Monthly Archives: March 2019

Andor Pattern in Japanese

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  A dream has come true, I can offer a pattern of mine translated into Japanese. Actually, Andor is the first of three patterns translated, it was designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and knitted in their divine Tinde Pelsull/Pelt wool. This Japanese story began two years ago, when I met Nancy Marchant for the first time at the airport in Vienna, where we met up to attend the Vienna Wool & Design Festival. Nancy had just been to Japan to meet with her publisher and translator of her last book: Leafy Brioche. Her translator is Tomoko Nishimura, and now she is also my translator. Tomoku also translates patterns for Marianne & Helga Isager and interprets for Arne & Carlos whenever they tour Japan. So I am in the very best company!

Tomoku went to the Edinburgh Yarn Festival last year and the first knitter she met was no other than my sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry. The world can seem awfully small at times. Above you see them both inside the EYF. Tomoku is wearing a pullover that her mother made for her a long time ago, since she is no longer around, Tomoku thought it was nice to wear it at EYF. Kristin is wearing a very popular traditional Norwegian sweater called Marius knitted in Drops Baby Merino and a Mad Blood Shawl by Mary-Anne Mace, aka The Lace Eater knitted in The Plucky Knitter Single, with an awful lot of beads attached. Thank you Kristin for the photo, and Tomoku for the translation!

We did several rounds of proof reading and tested out different fonts before Tomoku gave the all clear signal. So here it is the Japanese introduction to my pattern:

両サイドの肩の幅広い部分に装飾性の高いケー ブル模様をあしらった流行りのオーバーサイズ ポンチョです。中央のメリヤス編みからはハイネックの襟が続きます。またサイドバンドはボ タンで閉じることもできます。全体を2つのパ ーツに分けて編み、肩下がりと襟ぐりを編みます。Andor は北欧で鷲を意味する言葉であり、このポンチョはその翼長を彷彿させます。

And here is the text in English: A trendy oversized poncho defined by its pairs of ornamental cables on each wide shoulder part. The stockinette center part is crowned by a high neck collar. The poncho has side bands that can be closed with buttons. It is knitted flat in two parts with shoulder and neck shaping. Andor is the Norse element for Eagle and its wingspan appropriate for this poncho.

Andor is also available in Norwegian, you can download all three languages from my Ravelry store.

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Sigyn Knitted by Georgette

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Georgette, from Canada, is one of my skilled test knitters who took part in the test knit of Sigyn and made this beautiful version of it. The dress is not fitted but figure hugging due to the ribbing on each side of the centre cables, so I did wonder if anyone would volunteer for sizes above small. I am delighted that Georgette did and that she was not the only one. Georgette modified the dress to be a size large at the bottom and size medium at the top. On her project page Georgette has written in detail what she did on her ravelry page, see Gemzones’ Sigyn: “Cast on size L quantity of stitches – added the difference in stitches into the first 7 purl sections on each side closest the outside seam, one extra purl per purl section, for a gradual decrease…”. Georgette knitted her dress in Knit Picks Preciosa Tonal Fingering (now discontinued) in Stormy with a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle and alternated two skeins for an even colour by working 2 rows in each colour throughout. See her start in the bottom photo.

The cables move only on the front part of the dress, while they follow your spine on the back as you can see in the photo above. I love the fit on Georgette! Thank you so much for test knitting for me!

Here is my introduction to the pattern: 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. The cable is divided and moves towards the shoulder to make a v-neck at the front. Decreases are made in the purl sections to emphasize the silhouette of Sigyn. The dress is knitted in the bouncy Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

Sigyn is available in sizes XS to 2XL, with a bust circumference of 88 to 130 cm/34.5 to 51″, in Norwegian and English on Ravelry and on Loveknitting. Yarn kits are available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and in selected yarn stores in Norway.

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Andaman Top Pattern Released

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The rights to my pattern the Andaman Top has come back to me from Interweave and I have released the pattern in English on Ravelry with new photos. The Andaman Top was first published in knit.wear Spring/Summer 2018 and is knitted in the lovely Tahki Stacy Charles Fine Yarns BioMerino in Cobalt using 4 mm/US 6 needles. Above you see the gorgeous Emma Ross, with make up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design as well as skirt by Judith Bech, wearing the sample made in size Small at the Vigeland Museum. Em is brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne. 

