Tag Archives: Elfa

Elfa Pattern Released

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The test knit of Elfa is coming to an end and I have released the English pattern. On Ravelry you can have a look at the different versions of it, with fascinating names such as “Carolin” meaning Wood Duck or “Ask not the elves for advice“. Do take a look at the colours as well as modifications the test knitters chose to make. The design was made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk who sells yarn kits with the Norwegian pattern. The sample jacket was modelled by the stunning Alexandria Eissinger, Nordic Model Agency, with make up & hair by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, and brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla in June last year.

Elfa is an a-line long jacket with central cables along all parts. Tucks divide the different patterns giving a slight flair and a softer touch to the jacket. A large shawl collar crowns the garment, hence the given name Elfa – after the Norse king and warrior. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round to the underarm. It is knitted in the in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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

Finished Measurements:
Bust: 84 (92, 98, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (36.25, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)” excl collar
Hip: 104 (113, 119.5, 127.5, 138.5, 149) cm excl collar/41 (44.5, 47, 50.25, 54.5, 58.75)”
Length: 77 (77.5, 78.5, 79.5, 80.5, 82) cm/30.25 (30.5, 31, 31.25, 31.75, 32.25)”
Collar width to v-neck: 7 cm/2.75”
Collar width (mid-neck) widest: 18 cm/7”
Sleeve Length (incl cuff): 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.5)”
Cuff length: 7.5 cm/3”

Yarn: Hillesvåg, Hifa Sølje (100% pelt yarn, 350 m/383 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Jeansblue:
4.5 (5, 5.5, 6.5, 7, 8) Skeins: 1488 (1698, 1908, 2118, 2381, 2644) m/1627 (1857, 2086, 2316, 2604, 2891) yds. https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/ullgarn/nyhet-solje-pelsullgarn/

Yarn alternatives: Cascade 220 Sport (100% wool, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Cascade220Sport.htm
Tosh Sock (100% wool, 100 g, 361 m/394 yds).
http://madelinetosh.com/tosh-sock/
Berroco Cosma (60% alpaca, 30% wool, 10% silk, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-cosma
Or another Sport/5 ply or Fingering 4/ply yarn.

Needles:
3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32”).
2 sets of 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (120 cm/48”) for collar.
3 mm/US 2.5 DPNs.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders, cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 34 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
Cable (18-sts) measures 5.5 cm/2.25” across.

Notes: The body is worked flat in pieces, unlike the long sleeves which are worked in the round to the armhole. The hem and the tuck are worked with 2 sets of circular needles held together. To make the bottom band and tuck to flare less choose needle size 2.5 mm/US 1.5. The number of stitches picked up for collar has been adjusted from the sample to avoid the flare.

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Ravelry Group 4th Year Anniversary

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My Ravelry group is now 4 years old! There are now more than 1400 members and my fear that only a few would join was needless. I am so pleased to have attracted so many knitters! It has been another thrilling year with many test knits of my English patterns, showing off of finished garments, discussions of different knitting techniques, chatting and bi-monthly free pattern pdf draws just to mention a few of the topics in this lovely group. I am delighted to have met so many new knitters. So it is time to celebrate that four years has passed! How can I best do this? By organizing a draw in my group with 9 exciting prizes like yarn kits, e-books and pdf patterns from my Ravelry store.

All you have to do is join my group if you have not already done so, and answer one of these questions: “What design – with an available pattern – would you love to wear but never knit in a million years and why? Or if that is too difficult or impossible to imagine what have you knitted and never worn (or only once)?” in my Ravelry group. I have had numerous fascinating answers already. I anticipated a couple of the answers to the first question – like my design Halli, designs by Di Gilpin; designs from the book: Norwegian Knitting Designs; designs from the book Tudor Roses and designs from Christel Seyfarth (simply because those would have been my answers too) – while others have introduced amazing new patterns and designs to us. I will use Random org to pick winners based on the number matching the response/posting on Friday 9th. June. Here are the top two prizes, and a good reason to join, see ravelry.com/groups/linda-marveng, in my opinion:

1. and 2. Prize: Choose one of these yarn kits from Hillesvåg and choose which size & colour you want (includes pattern in English as well as Norwegian): Andor or Idunn or Halli or Elfa. The yarn kits have been generously sponsored by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. See kits, Tinde colours for Andor and Idunn, Sølje colours for Halli and Elfa

Or Elfa, the English pattern is currently being test knitted. These four designs all made for yarn kits for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk were brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla in June last year. The gorgeous model is Alexandria Eissinger and her hair & make up are by Jens J. Wiker, while her jewellery are by Kaja Gjedebo Design.

Good luck!

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Hillesvåg Stand at Oslo Design Fair

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_dsc1858-1920x1200_72Yes, I know it was back in the beginning of September, but I am trying to catch up with all the knitting related events that has happened during the last two months so far. Oslo Design Fair, opened Thursday 1. September and closed on Sunday 4. September, while I was at Strik Bornholm. The yarn producer Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk had a stand and launched the yarn kits for 4 of my designs see Hillesvåg Eksklusiv: Andor, Idunn, Halli and Elfa. All the designs are made in the wonderful Norwegian pelt wool/Pelsull, the last two are made in the new finer Hifa Sølje, while the first two are made in the re-named Hifa Tinde yarn. The lustrous yarn has a mohair feel and a melange colour due to its natural greyish base. The new yarn Hifa Sølje with 350 meters/383 yards on each 100 g skein is to die for, so do try it when it is ready in all the 30 divine colours. Closest in the photo above is Halli. Designer Tove Fevang and her husband photographer Geir Arnesen went to the fair, and Geir took these brilliant photos, as you might have guessed! Thank you!

