Monthly Archives: September 2019

Gocce Knitted by Siret

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I am delighted to show you these stunning photos taken by Estonian knitter Siret of her daughter Annika wearing my design Gocce. Siret test knitted the cardigan in Malabrigo Susurro in the divine Teal Feather shade using 3 mm/US 2.5 needles and only used a bit over 3 skeins of 100 grams. On her project page on Ravelry you can read: “We went to take pictures on Harilaid Peninsula on the northwest coast of the island of Saaremaa in Estonia. It was raining heavily. We waited in the car until the rain stopped and used the moment to take a pictures before the next heavy rainfall. While taking the last pictures, my daughter gave up her boots and enjoyed nature”.

Let me show you a wonderful picture of Annika in the rain in the sea. Pure joy, in other words! Siret made size medium and comments on her project page: “My first Linda design, not covered with cables. The lace pattern is not complicated, but requires attention on both rows. Gocce is a very nice cardigan for the cooler summer weather. This is a fast knitting, despite the fact that it took me more time than usual to knit. But I really enjoyed knitting!”

I am very happy to hear it, Siret! Thank you! Here you see the front of the cardigan as well as the change of weather.

The back with three central lace panels, while the sleeve and the fronts have one each. All parts have garter stitch edging at the bottom and in the sides to mark the seam. The button band is also knitted in garter stitch. The cardigan comes in sizes XS to 2XL.

Finally,  I wanted to share a photo that shows the full outfit. Thank you for these amazing photos, Siret and Annika! You can find Siret as kollane on Ravelry and as siretsini on Instagram, if you want to check out more of her projects and photos.

Here is my introduction to the Gocce pattern which includes a cowl: The poetic introduction to Shibui Knits’ Rain, a stunning chainette cotton yarn, inspired the name choice of this fitted summery lace cardigan. ”Fleeting drops fall…” not unlike the lace pattern on this jacket. Gocce is Italian for drops and selected to give this v-neck cardigan the sophistication it deserves. The jacket is knitted in pieces for the ultimate fit and seamed. A cowl crowns the cardigan and can be worn loose or twice around your neck.

The pattern is available in English and Norwegian on Ravelry and on LoveCrafts.

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Strikkefestivalen in Fredrikstad 2019

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I have been back to the lovely 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. The Strikkefestivalen/knitting festival is in its 4th year and still going very strong, run by four Knitting Motors: Marit Larsen, Lill Bjørnstad, Mette Bakken and Rita Walter together with numerous volunteers. They offer an impressive program with workshops, talks and including events such as “Knit & Poetry”, “Psalms & Knit” and “Knitting Cinema”. Above you see the courtyard surrounded by the museum, the market hall and the knit café, all held in these magnificent historic buildings dating back to 1775.

Michael and I went down to the Fredrikstad Museum on the day before the festival to mount my exhibition. Above you see a photo Michael took of me and my corner. I am wearing Aylwen next to my blue Vela, behind it is the grey Prescott Pullover. On my other side is the natural Nemetona and behind it the green Rørbye Cardigan. I used the opportunity to check if Makeløs – Remarkable Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik if she wanted to meet us for lunch at Café Magenta and she did! Read more about the café at the bottom. Indeed, she found me several times during the festival too and brought her husband to the Indian restaurant where designer Tove Fevang, Michael and I had our dinner on Friday night.

Lunchtime on Friday, Kristin found Tove and me having lunch at the knitting café. Kristin is a culture stylist and her outfits are magnificent and combines stylish elements with bright splashes of colour here made of tulle around the neckband plus cuffs of this otherwise traditional Setesdal Inspired Kofte (read: stranded colorwork jacket with traditional borders from the Setesdal Valley). Michael captured them better than I did.

I held two workshops on Friday: Flettestrikk Masterclass/Cable Knitting Masterclass and Engelske Mønstre/English Patterns. Luckily, I met both knitters I knew from previously but also knitters I had not met earlier! Above is three of them yarn shopping at the Projo stand.

Of course I also had a chat with the other designers present: Tove Fevang, Helle Siggerud, Denise Samson, Kari Hestens and Annemor Sundbø – the Norwegian knitting legend.

Just like me, Helle Siggerud also had an exhibition in another corner of Fredrikstad Museum. Unlike me, Helle is a sewer and have designed all these lovely outfits, inspired by our national costumes. Yes, Helle also sews national costumes, see more on her webpage: Helles Syskrin.

