Monthly Archives: January 2020

Oslo Design Fair January 2020

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Last Wednesday Michael and I went to Oslo Design Fair in Lillestrøm, to visit the yarn stands, as well as to meet fellow designers. The theme for this trade fair was Impossible/Possible. “What if we can make the impossible, possible? It is hard to imagine a society that is   different than how we have it just now. But if we look back in time, we know that the changes will come and with today’s environmental threat and technological development the changes will come quicker than ever. Think about everything we know that we still do not know yet? Large challenges also create large possibilities. Oslo Design Fair wants to promote Norwegian Design and industry, art, crafts and architecture.” The well-known quote from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: “Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” was the inspiration for this theme.

I am wearing my Alva design, knitted in Tropical Lane Woolissimo, with a belt around the fronts, looking at the new samples from Rauma Garn. In the top photo the posters display the catalogue cover for the “Tumi” yarn and for the “Tjukk Mohair” yarn. The yarn companies are in Hall B, which hosts the categories jewellery, Norwegian craftsmanship, textile, fashion, yarn & hobby.

The best stand, that stood out in its bright pink & flower glory, was in Hall C (Design & Interior Architecture) by the company “Lykke Blomster” and they wanted to spread the “Luck” in their name “Luck Flowers”. It worked, they did!

Now, this piano was not only for display, but was actually in use during the day, while we were there.

 Here are more of the samples on the Rauma stand.

Sandnes Garn display.

Järbo Garn, the Swedish company. The were more yarn companies there, but as you might have guessed, Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk did not have a stand (they usually do not on the January fair).

Cappelen Damm podium on the main street promoting some of their popular titles. We met designers Tove Lindtein, Bente Presterud and Familien editor Åse Myhrvold Egeland during the day. I enjoyed the fair, even though there were even less yarn companies than at the last fair this time, I always have the opportunity to see the new yarns and designs coming this spring.

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New Design: Edia

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The last new design for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is an oversized pullover called Edia with the same cable as I chose for the Gyro dress. I was uncertain which colour of pink or burgundy purple in Tinde pelt wool to choose for the cable on the dress, so I thought I could make a sweater with the cable in the second colour; “Burgunderlilla 2131”. The sample was beautifully knitted by Airin Hansen, aka Teodor on Ravelry, for me to sew (read: crochet with slip stitch) together and make the collar. Airin knitted Edia using a 3.5 mm/US 4 and a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch.

Edia is an oversized sweater with a central cable panel, vent in the sides and a crew neck crowned by an I-cord bind off. The pullover has dropped shoulders and simple cables on the sleeves. Edia is an old Norwegian female name fitting for this relaxed sweater knitted in the gorgeous pelt wool yarn Tinde from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The sweater is worked back and forth in pieces and seamed. The neck is deeper on the front, than on the back.

I have graded the pattern from size XS to 3XL with measurements from 136 cm to 184 cm/53.5 to 72.5″. In these photos taken by my husband in Barcelona, you see me wearing size Small with a bust circumference of 144 cm/56.75″.

Above you can see the cable detail. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning on the 18th of May, before the pattern is released. I have one more new design to show you, before you will see how these designs looked on my model Olivia Lindtein.

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Macha Jacket Knitted by Erdmuthe

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I want to share the beautiful Macha Jacket including the cable cowl and Macha Cowl that Erdmuthe made during the test knit back in September last year. She went yarn shopping at Trollenwol in Driebergen in The Netherlands and writes on her Ravelry project page: “I still prefer going to a “real” shop, seeing the colors and feeling the yarns. It took me quite a while before I was satisfied about the combination of colors”. Erdmuthe chose Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Sølje in 2126 Grønn as the main colour, 2106 Turkis as the contrast colour 1 and Vilje in Hvit (read: Natural) as the contrast colour 2. The yarn is the same as I used for the sample the pelt wool Sølje and the lambswool Vilje. The size she adjusted to fit her and began working an XL decreasing down to a L, as well as adding extra length to it. Erdmuthe also decided to work the body in one piece. You can read more on her detailed project page on Ravelry and follow her as erdmuthe9977 on Instagram.

