Monthly Archives: September 2017

Free Falling Pullover Again

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I know you have seen the Free Falling Pullover on my blog previously but you have not seen me wearing it, only the young model photographed by Harper Point Photography for Interweave Knits Fall 2017. So here are a few of the decent photos of me taken by my husband, where I am not pulling any faces, taken on a wet winter’s day in January on the terrace of our old house in Oslo. Yes, my face is nearly white due to the cold and the poor weather. The sweater was sent with the Norwegian postal service, Posten, and was missing for nearly a month before it finally arrived at its destination, so the name is very appropriate. My working title was Meili: Meili is from Old Norse and means the lovely one. With a Norse ancestory it has a built-in Wanderlust. Meili is a fitted pullover with two travelling central cables, divided by moss stitch and framed by stockinette stitch on the side. Each cable travels from the center towards the shoulder. The boat neck is modified by the short row shaping on the shoulder and ends in an i-cord bind off. Meili can easily be dressed up or dressed down, however your prefer.

The pullover is knitted in the lovely Sugar Bush Yarns Crisp, a superwash merino with 87 meters/95 yards on each 50 gram ball, in a rich shade called Mulberry, which was editor Meghan Babin’s excellent choice. The sample was knitted using a 4 mm/US 6 needle with a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in Stocking stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. The pullover shown measures 87.5 cm/34.5″ and modelled with 1 cm/0.5″ negative ease. It is available in six sizes with the finished bust circumferences are from 77 to 128 cm/30.5 to 50.5″. The waist circumference is 5 cm/2″ less than bust and bottom circumference.

The pullover is worked back and forth in separate pieces and seamed. There are two mirrored cable panels on back and front but only one on the sleeve. Increases in to the center seed stitch panel move the cable panels on the body towards the shoulders. Accompanying decreases are done in the stockinette sides, in addition to the extra waist shaping. The shoulders are shaped with short row shaping and bound off using a 3-needle bind off. Yes, I do have a very long back.

This detail of the sleeve and back shows off the beautiful stitch definition in the yarn. I originally named the pullover The Interweave Knits Fall 2017 magazine available both digitally or in print. In Norway you will find the printed magazine in the larger Narvesen, or you can order it from your local one. The pattern will be available in Norwegian in a year’s time when the rights revert to me and I will organise to have it professional photographed. In the meantime I will show you more new designs for the magazines: Interweave Knits and knit.wear in addition to the Norwegian yarn producer Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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Strikkefestivalen/Knitting Festival in Fredrikstad 2017

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I was back in Fredrikstad last weekend for the second Strikkefestivalen/Knitting Festival located in Fredrikstad Old Town – the oldest fortified town in Norway (founded in 1567) and in the Nordic countries, and one of the best-preserved fortress towns in Northern Europe (see more photos from last year here). Michael was with me – which means I have some good photos to share from the event. We were booked into the Hotel Victoria on the opposite side of the river Glomma from the Old Town. That was not a problem at all, since there is a free ferry across the river. Yes, there are only 2 free ferries in all of Norway and they are both in Fredrikstad. It did not take many minutes before I had spotted the first knitter staying at our hotel. Above is a photo taken Sunday morning, as I walked towards the workshop building just off the ferry.Most of the workshops were held in the Commandor’s building, dated 1768. On Saturday afternoon I taught Smart Knitting Techniques and on Sunday morning I taught Cable Knitting Master Class, both in Norwegian. I met several knitters I knew from previous workshops and presentations as well as other Norwegian designers, agents and shop owners I knew. Rarely have I had such posh surroundings for a workshop nor the amount of space. Coffee and tea were on offer from the kitchen, and I did find the kitchen but I found the wrong one, it was the bigger one they used. So you get the picture. See below the room where I held my workshops. Annemor Sundbø had a workshop before me, and we found wool tops left over from her class.

Here is the room where I held my workshop with a lovely view of the river. Michael is my “roadie” as well as photographer when he joins me at these festivals. I met two lovely groups of knitters in my workshops and spent a weekend in their company. We did not finish all the tasks I had given them in the new Cable Knitting Master Class so the remaining tasks were given as their homework.

