Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Vaga

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Vaga, knitted in the sea green, Yew Tree shade of The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted, looked magnificent on modell Emma Ross, at our photoshoot at Villa Malla. As usual Sissel Fylling had to cut her hair, so it would look immaculate, before styling it and then doing Em’s make up. We did not raise an eyelid, since this is the norm, now. Em is also wearing statement silver jewellery I borrowed from designer Kaja Gjedebo. Photographer Eivind Røhne captured these magic moments on a sweltering day in May. I choose to style Vaga with a pair of brown ski looking pants and boots from Monica Stålvang in a very similar green tone.Named after the Celtic Goddess of the River Wye is this pullover with cables that runs over the body and sleeves. A saddle shoulder allows the swing cable to continue to the neck with its twisted rib ending. The pullover is slightly shaped for the waist and knitted in the gorgeous The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted.

Cumbria Worsted is made of 60% Merino wool, 30% brown Masham Wool and 10% Mohair, with 218 meters/238 yards on each 100 gram skeins. Vaga is knitted using 4 mm/US 6 needle and with a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square. It was sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on both Ravelry and Instagram, that made this in size S for me. Kristin knitted the pieces, while I crochet them together and knitted the neckband.

Vaga is scheduled for test knitting in my Ravelry group beginning on 9th July, before the English pattern will be released. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in a special magazine from Familien called Strikk, available in August.

The pattern has been graded from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference from 84 cm to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″. Next design out in the photoshoot series is Sirona.

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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Ogma Pullover

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Linda Marveng

It is showtime. Well, that is how it feels like to me, revealing all the amazing photos Eivind Røhne took of gorgeous modell Emma Ross at Villa Malla at the end of May. Her hair and make up was styled by Sissel Fylling and her jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Here you see Em wearing Ogma – an a-line pullover. The fantastic hand dyed colours in The Blue Brick, Escarpment DK yarn, looked stunning on Em. I chose to style the a-line raglan sweater with wide navy silk trouser. As always I had difficulties picking photos and ended up with ten photos, due to the two extra cowls.

We actually photographed Ogma last in the sweltering heat, just above the small beach at Villa Malla. The summer light was very bright so Eivind made sure Em was in the shadow made by one of his reflectors. Eivind did fetch his sand bags, so none of us had to hold onto his reflectors, I am pleased to say.Named after the Celtic goddess who rules over inspiration and spells is this a-line raglan pullover, which began as a fade project but ended on the wild side. The Blue Brick’s divine Escarpment DK in four handpainted colors was my epiphany. From darkness to lightness and with sleeves knitted in Succulent, a pale green with a grey tinge. A regal cable adorns the center body, surrounded by garter stitch and ends in a square front neck. To crown the pullover, make a small cabled cowl and a larger garter stitch cowl.

Em is wearing size S, but I have graded it in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust measurement of 80 to 124 cm/31.5 to 48.75″. I knitted this sample using 4 mm/US 6 needle and a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch to 10 cm/4″ square. This pullover is knitted in 4 colours and my initial plan was to make a fade. I had only seen the divine colours online and realised that it would be more colour blocking than fading. The pullover is currently being test knitted in my Ravelry group, both in a solid colour and in different fades. I am so excited to see the progress of these projects.

I have added the fade/colour block progression in the pattern and added both rows of cable as well as centimeters/inches worked. The pattern will also include details of The Blue Brick, Escarpment DK yarn which is made of 100% superwash merino in skeins of 105 g with 267 meters/260 yards. The colours used in the sample are: COL1: Cobblestone. COL2: Bauline. COL3: Winter Grass/Muddy Husky and COL4: Succulent.

The colours were different from what I had in mind, so I decided to use Succulent – a pale green with a grey tinge (read: and not the opposite way around) – on the sleeves. But I do know from the test knit that the sleeves look great in a fade. Both the English and the Norwegian pattern will be released after the test knit is completed on Ravelry.

I wanted to make a cowl or two to join the colours at the top, so in the end I made one cabled cowl which I preferred to wear folded and one large garter stitch cowl that can be worn twice around the neck. The Cable Cowl is worked back and forth using a 4 mm/US 6 needle and is 57.5 cm/22.75″ wide and 20 cm/7.75″ high.

