Monthly Archives: October 2017

Strikkehelgen in Stavanger

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@ Anja Præsttun Smith

I spent last weekend in Stavanger, holding workshops for Strikk og Drikk/Knit and Drink. It was a fabulous opportunity to catch up with American designer Nancy Merchant, Danish Designers Vithard Villumsen, Vivian Høxbro and Helle Slente as well as Norwegian designer Tove Fevang with husband Photographer Geir Arnesen and knitters I know at Clarion Hotel.

@ Anja Præsttun Smith

This is the 4th time the weekend is organised and the 4th time I take part, but this time I was staying with former editor, now Marketing and Information Manager at House of Yarn, Mary-Ann Astrup in her new house – think New York Pent House meets 5-star Hotel and you get the idea of her cool house. Yes, I will be back very soon!

@ Hanne Haugen

In the market hall & not to forget the knitting café, in the basement at Clarion Hotel, there were lots of temptations like buttons from Birthe Sahl – I wanted many but could not decide on colour and bought none – lovely yarns, amazing felted dresses with recycled knitted bodices or sleeves from 2jinter, books and magazines. My haul was quite small and I only bought a copy of the magazine Laine. Above you see me caught in action – with the copy in my hand – at the stand God som ull captured by designer Hanne Haugen I am wearing my Yellow Gold Pullover yet again.

@ Geir Arnesen

One of the design competitions this year was make your Stavangervotten 2017/ Stavanger Mittens. Judge was Tove Fevang, in the center in the photo above. Below is a photo from the top floor of the Clarion Hotel. The market hall was in the basement, so Geir took the lift to the top and took this photo of the city center.

@ Geir Arnesen

During the weekend I held 3 workshops and was delighted that they were all fully booked with some knitters I knew from my previous trips to Stavanger.

@ Anja Præsttun Smith

The Strikkefest on Saturday night was at the hotel and we were quickly separated into groups in preparation for the Knitting Bingo. First we could sign our names to the statement that rang true and some where easy like “I have met Arne & Carlos” for instance who had a number of takers, while “I have been married 4 times” only had 1 taker. Then the bingo started. Above you see me having a laugh together with Tone Cecilie Nystrøm, aka ToneCecilie on Ravelry or just TC. She is a perfect test knitter, now studying to specialise in teaching maths. The photographer is my previous host, Anja Præsttun Smith, aka anjapanja on Ravelry.

@ Anja Præsttun Smith

For the next game we had to select a chair woman for each group who had to get hold of the announced item in the shortest possible time. Alex prepared by removing her high heel shoes and was ready for a sprint. We threw: A measuring tape, a double pointed knitting needle and glasses to her. While she had a long run for the nearest hanger which she found one flight of stairs down. We cheered on her like the trouper she was. Our group came second and lost on item such as a bra. Yes, we did have lots of laughs as we were trying to prepare for the next item.

@ Geir Arnesen

On my way back to Sola Airport, we passed Madla and the Sverd i fjell/Swords in Rock monument where a lot of people were photographing the sunset. I was on the airport bus but luckily Geir photographed them earlier in the day with a posing swan in the foreground. As usual there were lot of events going on that I missed like the Strikkekino/Knitting Cinema and Levende Lydbok/Alive Audio Book and numerous talks by participating designers. And yet I had a lovely time! Thank you Strikk og Drikk and everyone I met!

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Embrae Cardigan Pattern Released

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Today, I am at Bøler Kirke/ Church in Oslo having my next photoshoot. I am very excited and cannot wait to see my new designs come alive. But I will tell you a lot more about that later. In the meantime, here is another pattern I have released in English on Ravelry and on Loveknitting after a test knit in my group: Embrae. You can see longer versions, one version with beads and many versions in different colours on the pattern page on Ravelry. The sample knitted in the gorgeous hand dyed Anzula, Squishy was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne worn by Silje Andresen/Team Models with hair and makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design at the National Museum – Architecture. Here is my introduction to the pattern:  Embrae, a fitted cardigan with a lace collar, is like a flowery embrace. A lacy leaf pattern adorns the sleeves and the back of the cardigan. The lattice at the center of the lace pattern continues on each side of it and covers the collar. The collar can be worn flat or overlapping and pinned together or folded.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

