Melva, here worn by the gorgeous Emma Ross, is currently being test knitted so the pattern will be launched at the Edinburgh Yarn Festival (EYF) in March. Em’s hair & makeup is by Sissel Fylling and her fantastic jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Photographer Eivind Røhne brilliantly captured the scene and made sure the letters “Bø” from “Bøler Kirke” (read: as in “Boo!”) was visible. Named after Melva, Celtic for ruler is this straight sweater with fancy cables at the bottom and the top. Ribbing in the side makes the sweater figure hugging. While the stockinette stitch center panel shows off the stunning hand dyed The Little Grey Sheep, British Stein Fine Wool 4ply. The sleeve mirrors the body, but it is worked flat unlike the body.
Em is wearing size XS with a bust circumference of 88 cm/34.75″ with 2.5 cm/1″ positive ease. I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a finished bust circumference of 88 to 124 cm/34.75 to 48.75″. I chose to style the pullover with a pair of Prada trousers in a mauve colour, that perfectly matched the nail varnish shade Sissel chose. The shoes, not in any of these photos, are Carla in Wine by Monica Stålvang, just in case you were wondering.
The Little Grey Sheep, British Stein Fine Wool 4ply is made of wool from Emma Boyles’s sheep at Well Manor – a small family farm on the Surrey Hampshire borders in the UK. It is 100% wool with 330 meters/360 yards on each 100 gram skein. I used a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and got a gauge of 26 stitches and 34 rows in stocking stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. I wanted a red shade and Emma suggested the shade named Outback and kindly offered to sponsor the yarn.
The delicate and intricate cable is again from Norah Gaughan’s excellent Knitted Cable Sourcebook. The Melva pattern will be released on Ravelry and a sample of the pullover will be on show at The Little Grey Sheep stand at EYF in March.