The Andaman Top will have you craving the intense hues of a Mediterranean summer. With a cropped straight front, the flowing back creates a stylish contrast with its dramatic length and curved hem. The three elegant lace panels running up the front and back of this stylish top have an Egyptian art deco feel, with curving lines and geometric figures.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
Shown in size Small
Skill level: Experienced

Finished measurements
Bust: 90 (98, 106.5, 114, 124.5, 134.5) cm/35.5 (38.5, 42, 45, 49, 53)“
Front length: 48 (49, 50, 51, 52, 53) cm/18.75 (19, 19.5, 20, 20.25, 20.75)”
Back length: 80 (81, 82, 83, 84, 85) cm/31.25 (31.75, 32, 32.5, 33, 33.25)“

Yarn: Tahki Stacy Charles, Bio Merino (100% merino wool, 50 g, 110 m/120 yds): Sample is knitted in Cobalt 1541: 7 (7, 8, 8, 9, 10) skeins; 680 (750, 810, 870, 945, 1020) m/744 (820, 886, 951, 1033, 1115) yds.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 straight and circular needle (40 cm/16”) for neck and armhole bands.

Notions: Markers (removable), holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
17-sts Lace repeat measures 9 cm/3.5” wide.
24 rows Lace repeat measures 8.5 cm/3.25” high.

Notes: This top is worked back and forth from the bottom and up in pieces and seamed. The lower back is shaped by short rows. During shaping, if there are not enough stitches to work an increase with its corresponding decrease, work the stitches of the partial lace pattern as they appear.

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Oydis Pattern in Russian

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I was encouraged to have my patterns translated into Russian by one of my Ravelry group moderators Katja, who had received several questions for Russian translations. Katja, aka ekatja, knew dashuta on Ravelry, so she came highly recommended. The first pattern I sent her for translation was my Oydis Sweater, which is also available in English, German and Norwegian. The Japanese version is also coming shortly. But first below is the introduction to my Oydis Sweater in Russian and then in English. Above you see the gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling, wearing the Oydis Sweater, captured by Eivind Røhne at the Ekeberg Restaurant in Oslo:

Выразительный узор из ромбов доминирует в этом свитере А-силуэта с закругленной линией низа, которая выгодно подчеркивает фигуру. Низ свитера обрамлен полым шнуром, боковые швы и горловина подчеркнуты полосами платочной вязки. В комплекте с воротом или без, этот свитер станет достойным гардероба. Ойдис, древнескандинавской богини удачи. Перед и спинка вяжутся отдельно, а рукава и ворот – по кругу. В представленном образце нить классического твида соединена с нитью тончайшего шнурочка альпаки, и вместе они создают нежное полотно с восхитительной рельефностью узора.

A shadow diamond cable dominates this a-line sweater with a curved flattering hem. I-cord bands frame the bottom of the sweater, while garter stitches mark the sides and the round neckband. The sweater, with or without the cowl to dress it up, make the outfit ideal for the Goddess of good luck; Oydis. The body of the sweater is knitted flat, while the sleeves and the cowl, are knitted in the round. A fine tweed yarn is held together with an alpaca lace yarn, with a chain construction, to create a fabric with a beautiful stitch definition and a slight halo.

Thank you, Katja and dashuta!

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Norsk Strikkeforbund/Norwegian Knitting Association 2019

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I was there when the Norsk Strikkeforbund/Norwegian Knitting Association was established in 2014, as a presenter, and last weekend I was back giving a talk on Digital Knitting. The annual meeting was this time held at the Scandic Asker Hotel. Designer and author as well as editor of the membership magazine “På Pinnen“/On the Needles Tove Fevang asked if I wanted to hold a talk at the event, several months back. I am assisting Tove with the magazine (read: the editorial staff). She also suggested that Michael come too and that we stayed with Tove and her photographer husband Geir Arnesen for the weekend, since they live in Asker. What a treat it was. So we all turned up for the meeting, but Geir and Michael went on a photo safari in Asker, while Tove and I joined the knitters.

We started the day with the a knitting café, and I spotted several knitters I knew; among them designer Ellen Andresen, aka Siso Designs (siso is short for stash in, stash out – ask any knitter about this). Geir was asked to do yet another unpaid job, he had to take photos of the new board. But this time at least he got lunch. At noon we had a delicious lunch buffet, before the meeting itself started with Tove as presenter.

Here we are, knitting away also during the meeting. As you can see from Ellen’s instagram posting, we also received a yarn kit for a pair of mittens with the Norsk Strikkeforbund’s logo, designed by Lill C. Schei, as well as two numbers for the prize draw. The prizes were a number of books we have reviewed, yarn and knitting gadgets from Tove’s stash. See Ellen’s photo below.

