Monthly Archives: August 2020

O-Chem Tunic in Familien Høststrikk 2020

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I am thrilled that my O-Chem Tunic, first published in English in Interweave Knits Winter 2019, is included in the Norwegian special magazine Familien Høststrikk 2020, that came out last Friday. On the cover is “Ut på tur” designed by Trine Lise Høyseth. My tunic, see below, is worn by the stunning Kaja Kvernbakken with hair & make-up by Sissel Fylling and captured by Eivind Røhne. Kaja is wearing size Medium with a 94 cm/37″ bust circumference, but the tunic is available in sizes XS to 2XL with 81 to 124 cm/32 to 49″ circumference.

The O-Chem Tunic is knitted in Tahki Stacy Charles Yarns, Alden, made of 50% merino wool, 25% alpaca and 25% acryl with 230 meters/250 yards on each 50 gram ball, using a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle and a 20 stitch and 30 rows gauge in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

The O-Chem Tunic features a striking central panel of hexagonal cables inspired by organic chemisty compounds. For visual balance with the three cables in the body, the sleeves have one main cable running down the arm, and all the cables in the sweater are framed with rope cables. The sweater sports a cozy standing collar and side vents in the rib at the bottom for a relaxed fit.

The Familien Høststrikk magazine is available at selected news agents and super markets.

In the photo below you can see the intricate cable pattern as well as the lovely silver earrings designed by Kaja Gjedebo Design.

The English pattern to  is available to download as an individual pattern in my Ravelry store and on Love Crafts.

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Tromsø Architecture

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I wanted to share a selection of the photos Michael took of the architecture in Tromsø from our trip back in July. It was our first trip so far north, above the Arctic Circle, and we were so fortunate to have so many days with very warm temperatures for Northern Norway, that is; 24 degrees Celsius/75 degrees Fahrenheit, see the Postcard from Northern Norway. On top of our list to visit was the Tromsø landmark, the Ishavskatedralen/Arctic Cathedral and Michael chose our hotel Scandic Ishavshotel based on its location with a view towards it. The photo above is taken with a zoom in the evening after 7 PM, while I have captured Michael in action for scale in the photo below.

The architect is Jan Inge Hovig and the cathedral was dedicated on November 19, 1965. Above is the main entrance on the western side; it is surrounded by a large glass façade with a pronounced cross. The cathedral is built of eleven cast-in-place aluminium-coated concrete panels.

The view from the backside, which we saw first as we came walking from the Fjellheisen/Cable Car.

Below is the side view, where you can see the construction and the eleven panels.

The cathedral was open so we were able to take a close look inside too.

“The fantastic glass mosaic on the eastern side was added in 1972. The glass mosaic is one of artist Victor Sparre’s most prominent works. It depicts God’s hand from which departs three rays of light: one through Jesus, one through a woman and one through a man”. Continues on the webpage to the Arctic Cathedral.

Take a closer look at this photo and you will see the glass mosaic in one end and the organ at the other end of the church.

Next on our list was the Tromsø bibliotek/Library. The building was erected beneath the original roof of the old Fokus Kino/Cinema, drawn by architect Gunnar Bøgeberg Haugen and opened on th 16th of March 1973. The special roof construction was made inspired by the Spanish architect Félix Candela’s construction, often labelled candela shell.

The architect behind the library is HRTB AS. The building was opened in 2005 and offers amazing views of Tromsø. Yet, only a few of the study desks, with a view, in the reading room were taken on the day we visited the library.

The staircases criss-crossing the interior looked like an elaborate sculpture.

Lastly, I wanted to share the very distinctive building exterior of Polaria – the Arctic aquarium – that represents ice floes that have been pressed up on land by the rough seas of the Arctic. Do check out the sketch made by the architects; Jaf arkitektkontor AS.

I hope you will enjoy these photos from the architecture of Tromsø. I recommend you visit Tromsø and explore Northern Norway, when it is safe again to do so!

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Northern Norway Knit Photos

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I promised to show you some knitting photos from Northern Norway; here they are. I brought my Aife pullover with my so that we could photograph it at the Blåisvannet/Blue Lake in Lyngen, outside of Tromsø. Here I am photographed by Michael wearing my hiking trousers and mountain boots with my design Aife knitted in Dye Dye Done Pure Sport. I believed I would need it during our hike to the Blue Lake, but since the weather cleared and it got warmer, I had it in my backpack. The Aife pattern is available on Ravelry and on Love Crafts.

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.

The next knit design I wanted to show you is the Autumn Symphony that Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, knitted for herself – and not as a sample for me – photographed by Michael at smooth rock surface at Tungeneset with that view to the Okshornan/Ox horn cliffs at the island of Senja outside of Tromsø. You can see my photo of Michael at the same spot in this blogpost: Postcard from Northern Norway. Read about alpine climbing these cliffs here: Okshornan på Senja.

My introduction to the pattern, available on Ravelry and on Love Crafts, follows: Leaves cover this A-lined jacket knitted in one piece with a false seam in a middle of the stocking stitch panel. The sleeves are knitted in the round with leaves up to the shaping where the lace pattern is changed to reverse stocking stitch. A belt in autumn coloured tweed lengthens the jacket and introduces the orange wrap. Or why not wear the wrap as a belt and opposite. Choose your three favorite colours, then make your outfit.

Last but not least is Grete on the beach outside their house in Markenes, Storsteinnes outside of Tromsø, close to midnight late in July, wearing her stunning Mohair Poncho. One she knitted for herself from my Norwegian book, but now also available in English on Ravelry and Love Crafts.

