Thia and Damara Knitted by Patricia

Posted on October 30, 2019 by Linda Marveng

I am thrilled to show you Patricia’s version of Thia jacket and Damara skirt, which she test knitted for me early this spring, before the Norwegian book “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt“, which I take part in with 5 designs, was sent for print. I asked Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk if they would be willing to sponsor Tinde pelt wool yarn to five selected test knitters and to my delight they accepted. Patricia choose the colour Blåturkis/Blue Turquoise 2129 and knitted size small but made both the body and the sleeves 10 cm/4″ shorter plus the collar 1 cm/0.5 shorter than the pattern. The skirt she made in size S and shortened the skirt with 8 cm/3.25″ plus the waistband with 2.5 cm/0.75″. On her project page for the cardigan on Ravelry, Patricia, aka Bellllama, writes:

“I was invited to take part in the test knit of this gorgeous cardigan. It’s a wonderful knit using spectacular Norwegian yarn. The book is being sponsored by Hillesvåg and so test knitters received the yarn to complete the project. I ordered pewter buttons for it, as I couldn’t find the proper size here. A beautiful pattern that fits wonderfully according to size. The pattern as with all of Linda’s designs is easy to follow. I would strongly suggest ordering Tinde to create this sweater. It’s available now in Canada!” See Farm to Cable Yarns and Espace Tricot.

Pat continues: “I was also able to make the skirt, Damara and so I now have a wonderful suit to wear this fall and winter. Lovely patterns, Linda has done another great job!!” Thank you ever so much for the complements and for test knitting for me, Patricia!

Thia is a sweet fitted cardigan with a small extra rib above the waist, cables adorning the center framed by double seed stitch. The lower part is all in stockinette stitch to allow the beautiful hand-dyed Mikkel Rev on Tinde pelt wool by Værbitt shine with its colours and depth. Thia ends in a large collar that can be folded down.

Damara: Named after the fertility Goddess is this asymmetrical skirt with a seeded rib check pattern, that can also be worn as a poncho. The high waist in ribbing is loose so that the skirt can be worn around your hips or folded down, both with a belt to hold it up. Damara is knitted in pieces with a side seam in the divine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Tinde. The ribbing is worked last so you can easily adjust it to your preference.

The two patterns (plus three of my other designs) are included in the Norwegian knitting book: “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt“/Norwegian Knit Design. Knit Your Favourite has been released by publisher Cappelen Damm but is only available in a printed format in Norwegian and can be ordered directly from the publisher or from online book stores like: Adlibris. You can look inside here and see more photos in my blogpost: Book Club Presentation. We all hope that this will increase the possibility of it being sold by the Cappelen Damm Agency to foreign publishers, hence translated. However, the rights will revert to me in January 2021 and I will make the digital patterns available on Ravelry and LoveCrafts.

Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Gillah

Posted on October 26, 2019 by Linda Marveng

Last out of the designs I made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk that we photographed in late May, is the Gillah knitted in the divine Tinde pelt wool yarn in Grey Purple 2111. The gorgeous and talented Kaja Kvernbakken, with hair & make-up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, wears size XS/S and has been brilliantly captured by photographer Eivind Røhne. We have moved to the front of the small gallery building, opposite the Oslofjord Museum, and I wanted to show how this swoncho or pullover looks with and without a belt. Just as for the Epona pullover, the I choose to style the swoncho with a pair of Japanese culottes I have in my wardrobe together with ankle boots by Monica Stålvang.

Kaja is wearing the smallest size XS/S with 56 cm/22″ positive ease. The circumference is 144 cm/56.75 and I have graded it into M/L: 152 cm/59.75 plus XL/2XL: 160 cm/63″. Intended ease: + 40-56 cm/15.75-22″. You can adjust the size to fit you by deducting or adding sets of 12 stitches.

Devorgilla’s stunning cable adorns this swoncho with garter stitches on the center sleeve and collar. It is knitted in pieces with vents in each side and shoulder shaping in the gorgeous Tinde Pelsull from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The collar ends in a I-cord bind off to crown the playful center cable. Gillah means joy in Hebrew and it suited this swoncho tribute to Dorota Kowalczyk.