Yarn dyer Hege Dagestad was there – see above – and so was Karen Walthinsen of Enchanted Forest Fibers, who I had not met before. Below is another yarn photo, as I know I cannot include too many of those for you to look at.

Below is a photo Michael took of Tove and me checking out the stands. I am wearing my Aife knitted in the gorgeous hand dyed Dye Dye Done, Pure Sport and it is currently being test knitted before I release the pattern in English and Norwegian on Ravelry and Love Crafts.

I took the other photos above on Saturday morning before the Market Hall became too full and before my third workshop. The festival had booked all the workshops holders into the same hotel so we all met up for breakfast on Saturday morning. That was a nice treat.

Above is the sign and the outdoor seating for my favourite coffee shop in the Old City, Café Magenta – where the captives of the fortress were held back in 1731. The owners have come to love the knitting festival. Back in 2016, they had no idea what caused the invasion (of mainly female vistitors that is) during the first knitting festival. This year they were prepared and their meny was found printed to take away, inside in the Market Hall.

After my workshop on Saturday from 3 to 6 PM, Michael and I drove home. While I was finishing up my workshop, Michael dismounted my exhibition. I had a fab time, as always! Thank you to the organisers, to all the knitters I met and all my designer friends!

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Norsk Strikkedesign – Book Club Presentation

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Above is the new cover of the upcoming Norwegian book: “Norsk Strikkedesign“, featuring model Emma Ross wearing a pullover designed by Arne & Carlos. The editor is Iselin Hafseld and she is also a participating designer together with Arne & Carlos, Kari Hestnes, Bente Presterud, Birger Berge and me. The book will be launched before the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, where Norway is the Guest of Honour this year. We all hope that this will increase the possibility of it being sold by the Cappelen Damm Agency to foreign publishers, hence translated. The Book club, called Hobbyklubben, have sent out their magazine where the book is the main book for October. Below you see the cover they choose, a stranded colour work dress made by Bente worn by model Kaja Kvernbakken. The photographer, you will recognize I believe, is Eivind Røhne.

Gorgeous garments from six of our most popular knitwear designers. 30 knitting patterns. On the second page mittens by Arne & Carlos and the heading saying “Godt norsk” as in “Good Norwegian”.

“The interest for the Norwegian knitting tradition has had a surge during the last years. In the book “Norsk Strikkedesign” designer Iselin Hafseld has persuaded 5 other active Norwegian designers to join in. It has turned into a book filled with unique designs, with small and large garments for everyday use and party, for both women and men.”

Above is four garments named with designer name.

“Knit your favourite. The best of Norwegian design. Here you will find more than 30 gorgeous garments from six of our most popular knitwear designers.”

The book club editor writes that this includes the best from some of the best and that she has looked forward to flickering through this. The advantages of having a real book (read: printed book) in your hands and being able to flick forward and back. How easy it is to find  a pattern she wants to try out, evaluate what colour to use and suddenly she is back with her head into her yarn basket and just have to start.

 Next is Iselin’s introduction to the book: “The idea behind this book was to gather a group of designers active in the field today and who have made their mark on Norwegian Knitwear design. Six designers were invited to join with their unique designs for women and men. We, who have contributed hope that this will become your new inspirational book. A book that makes you want to create even more with needles and balls of yarn.” Then follows a few sentences from each one of us about our inspiration and information about the yarn used.

The book is on schedule and has been sent to print. I have also received all the photos of my garments taken so I will be sharing those soon.

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Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Cambridge Cardigan

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The next series of photos I am going to show you is of the Cambridge Cardigan which was made for Interweave Knits Fall 2018 and returned in time for my photoshoot in May. I organised a KAL (read: Knit-A-Long) for this last autumn and you can see all the wonderful results on the pattern page on Ravelry. The pattern is also available at LoveCrafts. In these photos you see it worn by the gorgeous Emma Ross, with hair and make-up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum at Vollen in Asker in May. I decided to style it with cream coloured silk slacks and a matching top to show that it can be both relaxed but also very stylish.

The Cambridge Cardigan is knitted in three colour of Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift using 3.25 mm/US 3 and 3 mm/US 2.5 needle. The Spindrift yarn is made of 100% wool with 105 meters/115 yards on each 25 gram ball. I have graded the pattern in five sizes from XS to 2XL and Em is wearing size L. Intended Ease: + 5-10 cm/2-4”. Sample shown is 111 cm/43.75” with + 40.5 cm/16” ease on model.

The Cambridge Cardigan is the quintessential collegiate cardigan. Inspired by Scottish tartans, this preppy, oversized cardigan is ready for a chilly library, reading on the quad, or for a visit to the local pub. The body of this project is worked in the round and steeked at the center and armholes.

