Tag Archives: Di Gilpin

Airic Pattern Released

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I have recently released the Airic pattern. The cardigan has been test knitted and the pattern improved, thanks to my test knitters. You can see some of the lovely versions on the Ravelry pattern page. Airic was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Bøler Kirke/Church last autumn. Emma Ross, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is wearing the sample knitted in size S. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in the magazine Familien at a later date, while the English pattern is available at Ravelry and on Loveknitting. Here is my introduction to the pattern!

In a contemporary style with provocative visual lines – created by the sideways knitted cable panel to make a waterfall bottom – is this long cardigan. The body is all in stockinette stitch to offset the cables. Even the sleeve has a cable panel knitted sideways as a cuff. Airic is Celtic for agreeable, just as this long cardigan will cover you up. It is knitted in the divine Di Gilpin’s  Lalland Lambswool a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

Finished measurements:
Bust (with collar overlapped): 86 (92, 98, 108, 118, 128) cm/33.75 (36.25, 38.5, 42.5, 46.5, 50.5)“
Bottom width (incl waterfall Width): 111 (117, 123, 133, 143, 153) cm/43.75 (46, 48.5, 52.25, 56.25, 60.25)”
Length Back: 75 (76, 77, 78, 79, 80) cm/29.5 (30, 30.25, 30.75, 31, 31.5)“
Sleeve Length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.50)”

Yarn: Di Gilpin, Lalland (100% Scottish lambswool, 50 g, 175 m/191 yds): Sample is knitted in Silver Birch: 13 (14, 15, 17, 19, 20) skeins;
2210 (2380, 2570, 2880, 3190, 3490) m/2416 (2602, 2810, 3149, 3488, 3816) yds.
Sample is knitted in size S and modelled with 5 cm/2” ease (with collar overlapped).
https://digilpin.com/collections/yarn

Needles: 3.75 mm/US 5 circular needle (100 cm/40”, 80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”).

Notions: Markers, cable needle, stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
42-sts Rib Braid panel measures 13 cm/5” across.
18-sts Rib Braid measures 5 cm/2” across.

Notes: The cable panel on the lower body is worked sideways, then the upper body is picked up and knitted along the long side of lower body and worked from the bottom and up. The upper body is worked back and forth in one piece with false seams from the pick up on the lower body to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately. The outer 20 cm/7.75” on each side of the lower body will be attached to the collar. The cuff is worked sideways, while the remaining sleeve is worked back and forth from the cuff with garter stitch in each side. The collar is worked back and forth in two parts with an interfacing, beginning with a RS row across cable and a WS row across interfacing. The parts are joined with a 3-needle bind off and attached along opening and outer side of lower body.

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Airic

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I loved seeing Airic on Emma Ross, and how stylish she made it look. Make up & Hair Stylist Sissel Fylling made sure her stunning hair looked immaculate and set off the grey background at Bøler Kirke/Church. Eivind Røhne brilliantly captured the moment while Michael was making sure the lights were switched off. The statement silver jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Airic – In a contemporary style with provocative visual lines – created by the sideways knitted cable panel to make a waterfall bottom – is this long cardigan. The body is all in stockinette stitch to offset the cables. Even the sleeve has a cable panel knitted sideways as a cuff. Airic is Celtic for agreeable, just as this long cardigan will cover you up. It is knitted in the divine Di Gilpin’s  Lalland Lambswool and is a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

Em has changed into sculptural shoes by Camilla Skovgaard and a black tube top for this second sequence of photos taken by the spacious entrance to the church hall. Airic is knitted in the soft Di Gilpin’s  Lalland Lambswool made of 100% Scottish lambswool and comes in 50 grams balls with 175 meters/191 yards. Airic was knitted by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram, using a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle and with a 24 stitches & 30 rows in stocking stitch to 10 cm/4″ square gauge.

The cable panel on the lower body is worked sideways, then the upper body is picked up and knitted along the long side of lower body and worked from the bottom and up. The upper body is worked back and forth in one piece with false seams from the pick up on the lower body to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately.

Emma is wearing size S, but it will become available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 86 to 128 cm/33.75 to 50.5″ with the collar overlapped.  In these photos the collar is just folded down. As you might see it has the same silhouette as the Rørbye Cardigan recently published in knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 knitted in Dale Garn Eco Wool. These magnificent rib braids are also found in Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I chose to add garter stitches to the sides to this one and knitted the last stitch on the Lower Body instead of making an I-cord edge.

Both the Norwegian and the English pattern will be released in April, after the test knitting is finished. It begins 26th February in my Ravelry group. In addition to meeting Di Gilpin in Vienna last year, I also met Emma Boyles of The Little Grey Sheep. So next out among these professional photos is Melva, knitted in British Stein Fine Wool 4ply hand-dyed by Emma herself.