Finished measurements:
Bust: 84 (91, 98, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (35.75, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)”
Waist: 74 (81, 88, 96, 106, 116) cm/29.25 (32, 34.75, 37.75, 41.75, 45.75)”
Hip: 84 (91, 98, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (35.75, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)”
Length: 54 (55, 56, 57, 58, 59) cm/21.25 (21.75, 22, 22,5, 22.75, 23,25)”
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 50, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 20, 20)”
Collar width: 11 cm/4.25”

Yarn: Anzula, Squishy (80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon, 114 g, 352 m/385 yds). Sample is knitted in Iris.
3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins; 1031 (1126, 1221, 1327, 1464, 1601) m/1127 (1231, 1335, 1451, 1601, 1750) yds.
http://anzula.com/anzula/

Alternative Yarns: SweetGeorgia Yarns, CashLuxe Fine (70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon, 115 g, 366 m/400 yds).
http://sweetgeorgiayarns.com/shop/cashluxe-fine/
Plymouth Yarn, Reserve Fingering (70% superwash merino, 20% nylon, 10% cashmere, 100 g, 365 m/400 yds).
http://www.plymouthyarn.com/yarn/reserve-fingering-item-6…
Handmaiden Fine Yarn, Casbah Sock (81% superwash merino, 9% cashmere, 10% nylon, 115 g, 325 m/355 yds).
http://handmaiden.ca/product/casbah/

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”) or straight needles.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 36-sts Leaf pattern measures 15 cm/6” across after blocking.
24 sts and 32 rows in Stockinette st measures 10 cm/4” square after blocking.
22 sts in Garland pattern measures 10.5 cm/4.25” across after blocking.

Notes: The cardigan is knitted flat in pieces and then seamed. There are two pattern repeats on the back and one on the sleeves. The collar is knitted at the same time as each front.

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Yellow Gold Pullover at Hadeland

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When we went to Hadeland Glassverk and the Strikke 2017 festival, I wanted Michael to take a few photos of me wearing my Yellow Gold Pullover with the beautiful Randsfjorden in the background. It was a cold autumn day so I wore my loose Saqqara sleeves and shawl as well to keep warm. My hands easily get cold so the extra cuffs were perfect. Both designs were also worn for my workshop in Cable Knitting Master Class. Here is my introduction to the Yellow Gold Pullover: Elegant chain link cables framed by a welt pattern adorn this casual sweater. It is knitted straight from the bottom and up in parts with extra ease for comfort. Spindrift, a fine heathered wool was chosen for its lightness and color. The round neck makes it easy to wear over a crisp shirt or your favorite t-shirt.

The Yellow Gold Pullover is knitted in Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift in the lovely Scotch Broom shade using a 3.25 mm/US 3 and was first published in Interweave Knits Fall 2015.   The straight sweater is worked from the bottom and up in parts and then sewn together. The cables are gathered before the neck bind off to keep their volume. The pullover is available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of  88 (95, 100, 110, 122, 132) cm/34.75 (37.5, 39.25, 43.25, 48, 52)”.The pattern is now also available in Norwegian from both Ravelry and Loveknitting. This weekend I am at the Strikkehelg 2017/Knitting Weekend in Stavanger. But I am also busy preparing for the next photoshoot on Wednesday in Oslo. I am crossing my fingers for a dry day without any rain! Much more on that later…

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Familien Strikketreff at Egmont

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Another weekend, another knitting event, this time organised by the Norwegian magazine Familien held at their offices at Egmont at Nydalen in Oslo. This is the third time it is organised but the first time I was able to hold workshops here since it has coincided with Strikkehelgen in Stavanger. My workshop Smart Knitting Techniques was sold out in a day, so I was asked to hold a second one the same day. Both where overbooked and with more knitters wanting to join on the day. 135 women were attending the day at Egmont, where the day consisted of 2 presentations, strikkekino/knitting cinema, a small market hall, 2 different workshops and idea groups. Above you see the canteen filled with knitters.

