Embrae is an old design from 2017 that I decided to photograph for the second time around, due to the limited use I have of the first set, as the model was from an agency. Embrae is a fitted lace cardigan knitted in the hand dyed Anzula Squishy in the gorgeous shade of Iris. Here you see how stunning it looked on model Olivia Lindtein, with make-up & hair by Nina Hjertaas Bull and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, captured by photographer Wenche Hoel-Knai at Sentralen in Oslo last December. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Embrae
Embrae Cardigan Pattern Released
Today, I am at Bøler Kirke/ Church in Oslo having my next photoshoot. I am very excited and cannot wait to see my new designs come alive. But I will tell you a lot more about that later. In the meantime, here is another pattern I have released in English on Ravelry and on Loveknitting after a test knit in my group: Embrae. You can see longer versions, one version with beads and many versions in different colours on the pattern page on Ravelry. The sample knitted in the gorgeous hand dyed Anzula, Squishy was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne worn by Silje Andresen/Team Models with hair and makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design at the National Museum – Architecture. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Embrae, a fitted cardigan with a lace collar, is like a flowery embrace. A lacy leaf pattern adorns the sleeves and the back of the cardigan. The lattice at the center of the lace pattern continues on each side of it and covers the collar. The collar can be worn flat or overlapping and pinned together or folded.
Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
Finished measurements:
Bust: 84 (91, 98, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (35.75, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)”
Waist: 74 (81, 88, 96, 106, 116) cm/29.25 (32, 34.75, 37.75, 41.75, 45.75)”
Hip: 84 (91, 98, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (35.75, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)”
Length: 54 (55, 56, 57, 58, 59) cm/21.25 (21.75, 22, 22,5, 22.75, 23,25)”
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 50, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 20, 20)”
Collar width: 11 cm/4.25”
Yarn: Anzula, Squishy (80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon, 114 g, 352 m/385 yds). Sample is knitted in Iris.
3 (4, 4, 4, 5, 5) skeins; 1031 (1126, 1221, 1327, 1464, 1601) m/1127 (1231, 1335, 1451, 1601, 1750) yds.
http://anzula.com/anzula/
Alternative Yarns: SweetGeorgia Yarns, CashLuxe Fine (70% superwash merino, 20% cashmere, 10% nylon, 115 g, 366 m/400 yds).
http://sweetgeorgiayarns.com/shop/cashluxe-fine/
Plymouth Yarn, Reserve Fingering (70% superwash merino, 20% nylon, 10% cashmere, 100 g, 365 m/400 yds).
http://www.plymouthyarn.com/yarn/reserve-fingering-item-6…
Handmaiden Fine Yarn, Casbah Sock (81% superwash merino, 9% cashmere, 10% nylon, 115 g, 325 m/355 yds).
http://handmaiden.ca/product/casbah/
Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”) or straight needles.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.
Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders and yarn needle.
Gauge: 36-sts Leaf pattern measures 15 cm/6” across after blocking.
24 sts and 32 rows in Stockinette st measures 10 cm/4” square after blocking.
22 sts in Garland pattern measures 10.5 cm/4.25” across after blocking.
Notes: The cardigan is knitted flat in pieces and then seamed. There are two pattern repeats on the back and one on the sleeves. The collar is knitted at the same time as each front.
Strikke 2017 at Hadeland Glassverk
For the second time around the knitting festival and exhibition Strikke 2017 is organised by Hadeland Glassverk at Jevnaker, by the south end of Randsfjorden, about 1 hour from Oslo. I am pleased to say that I was invited to exhibit and to hold workshops, this year too! The festival is on from 2. September to 29. October. Above you see the entry to the exhibition, with the list of participating designers. I was very excited to see my name listed at the top, and as you can see I am in excellent company. Luckily, I had my husband with me to take some great photos.
The most striking part of the exhibition was the designs made by Imogen Abbot. She is a London based Fashion Design graduate specialising in intricate textiles and knitwear. These garments are based on the topic “childhood and escapism”. Read more here: Imogen Abbot.
I choose to exhibit 6 garments and above you see 4 four of them: Patent Poncho, Cablewing Sweater with wrap, Harding Cardigan and Kathe Cardigan. Large accompanying photos of model Alexandria Eissinger and Silje Andresen hang in background. I held two workshops on the Sunday I was there: Introduction to Sweater Design and Cable Knitting Master Class. That is why I choose to wear my Yellow Gold Pullover with the loose sleeves from my Saqqara pattern.
Also exhibited is the Embrae and Irina Pullover. As you might see my photos are taken by Eivind Røhne either at National Museum – Architecture or at Ingierstrand Bad.