The Garter Stitch Cowl is worked in the round with the same needle has a 80 cm/31.5″ bottom circumference, 70 cm/27.5″ top circumference and is 25 cm/9.75″ high.

With one small and one large cowl they can be worn one over the other, essential during the spring and fall in Norway. But far from necessary in nearly 30 degrees celsius at Villa Malla. So Em was happy to change out of wool sweaters into her own summer clothing. We ended the day having champagne on our back terrace. That was the perfect celebration of a wonderful photoshoot and day!

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New Design: Lofn

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Here is the final new design – for now – a pullover called Lofn made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Lofn is Norse for praise. This pullover is praising texture with its sideways voluptous cables and welt pattern that works like a rib. The upper part is picked up andknitted in Fisherman’s Rib and increased into top part of sleeve, while the bottom part of sleeve is knitted separately. As you can see the bottom part with the cable is very tight, and was meant to be 92 cm/36.25″ and not 80 cm/31.5″ wide and 30 cm/11.75 instead of 25 cm/9.75″ in size small. There is a very good reason for that and it is that turbo knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, made this pullover in only 1 week’s time using a 3 mm/US 2.5 so it made it to the photoshoot. We lost several weeks due to an incredibly slow mail service and I had to find a new sample knitter to make this. So all in all I am delighted that Grete knitted it at such an amazing speed and that it made it to the photoshoot.

Lofn is knitted in Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje Pelsull/Pelt wool made of 100% pelt wool, with 350 meters/383 yards per 100 gram skein. The sample is knitted in a stunning Red; 2132 in size S, but with a bottom width of 80 cm/31.5″ and height of 25 cm/9.75″ due to a tight gauge. The pattern gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square. I have graded the pattern in sizes S to 2XL with bottom width of 92 to 132 cm/36.25 to 52″. I could just squeeze into the bottom part of the pullover and I did provide entertainment for the bikini clad women sunbathing next to me at the beach in Ørje. It was a sweltering day, so I am pleased that my husband took this photos quickly so I could change back into my summer clothes.

The body is knitted in four parts with cables and welt pattern on the bottom part and Fisherman’s rib on the upper part. Increases are made in each side of the upper part for top of sleeve part. Bottom sleeves are worked flat separately. If you want to shorten or lengthen the sweater, adjust the height of the lower panel, adjust the stitch number in Welt pattern, e.g. to 24 sts for 3.5 cm/1.5″ extra length and allow more yarn.

The Norwegian pattern and yarn kit will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at the end of August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group – beginning on 15th October – before its release. As you can imagine, this pullover fitted modell Emma Ross better since she is a size smaller than I am and she totally owns it. You wait and see!

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Airic Pattern Released

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I have recently released the Airic pattern. The cardigan has been test knitted and the pattern improved, thanks to my test knitters. You can see some of the lovely versions on the Ravelry pattern page. Airic was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Bøler Kirke/Church last autumn. Emma Ross, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is wearing the sample knitted in size S. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in the magazine Familien at a later date, while the English pattern is available at Ravelry and on Loveknitting. Here is my introduction to the pattern!

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 a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

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

Finished measurements:
Bust (with collar overlapped): 86 (92, 98, 108, 118, 128) cm/33.75 (36.25, 38.5, 42.5, 46.5, 50.5)“
Bottom width (incl waterfall Width): 111 (117, 123, 133, 143, 153) cm/43.75 (46, 48.5, 52.25, 56.25, 60.25)”
Length Back: 75 (76, 77, 78, 79, 80) cm/29.5 (30, 30.25, 30.75, 31, 31.5)“
Sleeve Length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.50)”

Yarn: Di Gilpin, Lalland (100% Scottish lambswool, 50 g, 175 m/191 yds): Sample is knitted in Silver Birch: 13 (14, 15, 17, 19, 20) skeins;
2210 (2380, 2570, 2880, 3190, 3490) m/2416 (2602, 2810, 3149, 3488, 3816) yds.
Sample is knitted in size S and modelled with 5 cm/2” ease (with collar overlapped).
https://digilpin.com/collections/yarn

Needles: 3.75 mm/US 5 circular needle (100 cm/40”, 80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”).

Notions: Markers, cable needle, stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
42-sts Rib Braid panel measures 13 cm/5” across.
18-sts Rib Braid measures 5 cm/2” across.

