Strikkekafé in Fredrikstad

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Last Thursday evening I was invited by Strikkefestivalen/Knitting festival to hold a presentation of my designs in Fredrikstad. So two days in a row, I held my new PowerPoint presentation. I did not even need to re-pack my suitcase. Above you see one of the photos taken at Fredrikstad, a few minutes before I began my presentation. Yes, I was still wearing my Bowery Tunic knitted in Madeline Tosh, Tosh DK made for knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017. On sale was drinks, a small collections of cakes and popular raffle tickets with a selection of prizes. I brought a number of my sample garments, swatches, skeins of yarn, magazines my designs appear in and my book. The stylist Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik of Makeløs/Remarkable – yes, indeed she is – came and so did textile artist Sissel Strand, to my delight! After my presentation, my swatches and garments were studied. Kristin has styled several of my designs for the magazine Made by Me but also for different catwalks, the last one was Strikke 2017 at Hadeland Glassverk. What makes her remarkable, is how she re-designs an old handcrafted item such as embroidered table cloth into a dress and then add a length of tulle fabric together with a knitted or crocheted garment into an colour explosion but also a feast for the eye. It was a pleasure to meet Kristin and Sissel again, but also to meet knitters I knew from my workshop and new knitters!

Marit Larsen is the organiser and also the Managing Director of Explore Travel who is organising a knitting weekend for the Norwegian magazine Hjemmet to Røros in October. I have been invited to hold talks & workshops and look forward to visiting Røros for the first time. If you have not heard about Røros I can tell you that it is one of the oldest towns of wooden buildings in Europe, founded in 1644. Due to its authentic wooden buildings and unique character of an early mining town, Røros was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980. So if you are interested, you will find more details here: Strikk Røros okt 2018.

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Autumn Symphony

Posted on February 24, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Last in the series from our photoshoot at Bøler Kirke/Church is the Autumn Symphony, an old design in three parts: jacket, belt and wrap. Named after the three beautiful colours I chose in Ask from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The jacket is knitted in Melange farm red, the wrap in Melange Orange and the tweed belt in those two colours plus a melange dark terracotta. The set looked divine on model Emma Ross. Her hair & makeup was styled by Sissel Fylling and the jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Photographer Eivind Røhne made sure Em was standing at the same spot so that the two letters “Bø” as in “Boo!” was visible at all times. We had such an enjoyable day, like we always do.

I choose to style the set with navy silk trouser, and thought the rusty cor-ten wall panel with Bøler Kirke carved into it worked perfectly as a matching background. In the photo above you see the set worn as initially intended, while the top photo shows how the belt can be worn as a second wrap. It can also be worn as a capelet around the shoulder, or be extended into a skirt if preferred.

Above you see the wrap worn as belt to make the jacket longer. In the pattern it comes in one size, but it can easily be adjusted by adding or removing pattern repeats. Both the belt and the jacket come in sizes S to 3XL. The jacket comes with a finished bust measurement of 92 to 137 cm/36.25 to 54″.

Leaves cover this A-lined jacket knitted in one piece with a false seam in a middle of the stocking stitch panel. The sleeves are knitted in the round with leaves up to the shaping where the lace pattern is changed to reverse stocking stitch. A belt in autumn coloured tweed lengthens the jacket and introduces the orange wrap. Or why not wear the wrap as a belt and opposite. Choose your three favorite colours, then make your outfit.

Here you see the v-neck of the jacket and how I choose to stop the lace pattern when the decreasing interrupted the lace pattern. To avoid the same issue in the sides, I decided to work the a-line side panel in stocking stitch. See the second to last photo.

The body is knitted in one piece to armholes, with a fake seam st in rev st st, then separated into three parts. The sleeves are knitted in the round. The leaf pattern is discontinued where the bind-off intereferes with it on the sleeves and the fronts. The wrap is worked in the round and can easily be adjusted by adding or removing pattern repeats. If your k3tog on the wrap is loose work k2tog and move resulting stitch back to left needle and pass next stitch over. The belt is worked flat.