Gillah is knitted using 3.5 mm/US 4 needles with a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

A yarn kit for the Gillah is available in selected stores in Norway as well as online from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The test knit of the English pattern begins in November and it will be released together with the Norwegian one in January.

Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Epona

Posted on October 23, 2019 by Linda Marveng

Next out of the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk designs series is the Epona pullover, worn by the gorgeous Kaja Kvernbakken, with hair & make-up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, captured by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum. The background I wanted turned out to be dark, but the colour match was so good. The pullover is knitted in a divine bottle green shade called green in Sølje Pelsullgarn, all from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle. The stockinette gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4″ square. I choose to style the pullover with a pair of Japanese culottes I have in my wardrobe together with ankle boots by Monica Stålvang, see the bottom photo.

Graceful cables run along the center of this pullover with a high rib, creating a narrower waist. A sweater perfect for riding or worn together with a skirt, it is crowned by a high collar with interfacing to make it stand up. Epona is Celtic for the Goddess of horses and knitted in Sølje Pelsull from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in a deep bottlegreen shade.

Kaja is wearing size Small, but I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 124 cm/29 to 45″. Intended ease: + 5-7 cm/2-2.75″. Sample shown is 90 cm/35.5″ and worn with + 4 cm/1.5″ ease on model.

The pullover is worked in pieces and seamed. The cable pattern continues on the collar which is worked in the round with an interfacing part.

Take a look at this fab photo of Emma Ross wearing the Macha Jacket and Macha Cowl together Kaja wearing the Epona pullover. A yarn kit for the Epona is available in selected stores in Norway as well as online from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The English pattern is currently being test knitted in many different colours and will be released together with the Norwegian one in January.

Cian Knitted by Valeria

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Linda Marveng

Early this year, I invited five experienced test knitters to take part in a secret test knit for my patterns going into the Norwegian book “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt”, and here is Valeria’s result the Cian Pullover and Cian Cowl modelled by her youngest daughter Eleanor. I asked Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk if they would be willing to sponsor Tinde pelt wool yarn to these knitters and to my delight they did. Valeria, aka nickknitterton on Ravelry, chose “Lys dongeriblå” (read: light denim blue) for herself but the set now belongs to her beautiful daughter.

On her project page, Valeria writes: “I had been so happy about Linda´s invitation to a secret test knit of one her five designs in the upcoming book Norsk Strikkedesign. It contains the designs of six Norwegian designers and will be published in early October by Cappelen Damm. Thank you, dear Linda, for your trust and confidence! It was a great honour and pleasure for me!
And I´d like to say a big Thank You to the Norwegian yarn company Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk for its tremendous generosity to sponsor this test by gifting us a great amount of yarn. Tinde is a wonderful yarn, so lovely to knit with, light but warm at the same time.”

Thank you ever so much for test knitting for me and to Eleanor for modelling! Valeria knitted size Medium and used the recommended 3.5 mm/US 4 needle to achieve the gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch. I have graded the pullover in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″, while the cowl is one size and easy to adjust to your preference.

Named Cian after the Irish God who rules over love magic, is this long a-line pullover. Three central Moss cables, framed by double seed stitch, adorn the center of the body which ends in a vent. Cian is crowned with an I-cord decoration around its crew neck. The sweater is knit in pieces in the divine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Tinde Pelsull.

Aife Pattern Released

Posted on October 16, 2019 by Linda Marveng

The test knit of Aife has come to an end and my test knitters did a marvellous job improving the pattern. Both the English and the Norwegian pattern is available on Ravelry and also on LoveCrafts. Above you see the slightly fitted Aife pullover knitted in Pure Sport by Dye Dye Done, worn by the gorgeous Kaja Kvernbakken, with make-up & hair styling by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, captured by Eivind Røhne.

Aife was the Queen of the Isle of Shadow according to Celtic mythology. This elaborate cabled pullover with a slightly fitted waist, is made for a female warrior. A large cable panel, created by Devorgilla, is mirrored with two small cables at the center. The sweater ends in a generous turtle neck in ribbing. To show off the stunning hand dyed Pure Sport yarn by Dye Dye Done, the sleeves are in stockinette stitch with only two small centered cables. Aife is knitted in pieces for the ultimate fit.

