26 November 2025

“The Art of the Sea” is an Ode to Tove Jansson’s Enduring Legacy

Laine Publishing’s new book, The Art of the Sea: 23 Knitwear Designs Inspired by the Moomins, celebrates Tove Jansson’s legacy through the art of knitting, inviting knitters to step into the world of the Moomins through the language of stitches.

Laine Publishing’s recently published book offers a range of modern and captivating knitwear designs. The Art of the Sea features 23 patterns by 18 international designers who interpret the atmosphere of Moominvalley into stitches, including clothes and accessories that convey the warmth of Moominmamma’s embrace, Little My’s sharp humour, Snufkin’s independence, and the salty breath of the northern sea.

Clouds and Mists pattern by Marie Régnier

Created in collaboration with 18 international designers, this special collection presents lasting, innovative patterns that explore cables, textures, stripes, and colourwork. Each piece is a tribute to the Moomins’ enduring legacy — garments and accessories to wear, treasure and pass on.

In addition to the Moomins, another key element in the book is the free, billowing sea. The stunning knitwear photos featured in the book, shot by photographer Riikka Kantinkoski and Laine’s founder and creative director, Jonna Helin, were taken on the fortified island of Örö in the Archipelago Sea.

Gentle Creatures pattern by Julia Wilkens

The Art of the Sea is rooted in childhood encounters with Tove Jansson’s Moomin stories and is a tribute to both the Moomins’ enduring relevance and Jansson’s timeless creativity.

“Moominvalley has always been a place I can return to. There, you can be curious, brave, gentle, or even mischievous. It has the same warmth and hope as knitting—working with your hands creates peace, rhythm, and connection. Each stitch tells something about its creator, and knitting binds us together in a way that transcends time and place.”

-Jonna Helin

Laine Publishing is one of the world’s most recognised independent book publishers based in Finland. Laine publishes books that range from knitting, crafts, food and lifestyle, as well as the international knit and lifestyle magazine Laine.