I listened to Kari Hestnes’ presentation and she spotted me. I had to come up on the stage and was an example of a body type with a long back. That was fun! I also had the opportunity to talk to the following designers who had stand in the market area (read: reception): Sidsel Høivik, Kristin Wiola Ødegård, Vanja Blix Langsrud, May Britt Bjella Zamori, and Anne-Stine Thuve. I enjoyed talking to knitters I know and new ones I had not met before as well as the Familien crew.

Here is Wiolastrikk, aka Kristin Wiola Ødegård’s stand, with her last book cover: Lek med tradisjoner on display. She is at the back to the left talking to Kari.

All their special magazines were displayed in the meeting room area, where the workshop and the knitting cinema took place.

I was also photographed in action by event photographer Martine Kolstad during my workshop. I am demonstrating making a double hem using the cable cast on. I am wearing my design: Keya Shrug and Keya Scarf.Here is one of the knitters wearing the popular Wiolakofta designed by Kristin Wiola Ødegård, captured by photographer Martine Kolstad. If you are on Facebook you will find several video made on the day, on the Familien page here: familien.egmont. On Friday, I am flying to Stavanger, south west Norway for the next and last set of workshops this fall for Strikkehelgen i Stavanger. Maybe I will see you there?

 

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Eira Pullover and Rørbye Cardigan in knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017

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I am proud to present the 2 designs I have in the knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 issue: Eira Pullover and Rørbye Cardigan. How could I decline when editor Meghan Babin wanted not only one but two of my designs for this issue? Despite our move coinciding with the deadline in April, I took the offer gladly (read: I did not ask my husband for his opinion). Of course I had some obstacles not only in the knitting of them but also during our move, but that is life. I submitted the Eira pullover as Kanik to the Winter Whites theme as follows: A visually striking pullover that is both chic and comfortable, named Kanik; Eskimo for snowflake after the intricate center cable. The stunning cable adorns the center front and back and is framed by a braid on each side. While Seed stitch fills the background in the sides to allow the cables to shine, on this straight sweater. A saddle shoulder allows the staghorn sleeve cable to continue all the way to the neck. Above is the cover with Susanna Ic’s Demetria Cowl on the cover.

knit.wear / Harper Point Photography

In the letter from the Editor, Meghan writes in “our Winter Whites story, we offer a clean slate for your exploration of cables and traditional techniques.” My Eira Pullover is knitted in the divine The Fibre Co. Cumbria made of 60% merino wool, 30% brown mash wool, 10% mohair, with 218 meters/238 yards per 100 gram skeins in the shade Scafell Pike using 4 mm/US 6 needles. The gauge is 23 stitches and 28 rows in Moss stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square.

knit.wear / Harper Point Photography

The sample is made in the smallest size with a 81 cm/32″ bust circumference and it is worn with zero ease. The largest size has a bust circumference of  123 cm/48.5″, and there are four sizes in between.The pullover is knitted flat and seamed in order to give it the best shape and support. Only the collar is worked in the round.

knit.wear / Harper Point Photography

I love the styling with the white trousers by Tina Gill and the hair & make up by Janie Rocek. These beautiful photos by Harper Point Photography do show it off so well. My other contribution is for the Cypress & Plum story. “Inspired by Dutch Master paintings of the Golden Era, you’ll find a canvas on which you can delve into rich jewel tones and exquisite fibres.” Rørbye Cardigan was submitted as Anuri: In a contemporary style with provocative visual lines – created by the sideways knitted cable panel to make a waterfall bottom – is this long cardigan. The body is all in stockinette stitch to offset the cables. Eventhe sleeve has a cable panel knitted sideways as a cuff. Anuri is Eskimo for wind, just as this long cardigan will blow around you.

knit.wear / Harper Point Photography

The reversible cable is from Norah Gaughan’s excellent Knitted Cable Sourcebook. The reason the shoulder is worn so far out in the photo above is because the interfacing is worn flat and not folded as intended. The sample is knitted in Dale Garn Eco Wool made of 70% wool, 30% alpaca, 112 meters/122 yards per 50 g skein in 1233 grey green knitted using 4 mm/US 6. The cardigan shown is the second size and measures 46.5 cm/18.25″ back width on a model with a 86.5 cm/34″ bust. The smallest size has a back width of 44 cm/17.25″ and the largest 64.5 cm/25.5″, and three sizes in between.

