Thea Vesterby has worked with digital solutions since her master's degree from CBS in 1996 - until today. She has twin girls, a dog and lives with her boyfriend and his two children north of Copenhagen.
Thea has been involved in sports most of her life, running long distances, completing 10 marathons, 2 Ironmans and being at Mount Everest BaseCamp. All this while working so much that she unfortunately suffered from stress on several occasions.
When knitting becomes a way of life
In 2019, her girls claimed that she couldn't be a real grandmother if she couldn't knit. That was the beginning of a new world of knitting. Here she has rediscovered the joy of immersing herself in something other than digital solutions and a struggle to count the number of kilometers she had run.
Today, she no longer counts kilometers, but how many stitches she is knitting. She discovered how much knitting made her relax - but also that her brain could be used again. A discovery that gave her new faith that she could create something.
Thea has done so well that she now has 26,000 followers on Instagram and has published knitting patterns for Filcolana and the renowned LAINE magazine. She has quit her regular job and become a freelance knitwear designer.
See her Instagram profile here
Creating something gives hope
I started knitting in August 2019 as a way to process my stress. For me, it was absolutely amazing to experience that I could 'figure it out' with pattern knitting. I discovered that my brain was still working, and that gave me hope. That hope and that joy gave me the desire to create something myself. So I basically just started designing my first knitting design, which was a sweater for my daughter.
Since 2021, when I seriously started publishing knitting designs and selling them both via my own webshop and Ravelry, I think about knitting designs all the time, and I even dream about it at night.
From leisure knitter to independent knitting designer
For me, being able to immerse myself and be creative brings joy and value to everyday life. Sitting down with an audiobook and knitting is the best way to get into gear after work. But it is also rewarding on several levels, as it gives an extra dimension to being able to inspire others. It is great to be able to create some knitting designs for yourself, but it is crazy to make something that others like and that can provide many good knitting lessons.
I have gained a new network of wonderful people with the same passion. I have gotten to know others who love yarn and knitting, and with whom I can geek out about knitting. It gives me so much joy and meaning with what I dream of doing for a living.
The decision has been made, I will therefore stop working at Valtech, where I have been employed for 19 years. In the summer of 2023, I will enter my own creative business wholeheartedly and 100%.
Knitting is stress-relieving
With a hectic everyday life, knitting is a good tool to de-stress. You find peace when you have something to immerse yourself in. It provides a good creative process. I also believe that the time with corona has been a significant reason why many have had time and have rediscovered their desire to knit – and that after Corona it still works as a way to maintain a community in knitting clubs, or simply a way to stick to a new routine of relaxing.
We have also become significantly more aware of what clothes we buy and what our consumption is in relation to taking better care of our environment. I think this also gives many people a reason to knit, as they think in 'slow fashion' terms.
Knitting as a path to mental health
For me, mental health has a lot to do with knitting. That the heart rate slows down when the yarn slips through your fingers, and that brain activity is more focused on the present and what you have in your hands.
The calm that falls over my body after a day of team meetings and tasks with deadlines is crucial for me to be able to keep track of my stress. Having been affected by stress means that you probably never really get rid of it. Because the body has learned to initiate the alarm process much earlier - and you hear those signals better and more easily when you give yourself the peace of mind and body that comes when you knit.
Shared vision as Yrolí
I got to know Yrolí through my mother, who has been using the products for many years. When my daughter was suffering from severe acne and had gone through a long process with the A-acid regimen, my mother told me about the facial oil that Yrolí has developed. That it can help restore the skin's glow and reduce acne scars. I was a little skeptical, but we learned that it worked fantastically!
Now I also use Yrolí myself, including the facial oil (since as an adult I still suffer from blemished skin) – and since I started using it, I have a whole new feeling and joy about my facial skin.
My mom also introduced me to Trine-Lise and Jette at a Yrolí event. We have great chemistry and a shared interest in creating something that provides both mental and physical health.
I am deeply moved that the two women have developed a skincare line based on natural plants, herbs and nutritious berries from the Nordic and African soil. And that they have created products with certifications and a strong social event.
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I love Yrolí Face Oil. Like the rest of my family, I have become completely addicted to it. It has done wonders for my skin. My skin has a glow and has become beautiful. Read more about Face Oil here
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