_dsc1854-1920x1200_72Here are three displayed on mannequins and one hanging, with the yarn kits and the brochure made for retailers below: Halli, Andor, Idunn and Elfa. Here is my introduction to Halli: A sideways cardigan with a reverse textural pattern, and deep waterfall fronts. Each front and sleeve has two tucks at the end; one in reverse stockinette stitch and one in stockinette stitch. Choose if you prefer to leave the fronts hanging loose, pinned loosely together or draped across each other. Halli, comes from Old Norse and means rock. Perfect for the stitch pattern and symbolicly for becoming the rock in your wardrobe.

_dsc1873-1920x1200_72Above is Anette Toft from Hillesvåg, who used her time well, knitting. Here is the introduction to the most popular of the four designs the poncho Andor: A trendy oversized poncho defined by its pairs of ornamental cables on each wide shoulder part. The stockinette center part is crowned by a high neck collar. The poncho has sidebands that can be closed with buttons. It is knitted flat in two parts with shoulder and neck shaping. Andor is the Norse element for Eagle and its wingspan appropriate for this poncho.

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Idunn is the pullover knitted in Hifa Tinde in Petrol. Named after the Norse goddess of spring and immortality is this straight sweater with a Henley neck with center cables. Ribs frame the cables in each side and make the sweater figure hugging. One center cable adds texture to the sleeve. The sweater is worked in the round to the underarm in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Tinde from Hifa.

Last is Elfa: Elfa is an a-line long jacket with central cables along all parts. Tucks divide the different patterns giving a slight flair and a softer touch to the jacket. A large shawl collar crowns the garment, hence the given name Elfa – after the Norse king and warrior. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round to the underarm. It is knitted in the in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Sølje from Hifa.

They also launched eleven kits by London based designer Michelle Lowe-Holder. Michelle makes sensational designs that experiment with the mixture of vintage, antique and recycled materials. See the two photos at the back in the photo above. Here are more details: Hillesvag Eksklusiv Gjestedesign/Michelle Lowe Holder.

I am delighted that a number of knitters and shop owners have ordered the kits, and I look forward to hearing as well as seeing the results!

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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Elfa

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20160601 LM Villa Malla 689I am pleased to present the magnificent professional photos of the third design for yarn kits for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Elfa is an a-line long jacket with central cables along all parts. Tucks divide the different patterns giving a slight flair and a softer touch to the jacket. A large shawl collar crowns the garment, hence the given name Elfa – after the Norse king and warrior. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round to the underarm. It is knitted in the in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Sølje from Hifa. Gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger – with hair and make up by Jens J. Wiker, jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design and boots by Monica Stålvang Shoes – shows it off so elegantly at the upper terrace of Villa Malla by the Oslo fjord brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne. It was a sweltering day that made the fjord look more like the Mediterranean Sea. The yarn kits with the Norwegian pattern will be launched at Oslo Design Fair from 1. to 4. September. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group in April next year before its release.

20160601 LM Villa Malla 720Elfa is knitted using 3 mm/US 4 needles with a gauge of 24 stitches and 34 rows in stocking stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The body is worked flat in pieces, unlike the long sleeves which are worked in the round to the armhole. The hem and the tuck are worked with 2 sets of circular needles held together. To make the bottom band and tuck to flare less choose needle size 2.5 mm/US 1.5. The number of stitches picked up for collar has been adjusted from the sample to avoid the flare.

20160601 LM Villa Malla 711The bottom band on all parts begins with a provisional cast on, which will be pulled out and replaced by an I-cord bind off at the end. The collar also ends in an I-cord bind off. The cables are the same ones chosen for the Idunn pullover. Framed by stocking stitch in the sides and divided by a tuck to the garter stitch collar and bottom band, instead of a rib, the jacket has a more feminine look to it.

20160601 LM Villa Malla 715Alexandria is wearing size S and is a clothes size European 34/UK 6/US 2. Elfa is graded from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of  84 to 126 cm/41 to 49.75″. The yarn kits will be available from selected yarn stores and online here: Eksklusiv Gjestedesign. The last design for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in this collection is the most popular of them all the Andor Poncho.

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New Design: Elfa

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MMP-2040 2Elfa is the last of my new designs and the fourth garment made for yarn kits for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The cables are the same one I used for Idunn, and I loved the idea of making a different but also a more feminine version this time. I decided upon an a-line long jacket as a contrast to the straight pullover. The yarn producer liked my idea, I am pleased to say. It was another project that skilled sample knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9, knitted with her usual turbo speed. All four designs with their yarn kits will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at the beginning of September.

MMP-2052 2Here is my presentation of it: Elfa is an a-line long jacket with central cables along all parts. Tucks divide the different patterns giving a slight flair and a softer touch to the jacket. A large shawl collar crowns the garment, hence the given name Elfa – after the Norse king and warrior. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round to the underarm. It is knitted in the in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Sølje from Hifa.

MMP-2097 2Elfa is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needles with a gauge of 24 stitches and 34 rows in stocking stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The body is worked flat in pieces, unlike the long sleeves which are worked in the round to the armhole. The hem and the tuck are worked with 2 sets of circular needles held together. To make the bottom band and tuck to flare less choose needle size 2.5 mm/US 1.5. The number of stitches picked up for collar has been adjusted from the sample to avoid the flare. I have graded the jacket from size XS to 2XL, with a bust circumference from 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″, and I am wearing size S above. Elfa was photographed by my husband at Ormøya a couple of weeks ago and by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla on the 1. of June. Coming up are all the amazing professional photos and the garments worn by model Alexandria Eissinger/Nordic Model Agency.

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