On Saturday afternoon before my workshop I met up with designers Tove Fevang and Nina Granlund Sæther – who I tend to meet at International airports, these days; as we met at Preveza Airport in Greece a few weeks back. I also met Annemor Sundbø again as well as finally meeting the founder of Koftegruppa on Facebook (the group has nearly 100 000 members celebrating traditional stranded colourwork sweater knitting) Tone Loeng, who I have only met and worked with through Facebook and e-mails. Above is a photo of one of the exhibitions; strømper/knee highs from Annemor Sundbø’s collection (initially bought by the shoddy factory for recycling).

In the center in the photo above is Mette Hovden one half of the design duo called Pinnedans/Needle-dance, next to Tone Loeng at the Norwegian Designer Stand. We also met at the Strikkefest/Knitting Party the evening before. I am wearing Helka (read: I did wear another design on the Saturday – Yellow Gold Pullover) with the Saqqara shawl. The market hall was jam packed all Saturday, so we gave up trying to have a look and came back on the Sunday, when it was possible to see the stands and the yarn, patterns, buttons and jewellery on offer.

Here is another stand, a local yarn shop called Garnhuset and a great photo showing some action as well as sweater on display.

I also wanted to take a photo of all the beautiful colours in Cascade Heritage on display with Wollmeise yarn in the background from the Projo stand. We discovered two more knitters who stayed at our hotel at the Strikkefest/Knitting Party, who we sat next to. The party was in the same room where the market hall was last year, inside the fortified wall, previously the Provianthus/Provision House. Above you see me wearing my Adoe design, knitting on a new design. As you can see from the photo, it was easy to count the ones that did not knit. One of the organisers, Marit Larsen is a member of the acknowledged choir called KorLuren who sang after our dinner. She is also the founder of the tour operator Explore Travel and used to organising events such as this. The program included a knitting cruise as well as a knitting church service in addition to the exhibitions, talks and workshops on offer. I had a wonderful weekend! Thank you to the organisers, designers, and all the knitters I met!

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Photoshoot at Ingierstrand Bad: Cablewing Sweater

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I love these new photos of my Cablewing Sweater, taken of the gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger with hair & makeup by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at Ingierstrand Bad in late May. The sweater was previously photographed by the Norwegian magazine Familien and I wanted some new ones with my styling. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Cablewings surrounded by lace gives this sweater a flowery expression. The A-line shape with lace along each side, paired with the double round neckband, is a flattering on many bodies. The pullover is knitted in the round to the armhole in a classic cream colored pure wool with bounce, Embla – Hifa 3 from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. A large matching wrap gives the sweater a regal look and it is warm, practical, but also decorative.The sample sweater is currently exhibited at Strikke 2017, a knitting festival at Hadeland Glassverk, together with 5 other of my designs and amongst other garments from invited designers. I am holding two workshops on Sunday 8. October and will show photos from the exhibit after that.

The body is knitted in the round up to the armholes and then flat to shoulders. The lace panel incorporated in the cablewing pattern is worked on each side of the body to decrease in. When you decrease for armhole, neck and sleeve top work stitches along the selvedges in reverse stocking stitch to avoid decreasing inside cablewing pattern. The wrap is knitted in the round and can easily be adjusted by adding or removing pattern repeats.

The sweater is knitted in Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Embla – Hifa 3 made of 100% wool, with 210 meters/229 yards per 100 gram skein using a 4 mm/US 6 needle. The gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch. I have graded the pattern from size Small to 2XL, with a hip circumference from 110 to 142 cm/43.25 to 56″ and a bust circumference from 90 to 122 cm/35.5 to 48″.

It was such a fun pattern to knit so I had to design more accessories to go with the sweater and perfect for the cold Norwegian climate. I choose to make these extra pieces in a contrast colour and will show those next. Both the Cablewing Sweater and the Cablewing Accessories pattern has been reviewed by my Technical Editor Corrina Ferguson of Picnic Knits. The new versions will be uploaded shortly.

Here is a detailed photo of the stitch pattern as well as Kaja Gjedebo’s divine Wide Caprifol Ring and Ivy Earrings, both in matted silver and fantastic match to the stitch pattern. The Norwegian pattern was first published in Familien Strikkebok in August 2013 and the English pattern was test knitted before its release. Included in the pattern is also a large wrap to give the sweater a regal look and it is warm, practical, but also decorative. The wrap can be worn around the shoulders or on the head. Due to the heat we did not photograph the wrap worn as a hood. But we did photograph the wrap with two smaller cowls inside and made Alex suffer in the heat, not that it shows in the photos though…