The cardigan is worked back and forth from the bottom up through the hem, then joined and worked in the round with steeks at center front and armhole openings. The sleeves are worked in the round, with the sleeve cap worked flat. I steeked this cardigan by crocheting slip stitches on each side of center steek stitches before cutting, but you can also use a sewing machine or needle felting with a 3-pronged plus 5-pronged felting needle with brush/platform to secure the steeks: See this blogpost with a video tutorial by Meg Swansen: Schoolhousepress.com.

For more details about my design process and sneak peeks of new designs, support me on Patreon and get access to 38 patron only blogposts, including 6 videos and other rewards such a free monthly pattern. To those of you who already support me, thank you! www.patreon.com/lindamarveng.

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Gocce Pattern Released

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I am thrilled to release my Gocce cardigan and cowl in both English and Norwegian, after a successful test knitting. As usual my test knitters did an excellent job of improving and correcting the pattern. You can see all their wonderful versions on the Ravelry pattern page. The English and Norwegian pattern is now available on Ravelry and LoveCrafts. Above you see model Emma Ross wearing Gocce, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design. She was brilliantly captured by photographer Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum at Vollen in Asker, outside of Oslo, in May. Below is the introduction to the pattern.

The poetic introduction to Shibui Knits’ Rain, a stunning chainette cotton yarn, inspired the name choice of this fitted summery lace cardigan. ”Fleeting drops fall…” not unlike the lace pattern on this jacket. Gocce is Italian for drops and selected to give this v-neck cardigan the sophistication it deserves. The jacket is knitted in pieces for the ultimate fit and seamed. A cowl crowns the cardigan and can be worn loose or twice around your neck.

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

Finished measurements:
Bust/hip: 77 (85, 92, 103, 114, 125) cm/30.5 (33.5, 36, 40.5, 45, 49)“
Waist: 71 (79, 86, 97, 108, 119) cm/28 (31, 34, 38, 42.5, 47)”
Length: 61 (62, 63, 64, 65, 66) cm/24 (24.5, 24.75, 25.25, 25.5, 26)“
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20)”
Cowl: One Size. Width: 102 cm/40.25” Height: 29 cm/11.5”
Intended ease: – 6-10 cm/2.25-4”. Sample shown is 77 cm/30.5” and worn with – 9 cm/3.5” ease on model.

Yarn: Shibui Knits, Rain (100% cotton, 50 g, 123 m/135 yds). Sample is knitted in Mineral:
Cardigan: 7 (8, 9, 10, 11, 12) skeins; 836 (934, 1020, 1155, 1290, 1425) m/914 (1021, 1115, 1263, 1411, 1558) yds.
Cowl: 3 skeins; 357 m/390 yds.
https://shibuiknits.com/products/rain?variant=10882248376363

Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 straight needles.
3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32”) for buttonband.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 9 buttons (15 mm/0.59”), stitch markers (removable), stitch holders, yarn needle and sewing needle (to join new yarn).

Gauge: 22 sts and 32 rows in st st using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.
14 sts in Lace (1 repeat) using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle measures 7.5 cm/3” across.

Notes: The cowl is worked in the round, unlike the cardigan.

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Oslo Strikkefestival 2019

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I have spent an exciting weekend at Oslo Strikkefestival/Knitting Festival and since I was not teaching I had the opportunity to sign up to workshops but due to the packed program it was difficult to choose. Last time I attended a workshop was at Strik Bornholm in 2014 with Norah Gaughan. I picked three in the end, all held in English by; Canadian Artist/Maker Arounna Khonnoraj, aka Bookhou; American Designer Renate Yerkes, aka Elephino PDX; and American designer Jennifer Steingass, aka knit.love.wool. I have learnt several tips on the Social Media front, how to work double knitting and more in depth on colorwork design. Above you can see the Lain’amouree stand.

I discovered new yarns at the Market Place, got to fondle quite a number of lush yarns, met designers, knitters and yarn producers. I stopped Eli, aka Skeindeer, to introduce myself and I spotted Stephen West in his colourful designs. The festival was held at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History at Bygdøy, in the different historic buildings with the main attraction being the Gol Stave Church dating back to 1200. Like most of the tourists, I preferred to take the ferry from Aker Brygge/Wharf instead of the very full bus. Above is the Garthenor stand. “Garthenor Organic have produced exclusively organic yarn in the UK since 1999, being the first company in the world to gain organic certification for wool yarns from sheep to skein in 2003. They offer lovely certified organic, breed specific, fully traceable yarns in dyed and undyed shades. Nothing less than gorgeous!”

