = right.

Develop your own sense of hygge with fall knitting projects! This is the Westfall Pullover by Moira Engel, from *Interweave Knits* Fall 2020.

2. It’s an ideal situation to imagine…

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the concept of hygge as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).” It is more than a lifestyle trend; it’s an ingrained and celebrated practice from Denmark and the rest of Scandinavia. Natives create warmth, happiness, light, and comfort within their homes and workplaces to keep the feeling alive.

Hygge might lean your brain toward winter themes, but hats, cowls, and mittens are perfect summer knitting projects, and they bring a little hygge into your world no matter the season.

3. Creating with love soothes the sole.

It’s all about the love. The act of creating something comforting—including a handknitted project for yourself or a loved one—is what makes hygge more than just a fad. This mindset encourages us to live and create with positivity and endearment.

summer knitting — Mended Heart Socks. Photo by Harper Point Photography

4. Hygge is portable!

Create this vibe wherever you go. Replicate that hygge feeling of contentment and coziness in any comfortable surrounding. If you can’t be home, curled up on the couch with a candle and a book, take that feeling on the road with your handknits. Instant comfort!

5. You’ll look cute.

I look forward to fall and winter when I can put on an oversized cowl to brace against the wind or kick off my snow boots at work to reveal a pair of chunky, woolly cabled socks. But hygge in the summer is real, too! Simply wrap up in your favorite cardigan when you go to the movies or perform work in an office during women’s winter.