Last week 7 shops, who sell clothes in Ørje, and I took part in a Fashion Show, organised by “Marker bygdekvinnelaget“/Marker Township Women. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Ataraxia
Ataraxia – A Recap
@ Laura Morsman
I have just uploaded the Norwegian pattern to Ataraxia to Ravelry and thought it was time for a recap. The design began as a submission to the Winter 2018 issue of Pom Pom Quarterly with guest editor Norah Gaughan – the cable expert – whom I had the pleasure of meeting at Strik Bornholm in Denmark back in 2014. The Pom Pom Quarterly magazine was founded by two of my former Loop colleagues: Meghan Fernandes and Lydia Gluck. The Ataraxia sample is knitted in the stunning The Copper Corgi Fiber Studio, Jones Street Worsted using 4 mm/US 6 and 3.5 mm/US 4 needles. The model has a 86 cm/34″ bust, stands 165 cm/5.5″ tall and is wearing a size 2 with 97 cm/38.25″ bust. The cardigan is available in 5 sizes with a finished bust measurement of 91 to 132.5 cm/35.75 to 52.25″. See more of the photos here: Ataraxia in Pom Pom Quarterly Winter 2018.
The gorgeous sample photographed is not the one I knitted in SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK in Pumpkin, as you will see from the photo Michael took of me above. The wonderful orange colour did not fit in with the other designs and a second sample had to be knitted up quickly in time for the photoshoot.
Before I finished the jacket I sent the knitted swatch – showing off the different stitch patterns – to photographer/jewellery maker/designer Siri Berrefjord and ordered 9 bespoke small buttons with a diameter of 18 millimeters/0.7″ to match the colour. Above you see the stunning buttons and one of the photos that Siri took. See more of them here: Ataraxia Buttons by Siri Berrefjord.
The rights to the pattern came back to me a year later in November 2019 and I asked Pom Pom Quarterly if I could borrow their sample too, so that I could photograph them both. Yes, I could before I returned it. Eivind Røhne photographed both worn by Olivia Lindtein, with make-up & hair by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design at Mortensrud Church in Oslo in November 2019.
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.
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.
@ Laura Morsman
Above is a detailed photo taken by Laura Morsman for the Pom Pom Quarterly magazine. Both the English and the Norwegian pattern is now available in my Ravelry Stores. You will also soon find the Norwegian version in addition to the English on Lovecrafts too.
Ataraxia Knitted by Dylan Shea
I love this two coloured Ataraxia that Dylan Shea knitted and the contrast to her bright pink hair! The colours seem to pop out of these photos. Dylan, aka dylfish on Ravelry and dylan.shea.knits on Instagram, worked the largest size since she knitted it with two different yarns – La Maison Tricotee Tina, sportweight, in Sacagawea and Manos del Uruguay Alegria, fingering weight, in Reindeer – in a 25 stitch gauge instead of Worsted yarns in a 21 stitch gauge as described in the pattern. Ataraxia was designed for Pom Pom Quarterly issue 27: Winter 2018 guest edited by Norah Gaughan.
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.
Above is a photo of Dylan’s progress on the back, taken during a beer tasting event. The cardigan is available in 5 sizes with a finished bust measurement of 91 to 132.5 cm/35.75 to 52.25″. 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 cast-off. Thank you so much, Dylan!
The English pattern is now also available as an individual pdf download on Ravelry and Love Crafts. The Norwegian pattern is recently printed in the special magazine Familien Vårstrikk 2020/Spring Knits.
Ataraxia in Familien Vårstrikk 2020
The special magazine Vårstrikk/Spring Knits published by Familien is now for sale and I am so thrilled to have my Ataraxia pattern among all the lovely patterns. On the cover is Apple Blossom Sweater designed by Kari Hestnes. Ataraxia, one of the pages from the magazines is show below, was designed for Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 27 Winter 2018 and the sample I knitted was in SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK in the divine shade of Pumpkin. While 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. One of these photos of the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with make-up & hair by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design was brilliantly taken by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in Oslo in November last year.
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.
Olivia is wearing Ataraxia in 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 handmade jewellery buttons on the 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 photographed by Siri herself above, and several more photos in this blogpost: Ataraxia Buttons by Siri Berrefjord.
Olivia is wearing Ataraxia in 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 special issue Familien Vårstrikk is available at selected news agents and super markets. But it can also be ordered in Norway by sms: SMÅ20 to 2205. If you are in Norway you can buy a digital version for iPad, see www.klikk.no. If you live abroad you can order the Norwegian special magazine by e-mailing kari.bachke@egmont.com and then transfer payment into their bank account.
The English pattern is available in my Ravelry store and on Love Crafts.
In Norway we are in lock down due to the Coronavirus to stop the spread. I hope all of you will stay well and keep safe!
Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church: Ataraxia
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!
Ataraxia Buttons by Siri Berrefjord
Christmas is coming very soon and we have a blanket of snow covering the ground here in Ørje, so I thought showing you some bright summery colours would be good. The orange swatch (read: knitting speak for tiny sample) knitted in the gorgeous SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK in Pumpkin using 3.5 mm/US 4 needles and 4 mm/US 6 needles, shows off the different stitch patterns on my Ataraxia swatch as well as Siri Berrefjord’s handmade buttons. Yes, Siri is also a trained photographer in addition to being a jewellery maker and a designer, especially of redesign clothes. I sent this swatch to Siri and ordered 9 bespoke small buttons with a diameter of 18 millimeters/0.7″ to match the colour by the beginning of July. Of course, Siri took a number of stunning photos you see here too! Ataraxia was a commission for a the Pom Pom Quarterly 27 Winter 2018 issue with guest editor Norah Gaughan. I made a jacket for the modern warrior women, since the brief stated that “Our muse is a modern woman warrior with a feminine edge. Mix sweet with strong. The Victorian era is the seed of inspiration, but anachronism is welcome”.
The button design is based on the silver brooches used for the traditional folk costume, called “bunad” in Norwegian. Each button is moulded in plastic then painted with several layers. Siri suggested to use orange at the top, then a lighter colour below and with gold with a bit of brown at the base. As always she was spot on. The luxurious SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK is made of 90% superwash Merino, 5% Superkid Mohair, 5% silk with 200 meters/218 yards per 100 gram with a fantastic stitch definition and lustre to it.
As always I am impressed by the composition of the photos, making sure the background matches or contrasts the object in the photograph. Working with Siri, is such a fun and successful collaboration. Take a look at these previous designs, if you need any more proof: Helka, Gyda, Icelandic Jacket and Ena.
My sample was not included of the magazine simply because the wonderful orange colour did not fit in with the other designs and a second sample had to be knitted up quickly in time for the photoshoot. The second sample for Pom Pom Quarterly 27 Winter 2018 is knitted in The Copper Corgi Fiber Studio, Jones Street Worsted – available at Etsy – made of 60% Merino wool, 30% Alpaca, 10% silk with 192 meters/210 yards per 113 gram skein in the shade Goldenrod. While you can see the photos of me wearing the orange sample here: Ataraxia Again. I so enjoyed seeing the two different versions of my Ataraxia. Do not miss this amazing issue of Pom Pom Quarterly.
You will find a selection of Siri’s buttons available in her shop on Epla here: Siris Skattkammer and more divine photos on her website: Fredenshavn.
I will end with Felicia Lo’s ending words from the SweetGeorgia Yarns Podcast: Enjoy colour!
Ataraxia Again
I did promise to show you how Ataraxia looks on me, so here are a number of the photos Michael took last summer, at the beach in Ørje, before I sent off the sample. You will probably be as surprised that I was that is bright orange, knitted in a divine shade called Pumpkin in the SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK, if you have seen the magazine and the green it is photographed in there. The reason the sample is not photographed in the brilliant Pom Pom Quarterly 27 Winter 2018 issue is that the editors realised that the orange was way brighter than they had thought and it would not fit in with the other designs. So Guest Editor Norah Gaughan, together with Pom Pom co-founders Meghan Fernandes and Lydia Gluck, decided that they had to make a new sample in a more muted colour, in no time at all. Hence the replacement yarn was found in Meghan’s stash: The Copper Corgi Fiber Studio, Jones Street Worsted in the gorgeous shade of Goldenrod.
SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK yarn is one of their luxurious yarns and made of 90% superwash Merino, 5% Superkid Mohair, 5% silk with 200 meters/218 yards per 100 gram skein using 4 mm/US 6 and 3.5 mm/US 4 needles. I can confirm that it was wonderful to work with and I loved the result. I have a 88 cm/34.75″ bust, stands 175 cm/5.9″ tall and I am wearing the sample size S that measured 94 cm/37″ bust with 6 cm/2.25″ positive ease. Despite the same gauge on the two yarns: 21 stitches and 28 rows in stocking stitch, the second sample in the Copper Corgi yarn is heavier and resulted in a 97 cm/38.25″ bust. The cardigan is available in 5 sizes with a finished bust measurement of 91 to 132.5 cm/35.75 to 52.25″.
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 cast-off. The military inspired jacket did need bespoke buttons so I contacted Norwegian jewellery designer Siri Berrefjord who made these buttons especially for it. Each button is like a piece of jewellery with immaculate texture to it. The design is based on the silver brooches for the traditional folk costume, called “bunad” in Norwegian. As you might know, if you have been following my blog for awhile, Siri is also a photographer so I will soon share her glorious pictures of the buttons on my sample.