“It’s a great design, lots of interesting features that will keep you busy for some time.
The finished Jacket is going to be worn a lot this coming winter”.

Erdmuthe ends her project page notes with: “I forgot about the cable cowl. A very quick knit in the round. Chose to work it in color C as I loved the “Türkis” and wanted to give it some “attention” and opportunity to show a bit off.” Finally she chose to use only 3 buttons from Luena, that she discovered at the Hannover fair. Thank you so much for making this stunning version, Erdmuthe!

Here is my introduction to the Macha Jacket pattern – the Macha Cowl  (the stranded colorwork one) is a separate pattern, both are available in my Ravelry Store: 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.

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New Design: Rebine

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Just as promised here is the skirt Rebine, designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, knitted in  the Tinde pelt wool yarn, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle by the skilled sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka quiltefeen! One of my patrons, Tamar aka tamari.joy on Instagram, suggested I design a pencil skirt and I loved that idea. Hence Rebine was designed before I made Jendine to go with it, so you would have a set option if you so desire. I wanted it to sit properly and be as flattering as possible, so I shaped it for both the hip and the waist. The pattern stitch I selected was a cable rib. Instead of inserting an elastic for the waist, I chose a high waist and made belt loops that are inserted into the seam in the side.

Rebine, an old Norwegian name, is a pencil skirt with an all over elegant cable pattern ending in a high waist. The skirt is shaped for the hip and the waist. Belt loops, inserted in each side seam, hold the skirt in place. Rebine is knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Below you see the skirt worn with Ovedine, knitted in the thinner Sølje Pelsull, hand dyed by Værbitt in two colours: Drageegg and Lillebror.

The Tinde Pelsull is made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein. The sample is knitted in Lys Marine 2125 and requires only 3 skeins in the two smallest sizes. Rebine is knitted with a 21 stitches and 30 rows in Stockinette stitch gauge measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

In these photos taken by Michael in Barcelona last November, I am wearing size Small with a 92 cm/36.25″ hip measurement. I have graded the skirt in sizes XS to 3XL with hip measurements from 86 to 132 cm/33.75 to 52″. Due to the cable rib pattern, the skirt is very elastic.

The skirt is worked in pieces from the bottom and up. Make two belt straps to insert in the side seam. If you want to adjust the length of the skirt, remove up to 8 cm/3.25″ or add an extra length before shaping the hip.

The test knit of Jendine begins on the 16th of March and it is followed by a test knit for Rebine on the 6th of April, both in my Ravelry group. Yarn kits for both designs will be available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. I look forward to showing you how this set looked on my model Olivia Lindtein!

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Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church: Ataraxia

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I am thrilled to show you the first two sets of photos of Ataraxia brilliantly taken by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in Oslo in November last year. Ataraxia was designed for Pom Pom Quarterly, Issue 27: Winter 2018 and the sample I knitted in SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK in Pumpkin was returned to me together with the sample Pom Pom had knitted up to fit better with the remaining collection in the magazine in The Copper Corgi Fiber Studio, Jones Street Worsted in Goldenrod, which I borrowed for the photoshoot and then returned. The rights have reverted to me, so these new photos were taken for my individual pattern release. Both colours suited the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with make-up & hair by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design.

I decided to style the pumpkin coloured cardigan with cream coloured silk slacks and the goldenrod coloured one with a long black silk skirt since I prefer to style my designs up, but it looks equally well with jeans or skinny trouser, see how it looks on me here: Ataraxia Again. We decided to photograph the bright one upstairs next to the windows, where the heavy snowfall gave us what felt like a divine light, while the other one was photographed at the top of the stairs.