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New Design: Airic

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I am excited to show you another new design, this is Airic knitted in the divine Di Gilpin’s  Lalland Lambswool in Silver Birch. As you might recall I met Di for the second time around in Vienna in April, the first time we met was at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London years back when I was at the Rowan Yarns’ stand and she was launching her first book. Di creates amazing stitch patterns as well as designs. So I was thrilled to meet her again and even happier to take home a selection of colours in her lovely yarn to test. Lalland Lambswool has a unique twist that makes it look felted when knitted up, an extreme length of 175 meters/191 yards per 50 gram ball and knits up with a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle to a 24 stitches and 30 rows gauge. I had several ideas for the yarn but this is my initial one. This sample is beautifully knitted by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram.

In a contemporary style with provocative visual lines – created by the sideways knitted cable panel to make a waterfall bottom – is this long cardigan. The body is all in stockinette stitch to offset the cables. Even the sleeve has a cable panel knitted sideways as a cuff. Airic is Celtic for agreeable, just as this long cardigan will cover you up. It is knitted in the divine Di Gilpin, Lalland a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

As you can see it has the same silhouette as the Rørbye Cardigan recently published in knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 knitted in Dale Garn Eco Wool. These magnificent rib braids are also found in Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I chose to add garter stitches to the sides to this one and knitted the last stitch on the Lower Body instead of making an I-cord edge.

The cable panel on the lower body is worked sideways, then the upper body is picked up and knitted along the long side of lower body and worked from the bottom and up. The upper body is worked back and forth in one piece with false seams from the pick up on the lower body to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately. The outer 20 cm/7.75″ on each side of the lower body will be attached to the collar. The cuff is worked sideways, while the remaining sleeve is worked back and forth from the cuff. The collar is worked back and forth in two parts with an interfacing, beginning with a RS row across cable and a WS row across interfacing. The parts are joined with a 3-needle bind off and attached along opening and outer side of lower body.

My husband has photographed me at the outdoor stage next to Ørje Brug, today a museum called Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum on a very windy day in October. I am wearing size S with a finished bust circumference of 92 cm/36.25″ with the collar overlapping and closed, but the cardigan will be available in sizes XS to 2XL. The pattern will be released in April after the test knitting, which begins 26th February in my Ravelry group, is finished. But before that I will show you how stunning professional model Emma Ross looked in this.

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Report Two: Vienna Wool & Design Festival

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It has taken awhile to mentally land after attending Vienna Wool & Design Festival. I look forward to seeing the official photos taken with all of us teaching present on the stage. In the meantime I can show you one with four of us, taken Sunday afternoon before my last workshop: Italian designer Valentina Cosciani, standing next to me, in front of her American designer – living in the Netherlands – Nancy Marchant and Polish designer Hanna Maciejewska. Photographing are Daniel, Hanna’s husband and my husband with extra cameras. Valentina has her own YouTube Channel and she has made an excellent video from the festival where she walks through the workshop rooms and all the 23 stalls in the market hall. Yes, it is in Italian but it does make you feel like you are there: youtube.com.

I also wanted to share my haul from the festival: Gorgeous mini-skeins and a full skein of British Gotland 4ply in addition to their two magazines called Sticka, all given to me by The Little Grey Sheep so I can play with their yarns. Take a look at the previous blog post to see how I am holding onto the skeins as if my life depended on it. 5 lovely balls of Lalland Lambswool by Di Gilpin, I could not decide which colour I wanted to test and when Sheila – Di’s assistant talked about how to work with two or three strands at a time, my mind exploded. I did not really want to let go of any of the colours and Di let me keep them all to test. My friend, test knitter and organiser Uschi, was so kind and ordered the two German magazines “Neu Strick Mode” for me – they are German versions of the two latest American knit.wear magazines. Uschi also gave me the rest of her Doulton Flock Border Leicester Yarn DK she used to knit my design Helka for me to try out. Suncica gave me a copy of the festival magazine: wool 2 go – a large glossy magazine with 12 patterns in English and German from 9 participating designers, including yours truly. The pink flyer at the back is the floor plan of the market hall.

Susanne, aka shannara13 on Ravelry, assisted at Suncica’s first stand, Wollsalon and showed off her test knitted version of my design Idunn sweater, knitted in String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn Merino DK in a pale grey called Pewter. Thank you, Susanne! I was so happy to meet knitters, test knitters and designers, some I had only meet online before, in person!

On Saturday evening there was a Galla Dinner, so I brought a long silk skirt and a silk top. I claimed a large part of Michael’s suitcase in addition to the one I had already filled with workshop materials and my designs to show off before we left. Michael was hoping that the suitcases would be lighter coming back, but he was wrong. Yes, I did give away a lot of workshop papers but with the extra yarn and magazines, we traveled home with even heavier suitcases. But I digress. Seven of us met in the reception and walked to the Italian Restaurant, Trattoria Martinelli at the Palais Harrach: British designer Anna Maltz led the way – assisted by Michael – for German designer Isabell Kraemer, Nancy Marchant, Hanna & Daniel Maciejewska and me. When I realised I was the only one of the designers who had not brought my knitting, everyone stopped abruptly – knowing the scale of this disaster – and offered to go back. I decided that I could manage without it, but loved the shared feeling & laughter as we walked on. Of course we arrived late, but it was a very pleasant stroll through the streets of Vienna.