The set is knitted using 3.5 mm/US 4 and 3 mm/US 2.5 for the button band. Ask from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is made of 100% Norwegian wool with 315 meters/345 yards on each 100 gram skein. The gauge is 20 stitches and 28 rows in stocking stitch using 3.5 mm/US 4 needles.

The pattern is available in both English and Norwegian on Ravelry – where you can see a number of sets knitted in different colours – and on Loveknitting.

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Strikkekafé at Sandefjord Husflidslag

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I was happy to be back at the knit café organised by Sandefjord Husflidslag/Handicraft Association, this time to present my designs and work after my Norwegian knitting book was published in 2012. Last time, I presented my book and brought a number of the garments with me. This time I brought newer designs, a lot of my swatches and skeins of selected yarns. I had also for the first time made a PowerPoint presentation, starting with my job as a design consultant for Rowan Yarns at Peter Jones department store in London. One of the knitters I met years ago when she organised a book presentation for me at Larvik Husflidslag is Nina Hove Myhre, and she used the opportunity to invite Michael and me for dinner before hand. We were delighted to accept, and to meet her newborn son, Olav for the first time as well as seeing her husband again. Above you see Nina to the left, wearing my design Saga and she is talking to her colleague Kari Cotton. I am wearing my Bowery Tunic talking to Hege Marstein who was wearing my design Cable Round Sweater knitted in a lovely green shade.

Michael was my technical support, photographer and roadie. But unfortunately there were an awful lot of photos where I was pulling faces. Here I am talking about the process of submitting a design proposal to the American magazine Interweave knit.wear and showing off the second set of photos taken of the Irina Pullover by photographer Eivind Røhne. After my presentation, I was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers from treasurer Kristin Stolpestad. Next on the agenda was upcoming events and then the raffle draw.

Several of the women present were busy knitting both during my talk and after, I am happy to report. Above you see me with a tea cup in my hand talking to Nina. Olav was sleeping in his pram next to her. Behind us the rail I had brought with a selection of my designs. I loved seeing knitters turn up in my designs and I had a very enjoyable evening!

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Bowery Tunic

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Several months after the Bowery Tunic came back from its trip to the US and the Interweave offices in Colorado, it was time to photograph it in my chosen style. Bowery Tunic was made for knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017 in the divine Madeline Tosh DK in the hand-dyed colourway of Tern. Model Emma Ross with her flaming red hair – perfected by hair & makeup stylist Sissel Fylling – made it look stunning. I decided to style it with black pencil pants, high heeled shoes by Camilla Skovgaard and Kaja Gjedebo’s aptly named “Amazing Mamas Earrings“. Photographer Eivind Røhne knew exactly where he wanted Emma to stand in the entrance at Bøler Church, so that he could capture the best moments.

A cable panel with electronic vibes is the focus point for this a-line pullover with a longer back ending in a vent in the sides. The collar, just like the bottom edge, is in garter stitch and crowns the garment with its i-cord bind off. The Madeline Tosh DK yarn is made of 100% merino wool with 206 meters/225 yards on each 120 gram skein and comes in an amazing 124 hand-dyed colourways.

The sample is knitted in size M with 105.5 cm/41.5″ bust circumference and modelled with 19 cm/7.5″ of positive ease on Em. The tunic is graded into 6 sizes with a bust circumference from 85 to 136 cm/33.5 to 53.5″. The back is one cable pattern repeat longer than the front, 11 cm/4.25″. It is knitted by yours truly using 4 mm/US 6 with a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows in stocking stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

The intricate cables are fun to knit in a mixture of rib and garter stitch that moves across both the front and the back of the tunic. I found their volume and texture too much for the sleeves and opted for a garter stitch panel on the center of the sleeve since I do love texture. As you might know I also get easily bored working just in stocking stitch.