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Dash Falls Again

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I thought you might want to see how my design Dash Falls made for the Fell Garth II collection for The Fibre Co, looks on me as apposed to the beautiful model. Dash Falls is knitted in the new lovely tweed yarn called Arranmore Light using a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle. This is the wonderful introduction written by The Fibre Co: “Wrap up against any stormy weather ahead with this sweep of a cardigan. Long lines combine with soft flowing cables along the front bands, drawing the eye down. Worked in pieces from the bottom up, this seamed garment offers the interest of more textured sections with the soothing safety of stockinette for the main body. Longer in length, this open front a-line cardigan can be worn as a sweater coat in milder weather or offer the ultimate layer in colder times when its comforting texture is needed. This garment was designed to be worn with 2.5-10 cm (1-4 in) positive ease at the bust”.

The body is knitted from the bottom and up with a provisional cast-on to be replaced by an I-cord bind-off, in parts. The sleeve begins with a cable panel. The stockinette stitch part of the sleeve is picked up from the panel and knitted in the round to the armhole, then sleeve cap flat to final bind off. The collar is knitted in two pieces, joined with a 3-needle bind-off and then attached along opening. The reversible cable adorning the collar and the sleeve cuff is one of the many inspiring ones found in Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I love the look of the cable from both sides and how well it works with the rib interfacing on the collar. My husband took these photos early in March on a very cold day in the garden of our old house in Oslo. I am wearing size S with plenty of positive ease created by the wide collar meant to worn folded over. The cardigan is available in size XS to 2XL with bust circumference from 86 to 128 cm/33.75 to 50.5″ and hip circumference from 106 to 148 cm/41.75 to 58.25″. The photo in the middle shows Dash Falls worn with the collar just slightly folded and shows off the extra ease as well as the backside of the cable. Were it not for the seams, this might have worked worn from the wrong side as well.

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My Studio

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I am so thrilled with my new studio. My husband finished refurbishing it while I was on holiday and it was ready when I arrived home last Monday. The original tiny windows – so typical for Norwegian “kjellerstue”/basement den – were replaced in mid August by large windows going nearly all the way to the floor. See below the installation of the windows into the frame Michael had made. So with plenty of daylight, I have no excuse for not getting on with my work anymore. He removed the wall panelling as well as the ceiling panels (added to ensure good sound for the former owner who loved listening to his favourite music in this room) and had planned only to paint the walls. But that was before Michael discovered that only part of the wall had wallpaper beneath, so instead I have new wall panelling but this time it is a thinner version than the original one, which was appropriate for a den. Also in white to give more brightness. You can see the old windows here: We Are Well Settled.

I still have plenty of books, boxes of swatches, yarns and samples to tidy, but I have a lot of space to do so now. Next door to my studio is a large storage room. Michael has named it the yarn bunker. It does sound like it is filled to the brim with yarn, but I can assure you, it is not. However, I have started sorting my yarn into producers and placing my sample garments in see through boxes. There is no need to use a torch to find what I am looking for anymore, like I used to do in our old house.

Here is a view of the yarn bunker before I started emptying the boxes and moved my printer in here. The entry is through the door on the right hand side in the first photo. Unlike some knitters I know, I keep it unlocked (read: there is only one way in). This storage room used to have a large paraffin tank (for the old fashioned gas heater that we had removed from my studio) and a large wooden work bench, so it is hardly recognisable from how it used to look. Both my studio and the yarn bunker feels a lot larger than they did originally, when we first saw them for the first time, last autumn. I will post some more photos when it is all sorted and my studio has been in use for awhile. In the mean time you will find me working in my studio and accessing that yarn bunker.

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Photoshoot at Ingierstrand Bad: Patent Poncho

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Next series of brilliant photos taken by Eivind Røhne at Ingierstrand Bad of the gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger/Nordic Model Agency, with makeup & hair by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo, is the Patent Poncho. It is not a new design, but the poncho was only previously photographed by the Norwegian magazine Familien back in 2013. I wanted to style it my way and with Alex modelling it. I was very flattered that Alex liked it so much that she had to take a selfie, see my blogpost here: Behind The Scenes Photoshoot at Ingierstrand Bad.

Inspired by all the Fisherman’s rib patterns in fashion, I have designed a poncho in an oversized sweater style with longs splits in the side. The poncho is knitted in parts to create a contrast between the unstructured cable and the linear rib, called patent in Norwegian. The large splits on the sides make the poncho less voluminous. The sleeves are knitted long, to keep you warm on cold days. The poncho is knitted in a beautiful camelbrown Ask-Hifa 2, a pure wool with plenty of bounce.