At the palace we talked and Suncica introduced the team behind the magazine; graphic designer, stylist and photographer. You can spot the top of my head, behind Isabell Kraemer, talking to Di Gilpin. We had champagne and canapés before we went inside and had another 4 amazing courses. I sat next to Di’s husband and across from Hanna at the end of second table. The six of us at the end of the table had not finished talking at 23.00 when most of the party had left and decided to have a last drink in the bar at the hotel. It was a marvellous evening and late one before I went to bed!

On Monday, our last day in Vienna, we said goodbye to Nancy, had a late breakfast with Hanna & Daniel pluss Isabella and her partner. That was yet another highlight from Vienna and all for this time.  Thank you to everyone I met in Vienna!

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Report One: Vienna Wool & Design Festival

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My first highlight of the Vienna Wool & Design Festival was that I met up with Nancy Marchant at the airport in Vienna on Friday afternoon. She landed half an hour before Michael and I so, Suncica suggested booking a taxi for the three of us, knowing that we would have a lot of luggage with us. It gave me a wonderful chance to get to know the Queen of Brioche Knitting. The festival had already began by the time we arrived; the first set of workshops started in the afternoon. Several of the stands were set-up, ready for the influx of knitters on Saturday, in the Market Hall  (read: the Ballroom) at the Arc Hotel Wimberger. While I was busy looking down at all the yarns on all the 23 stands, Michael looked up and captured the banners with my design Tau, published in the: Vienna Wool & Design Festival Magazine: wool 2 to go 01. Mail order is open from today.

Suncica, one of the two organisers, had three different stands: The first for her current yarnshop: Wollsalon with the wonderful yarns like: Artyarns, Hedgehog Fibres, Lorna’s Laces, Malabrigo and Shibui. The second for her new brands called Pop-Up Store with: The Uncommon Thread, Biscotti Yarns and Doulton Flock. The third for her new yak yarn: Myak. I must admit seeing all those brands made me craving yarn. I am sure that sound familiar to many of you! I was way too busy talking to knitters I had meet in Vienna in 2015, test knitters from my Ravelry group and friends to take photographs, so most of these are taken by my husband!

Uschi, the other organiser, told me that they early figured out that they needed a photo wall, and where better to place it than on the stage. We took advantage of it and asked Susanne, aka shannara13 on Ravelry, to join us. On the Friday we were all wearing the same bluebell shade of blue and all my designs: Uschi, aka Grinsekatz on Ravelry, is wearing Ronette, Susanne is wearing Irina Pullover, both have made adjustments to the pattern to make them their own and  I am wearing Kori.

I was looking forward to seeing Scottish designer Di Gilpin again. I met her first time at the Rowan Yarns’ stand at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London several years ago, while I was still working for Rowan and she was launching her first book with Rowan yarns. Now, she has her own yarn brand: Lalland Lambswool, sell finished garments and designs both for hand knitters and for haute couture. In the photo above you see Sheila, who trains all their sample knitters and assists Di. Her eye for design and especially intricate cable work stand out, just take a look at her website here: digilpin.com. And yes, I have several balls of her yarn to play with now. To be continued.

All the beautiful colours and yarns on the British The Little Grey Sheep stand blew me away. Here I am lost in colours. All you can see of me is the back of my design Helka. I first spoke their shepherdess Susie (you can see her in action in the picture hanging above the mini skeins in the photo below), before I spoke to dyer & manager Emma.

Invited to this festival was also the Polish designer Hanna Maciejewska, aka Hada Knits, who I met up with during the festival. We enjoy each others company a lot! Suncica, aka Sunce5555 on Ravelry, stopped us in our tracks asking for more autographs for the magazines. We obliged, enjoying the lime light for a short period of time.

Hanna’s husband Daniel was walking around with his camera just as Michael was. Another designer who also brought her man was Isabell Kraemer, but due to our workshop schedules I was not able to talk to her until Monday morning when the six of us had a late breakfast. I am very proud of the fact that I did not buy any yarn, but I was given several skeins and balls to play with so I do not feel deprived in any way.

None of my workshops were fully booked and the small groups made them extra enjoyable since it gave us more time to get acquainted! Among the participants I spoke Norwegian to three of them to my surprise; two of them were living in Austria while the third had worked as an au-pair in Norway. The rest of the time, I spoke English and several of the Austrian participants where surprised how quickly they could recall their English vocabulary that not been used for awhile. More photos and stories are coming up next so stay tuned.

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