Meet Your Hosts

This retreat is hosted by Säie Wool, a Finnish indie yarn studio based in Porvoo, founded by Eija.

Eija is a yarn dyer, a mother of two daughters, and has lived in Porvoo for the past ten years. Before moving here, her background was strongly rooted in design and craft, working in sales and at Design Forum Finland, the Finnish arts and crafts society. A love for Nordic and Finnish design, beautiful objects and well-made things has always been part of her everyday life.

After moving to Porvoo, the city slowly became home in a deeper sense. With its old wooden houses, historic streets and strong creative atmosphere, Porvoo brought knitting even closer into daily life. Eija founded Säie Wool with a clear vision, and over time it has grown into a studio built with intention and care. Today, Säie Wool yarns are used by many knitwear designers and have appeared in both Finnish and international publications. Being part of the Finnish knitting community in this way is something Eija feels deeply proud of.

The retreat is co-hosted by Chita, a close friend, long-time collaborator and an essential part of many Säie Wool events. By day, Chita works as a veterinarian; by night, she is very much a knitter. Her needles are always busy, and she has a special talent for discovering interesting designers and inspiring patterns. Most of Säie Wool’s sample garments are knit by Chita, giving her a very hands-on understanding of yarn, construction and fit.

Chita is a lifelong Porvoo local and lives in the same courtyard as the Säie Wool studio. Her presence is calm, genuine and reassuring, and Eija considers herself very lucky to call her both a collaborator and a friend.

Together, we host this retreat as we would welcome friends to our own city. We want to be your knitting friends here in Finland — sharing our favourite restaurants, yarn shops, places to walk and the small details that make Porvoo feel special to us. Our approach is simple: we want you to feel welcome, relaxed and well taken care of, with space to knit, connect and enjoy being here.

If you have any questions or concerns before the retreat, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to hear from you and look forward to welcoming you to Porvoo

Photos from Porvoo are taken by Eleni Paspati.