Ataraxia is named after one of Caroline Norton’s poems, to give you a sense of calm, sheltering you from whatever storms you bravely weather. She was known for her drive to establish basic legal rights for women. The long jacket’s fitted shape is achieved through a careful arrangement of vertical texture panels and I-cord highlights. Finished with a tucked asymmetrical peoplum. Designed with a mythic shield maiden in mind, not unlike Caroline Norton.

The handmade buttons on pumpin colored sample are made by Siri Berrefjord in Norway, see www.fredenshavn.no and can be ordered from siri@fredenshavn.no. You can see them close-up, photographed by Siri herself, in this blogpost: Ataraxia Buttons by Siri Berrefjord.

The pumpkin yarn is SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK made of 90% superwash merino, 9% super kid mohair, 5% silk with 200 meters/218 yards on each 100 gram skein. While the Goldenrod yarn is The Copper Corgi Fiber Studio, Jones Street Worsted made of 60% merino, 30% alpaca, 10% silk with 192 meters/210 yards on each 113 gram skein.

Ataraxia is knitted flat, in pieces, from bottom up, and seamed. The asymmetric lower body has extra width in each side that will be bound off before the tuck is made. Waist shaping is worked at the sides and the shoulders are shaped using short-rows. The collar is picked up and completed using an I-cord bind off.

Olivia is wearing size S with + 14 cm/5.5″ ease and stands 167 cm/5’6″ tall. I have graded the jacket from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 91 to 132.5 cm/35.75 to 52.25″.  Both samples are knitted using 4 mm/US 6 needles and a gauge of 21 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

The English pattern is now available in my Ravelry store and will soon be available on LoveCrafts. The Norwegian pattern has been sold to Familien and will be printed at a later date. I was so incredibly lucky that Erica Poppe could do the make-up & hair, since both Sissel Fylling and Jens Wiker were booked on other jobs, and that Olivia Lindtein could step in two days before the photoshoot. Thank you to my amazing team!

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New Design: Jendine

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Next out in the series of new designs for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is the Jendine pullover. It was made to go together with the Rebine skirt as a set, but works equally well with trousers. I chose a narrow cable that looks like a more advanced rib to adorn the center and wanted a high low effect for the pullover. Jendine and Rebine are both knitted in Tinde pelt wool, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 and a 3 mm/US 2.5 for the sleeve band by my skilled sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka quiltefeen! Michael took these photos of me, wearing size S with a 90 cm/35.5″ bust, in Barcelona, when I was teaching at Barcelona Knits 2019 back in November last year.

Jendine is an a-line pullover with a panel of elegant cable ribbing at the center, longer rounded hem at the back and a shorter front. The v-neck splits the cable panel into two parts each framed with an I-cord. Jendine is an old historic Norwegian name that fitted this flowing pullover, that can be worn together with the Rebine skirt. Jendine is worked in the beautiful Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

I have graded Jendine and Rebine (I will make a separate post with more photos of the skirt, especially the top of it) in sizes XS to 3XL with finished bust measurements of 84 to 136 cm/33 to 53.5″.

The test knit of Jendine begins on the 16th of March and it is followed by a test knit for Rebine on the 6th of April, both in my Ravelry group. I look forward to showing you how this set looked on my model Olivia Lindtein!

For more details on the design, become a patron and receive rewards like monthly newsletter, sneak peeks, free pattern(s), monthly video, all depending on the level chosen, see more details here: www.patreon.com/lindamarveng

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Epona Pattern Released

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The test knit of the Epona has come to an end and the pattern have been released in both English and Norwegian. My test knitters did a brilliant job; correcting and improving the pattern. I was so excited to see all the different colours they chose. Soon I will show you more versions of Epona. The design was made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the Sølje Pelsullgarn. On the pattern cover the sweater is worn by Kaja Kvernbakken, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, photographed by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum in May. The pattern is available from my Ravelry Store and also from Love Crafts. Below is my introduction to the pattern and pattern details.