“Ataraxia is named after one of Caroline’s poems and we hope it gives you a perfect sense of calm, sheltering you from whatever storms you bravely weather. 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 peplum, Ataraxia is full of clever ideas. Linda designed this with a mythical shield-maiden in mind, and Caroline Norton reminds us of the everyday heroines battling among us.”
Finally here is a detail, showing the wonderful textures and the shoulder treatment I gave it. You can buy a print issue with a digital download code directly from Pom Pom or a digital issue from Ravelry or from one of their many stockists.
Ataraxia in Pom Pom Quarterly Winter 2018
I was beyond excited when I received an e-mail from Meghan Fernandes, co-founder of Pom Pom Quarterly, commissioning me to make a submission for the Winter 2018 issue with guest editor Norah Gaughan. Norah is the famous cable expert, who I had the pleasure of meeting at Strik Bornholm in Denmark back in 2014. The timing was also right for me to submit to Pom Pom Quarterly, founded by two of my former Loop colleagues: Meghan Fernandes and Lydia Gluck. I am so honoured to be part of this impressive issue with my Ataraxia together with eight other acknowledged designers: Caitlin Hunter, Joji Locatelli, Véronik Avery, Andrea Rangel, Cirilia Rose, Xandy Peters, Boadicea Binnerts and Honor Adams. On the cover is Norah’s amazing Nightingale, knitted in Quince and Co. Lark using 4.5 mm/US 7 and 3.75 mm/US 5 needles.
@ Laura Morsman
The impressive submission brief said: “Our muse is a modern woman warrior with a feminine edge. Mix sweet with strong. The Victorian era is the seed of inspiration, but anachronism is welcome”. So I made a jacket for the modern warrior women: Shield maiden Lagertha wears a strong, fitted jacket with peplum, adorned with cables, honeycomb pattern and moss stitch. Her bravery has been marked by the I-cord top shoulder adornment and close crew neck. Her stature is emphasised with a tuck joining the peplum to the body, a twisted stitch encompassing the honeycomb pattern and two staghorn cables following the spine at the back.
@ Laura Morsman
Pom Pom writes: “When we asked Norah Gaughan to guest edit this issue, nothing could have prepared us for the beauty and drama of the results. Combining her vision of though Victoriana with our trademark colourful and playful approach, we have worked to flip the Victorian visual trope of a delicate woman surrounded by flowers into one of strength and resilience…” The dramatic flower arrangements are by Bricolage Curated Floral and the photos by Laura Morsman.
@ Laura Morsman
The sample is knitted in the stunning The Copper Corgi Fiber Studio, Jones Street Worsted – available at Etsy – made of 60% Merino wool, 30% Alpaca, 10% silk with 192 meters/210 yards per 113 gram skein in the shade Goldenrod using 4 mm/US 6 and 3.5 mm/US 4 needles. The model has a 86 cm/34″ bust, stands 165 cm/5.5″ tall and is wearing a size 2 with 97 cm/38.25″ bust. The cardigan is available in 5 sizes with a finished bust measurement of 91 to 132.5 cm/35.75 to 52.25″.
@ Laura Morsman
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 cast-off. The dramatic photo above is also used to list the weapons – the issue 27 yarns.
@ Laura Morsman
Norah writes in her guest editor note: “Linda Marveng added a peplum detail to her lushly cabled cardigan, Ataraxia. While the introduction to the pattern reads: Descended from a grand but penniless family and compelled to marry an absolute brute, Caroline Norton’s heart-rending experiences of spousal abuse and divorce led her to drive parliamentary reforms that established basic legal rights for women. Caroline spoke frankly and widely about subjects normally discussed only in whispers. The inroads she represented the first signs of a sea-change around the legal position of women.”
@ Laura Morsman
“Ataraxia is named after one of Caroline’s poems and we hope it gives you a perfect sense of calm, sheltering you from whatever storms you bravely weather. 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 peplum, Ataraxia is full of clever ideas. Linda designed this with a mythical shield-maiden in mind, and Caroline Norton reminds us of the everyday heroines battling among us.”
@ Laura Morsman
The gorgeous sample photographed is not the one I knitted in SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK in Pumpkin, as you will see on Ravelry (and soon here on my blog) when you see the photos Michael took of me wearing it. The wonderful orange colour did not fit in with the other designs and a second sample had to be knitted up quickly in time for the photoshoot. Do not miss this issue of Pom Pom Quarterly.
Above is the impressive back cover of the magazine. The Ravelry previews of the magazine is up, and pre-order copies are due to be landing on doorsteps from 12th November. Both a print plus a digital issue will become available soon, for more details visit pompommag.com.