A poncho not reminiscent of the -70s but fashionable in addition to being warm, was my aim. It is easy to knit in 3 identical rectangular pieces but an intermediate challenge to sew together. The yarn I have chosen is a mixture of alpaca and mohair with a little acrylic from Texere Yarns.

We were waiting for the midnight sun to disappear behind the mountains. The sky went more red by the minute, see the best photo here: Postcard from Northern Norway.

I also want to share a selection of Michael’s amazing architectural photos from Tromsø in a later blogpost!

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church May 2020: Skyla

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The time has come to share the brilliant photos Eivind Røhne took of model Olivia Lindtein, with hair & make-up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, at out second photoshoot at Bøler Kirke – a community church by HBA Arkitekter completed in 2011 – at the end of May. Olivia is wearing the pullover – or tee if you like – Skyla knitted in the hand dyed Dye Dye Done, Pure Sport, the new design first out in this series of pictures. Both the English and the Norwegian pattern is available on Ravelry and also on LoveCrafts. I choose to style this sweater and cowl with my cream coloured silk slacks. In times of order, it was the third garment we photographed because I wanted to photograph it outside by the window and we had to wait for the shadow to come around to the corner we wanted as the backdrop.

Kaja arrived at the church from her nearby home just in time for Olivia to borrow her Eo Ipso Armring and earrings. I had already tried my Monies statement jewellery, while waiting for Kaja, and Sissel was adjusting Olivia’s pony tail. The bracelet looked way too heavy on her slim wrist, in fact so heavy that it looked like the weight would topple her, Sissel joked. See the situation photo here: Behind the Scenes Photoshoot at Bøler Church May 2020.

We had our first photoshoot at Bøler Church back in October 2017, and enjoyed being back at this perfect spot, especially since the Corona virus restrictions were still in place.

Skyla is a cabled a-line pullover with short sleeves, adorned with two central mirrored cables divided by twisted stitches. The small cables, created by Devorgilla, run towards each shoulder and make a v-shaped panel of reverse stockinette stitch at the center. The sweater ends in a casual wide rounded neck. To show off the stunning hand dyed Pure Sport yarn by Dye Dye Done, the sides are all in stockinette stitch. Skyla is knitted in pieces for the ultimate fit and has a cowl that can be worn as a collar.

The sample was perfectly knitted by sample knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and a gauge of 25 sts and 32 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

Olivia is wearing the Skyla sample in size S with a bust circumference of 90 cm/35.5” with + 7 cm/2.75” ease. I have graded the pattern from sizes XS to 5XL with bust circumferences of 82 to 164 cm/32.5 to 64.5″. I loved seeing Skyla worn by Olivia and want to thank my amazing team for these photos!

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Postcard from Northern Norway

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I have been to Northern Norway for the first time ever! Michael and I have spent four nights with my sample knitter Grete Jenssen & her husband Jan Sverre in Storsteinnes and three nights at Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromsø. We decided early in July to travel north and to meet Grete for the first time in real life. Grete and I have been in touch since 2012, when she found me on Facebook. It did not take long until I felt like I had know her for ages! Above you see the view of Tromsø from the Cable Car going up to the mountain ledge Storsteinen (421 m above sea level). The weather was surprisingly warm and summery with 24 degrees Celsius/75 degrees Fahrenheit for being so far north – a two hour flight from Oslo. Michael and I did not walk down, but there were plenty of people who did. The 1250 steps are built by sherpas and some of the stones had their names inscribed, see below.

We had a magnificent view of the cable car and the Arctic Cathedral, in the centre of the photo below, from our room at the Scandic Ishavshotel to the right.

Grete had researched what to do while we were staying with them and we happily agreed to hike to the Blåisvannet/Blue Lake in Lyngen on Friday and to visit Senja on Saturday. On our first day, it was raining heavily so we went for a short drive to see some rock carvings nearby. The rain stopped and we had a lovely walk.

Jan Sverre drove us for about two hours to the carpark about 4 kilometers from the Blue Lake and we quickly realised that we were far from alone. A number of Finnish families had driven across the border and prepared for the easy trek. The last part of the walk up to the lake involves climbing over large stones and scree. The blue colour is due to the high content of silt particles in the meltwater from the Lenangsbreen glacier.

Here you see a number of people on their way up to the lake and with shadow on the glacier at the top.

Senja is the second largest island in Norway and spectacular! We stopped at a Norwegian Scenic Route point with a view that took my breath away! Jan Sverre is photographing the view. You can read more the Norwegian Scenic Route at Senja here: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no.

The view the other direction give you an idea of the scale and ruggedness of these mountains facing the Atlantic coast.

Senja has amazing beaches but very cold water. We spotted a few children in the water but only one brave adult.

Here is Michael sitting at the smooth rock surface at Tungeneset with that view to the Okshornan/Ox horn cliffs. I should specify that all these photos are taken by me and not Michael.

The easy access to the rock surface from another Norwegian Scenic Route viewpoint. Do notice the rugged mountains and the people photographed to add scale.

The Midnight Sun from the beach in front of Grete’s house, taken 15 minutes past midnight. The brightly light nights made it difficult to sleep, but they were amazing. One more post from Northern Norway is coming, this time including some knits! We had a fabulous week in the north, and want to come back to see more! If you have not been, do add it to your bucket list for the future, when it is safe to travel abroad again! Stay safe and healthy! Regards from Northern Norway!

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