I was delighted that Yelena Malcolm Dasher wanted to take part in yet another of my test knits, since all her project photos are equally stunning. Just take a look at these photos as well as her project page on Ravelry, where she is ymalcolm. Yelena wanted a rustic yarn for her Nora Sweater, and discovered the Masgot Fine a natural colored French wool by Polo & Co, see their yarn shop at Etsy. She describes the yarn as “a delight – very rustic, but sturdy and not too hard on the hands.” Using a 3.25 mm/US 3, Yelena made size S and chose the set-in sleeve option instead of the puffed sleeve option the sample has, see my blogpost: Photo Shoot Pics Part Four Nora Sweater. The only modification she did was to knit the sleeves top down, instead of bottom-up as described. The pattern was revised during the test knitting, thanks to test knitter Tanja Boukal, aka Tanja7301, who reported that the shawl neck pulled the sweater outwards and suggested narrowing the shoulders together with fewer short rows on the collar, which was done with the help from my tech editor Heather Zoppetti of Stitch Sprouts. I love Yelena’s notes: “Another incredible design from Linda. I love knitting her designs because they are challenging and inventive and I always seem to learn something new or combine techniques in a new way and this pattern was no different”. Here are only two of the brilliant photos of her Distaff, named after the tool used in spinning. I love how Yelena styled her Nora Sweater, and share her love of shoes, as you probably know by now. Do read her blog called Le Pull Juste/The Right Sweater, here: lepulljuste. Thank you so much Yelena!

The Norwegian pattern was printed in the special issue of Familiens Strikkebok published in March, while the English pattern is nearly ready for my Ravelry Store.