Notes: 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. The outer 20 cm/7.75” on each side of the lower body will be attached to the collar. The cuff is worked sideways, while the remaining sleeve is worked back and forth from the cuff with garter stitch in each side. The collar is worked back and forth in two parts with an interfacing, beginning with a RS row across cable and a WS row across interfacing. The parts are joined with a 3-needle bind off and attached along opening and outer side of lower body.

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New Design: Irpa

Posted on June 16, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I have, for awhile, wanted to design a long oversized jacket, and when I discovered an intricate cable pattern online, I decided it was time. Irpa is made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the lovely Tinde yarn, again in their Light Brown since it is a shade that seem to embrace several tones from the brown spectre. The Norwegian pattern and yarn kit will be launched at Oslo Design Fair while the English pattern will be test knitted in my group on Ravelry in November before its release. Irpa is Norse for dark brown and suited this long oversized cardigan with a v-neck and a slight shaping for waist. Pine cable cover the center back, while only one pattern repeat adorns the fronts and sleeve. A wide rib makes this casual jacket a perfect extra layer to the Sigyn dress.

I was busy knitting a design for a magazine, so I had Kristin Nygård knit this jacket for me. She did a wonderful job as always. The cable pattern is time consuming but very rewarding to knit, so Kristin had to return the jacket with express post to me so that I could finish it in time for the photoshoot. I choose some stunning handmade vintage buttons in bone, bought from Perlehuset before they closed down their shop in Oslo. You will still find Perlehuset online, though.

The cardigan is knitted in pieces and seamed. The second part of the v-neck decreases on the fronts moves to the opposite side of the cable in order for the cable to continue to the shoulder. The sleeve has one pattern repeat, just as the front, while the back has three pattern repeats and cover most of the cross back. Yes, I also used the same cable on the vest, Var.

Irpa is graded is sizes S (M, L, XL, 2XL) with a bust circumference of 110 cm to 154 cm/43.25 to 60.75″. I am wearing size S in these photos taken by Michael at the beach in Ørje. Not that I needed to wear wool at all that day and it was funny to see the women in bikini sunbathing on the beach just next to where I am standing.

Layering is popular and essential if you live in Norway, so Irpa was designed to be worn on top of the dress; Sigyn. I also wanted Irpa to give Sigyn a more casual as well as cool look. My model Em succeeded in making it look cool, while I show off the more classic look. Yes, it has to do with age and a certain edge, I believe.

The back of Irpa hangs loose over the more figure hugging Sigyn. I like how the cable patterns differs and move in opposite directions to each other. I have one more new design to show you, and that is the fourth of the new designs for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. You can look forward to seeing the professional photos taken by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla. He sent me around 300 of the 10 garments we photographed and I finally managed to squeeze it down to a selection of 55. It was painfully hard for me to do, but the result is terrific!

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Elsebeth Lavold Visit

Posted on June 13, 2018 by Linda Marveng

@ Anders Rydell

Yes, I am excited to tell you that Elsebeth Lavold and her husband Anders Rydell came to visit us last week. They were going on holiday, driving from Stockholm and past our house to Kongsberg. Elsebeth wrote me a message on Facebook saying it was an opportunity for us to meet in real life. I could not let this opportunity pass me by since I have been admiring Elsebeth ever since she published her first Viking Knits book back in 1998 (see below). I did ask her to bring me a few balls of Elsebeth Lavold Yarns, actually the two most popular yarns: Hempathy and Silky Wool if possible. Guess what, she brought me four whole bags of yarn, one in each colour plus a skein of a new yarn. Thank you so much, Elsebeth! I have been in yarn heaven since then, and wanting to do nothing else than try out those new yarns. Only my work commitments have stopped my from doing just that. Elsebeth knew too well that a few balls would not take me very far… In the picture above she is wearing Grainne knitted in LinSilk.If you, like me, have wondered what nationality Elsebeth is and indeed what country she lives in, I can reveal the following: Elsebeth is half Norwegian, half Danish and lives in Sweden. Yes, she has also lived a number of years in the US and is a Norwegian citizen. Elsebeth spoke fluent Norwegian, Swedish and American-English so I could not guess her mother tongue from our conversation. It all made sense when she told me that she studied linguistics at University. Anders Rydell is the Swede. He is a former musician and song writer turned graphic designer & photographer to assist Elsebeth in her design work.

