Photo: Morten Bendiksen
This is a blogpost I thought I had written a year ago about the Wilma Lind Jacket, but for some reason did not. They do say time flies… Former Police Investigator, now author and television presenter Hanne Kristin Rohde and I collaborated on designing a jacket for her crime fiction heroine Wilma Lind, last year. Sample knitter Nadja made the jacket in red for my photoshoot, while Grete knitted it in soft turquoise a bit later, both in Sølje pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. A third sample was made in natural white in Vilje lambswool by Anne-Lise. You have already seen the red version photographed on model Alexandra Eissinger and on me but not these stunning photos of Hanne Kristin Rhode taken by photographer Morten Bendiksen.
Photo: Morten Bendiksen
Hanne Kristin wrote the first part of the introduction: “Police Investigator Wilma Lind is Norwegian, just like author Hanne Kristin Rohde and the yarn used in the sample: Sølje by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Last but not least is the fact that the designer Linda Marveng is also Norwegian. The Wilma Lind Jacket is inspired by the protagonist in her crime books: Strong, brave, weak, smart, impulsive, warm, uncertain, and daring. Wilma Lind has the ability to confront and fight – and with a need to be noticed, just like the rest of us. The sample is worked in red to symbolise power and hope. In white to symbolise blank sheets and in soft turquoise to capture the universe.”
Photo: Morten Bendiksen
I wrote the second part: A long a-line jacket with cables covering the back, and moving cables on the front. Instead of a shawl collar the jacket was given a deep v-neck and a loose shawl to use as a collar. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round after the rib to the underarm. It is knitted in the in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
Photo: Morten Bendiksen
The body is worked flat in pieces, unlike the long sleeves which are worked in the round to the armhole. The front cables move from their center position on the body towards the armhole and shoulder by increasing and decreasing into stockinette stitch. One front cable ends in the v-neck shaping but it is possible to work two cables to the shoulder by working extra stitches to gather cable row and decrease 1 stitch between cables, if necessary increase 1 stitch at either v-neck or armhole edge depending on size.
Photo: Morten Bendiksen
The English pattern, available on Ravelry, has been test knitted and the jacket is available in sizes XS to 2XL, while the shawl is in one size. The red sample is knitted in size S, while the turquoise and white are both in size M. The Norwegian pattern is only available on Hanne Kristin Rohde’s website. The collaboration and press coverage has been has been an extraordinary experience. Finally I must admit that I just love how well the jacket suits Hanne Kristin.