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

Finished measurements:
Bust/hip: 86 (92, 98, 104, 110, 123) cm/34 (36, 38.5, 41, 43.5, 48.5)“
Waist: 80 (86, 92, 98, 104, 117) cm/31.5 (33.75, 36.25, 38.5, 41, 46)”
Length: 63 (64, 65, 66, 67, 68) cm/24.75 (25.25, 25.75, 26, 26.5, 26.75)“
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20)”
Intended ease: + 5-7 cm/2-2.75”. Sample shown is 92 cm/36” and worn with + 4 cm/1.5” ease on model.

Yarn: Dye Dye Done, Pure Sport (100% Superwash Merino, 100 g, 300 m/328 yds)
Sample is knitted in Baby Elephant: 5 (5, 6, 6, 7, 7) skeins; 1350 (1470, 1590, 1710, 1830, 2085) m/1476 (1608, 1739, 1870, 2001, 2280) yds.
https://dyedyedone.com/en_US/i/Our-Yarns/20

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 straight needle.
3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (60 cm/24”) for turtle neck.
3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (60 cm/24”) for turtle neck.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers (removable), cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 25 sts and 32 rows in st st, after blocking measures 10 cm/4” square.
34-sts cable measures 10 cm/4” across.

Notes: The pullover is worked back and forth in separate pieces and seamed. The collar is picked up and knitted in the round.

Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Macha Jacket & Macha Cowl

Posted on October 12, 2019 by Linda Marveng

The time has come to show you the Hillesvåg designs professionally photographed at the Oslofjord Museum. First out is the Macha Jacket and Macha Cowl beautifully worn by Emma Ross, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, captured by Eivind Røhne. I chose to style the jacket with cream coloured silk slacks and high heeled cream shoes.

The background I wanted turned out to be dark, but the colour match was so perfect, especially the oars. The jacket is knitted in the shades Charcoal and Natural in the yarn Vilje Lamullgarn (yes: lambswool) and Lime in Sølje Pelsullgarn, all from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk using mainly 3 mm/US 2.5 needle but also, 2.5 mm/US 1.5 needle, 3.25 mm/US 3 needle and 3.5 mm/US 4 needle. The stockinette gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4″ square.

Macha is the Celtic protectress in peace as well as the name of this heavily textured jacket with cable and tweed body and stranded colorwork sleeves. A tuck marks the end of the cable pattern, the beginning of both the tweed pattern and the deep v-neck shaping. The Macha body is worked in pieces but the sleeves are knitted in the round to the armhole in stranded colourwork with purl stitches and garter stitch stripes in three contrasting colors in both Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Vilje Lamull and Sølje Pelsull. A cable cowl completes the jacket which can also be worn together with the Macha cowl.

Em is wearing size Small, but I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference 86 to 126 cm/34 to 50″. Intended ease: + 5-7 cm/2-2.75″. Sample shown is 92 cm/36″ and worn with + 6 cm/2.25″ ease on model.

The jacket is worked in pieces and seamed. The stranded colorwork is worked mainly in stockinette stitch with a few purl stitches and the repeat ends in 6 rows of garter stitch worked on a smaller needle to stay in gauge. The cable cowl is worked in the round with ribbing on each side of cable panels. The tucks are made with 2 circular needles held parallel, hence the bottom part of the body is worked with circular needles for ease.

A yarn kit for the Macha Jacket is available in selected stores in Norway as well as online from Hillesvåg and the Macha Cowl will come soon. The English pattern is currently being test knitted in many different colours and will be released together with the Norwegian one at the end of the month.

Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt

Posted on October 9, 2019 by Linda Marveng

The Norwegian knitting book: “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt“/Norwegian Knit Design. Knit Your Favourite has been released by publisher Cappelen Damm and I have received it! Thank you to editor and participating designer Iselin Hafseld and publishing editor Anne-Berit Tuft! On the cover is model Emma Ross wearing “Jennys genser” designed by Arne & Carlos. The other participating designers are: Kari Hestnes, Bente Presterud, Birger Berge and me. The book will be marketed at the Frankfurt Book Fair beginning tomorrow, 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 brilliant photographer is none other than Eivind Røhne. Below is the back cover. You can look inside here and see more photos in my blogpost: Book Club Presentation. The book is only available in a printed format in Norwegian and can be ordered directly from the publisher or from online book stores like: Adlibris. Cappelen Damm will organise a book launch in Oslo on Thursday 21. November.

We all have 5 designs each and my ones are all knitted in Tinde pelt wool yarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk using 3.5 mm/US 4 and 3 mm/US 2.5 needles with a 21 stitches and 30 rows gauge. One of my designs, Thia, is made in the hand-dyed colour called “Mikkel Rev”/Michael the fox (based on a children’s rhyme) by Værbitt, Oslo based yarn shop owner Laila Henriksen. Below is model Kaja Kvernbakken wearing Thia in size Medium. All clothes styling as well as make-up and hair styling was done by Line Cartridge Lislerud.

Named Cian Pullover after the Irish God who rules over love magic, is this long a-line pullover. Three central Moss cables, framed by double seed stitch, adorn the center of the body which ends in a vent. Cian is crowned with an I-cord decoration around its crew neck. The pullover is knit in pieces in the divine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

Cian Cowl crowns the Cian pullover which is named after the Irish God who rules over love magic. The cowl is made up of two moss cables and framed by reverse stockinette stitches.

Cian Beret: A moss cable adorns the brim of this beret to accompany the Cian pullover. Named Cian after the Irish God who rules over love magic. Ribbing holds the pull up, which is knitted in stockinette stitch. Wear the beret tilted to one side of the head.

I have also been asked a few questions on different topics, so here are the responses to those:

Digital: Cappelen Damm will not offer the book in a digital format, nor as individual pdf’s.

Technical editor: For Cappelen Damm: Kaja Kvernbakken. I have also had my English patterns tech edited by: Barbara Khouri.

Secret Test Knit: I held a secret test knit, by invitation only, with a short deadline late this spring before the book went to print. I will be sharing their lovely results here on my blog.

Rights: The rights revert to us designers on January 1. 2021, and we are then allowed to sell the patterns individually.

Bergen Strikkefestival 2019

Posted on October 5, 2019 by Linda Marveng

I was delighted to be invited to hold workshops and a talk at the Bergen Strikkefestival in 2019 at the Norwegian Knitting Industry Museum at Salhus about 20 minutes outside of Bergen by the Salhusfjord. Michael had never been to Bergen, so he wanted to come along. I had already heard about the well organised event and the delicious food on offer before I arrived. That was no exaggeration, by any means. For the first time, I had access to a Backstage Room and used it well, since the knitting cafe was packed most of the time with a high level of buzz in addition to clicking knitting needles. I met a number of knitters I knew during the even and even spotted designers Marianne Skatten & Rasa Ziburkute, aka Galgen Design, on the same plane, flying from Oslo to Bergen.

The festival began on last Friday 27. September with an Opening Party including a concert with Sigrid Moldestad (vocals & fiddle), a talk by Pickles & Dagny about colour choices in their patterns and a knitting quiz. I thoroughly enjoyed the concert which was a perfect ending to the party. Pickles had encouraged knitters to wear their garments knitted from their recent book and it was fun especially to see all these women on the stage in different colours all wearing different versions of the same dress.

The opening party took place in the Spoleloft/Winding Attic, with seating at the front and tables along the sides of all the old machinery. I saw Rasa walk by, so she and Marianne came to join us. We knitted and chatted through the evening. Marianne was wearing my design Yellow Gold Pullover, Rasa her own design Royal Cardi and I was wearing the Damara Skirt as a poncho. Michael took most of these photos, but I am better at photographing the yarn stands as you can see below.