Here are the prizes we could win. Throughout the year more books have been reviewed and then given away. So if you are a Norwegian knitter and not yet a member do join in, here are the advantages listed: www.norskstrikkeforbund.no

Tove and Geir also listened to my talk, I am pleased to tell you, and they enjoyed it.

I had brought a number of swatches, garments and magazines for the knitters to look at. Here I am talking to Berit who also attended the knitting weekend at Røros. She did not mind that I gave the same talk here at this annual meeting at all and enjoyed the repeat. I had a fabulous day! Thank you, Norsk Strikkeforbund/Norwegian Knitting Association!

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Weekend in Asker

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Michael and I have just spent a lovely weekend in Asker, staying with designer & author Tove Fevang and her husband, photographer Geir Arnesen. The occasion was the Norsk Strikkeforbund/Norwegian Knitting Association had their yearly meeting at Scandic Asker Hotel and I was invited to hold a talk on Digital Knitting. Asker is just outside of Oslo to the west. The photo above is taken on the Sunday when we went for a walk by the Oslofjord at Vollen in Asker.

A lone fisherman was out in the water trying his luck, probably for mackerel. While Geir and Michael were walking closer to him, Tove and I were chatting hence falling behind. Or maybe it was due to the amount of wine we had drunk during the weekend. The temperature was 10 degrees Celsius/50 degrees Fahrenheit so it felt balmy in the sun, but a lot colder in the shade.

Vollen is one of 5 recommended beaches in Norway, see this article. Here is Michael checking out the water. Unlike our local lake, Rødenessjøen, the Oslo fjord is not frozen. There were a lot of people out walking this Sunday, even though you cannot see them in these photos.

We also visited the Oslofjord Museum and their coffeeshop. It is the low building at the bottom with flats above in this photo.

@ Geir Arnesen

Geir took this photo of the three of us. During most of Saturday he and Michael were out photographing while Tove and I attended the yearly meeting for the Norwegian Knitting Association. Michael and I had a lovely weekend with delicious food as well as fabulous company. I will tell you about the yearly meeting in my next blog post.

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Photoshoot at Vigeland Museum: Andaman Top

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I am delighted to show you the last of the photos from our photos taken at the Vigeland Museum in November, they are of the Andaman Top first published in knit.wear Spring/Summer 2018. Eivind Røhne took these brilliant pictures of Emma Ross, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, wearing the top together with Judith Bech’s stunning skirt. It was my suggestion that Em hold onto and steer the the impressive cast iron dragon, a sample for the Vigeland Park Gates by Gustav Vigeland. Sissel did wonder what I had for lunch, coming up with that idea, as she wanted some of that inspiration too. But actually we had chosen exactly the same; a very delicious chicken burrito from Eckers which I had delivered, after reading that it was a “must visit lunch spot and coffee bar in Oslo” on the Little Scandinavian blog.

I knew I wanted to borrow Judith’s skirt for this top, and it made a lovely contrast to the photos Interweave took of the top with a white shirt and trousers. The Andaman Top will have you craving the intense hues of a Mediterranean summer. With a cropped straight front, the flowing back creates a stylish contrast with its dramatic length and curved hem. The three elegant lace panels running up the front and back of this stylish top have an Egyptian art deco feel, with curving lines and geometric figures.

Em is wearing size S, but the top is available in sizes XS to 2XL, with a bust circumference of 90 to 134.5 cm/35.5 to 53″. The Andaman Top is knitted in Tahki Stacy Charles Fine Yarns BioMerino which is made of 100% merino wool with 110 meters/120 yards on each ball, in the Cobalt shade using 4 mm/US 6 and a 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch gauge. 

This top is worked back and forth from the bottom and up in pieces and seamed. The lower back is shaped by short rows. During shaping, if there are not enough stitches to work an increase with its corresponding decrease, work the stitches of the partial lace pattern as they appear.

The English pattern will be available in my Ravelry Store later in March, will the Norwegian pattern will be printed in the magazine Familien at a later date.

I want to take my team for the fantastic day we had a the Vigeland Museum! Where are we going next, that is what I am pondering upon these days.

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Nemetona Knitted by Siret

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 I am so thrilled to be able to share the wonderful photos taken by Siret of her daughter wearing the Nemetona pullover at Mändjala Beach at the island of Saaremaa in Estonia. Siret, aka kollane on Ravelry, took part in the test knit of Nemetona and made size Large for herself initially, that is, since her daughter wanted it after their photoshoot. So now it belongs to her daughter. Her pullover is knitted in Rowan Cashmere Tweed in the shade of Granite using a 4 mm/US 6 needle and a 20 stitches and 28 rows gauge per 10 cm/4″ square.

