Barbara Harpur, an 81-year-old knitter from Conception Bay South, is experiencing a massive surge in interest following the debut of the Netflix series Below. Her classic Newfoundland Guernsey sweater designs, worn by actor Andy Jones, have driven significant demand at local retailers across the province.
A legacy spanning from 'The Shipping News' to Netflix
Barbara Harpur's connection to the screen is a recurring theme in her long career. As the report notes, her designs were previously featured in the 2001 film The Shipping News. This current resurgence follows the massive success of the Netflix mini-series Below, which reportedly reached 17 million views during its debut week on the streaming platform.
The 'pitcher plant' cardigan and the rush at Cast On, Cast Off
The specific aesthetic of the show has directly impacted local commerce in Newfoundland. Actor Andy Jones chose a "pitcher plant" colored cardigan, a design Harpur has been perfecting for over 25 years. According to the report, the local yarn shop Cast On, Cast Off has struggled to maintain stock of the kits required to recreate the look since the series aired.
Hobbyist knitter Abi LeDrew also contributed to the show's rugged aesthetic. After a chance encounter with a costume producer at a local bar, LeDrew sold two of her pieces—one for personal use and one for the production. Her work was specifically chosen because it looked "worn and rugged," providing an authentic feel to the scenes.
Knitting as a lifeline after the Newfoundland cod moratorium
Harpur's commitment to her community is deeply rooted in the economic history of Newfoundland and Labrador. Following the provincial cod moratorium,she worked to teach machine knitting to women who had been displaced from jobs in fish plants. This spirit of local support continues as she prepares her new book, More NL Guernsey Patterns.
To ensure her work remains accessible to older, less tech-savvy knitters, Harpur is partnering with Blackwood Printing.. While she has used the digital marketplace Ravelry in the past,she is opting for a physical print run to ensure that local Newfoundlanders can access her designs without technical hurdles.
The challenge of scaling Blackwood Printing for a global audience
Several questions remain regarding how this local craft will scale to meet sudden international interest. It is unclear if Harpur's decision to use local print shops like Blackwood Printing can satisfy the massive audience reached by a Netflix hit. additionally, while the "Below" effect has boosted local shops, it remains to be seen if this surge is a permanent shift in demand for Newfoundland patterns or a fleeting trend driven by streaing popularity.
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