For dinner I had the lasagne on offer and it was delicious as if I was in an Italian restaurant! You could also have Norwegian homemade waffles or a selection of homemade cakes. On the menu for Saturday and Sunday was two different soups: Indian Dal Soup and Beta Soup (a vegetable soup) and freshly made baguettes instead of the Lasagne. I choose the Indian Dal Soup both days, enough said.

My talk on Digital Strikking/Knitting was moved to the same location on the Saturday afternoon since there was a cancelled talk. They had a technician giving me a microphone, but I had Michael to assist on setting up my laptop. I talked about my social media experience, how much the internet has changed knitting with events such Knit-A-longs and Test Knitting on Ravelry, technical videos and Podcasts on YouTube as well as all the useful dictionaries as tips to be found these days. My experience with the different pattern sales platforms and magazine submissions. I was thrilled with the comments afterwards that it had been a revelation packed with useful information and very professional.

The festival volunteers made sure I was driven to and from the festival so I did not have to take the two buses to get there. 9 AM on Saturday, Michael and I was picked up outside our hotel – the festival hotel Augustin close to the harbour. I was quick to spot Julie Dubreux, aka JulieKnitsInParis, at breakfast since her hair is bright blue and introduced myself. We went in the second car, while the third car had to carry one extra suitcase, and were driven to the door. We had a lovely chat on the way there and will meet up again at Barcelona Knits. Below you see us in the Market Hall, Julie is wearing her Tuva’s Arrows and I am wearing my Aife, in case you were wondering.

I had booked the chartered festival ferry going back to Bergen at 6 PM, since it was so tempting to travel on the fjord. It also gave me some time to check out the Market Hall after my talk.

Flettestrikk Masterclass/Cable Knitting Masterclass was my first workshop, held on Saturday morning at the Strikkeloft/Knitting Attic. Again a very atmospheric large room with a view of the fjord. It was nice to meet knitters I have met at other festivals, that I knew as well as new ones. I had an hour in between the workshop and the talk so I had lunch Backstage. The photo above is from Japanske Mønstre/Japanese Patterns workshop I had on Sunday and you see Rasa wearing her Lithuanian Lily Cardigan at the front.

Here is the view from down along the inner wall.

The view towards the fjord from the Backstage room. Bergen is know for all its sideways rain as it is on the west coast of Norway, but we were lucky and sunshine one day and only a few scattered showers the next day.

I had to photograph all the lovely yarns on display at Norne Yarn where I found Julie again. The yarns are dyed by Tuva, who is an indie-dyer based in Oslo, to the left in the photo above.

Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is located quite close to Salhus, at Hjelmås, so they had a stand. I had asked them bring more brochures and they had. I met the “Princess” as she introduced herself as from the Faroe Island there. Above you see her flicking through the latest brochure. She knew my designs and book well, I was happy to hear.

Saturday night, Michael and I had another nice evening with Marianne and Rasa. I had brought my knitting, but I got very little knitting done, as usual! Above is another photo from the Market Hall, of Ystabø Gull, taken late Saturday afternoon when it was possible to walk around in there. I had a wonderful weekend! Thank you to all the knitters, designers and yarn dyers I met! Well done, Bergen Strikkefestival!

Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Aife

Posted on October 2, 2019 by Linda Marveng

Next out in this series of photos taken by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum is Aife, worn by the gorgeous Kaja Kvernbakken with hair & make-up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design. I decided to style this fitted pullover, knitted in the divine hand dyed Dye Dye Done Pure Sport using 3 mm/US 2.5 needles, with a pair of Japanese culottes and Evelina ankle boots by Monica Stålvang. The yarn is made of 100% Superwash Merino and comes in 100 gram skeins with 300 meters/328 yards. The sample in size Small took 5 skeins and 1470 meters/1608 yards to make.

Kaja is wearing size Small, but I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a bust and hip circumference of 86 to 123 cm/34 to 48.5″. Intended ease: + 5-7 cm/2-2.75″. Sample shown is 92 cm/36″ and worn with + 4 cm/1.5″ ease on model.

Above you can see the hand dyed tones in the yarn as well as the details of the cables. The pattern is being test knitted and will be released tomorrow in both English and Norwegian on Ravelry as well as LoveCrafts.

Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Monthly Archives: October 2019