@ knit.wear / Harper Point Photography

The lower body of this cardigan is worked from side to side. The upper body is worked back and forth in one piece from the pick-up on the lower body to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately. The sleeve cuffs are worked from side to side, then the sleeve is worked in the round to the underarm. The collar is worked back and forth in two pieces.

@ knit.wear / Harper Point Photography

Here is the collar with the WS showing and you can clearly see the interfacing worked in rib. I did consider making the collar without the interfacing, but decided I wanted to be able to fold it back and also have the extra warmth it provides. The obstacles I had was the length of the upper body as well as sleeves. Both were too long so they had to be adjusted during finishing. There is always a risk involved when I am trying out a new silhouette and not certain about the length of each piece.

@ knit.wear / Harper Point Photography

The back view shows 3 cables at the bottom and one at the top of the lower body. It does take a second to distinguish the single cable in the panel with the three. The cable is worked in rib and not as difficult to knit as it looks. There are a lot of wonderful designs in this issue and I am in great company! Thank you, knit.wear! The knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 is available in a digital edition and in a print edition. In Norway you can soon buy the magazine at the larger Narvesen kiosks or ask your local one to order it for you. Photos of me wearing these designs taken at the beach in Ørje on a very cold April day is coming.

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Strikke 2017 at Hadeland Glassverk

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For the second time around the knitting festival and exhibition Strikke 2017 is organised by Hadeland Glassverk at Jevnaker, by the south end of Randsfjorden, about 1 hour from Oslo. I am pleased to say that I was invited to exhibit and to hold workshops, this year too! The festival is on from 2. September to 29. October. Above you see the entry to the exhibition, with the list of participating designers. I was very excited to see my name listed at the top, and as you can see I am in excellent company. Luckily, I had my husband with me to take some great photos.

The most striking part of the exhibition was the designs made by Imogen Abbot. She is a London based Fashion Design graduate specialising in intricate textiles and knitwear. These garments are based on the topic “childhood and escapism”. Read more here: Imogen Abbot.I choose to exhibit 6 garments and above you see 4 four of them: Patent Poncho, Cablewing Sweater with wrap, Harding Cardigan and Kathe Cardigan. Large accompanying photos of model Alexandria Eissinger and Silje Andresen hang in background. I held two workshops on the Sunday I was there: Introduction to Sweater Design and Cable Knitting Master Class. That is why I choose to wear my Yellow Gold Pullover with the loose sleeves from my Saqqara pattern.Also exhibited is the Embrae and Irina Pullover. As you might see my photos are taken by Eivind Røhne either at National Museum – Architecture or at Ingierstrand Bad. 
Here is Nina Skarra’s exquisite designs from her book and available as kits.

Here is a few of the beautiful garments designed by Kari Hestnes who has recently published her 14th knitting book in Norwegian.

I also loved the texture and silhouette of these garments designed by StrikkeGry, Gry Johannessen.Just like last year, Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik – Makeløs/Remarkable was in charge of the Catwalk at the opening day of the festival and also for making this fantastic wedding outfit with the special designed “kofte” for the festival by Randi Ballangrud. The crown is made of knitting needles. Kristin is not an ordinary stylist she is The re-design stylist and she is remarkable in every sense of the word. This photo is taken by designer Nina Granlund Sæther of the catwalk at the opening day, Saturday 2. September. The model is wearing my Aran Bolero magically styled by Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik – Makeløs/Remarkable with an embroidered table cloth as a skirt.

Here is the beginning and end of the exhibition: The Yarn Shop and the coffee shop where the knitting café takes place. At the very front you see yarn kits with my Idunn and Halli made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.Here is a close-up of the missing yarn wall with exciting yarns. In the center you see the Sølje and Ask yarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Do visit if you can. You will find a lot more photos as well as videos from the exhibition and from the catwalk on the Facebook page for the festival: www.facebook.com/STRIKKE2017.