Instead of travelling from Ørje both days, I chose to stay with my mum in Oslo for the weekend. The market hall on the first day on Saturday was packed and with a queue to get into the second room. I spotted designer Kristin Wiola Ødegård in the queue and I exchanged position with her relieved husband. Below is another photo from “Lain’amouree is a hand dyed luxury wool brand from France offering a wide variety of soft and exclusive wools ranging from baby alpaca and silk, through mohair and merino, to yak and baby camel. Their colour palette is soft and delicate, and every colour has its own story— revealing itself stitch by stitch”.

While I was looking at yarns at the French Lain’amouree, Øyvind & Anette from Hillesvåg walked in together with designer Sidsel Høivik. They were heading for a talk by Erling Digernes of Rauma Ullvarefabrikk and I decided to join them. I enjoyed seeing old photographs of the factory and hearing about their production process.

After the talk I saw designer Marianne Skatten and her designer friend Rasa Ziburkute, aka galgendesign, who I met last time at Fefor Strikkefestival. We are all wearing our own designs in the rain. I asked if I could join them for lunch. We headed towards the coffee shop next to the entrance at the museum. It was packed with knitters and a fab place for sweater spotting.

Marianne and I had both booked the Social Media workshop, so we headed there after lunch. There were about 20 of us attending the class so we had ample opportunity to ask questions during Arounna’s presentation and after it. The workshop ended with her commenting on a few of the Instagram pages to some of the volunteers. I also had time for a quick spin in the knitting history exhibition at the museum and that is what you can spot above. Below is the full listing of the workshops I attended. I so enjoyed meeting these designers and learning new techniques, tips and ideas!

  1. Arounna Khonnoraj, Bookhou — Social Media and Marketing your Business Online.
  2. Renate Yerkes, Elephino PDX — Two Sides to This Story: The Dynamic World of Double Knitting.
  3. Jennifer Steingass — Introduction to Colorwork Design.

For the first time I could look at the bright coloured Garnsurr yarns. They had a stand outside in the courtyard. Here is the introduction from the Market Hall listing: “Garnsurr is a Norwegian social entrepreneurship hiring refugee women. The women in Garnsurr dye yarn for sale, knit and learn Norwegian, so this truly is hand dyed yarn with a purpose. They offer beautifully hand dyed yarn in unusual and often surprising combinations—a real colour explosion!”

Værbitt also had a stand in the courtyard. Above you see Laila’s friend looking after the shop while she was holding a workshop. The four last skeins on all rows are hand dyed on Sølje by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Here is the introduction to Værbitt from the Market Hall listing: “Værbitt Garn is an Oslo-based indie dyery working their colour magic on no-nonsense wool, aka yarn bases that are locally produced here in Norway. With great care for the environment they make sure the yarn is short travelled and made from the wool of happy sheep wandering freely.”

I also met Sophie from Pom Pom, who took a photo of my holding up last issue 27 issue 27 Winter 2018 magazine with my design Ataraxia for their Instagram story. The weather only cleared up later in the evening after the festival ended on Sunday at 5 PM. I went back to the centre on the ferry and had a walk on Aker Brygge/Wharf where a boat festival was ending and the boats were leaving. My head has been buzzing for a few days now, but my what a knitting festival it was! Oslo is a Knitting Capital, I agree with Ronja Cecilie Moås! Thank you for a fantastic festival!

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Cambridge Cardigan Pattern Released

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The Cambridge Cardigan sample has come back to me from Interweave (Knits Fall 2018 issue) and so has the rights, hence I have released the English pattern in my Ravelry store and on LoveCrafts. I organised a KAL for this last autumn and you can see all the wonderful results on the pattern page. On the cover you see it worn by the gorgeous Emma Ross, with hair and make-up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum at Vollen in Asker in May.

The Cambridge Cardigan is the quintessential collegiate cardigan. Inspired by Scottish tartans, this preppy, oversized cardigan is ready for a chilly library, reading on the quad, or for a visit to the local pub. The body of this project is worked in the round and steeked at the center and armholes.

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

Finished measurements:
Bust: 87 (96, 102, 111, 126.5, 133) cm/34.25 (37.75, 40.25, 43.75, 49.75, 52.25)“
Length: 74 (75, 76, 77, 78, 79) cm/29 (29.25, 30, 30.25, 30.75, 31)”
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 51, 51, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 20, 20, 20, 20)“
Intended Ease: + 5-10 cm/2-4”
Sample shown is 111 cm/43.75” with + 40.5 cm/16” ease on model.