Ask-Hifa 2 from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrik is made of 100% wool with 315 meters/344 yards per 100 g skein. The poncho in one size takes 6 skeins of Camelbrown sh 6098: 1890 m/2067 yds. The bust circumference is 150 cm/59”. The gauge is 16 sts and 20 rows in Fisherman’s rib, 24 sts and 32 rows in st st using 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needles equals 10 cm/4” square.

The poncho is knitted in 4 identical Fisherman’s rib side panels and 2 cable panels where the front is one pattern repeat shorter than the back. The sleeve is an extended cable panel with 3 cables instead of 2 and worked in the round. Just as the cable collar which is a continuation of the cable panels. The length, including sleeve length, can easily be adjusted by knitting the panels/sleeves longer or shorter. Please note that if knitted in pure wool the panels shrink in length, but grows in width.

The pattern is currently with my technical editor for a review, and will be updated as soon as I receive it back. You will nevertheless find one project made from it on Ravelry.

While I was on holiday, my husband completed my studio. When I have finished cleaning the building dust away, you will see it finished. It is so light and neat! And I cannot believe all the space I have in my studio and the yarn bunker (storage room), next door. I look forward to showing it to you!

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Postcard From Greece

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My mum asked if I wanted to come with her on holiday to Southern Europe, and I could not refuse. After speaking to our friend at Ving, we decided it had to be Parga, North West Greece this time around. I had a long list of potential places I would like to go and Parga, was quite high on that list. In my youth, nearly thirty years ago I worked as a tour leader at Crete. So much has changed but some things are reassuringly the same like the good service and the food. The beach promenade view is breath taking. We are staying at a small family run apartment hotel called Sandras Studio’s in the centre. Parga has approximately 3 000 inhabitants and numerous tourists in the summer season. Yet, the number of Greeks holidaying here and the Greek inhabitants make it a charming and idyllic place to visit.The large beach in the centre is quite crowded and I had been recommended to take a boat to a nearby beach, by my hairdresser. She is one of several friends that keeps coming back to Parga. N0w, I know why. I have got used to travelling by taxi boat, and must say I wish I could continue to do so.

We chose the closest and longest beach, called Valtos Beach, which is in walking distance but due to the climb, we choose the taxi boat. A very good choice, indeed! Here I am photographed by my mum at the beach. The water is lovely, both in temperature and clarity. Our flat had a terrace with shadow in the morning and the late afternoon, which was perfect for us. Ideal for our breakfast and recovery after the beach. It also had what seemed a very Greek view with a very limited sea view. The family running the hotel was lovely and came to meet us as we arrived by coach from the airport.

On our first day in Parga we went on a town walk and received a number of tips what do do and where to go. We decided to take the small tourist train to the Ali Pasha Castle, 400 meters above sea level with a fantastic view of the town. The view was magnificent from ruins of the old castle. Even the trip up the hill was worth the one hour  journey from the town centre.

Here is the view towards the island of Corfu. As you can see we went up on a fairly cloudy day, the weather forecasted was rain but we did not have any rain during the day. It started raining late in the evening.It was hard to capture the amazing views from the castle, but here is another view showing some of the hills. This train ride was just one of several exciting excursions. I was tempted by all of them: Albania (Sarandë), Corfu, Paxos & Anti Paxos, Meteora Monasteries. I think I just have to come back. We found a Spa at Bacoli and guess what, the Spa Manager was Norwegian. She spends the summer here and the winters on vacation (read: a very smart woman). While my mum had her Deep Tissue Massage and Pedicure I waited in the Pool Bar – I know it is a hard life! Before it was my turn to become realigned and reassembled, at least that is what it felt like. The new versions went happily back to our apartment. I have to keep wearing my sandals when I get home, together with my woollen sweaters! We are having a great time in Parga and enjoying our holiday! Greetings from Parga, Greece!

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Beckside Again

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I wanted to show you the photos of me wearing Beckside, made for Fell Garth II by The Fibre Company photographed by my husband in our garden in our old house in early March last year. It was freezing but the photos do not exactly blow your mind like the stunning images of it worn by model Emma Ross captured by photographer Tommy Martin. You need to see them in full size, so look here: my blog post and Fell Garth II Lookbook. This is how it looks on a normal person (read: mortal person). Thank you, Em for making the pullover appear divine!