Now, back to the Elsebeth Lavold Yarns. They are distributed by Knitting Fever in the US and will soon be coming to Europe. Who will be your Scandinavian agent, I asked and was not surprised to hear that Thomas Kvist and his company House of Hobbies will distribute her yarns. You know I used to design for him and have also done translations for some of the other yarn companies he now represent. It is a small world at times. Elsebeth presents herself like this online: “I’m absolutely passionate about all aspects of knitting. My claim to fame is having translated Viking Age interlace patterns into cable knitting and
documented them in a travelling exhibition and five books. This has led to my own
yarn line, Elsebeth Lavold Designer’s Choice, supported by pattern books. All in
collaboration with my husband, co-worker and playmate, Anders Rydell.” Above you see her latest hard cover book, which I wrote about on my blog: Viking Knits & Ancient Ornaments. Elsebeth has written another 26 books with her designs, so do take a look at her impressive designs here on Ravelry and follow her blog. I am thrilled that Elsebeth admires my work, especially since I find hers unique. Michael and I had such a fantastic time together with Elsebeth and Anders. We hope to see them again!

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Kathe Cardigan in Familien 11/2018

Posted on June 9, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I am thrilled that Kathe Cardigan has been published in the latest issue of the Norwegian magazine Familien issue number 11/2018 and has been given a bit of space on the cover. The cardigan was made for Interweave Knits Fall 2016 and it is knitted in the divine SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash Sport in the hand dyed shade Tumbled Stone using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle. That is an incredibly soft pure merino with 300 meters/328 yards per 100 gram skein. Model Alexandria Eissinger, with hair & make up by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, was brilliantly captured by photographer Eivind Røhne. Alex is wearing size M with a 93 cm/36.5″ bust circumference, but it is available in sizes XS to 2XL with measurements from 79 to 120.5 cm/31 to 47.5″. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Kathe is a straight cardigan with a scarf collar enhanced with an elegant textural all-over lace. The reversible fern pattern adorns the body and sleeves while the collar is divided from it by a tuck and knitted in moss stitch. You can wear the collar hanging flat – overlapping – and pinned together or folded.

It is a time consuming knit, but the finishing off is rewarding, in my opinion. You will find the English pattern on Ravelry and on Loveknitting, while the Norwegian pattern is printed in Familien. The magazine is available to buy at selected news agents and super markets in Norway. 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.

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New Design: Sigyn

Posted on June 6, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I know some of you have waited years for a knitted dress from me, well, here it is: Sigyn. Now, I just hope that you do not feel you have waited in vain. The reason it took me so long time is that I had so many conceptions of how to design a dress that is comfortable, flattering and that will suit most body types. In the end I choose a classic look with ribbing, an a-line silhouette and with a central cable that makes a v-neck at the front but follows your spine at the back. Sigyn is Norse for victorious girl-friend and ideal for this a-line dress with a central swing cable, surrounded by ribbing to make it figure hugging. Decreases are made in the purl sections to emphasize the silhouette of Sigyn. The dress is beautifully knitted in the bouncy Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, by Grete Jenssen, in size S but with a tighter gauge 28 stitches instead of 24 stitches, hence it has the bust measurement of size XS 88 cm/34.75″. So I am wearing it with zero ease in these photographs taken by my husband at the beach in Ørje in a sweltering 26 degrees Celsius/78 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, there were a couple of women sunbathing next to us, wearing only their bikinis. They smiled at me wearing a woolly dress, then even more as when I put on yet another woolly cardigan on top. Yes, a long cardigan that can be worn casually on top is the next new design. The swing cable is the same I used on the sweater Vaga and found in Norah Gaughan’s inspiring Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I mirrored it and added 6 stitches in rib in between the two swing cables. The dress will be available in six sizes from XS to 2XL with a bust measurement of 88 to 130 cm/34.75 to 51.25″. The suggested length is 118 cm to 123 cm/46.5 to 48.5″. You can easily adjust the length of the dress if you prefer. I suggest shortening (or lengthening) it with up to 7 cm/2.75″ before the a-line shaping begins.

