Kari Hestnes, born in 1959 in Trondheim and now living in Tuscany, is a renowned Norwegian knitwear designer with an impressive career spanning more than 40 years. Her early interest in creativity was sparked by a passion for colored pencils and painting, and she learned to knit at the age of six from her mother. This early experience has been a common thread throughout her life.

In 1999, Kari Hestnes started Du Store Alpakka with her husband Per, and together they introduced alpaca yarn to the Norwegian yarn market. This initiative marked an important milestone, as they focused on quality and sustainable production, which has made Du Store Alpakka a recognized player. The yarn has become very popular among both hobby knitters and professional designers, and has helped to promote the unique properties of alpaca yarn, such as softness, warmth and durability.

Kari has produced hundreds of designs and published almost 20 knitting books, both on her own and in collaboration with other knitting designers. She has also had a close collaboration with the weekly press, which has helped to spread her creative visions. Her work is known for combining traditional techniques with modern expressions, which has made her a significant player in Norwegian knitting art.

Now, as a retiree, Kari continues to explore her creative talents through both knitting and crocheting, and she shares her artistic expressions on the blog Villa Rosita, villarosita.net .

Her paintings reflect a deep fascination with human experience and the connection between inner and outer life. Hestnes has had exhibitions at several prestigious venues, including Steinhuset at Granavollen, Hadeland Glassverk and Galleri Brande, where she has showcased photography, paintings and textile art. Now you can also see her work in Den Magiske Hagen at Villa Rosita, where she continues to inspire visitors with her unique creative expression.