Yarn: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift (100% wool, 105 m/115 yds, 25 g):
MC: Storm 243 (gray-green); 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins.
CC1: Granite 122 (light gray): 4 (5, 5, 5, 6, 7) skeins.
CC2: Cinnamon 576 (orange): 2 (2, 2, 2, 3, 3) skeins.
Total meterage/yardage: 1577–2524 m/1725-2760 yds.

Needles: 3.25 mm/US 3 circular needle (30, 40 and 80 cm/12”, 16” and 32”).
3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (30, 40, 80 and 100 cm/12”, 16”, 32” and 40”)
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Waste yarn for markers, markers (removable) and yarn needle.
Crochet hook or sewing machine or 3-pronged plus 5-pronged felting needle with brush/platform (see video) for steeks and if preferred 1 m/1 yd bias binding to cover steek at armhole.
9 (15 mm/5/8”) buttons.

Gauge: 24 sts and 33 rows in st st using 3.25 mm/US 3 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.
24 sts and 33 rows in stranded colorwork in st st using 3.25 mm/US 3 needle measures 10 cm/4” in square.

Notes: The cardigan is worked back and forth from the bottom up through the hem, then joined and worked in the round with steeks at center front and armhole openings. The sleeves are worked in the round, with the sleeve cap worked flat.

Duplicate stitch or Crochet slip stitch:
The sample is worked with duplicate stitch on vertical lines in CC2 on the center two boxes on the back and five boxes closest to the opening on each front while the original plan was to do it all over hence the pattern text specifies all. So you knit the center stitch of the pattern repeat with the CC1 or MC (depending on the rnd) and then either use duplicate stitch or slip stitch crochet with CC2.
Tip: You might find it easier to purl the stitch instead of knit to make the duplicate stitch more even.

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Oslo Design Fair August 2019

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Last Wednesday Michael and I attended the Oslo Design Fair in Lillestrøm. As always it was a great opportunity to meet Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk since they are located in Bergen on the coast and also other designers, as well as yarn companies and agents. Michael and I arrived in time for the press breakfast talk that introduced to the trade fair and its current topic: ”Rethink”. The modules in massive wood by Vardehaugen Arkitekter exhibited will be given a new life after the fair as cottages at Træna and in Sweden. The modules can easily be changed and put together depending on your need. Below you see a photo Michael took of the so-called Tower.

All the talks and most of the interior companies were located in Hall C, while the yarn companies were in Hall B, at the fair. Below you see me talking to MD Øyvind Myhr and Anette Toft at the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk stand. They have made a new catalogue with my latest designs: Epona Pullover, Macha Jacket & Cowl and Gillah Swoncho. I am pleased to tell you that they wanted 4 new designs for the spring and that I have started working on those.

House of Yarn, consists of several separate companies some of them with previous lives but now joined into one: Dale Garn, Du Store Alpakka, Gjestal Garn, Camilla Pihl Strikk, Gullungen Garn, Oransje Skjerf Garn, Rosa Sløyfe Garn, and Linde Garn. The 1980s have come back and I am not too keen on the revival since I lived through it once already. There was no fashion show but House of Yarn did have a video of their fashion show running on their large stand. There were plenty of new yarns to look at and fondle.

I also talked with Thomas Kvist of House of Hobbies. He is the Scandinavian agent for the Italian yarn producer Lana Gatto and for the American Distributor Knitting Fever. Thomas talked me through the new yarns. On his stand was also designer Tove Lindtein who has used a number of the Lana Gatto yarns in her upcoming book that will be launched in November. We had a long talk about making books and knitting workshops.

Michael and I met up with Tove Fevang (centre), Bente Presterud (right), Sidsel Høivik (left) and Gro Sandvik (next to Bente) for lunch. I had not met Gro before but know the other designers from years back. It was a great opportunity for us to meet and update each other.

I must also show you a photo of the marvellous Japanese inspired stand that Kaja Gjedebo Design had set up in Hall B.

Kaja had commissioned fashion drawings to have on the wall of her stand. They were graphic black and white drawings, that lured you into her stand. Her artistic jewellery is so stunning and so beautifully displayed on the fair. I did enjoy hanging out here, I must admit. Late in the afternoon Michael and I headed home. The trade fair was on both Thursday and Friday too but this time the trade fair ended on Friday without any public days.

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