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.

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

Finished measurements:
Bust: 84 (90, 98, 104, 114, 124) cm/33 (35.5, 38, 41, 45, 49)“
Hip: 74 (80, 88, 94, 104, 114) cm/29 (31.5, 34.5, 37, 41, 45)”
Length: 59 (60, 61, 62, 63, 64) cm/23.25 (23.5, 24, 24.5, 24.75, 25.25)“
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20, 20.5)”

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 350 m/383 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Green 2126; 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7) skeins; 1193 (1351, 1561, 1719, 1982, 2245) m/1305 (1477, 1707, 1880, 2168, 2455) yds.
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/solje-pelsullgarn/

Yarn alternatives: Cascade 220 Sport (100% wool, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Cascade220Sport.htm
Tosh Sock (100% wool, 100 g, 361 m/394 yds).
http://madelinetosh.com/tosh-sock/
Berroco Cosma (60% alpaca, 30% wool, 10% silk, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-cosma
Or another Sport/5 ply or Fingering 4/ply yarn.

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 straight needles.
3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle for collar (40 cm/16”).
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

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

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows in st st using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.
29 sts and 32 rows in rib slightly stretched (average) using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.
26-sts cable panel using 3 mm/US 2.5 measures 10 cm/4” across.
50-sts cable panel using 3 mm/US 2.5 measures 19.5 cm/7.75” across.

Notes: 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.

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Ovedine in På Pinnen

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I am thrilled to have my shawl Ovedine in issue 4/2019 of “På Pinnen“/On the Needle, a membership magazine for the Norsk Strikkeforbund/Norwegian Knitting Association. On the cover is a sweater called Maria by Iselin Hafseld, (yes: she is the author of the Norwegian book “Strikk fra Tinde“) who I interviewed for the previous issue. Below you see Ovedine, knitted in two hand dyed by Værbitt on Sølje pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, worn as a wrap by the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with hair & make up by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, photographed by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in November last year.

Named after an old female name from Norway is this shawl with tucks, short rows and garter stitch stripes in two colors. The hem and one tuck made on the wrong side, in addition to the double I-cord bind off, make the shawl two-sided. Choose if you want to wear it as a shawl, or a wrap around your body or as a shawl collar. Ovedine is knitted in two gorgeous hand dyed shades by Værbitt on the pelt wool Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The divine turquoise colour is Drageegg, Værbitt hand dyed on Sølje pelsull by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk made of 100% pelt wool on 100 gram skeins with 350 m/383 yds on each skein. You need 2 skeins in this or your preferred main colour; 497 m/544 yds.
Lillebror is the darker blue colour also hand dyed by Værbitt on Sølje pelsull. Only 1 skein in this or your preferred contrast colour is needed; 315 m/344 yds.

The shawl is made in one size, but can easily be adjusted if you prefer. The finished wingspan is 162 cm/64”, the width at widest point is 42 cm/16.5”  and the width at narrowest point is 12 cm/4.75”. Ovedine is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle for the garter stitch sections and 3.5 mm/US 4 for the tucks.

Ovedine is knitted with a looser than recommended gauge of 21 sts and 40 rows in garter stitch using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4 square. 21 stitches and 32 rows in st st using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.

Both the Norwegian and English pattern is available from my Ravelry store and from Lovecrafts.

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Happy New Year!

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Takk for det gamle/Thank you for the old one, we say to each other when the new year approaches in Norway! It is a good custom, in my opinion to thank friends and family for making the year richer, and so much better. So thank you for following me this last year & decade, and I wish you a happy and healthy new year! I hope it will be one that makes us grow, not physically but mentally, that is! I also hope it will bring lots of happiness and shared pleasures!

Above is a the amazing door and exterior of Trondenes Church in Harstad in Northern Norway, photographed by Michael. Trondenes Church is the northernmost medival stone church of  Norway and the world’s northernmost surviving medieval building dating back to around 1435.

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