I did not intend for the back to be in fade, but considering how popular the trend of fading is – in knitting, that is – I am happy with it. This particular fade is actually a result of not alternating skeins, as you should with hand-dyed yarn. Anyway, I think I will have a go at fade on purpose very soon.

The English pattern is in knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017 available in both a digital and a print edition and it will be added to my Ravelry store at the end of March. You can also buy the German version of the magazine Strickmode. The Norwegian pattern will be published in the special magazine called Familien Strikk out on Monday 12th March.

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Melva

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Melva, here worn by the gorgeous Emma Ross, is currently being test knitted so the pattern will be launched at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival (EYF) in March. Em’s hair & makeup is by Sissel Fylling and her fantastic jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Photographer Eivind Røhne brilliantly captured the scene and made sure the letters “Bø” from “Bøler Kirke” (read: as in “Boo!”) was visible. Named after Melva, Celtic for ruler is this straight sweater with fancy cables at the bottom and the top. Ribbing in the side makes the sweater figure hugging. While the stockinette stitch center panel shows off the stunning hand dyed The Little Grey Sheep, British Stein Fine Wool 4ply. The sleeve mirrors the body, but it is worked flat unlike the body.

Em is wearing size XS with a bust circumference of 88 cm/34.75″ with 2.5 cm/1″ positive ease. I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a finished bust circumference of 88 to 124 cm/34.75 to 48.75″. I chose to style the pullover with a pair of Prada trousers in a mauve colour, that perfectly matched the nail varnish shade Sissel chose. The shoes, not in any of these photos, are Carla in Wine by Monica Stålvang, just in case you were wondering.

The Little Grey Sheep, British Stein Fine Wool 4ply is made of wool from Emma Boyles’s sheep at Well Manor – a small family farm on the Surrey Hampshire borders in the UK. It is 100% wool with 330 meters/360 yards on each 100 gram skein. I used a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and got a gauge of 26 stitches and 34 rows in stocking stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. I wanted a red shade and Emma suggested the shade named Outback and kindly offered to sponsor the yarn.

The delicate and intricate cable is again from Norah Gaughan’s excellent Knitted Cable Sourcebook. The Melva pattern will be released on Ravelry and a sample of the pullover will be on show at The Little Grey Sheep stand at EYF in March.

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Airic

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I loved seeing Airic on Emma Ross, and how stylish she made it look. Make up & Hair Stylist Sissel Fylling made sure her stunning hair looked immaculate and set off the grey background at Bøler Kirke/Church. Eivind Røhne brilliantly captured the moment while Michael was making sure the lights were switched off. The statement silver jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Airic – 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. Even the sleeve has a cable panel knitted sideways as a cuff. Airic is Celtic for agreeable, just as this long cardigan will cover you up. It is knitted in the divine Di Gilpin’s Lalland Lambswool and is a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

Em has changed into sculptural shoes by Camilla Skovgaard and a black tube top for this second sequence of photos taken by the spacious entrance to the church hall. Airic is knitted in the soft Di Gilpin’s Lalland Lambswool made of 100% Scottish lambswool and comes in 50 grams balls with 175 meters/191 yards. Airic was knitted by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram, using a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle and with a 24 stitches & 30 rows in stocking stitch to 10 cm/4″ square gauge.

The cable panel on the lower body is worked sideways, then the upper body is picked up and knitted along the long side of lower body and worked from the bottom and up. The upper body is worked back and forth in one piece with false seams from the pick up on the lower body to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately.

Emma is wearing size S, but it will become available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 86 to 128 cm/33.75 to 50.5″ with the collar overlapped. In these photos the collar is just folded down. As you might see it has the same silhouette as the Rørbye Cardigan recently published in knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 knitted in Dale Garn Eco Wool. These magnificent rib braids are also found in Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I chose to add garter stitches to the sides to this one and knitted the last stitch on the Lower Body instead of making an I-cord edge.

Both the Norwegian and the English pattern will be released in April, after the test knitting is finished. It begins 26th February in my Ravelry group. In addition to meeting Di Gilpin in Vienna last year, I also met Emma Boyles of The Little Grey Sheep. So next out among these professional photos is Melva, knitted in British Stein Fine Wool 4ply hand-dyed by Emma herself.

