Magic, is the best description of seeing gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk wearing Judith Bech’s divine felted wool dress with my design Atika on top. Alexandria’s hair and make up was by Sissel Fylling, while the stunning jewelry is by Kaja Gjedebo and the shoes not visible but equally perfect are by Monica Stålvang. The magic moment was captured by brilliant photographer Eivind Røhne at Hvalstrand Bad in Asker last October. The bar seemed the ideal backdrop for this party outfit, according to former editor Mary-Ann Astrup who suggested the glas of wine as an accompaniment. Atika, consisting of a cowl with loose sleeves, is knitted in the luscious Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline Soul a lace weight alpaca mixture held together with the speckled Pickles, Merino Tweed, a thin fingering weight wool using a 4 mm/US 6. The pattern was released as part of my Nordic Vintage series in Familien Trend.

Here the cowl is twisted around the body, to make a halterneck top. You can also here easily see the loose sleeves which have elastic band inserted at the top so they will stay in place. The cowl is knitted sideways and in the round. You can adjust the length by removing or adding pattern repeats of 10 sts. If you want to wear it twice around your neck, add 2 pattern repeats. The loose sleeves are knitted in the round to the end.

Above is a photo that was not published in the Familien Trend magazine. It is one of the many extra photos I desperately wanted from Eivind Røhne. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Atika: A cowl to warm your shoulders or your neck. Or why not wear it as top with matching loose sleeves gracing a stunning dress like this designed by Judith Bech. Both the cowl and the loose sleeves are knitted in the round using a beautiful reversible stitch pattern called Hearts of Oak with both texture and a drapy edge.

This last photo was chosen because of its sensuality, and has not been published earlier either. I plan to organize a test knit of Atika before I release it in English. The test knit will take place in my Ravelry group some time after the Honeysuckle Shawl and Saga which are the next two patterns to be test knitted.