Siret writes on her project page: “Rowan Cashmere Tweed is surprisingly good yarn for knitting cables. For a small and dense cable like the Roman cable, this yarn is too soft – the twists are not so clear. But amazing for the bigger ones.” She also recommend not using it for seaming as it breaks easily. I do love the finished look and how stunning it looks!

I could not resist including this photo too, since all the broken ice is so dramatic and trying to balance a piece of ice on one’s head does look funny. Siret had not planned to take part in the test knit according to her project page: “I thought I was not taking part in the Nemetona pullover test, I wanted to finish my Prescott before the new project, but …
But how can you resist the possibility of putting yourself to the test with such powerful cables, very interesting shorter front and longer back?” I am so grateful she could not resist it!

Finally, I want to share a photo of the back taken at the beach shore! Thank you ever so much for taking part in the test knit, Siret and for taking this stunning photos of your daughter!

Here is my introduction to the pattern: Nemetona is Celtic for goddess of all sacred places. Like a magical cable grove is each part of this pullover: Staghorn, Roman; and double cables are framed by Honeycomb pattern. The flowing longer back with its curved hem, creates a stylish contrast to the straight front. Nemetona is knitted in pieces in the divine The Fibre Co. Cumbria.

Nemetona is available as a digital download in English, in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″, in my Ravelry Store and on Loveknitting. The Norwegian pattern will be published in the Norwegian magazine Familien at a later date.

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Tweed Jacket Pattern Released

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The number of request for the pattern in English, made me have the Tweed Jacket from my Norwegian knitting book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” (only translated into Finnish) photographed again and I also reviewed of the pattern. My American Technical Editor Barbara Khouri has checked it, and I am happy to say that it has been released on Ravelry with new fantastic photos by Eivind Røhne at the Vigeland Museum of model Emma Ross with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design as well as a skirt by Judith Bech.

A Tweed jacket inspired by Christopher Kane’s elegant tweed version. My version has sleeves in stranded colourwork in stockinette stitch as a contrast to the tweed pattern made with slipped stitches on the body and a fitted waist. The tweed jacket has been given a vintage look, by using the fine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Alv held double.

Sizes: S (M, L, XL)
Shown in size Small with Drewdrop Cowl
Skill level: Experienced

Finished measurements:
Bust/hip: 90 (94, 98, 106) cm/35.5 (37, 38.5, 43)“
Waist: 78 (82, 88, 96) cm/30.75 (32.25, 34.25, 37.75)”
Length to highest point: 53 (54, 55, 56) cm/21 (21.5, 21.75, 22.25)“
Sleeve length: 50 cm/19.75”

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Alv (100% wool, 200 g cone, 1400 m/1532 yds)
Sample is made in:
COL A: Black 418030: 1 (1, 2, 2) cones; 1050 (1260, 1470, 1890) m/1148 (1378, 1608, 2067) yds.
COL B: Dark grey 418073: 1 (1, 1, 2) cones; 1050 (1260, 1470, 1890) m/1148 (1378, 1608, 2067) yds.
COL C: Steel grey 418029: 1 (1, 1, 1) cone; 700 (840, 980, 1260) m/766 (919, 1072, 1378) yds.
Note: 2 strands of the laceweight yarn are held together throughout.
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/alv-kamgarn-14-2/

Alternative yarns: Cascade 220 Fingering (100% wool, 50 g, 250 m/273 yds)
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Cascade220Fingering.htm
Jamiesons’ of Shetland, Spindrift (100% wool, 25 g, 105 m/115 yds)
https://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-1-c.asp
Cascade Heritage (75% merino wool, 25% nylon, 100 g, 400 m/437 yds)
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Heritage.htm
Note: Use 1 strand of fingering/4 ply yarn.

Needles: 2.5 mm/US 1.5 straight needles and DPNs.
3 mm/US 2.5 straight needles and DPNs.

Gauge: 30 sts and 31 rows in Sleeve pattern, Stranded colourwork in st st with 2 strands of yarn held together, using larger needles measures 10 cm/4” square.
27 sts and 60 rows in Tweed pattern with 2 strands of yarn held together, using larger needles measures 10 cm/4” square.

Notions: Markers (removable), yarn needle and 8 buttons (15 mm/0.6”).

Notes: The body is worked in parts and sewed together, while the sleeves are knitted in in the round up to the armhole. Check your waist measurement before you begin and adjust if necessary.

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