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Ardra

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Here is Ardra professionally photographed by Eivind Røhne, worn by the gorgeous Emma Ross at Bøler Kirke/Church, late in October. Yes, I did know that the cognac shade of Sølje by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk would suit Em perfectly. Sissel Fylling did start by cutting Em’s hair and had her assistant Nora helping her. Jewellery designer Kaja Gjedebo Design, who lives close to the church, were also with us for the first part of the day. I styled the pullover with black pencil pants, a turtle neck and Monica Stålvang’s stunning boots. Here is my introduction to Ardra: Round knot cables run along the body of this a-line pullover with a slightly longer back. Only one cable adorns each sleeve. The body is worked in the round and ends in a round neck with an I-cord bind-off. A false seam on the sides make the fit better. Ardra is Celtic and means noble.

The yarn kit was launched at Oslo Design Fair in January by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and will shortly be available in selected yarn stores. The pullover was beautiful knitted, using 3 mm/US 2.5 and a 24 stitches and 32 rows gauge, by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram, since I was busy working on another new design. Sølje Pelsull is made of 100% pelt wool with 350 meters/383 yards on each 100 gram skein and comes in 30 beautiful shades.

The body is knitted in the round with short rows for a longer curved hem at the back up to the armhole. Then it is worked back and forth in Back and Front. The sleeves are knitted in the round up to the armhole. Emma is wearing size Small with 4.5 cm/1.75″ positive ease. I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″.

Finally the back view with the extra long curve at the bottom. The cables are from Norah Gaughan’s brilliant Knitted Cable Sourcebook, and appear smaller due to the thinner yarn than on the poncho Donia. The English pattern for Ardra will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning on 23rd of April before it is released in mid June.

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Barra

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Barra was photographed at Bøler Kirke/Church in the opposite corner to Cahal, to complement the light brown Sølje yarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk the cardigan is made of. Just as brilliant photographer Eivind Røhne suggested. I was delighted to see gorgeous model Emma Ross, with makeup & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, wearing the jacket with such flair. Barra is styled with pencil pants and a black turtleneck as well as with Monica Stålvang’s stunning boots. Here is my introduction to the cardigan: Elaborate spear cables run like a spine on the back of this long jacket before they are moved towards the shoulder at the top. At the front one cable follow the line along the v-neck. The sleeve has a spear cable running around it at the bottom, before the upper part is knitted in the round in stockinette stitch. The a-line cardigan is named Barra – Celtic for spear.

The cardigan was beautifully knitted by Anne Langfjæran, aka kosekontoret on Instagram, using 3 mm/US 2.5 needles to a gauge of 24 stitches and 34 rows/rounds in stocking stitch to 10 cm/4″ square. Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje is made of 100% pelt yarn with 350 meters/383 yards on each 100 gram skein in a lovely melange brown. Emma is wearing size Small with 4.5 cm/1.75″ positive ease. I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″.

The body is worked flat in pieces, unlike the long sleeves which are worked in the round after the sideways cable panel to the armhole. Stitches are picked up along right side of cable panel for the top sleeve. The cable is the same I used on the pullover Melva and found in Norah Gaughan’s inspirational Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I attached 10 buttons with a 15 mm/0.52″ diameter on the button band which is picked up and knitted at the end.

Here is the a view of the back, and you can see how the cables are moved towards the shoulder at the top, while they are moved from the v-neck shaping at the front. The Norwegian Barra yarn kits were launched by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk at Oslo Design Fair, while the Norwegian pattern will be released shortly and available at Ravelry. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning on the 14th May and it will be released around 6 weeks later.

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Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Monthly Archives: February 2018

Strikkekafé in Fredrikstad

Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Autumn Symphony

Strikkekafé at Sandefjord Husflidslag

Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Bowery Tunic

Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Melva

Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Airic

Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Ardra

Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Barra