I decided to work the dress back and forth in pieces and then sew it together to make the fit even better. The reason I choose to move the cable towards the shoulder is that I did ponder on whether to make it a v-neck, but realised it is unpractical in Norway. The grass green colour of Sølje was ideal in my opinion and I knew it would suit the red-haired model Emma Ross well. Sølje is made of Norwegian pelt wool with 350 meters/383 yards per 100 gram skein and comes in 30 colours. The dress is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needles and with a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square.

The central cable continue straight up to the neckline unlike the front one. The neckline is lower at the front than at the back. And yes, the back of my legs are very white compared to my face and hands that has been in the sun these last weeks of Mediterranean summer temperatures in Ørje.

I like wearing a belt on my knitted dresses and picked a narrow leather one (read: not the same we used for the photo shoot). It is just hanging loosely around my waist. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group in early September, before it is released. The Norwegian pattern and yarn kit will be available launched by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk at Oslo Design Fair at the end of August. I will show you the dress looks with a long cardigan soon as well as how it looked on model Emma Ross at Villa Malla.

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Behind the Scenes: 2nd Photoshoot at Villa Malla

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Villa Malla located by the Oslofjord is a real gem, with its beach and jetty. So I decided to have yet another photoshoot here. It feels like a holiday destination, despite the fact that you can not stay over, only have a meal, drinks or ice creams. We had heavy rain in the evening before, but it stopped by the time we picked up modell Emma Ross arriving after midnight from Manchester, UK in Oslo at the central train station. It was overcast with grey clouds when we left for Villa Malla early Tuesday morning. I had planned for the recent heath and summer temperatures we have had here in Ørje at around 26 to 30 Celsius/78 to 86 Fahrenheit – so we began photographing the long dress I have designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Hair & Makeup Stylist Sissel Fylling wore a skirt for once and was cold until the skies cleared and the heath came back. Em did get a haircut, but none of us where surprised by this anymore, as I cannot recall Sissel not offering to do so. Above you see us in action on the beach, photographer Eivind Røhne is on his way to collect his sand bags so I do not have to hold onto his large reflectors while Em is ready, wearing an old design from my knitting book: Merino omslagsvest/Merino Wrap Vest. Michael captured this wonderful in action photo of us.

Eivind and I walked around at Villa Malla to find the best backgrounds after I had organised the rail with the ten garments to photograph, while Sissel was working on Em’s hair and face. We choose two angles at the beach and the top of the staircase at the upper terrace. As you can see in the photo above, there were several families on the beach and in the water by the time we got down there. Em made several videos while she was visiting, and you can see them all at Instagram, so make sure you follow em450.

Four new designs are for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, and above you see Em wearing Var knitted in the lovely Tinde together with jewellery from Kaja Gjedebo Design. I am making sure the shoulder seams are where they should be. I loved seeing all my designs on the gorgeous Em. We photographed these in the same position as last time and with the same background that looked more like Santorini in Greece than the Oslofjord near Drøbak in Norway. Both Eivind and Michael made sure there were several sail boats as well as one police boat in the background as we started to photograph the garments.

I finished the last garment the day before the photoshoot, but had a few hectic days waiting for packages sent with Next Day delivery in Norway. It only works if they are sent between addresses in the southern part of Norway, I have discovered. Luckily, the other three new designs were ready: Vaga, Ogma – see above – and Sirona. In addition we photographed the Tau scarf made for the Vienna Wool & Design Festival Magazine: Wool 2 Go vol 01 and Free Falling Pullover which has been returned from the US after being published in Interweave Knits Fall 2017. After photographing 5,5 garment – I decided that we needed some more photos of the Merino Omslagsvest – we had a delicious buffet lunch in the shadow on the terrace at Villa Malla. The divine hand dyed colours of The Blue Brick, Escarpment DK in Ogma was perfect on Em, as you can see in the photo above. It was the last of the garments to be photographed and the end of the photoshoot, I thought. But Eivind had other plans and made a couple of short videos, where Sissel had to act as a wind machine in one of them. Yes, we had fun as we always do on these photoshoots. Now, I am looking forward to seeing Eivind’s brilliant photos and then sharing those. So stay tuned for more.

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Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Monthly Archives: June 2018

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Vaga

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Ogma Pullover

New Design: Lofn

Airic Pattern Released

New Design: Irpa

Elsebeth Lavold Visit

Kathe Cardigan in Familien 11/2018

New Design: Sigyn

Behind the Scenes: 2nd Photoshoot at Villa Malla