I have used exactly this cable combination before in my Aran Bolero, made for my Norwegian knitting book. But since that jacket is cropped and intended to be worn with little positive ease, I wanted to make a pullover version using two of those cables. Beckside is knitted in the new and lovely tweed yarn Arranmore Light using 3.75 mm/US in Orla, the same deep bright orange as I worked my swatch in and comes in 6 sizes with bust measurements from 90 to 132 cm (35.5 to 52″).Beckside, is a classic cabled sweater initially named after the ruins in Hawkside, with basket cables adorning the center front and back, framed by a braid on each side. Stockinette stitch fills the background to allow the cables to shine. A saddle shoulder allows the center sleeve cable to continue to the neck.The Fibre Co. wrote a much longer and wonderful introduction to it: “In every knitter’s wardrobe we would hope to find a timeless cabled sweater, rich in texture and beautifully twisted stitches. We believe that Beckside is everything we need from a classic sweater: rich cabling, a slightly boxy shape but with all the finishing that make it crisp and easy to wear for most occasions. The deeply textured centre panel is flanked by softer, undulating cables to add something just a little soft to this otherwise unisex style. Worked in pieces from the bottom up, Beckside is seamed for a stronger, more flattering shape. The tubular cast on gives the finished garment a polished look. For a boxy fit as shown, opt for 5-10 cm (2-5 in) positive ease, Beckside would be equally flattering as a more fitted sweater with less positive ease.” I am so proud to be part of the Fell Garth II collection!

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Oslo Design Fair 2017

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I spent both Wednesday and Thursday at Oslo Design Fair this time, since I tend to meet more and more people I know. Jewellery designer Kaja Gjedebo Design found me first listening to a talk about Fast and Slow Fashion. Yes, knitting belongs to the slow one, whereas fashion shows where you are able to buy the garments straight after the show belong to the fast one. Kaja captured my hand since I was wearing her stunning Wide Caprifol Ring. I just had to make sure she photographed a bit of the Kohno Kimono I was wearing too. Later I read on Instagram that Kaja after 15 years in the business still enjoys seeing people wearing her jewellery.I spent a lot of time at the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and made sure those that had not met them did so. Including the VIPs – at least to me – from the UK, Daphne Marinopoulous and Iain Stanley, owners of The Fibre Co. So I got to meet them for the first time in real life after working with them online for my contributions to the Fell Garth II collection (see below). But Photographer Eivind Røhne was first since he has not met them in real life before and could take a look at his photos decorating the stall. He had brought his camera and photographed the stand. While my husband photographed me below and talking to Iselin.

Managing Director Øyvind Myhr to the right. And me photographed mid sentence. Here is a more detailed shot with the Aki sweater on the cover of the brochure they have made with the 4 new designs I made in their Pelsull/Pelt wool yarn qualities: Tinde and Sølje. On the wall is Sulli jacket with a loop and the Aki sweater while the Iglu Poncho and Wa Shawl is displayed on a mannequin.I was thrilled to meet Iselin Hafseld again, she was on the House of Yarn stand launching her new book (in Norwegian): Strikk fra Tinde/Knit from Tinde published by Cappelen Damm as well as a collection for Du Store Alpakka. Iselin has now turned back to designing hand knits from machine knitting and her brand Tinde. She was instrumental in making my book happen and has been a mentor to me since we first met at Heimen Husfliden in 2000. It is her partner Kim Müller who has not only photographed her book but also made the brilliant lay-out. Yes, Kim also photographed my book. You can find Iselin at Instagram as tindeknits and her book available to order from the publisher Cappelen Damm.The fashion show also attracted designers Sidsel Høivik and Kristin Wiola Ødegård, and I photographed them sitting down as we were catching up.The most inspiring part of the fashion show was these three outfits made of thick woven furniture fabrics.

I was also fortunate to meet up with Marketing Manager Mary-Ann Astrup at House of Yarn, Agent Thomas Kvist of House of Hobbies and for the first time the two talented women behind the Norwegian new knitting magazine Bladet Garn– Unni Cathrine Eiken, Malsengarn (see Ravelry) and Solveig Engevold Gaustad, aka Surrehue. Yes, I did enjoy the fair tremendously and received more job offers than I can handle at the moment. Now, that is a vote of confidence I am so grateful for. Thank you!

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