The famous Icelandic lopapeysa sweater

With the approach of winter, it is increasingly possible to see men and women in cozy sweaters. Many of their styles and knitting methods are similar to each other, but it is difficult to confuse one type of sweater with something else. Lopapeisa are stylish warm clothes with a rich history.

The sweater, which bears the bizarre name of lopapeysa, is worn by men and women, not realizing how far the origins of the creation of this model are from them and how unique its features are.

Sheep in Iceland have always been a source of meat and wool. Young children, starting from the age of 4, were taught to knit things, because in many families this was the only way to feed themselves and loved ones.

The combed wool of Icelandic sheep used to be called "lopi", hence the name of the sweater, so unusual for Russian hearing, came from.

Historians and the indigenous people of Iceland still cannot agree on where this memorable sweater pattern came from. Someone finds in it a similarity with the Norwegian ornament, and someone sees in it the prototype of the Greenlandic pattern. In other words, the symbiosis of these styles allowed the Icelanders to create their own recognizable pattern.

Lopapeisa first appeared in a Swedish knitting magazine back in 1956 and immediately became wildly popular. Until now, Icelanders appreciate this colorful folk clothes, dressing the whole family in it.

The main feature of lopapeysa is the yarn from which the sweater is made. It contains only the finest wool from Icelandic sheep without the addition of any other fibers. Due to this, lopapeysa is an incredibly warm thing that can protect in the most severe frosts.

Another characteristic feature of real sweaters from Iceland is the sleeve, which is shorter than necessary for a Russian person. This is explained by the short stature of the Icelanders and, consequently, shorter arms. Therefore, tourists often face the problem of difficult selection of a model.

Traditionally, the lopapeysa does not have a voluminous collar and fasteners. Modern models may have a lock in the center, buttons and a cozy hood.

And, of course, the main accent of the sweater is a coquette with a characteristic pattern.

To choose a folk Icelandic sweater, it is important to determine the color that will refresh the face and just fit the style. Black and white colors are classic for lopapeysa, however, now the colors of sweaters are diverse.

When ordering a model directly from Iceland, it is better to leave your choice on stylish sleeveless jackets. Buying such a model, you can not worry about a suitable sleeve length.

The lopapeysa from the county is very popular. This yarn is very soft and warm. The choice of such a sweater will certainly be successful.

In Russia, lopapeysa is on the way to popularity, but for now it is preferred by representatives of hippie chic. In Iceland, the lopapeysa is a versatile piece of clothing. The sweater is worn with jeans, trousers, combined with skirts, worn over shirts and blouses. Even everyday dresses are not complete without the addition of a lopapeysa.

Needlewomen will certainly like lopapeysa, because it is knitted in an interesting technique and from unusual yarn, and the pattern gives scope for imagination and skill.

A few tips will help make the process of creating a sweater a little easier:

• lopi is quite expensive wool, so when making a sweater for the first time, it is wiser to try your hand at ordinary yarn;
• The sweater can be knitted top down and bottom to top. Many needlewomen consider the second option to be simpler;
• there are computer programs for creating lopapeysa. With their help, you can choose the desired color and ornament, calculate the number of loops and see a sketch of the future sweater.

A white sweater with gray and black patterns looks especially stylish with tight gray tights and a preppy gingham miniskirt.

Teaming a blue sweater with navy skinny jeans is an on-point option. A beanie to match the sweater and a repeating pattern completes the look.

A black zip-up lopapace sweater and a casual black leather skirt create a youthful bright look. Dense black tights will complement the bow.

A gray sweater with casual trousers, complemented by brown high boots, is a fashionable look for men.