Free Knitting Pattern: Tromsø Hoodie Balaclava

Let’s start with the story behind one of Sisu Knitwear’s most popular patterns: the Tromsø Hoodie. We have to go back to 2020 for this one.

At the time, I was living in Denmark and wasn’t allowed to travel back home to my family in Norway. Like so many others, I suddenly had a lot more time on my hands.

I started looking into what kind of knitting project might become popular that autumn, and balaclavas kept coming up. So I thought: why not make one?

I designed the pattern, test knitted it myself, and once it was ready, I decided to take a chance and reach out to MinMote, part of Norway’s biggest newspaper, VG.

I asked if they would like to publish the pattern for free. They said yes.

When the Tromsø Hoodie launched, both on MinMote and in the Sisu store, something really shifted. Around that time, I reached 10.000 followers on Instagram, and as of today, the pattern has been downloaded more than 140.000 times.

That pattern became my real entry into the world of knitwear design. And looking back, it still feels a little wild that it all started with one simple idea during a very strange year.

Here you go. Enjoy the pattern.

Knitting Pattern
Tromsø Hoodie

Size: One Size
Length: 40 cm
Width: 52 cm

Gauge: 15 sts on needle 6 mm (US10) = 10 cm
Needles: Circular needle 6 mm (US10) (40 cm)
Yarn: 100 g Børstet Alpakka by Sandnes Garn (50 g = 110 m)
100 g Kos by Sandnes Garn (50 g = 150 m)

Tromsø Hoodie is a chunky and warm balaclava. A must-have in your F/W wardrobe. The rib is worked on a circular needle, while the rest of the hoodie is worked back and forth with stockinette stitch.

It’s stitched together at the top (or knitted if you know the technique), and is finished with a nice i-cord edge. It’s available for children as well.


Color codes
Børstet Alpakka 1042 Kos 1043.

Cast on 78 sts on circular needle 6 mm with one strand Børstet Alpakka held together with one strand Kos. Work rib (knit 1 twisted, purl 1) until the work measures 13 cm.

Knit until you have 8 sts left on the needle. Bind them off loosly. Knit one round, and place a marker in the 35th stitch (middle back). From here, work the hoodie back and forth.

Now, purl one round and make a cup of coffee.

Increase 1 sts on each side of the marker every 2. round (right side) 4 times in total.
You increase by knitting the strand between two stitches twisted. Knit without increasing until the hoodie measures 36 cm.

Decrease 1 sts on each side of the marker every 2. round (right side) 4 times in total. Knit without decreasing until the hoodie measures 40 cm.


Bind all stitches off loosely, and stitch the top together on the wrong side.
 It’s time to make a nice i-cord edging around the face-opening.

Pick up sts along the opening (skip every 5th sts, and cut the yarn). Start with the first sts you picked up. * Knit 2 sts, knit 2 sts together in the back loop, move 3 sts from the right needle to the left*.



Repeat from * to * until you have 3 sts left on your right needle, bind them off loosely.
 Stitch the i-cord edge nicely together.

Weave in all ends on the wrong side. Have a nice trip out in the cold. Brr.

Christina Einvik © Copyright 2020
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