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Photoshoot at Ingierstrand Bad: Cablewing Accessories

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As promised here are the new photos taken of the Cablewing Accessories worn by the gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger with hair & make up by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, taken by Eivind Røhne at Ingierstrand Bad in late May. It was a very hot day so we had to avoid including the sunbathing women in our photos, but Alex managed to looks so cool, while the rest of us suffered in summer clothing. Alex did not however enjoy getting dressed with three layers of cowls perfect for the Norwegian Winter on a sweltering summer day. But the photos do not tell. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Cablewings surrounded by lace gives these accessories a flowery expression. They coordinate with the Cablewing Sweater; for a wonderfully regal look pair the wrap with the sweater. It is warm, practical but also decorative. All accessories are knitted in a pure wool with bounce, Embla from Hifa. I chose an irresistible purple-pink shade, well suited for the stitch pattern, for the cowl and the wristwarmers.The wrap, the cowl, the tweed cowl and the wrist warmers are all made in Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Embla Hifa-3, a pure wool with 210 meters/229 yards on each 100 gram skein. All the accessories are knitted using a 4 mm/US 6 needle with a 20 stitch and 25 rows in Stocking stitch gauge measuring 10 cm/4″ square. They all come in one size but are easy to adjust by adding a pattern repeat or extra reverse stocking stitches or lace if preferred.

Why so many extra parts, you may ask. There are two reasons: One, I thoroughly enjoyed knitting this stitch pattern. Two, the winters in Norway are very cold so two or three layers are essential to keep warm. The tweed cowl was made to connect the colours of the wrap and the cowl and it is the warmest of the three. The pattern has been revised by my technical editor, Corrina Ferguson, Picnic Knits and has been given a new layout. The Norwegian pattern was first published in Familien Strikkebok 2013 with photos taken by Familien. Both the Norwegian and the English pattern is available from Ravelry and Loveknitting. Now, there is only one more set of photographs from our photoshoot you have not seen; The Juul Cardigan.

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Wilma Lind Jacket in Familien 20/2017

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My collaboration with crime author Hanne Kristin Rohde is all over media hence for the first time (and probably last) you will find my name mentioned even in the gossip magazine “Se og Hør“/See and Listen. This week Hanne Kristin has been interviewed by the “Finansavisen“/Financial Paper, “Se og Hør” and “Familien” and you can read about her idea for our collaboration, her  long career in the police, her Wilma Lind protagonist, her part in the television series “Åsted Norge“/Crime Scene Norway, her presentations and life. It is a fascinating as well as inspiring read or what do you think about the headline: Lady in dead by the abcnyheter.no? Hanne Kristin is as formidable as Wilma Lind, and I am not alone in waiting for another new book in the series. Yes, I did meet her – I recognised her from television – and what a blast it was! In the latest issue of Familien you will also find the pattern for the jacket. Hanne Kristin is featured in all the three different colours of the Wilma Lind Jacket, knitted in Sølje Pelsull/Peltwool (red and turquoise) and in Vilje Lamullgarn (natural) both from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. It suits her so well and she is very photogenic.Above is the first part of the interview with Hanne Kristin in Familien with the headline Criminally good handcraft. She does not have the time to knit any more but has knit a lot in her past.

Here she is in the red version, the sample in size Small knitted by Nadia, aka 77stricknadel which I had made, before Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry knitted the turquoise version in size Medium and Anne-Lise Dye knitted the natural version in size Medium for Hanne Kristin.

Here is the beginning of the interview from “Se og Hør”. The Wilma Lind jacket has been test knitted in my Ravelry group, and is available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust measurement of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″.

The Familien magazine is available at selected news agents and super markets in Norway. If you are in Norway you can also buy a digital version for iPad, see www.klikk.no. If you live abroad you can order the Norwegian magazine by e-mailing kari.bachke@egmont.com and then transfer payment into their bank account.

You will also find the Norwegian pattern for sale at hannekristinrohde.no and the English version at www.ravelry.com.

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