Here is Nina Skarra’s exquisite designs from her book and available as kits.
Here is a few of the beautiful garments designed by Kari Hestnes who has recently published her 14th knitting book in Norwegian.
I also loved the texture and silhouette of these garments designed by StrikkeGry, Gry Johannessen.
Just like last year, Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik – Makeløs/Remarkable was in charge of the Catwalk at the opening day of the festival and also for making this fantastic wedding outfit with the special designed “kofte” for the festival by Randi Ballangrud. The crown is made of knitting needles. Kristin is not an ordinary stylist she is The re-design stylist and she is remarkable in every sense of the word. 
This photo is taken by designer Nina Granlund Sæther of the catwalk at the opening day, Saturday 2. September. The model is wearing my Aran Bolero magically styled by Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik – Makeløs/Remarkable with an embroidered table cloth as a skirt.
Here is the beginning and end of the exhibition: The Yarn Shop and the coffee shop where the knitting café takes place. At the very front you see yarn kits with my Idunn and Halli made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
Here is a close-up of the missing yarn wall with exciting yarns. In the center you see the Sølje and Ask yarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Do visit if you can. You will find a lot more photos as well as videos from the exhibition and from the catwalk on the Facebook page for the festival: www.facebook.com/STRIKKE2017.
Familien Strikk 2017
The special magazine Familien Strikk is out for sale here in Norway. I am delighted to have 4 patterns included in the magazine and a small photo of the back of the Irina Pullover on the cover. It is a very popular annual magazine, with a large number of patterns: 61 patterns from Norwegian designers, some translated patterns and some from different yarn producers. All my designs: Irina Pullover, Biondo, Embrae and Harding Cardigan were brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne, modelled by Silje Andresen/Team Models with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design at the National Museum – Architecture in November last year. The long stunning skirt worn together with Irina Pullover and Biondo is by Judith Bech Design.
Irina Pullover (made for knit.wear Spring/Summer 2016, but the rights have reverted back to me now) Named after the beautiful Russian ballerina Irina Baronova, a fitted pullover with elegant cables swooning across it in panels with garter stitch dividers for shaping. Timeless, knitted in the round from the bottom up to the armholes then flat to soft square neckline and shoulders. The sleeves are also knitted in the round, long to adorn the hands and set-in. A divine sky blue color, and luscious texture was made by combining Rowan Rowan Felted Tweed with Rowan Kidsilk Haze.
Biondo – Italian for blond – scarf is reversible with a twisted stitch as a divider between each of the three cables. The stitch also work as a folding line, hence emphasises the more relaxed alternate side. The scarf is knitted in a divine silk and alpaca mixture for that lovely feel and sheen, Du Store Alpakka Baby Silk.
Embrae, a fitted cardigan with a lace collar, is like a flowery embrace. A lacy leaf pattern adorns the sleeves and the back of the cardigan. The lattice at the center of the lace pattern continues on each side of it and covers the collar. The collar can be worn flat or overlapping and pinned together or folded. The colour Iris, in the stunning yarn; Anzula Squishy is perfect for the lace pattern. The English pattern is currently under test knitting in my Ravelry group and will be released as soon as it is over.
Harding Cardigan: An allover telescope lattice gives this long, straight cardigan a textural feel. A cabled rib-cord collar adds a modern look to the Harding Cardigan. Wear it open or close it with a shawl pin or belt. The English pattern was first published in Interweave Knits Summer 2016. I suggested the rustic Brooklyn Tweed Shelter and editor Meghan Babin agreed with my choice and suggested the shade Foothills.
The magazine is available at selected news agents and super markets. If you are in Norway you can also order it by SMS just write “Strikk17” in addition to your name & address to 2205 or 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 samples and the professional photographs of all these, except for Biondo, together with Kathe Cardigan, Cablewing Sweater and Patent Poncho, will be exhibited at Strikke 2017 Festival at Hadeland Glassverk from 2. September to 29. October.
Photoshoot at Architecture Museum: Embrae
@Eivind Røhne
I am so happy how my design Embrae turned out. The colour Iris, in the stunning yarn; Anzula Squishy is perfect for the lace pattern. I decided to style it with Judith Bech’s divine silk dress. The outfit suited model Silje Andresen/Team Models even beyond my expectations. Since I was planning to ask photographer Eivind Røhne to capture this garment sitting at our photoshoot at National Museum – Architecture, I had to ask Michael if I could borrow his reindeer hide for Silje to sit on. I was granted permission to borrow it for the day. Hair and makeup stylist Sissel Fylling with assistant Nora checked the placement of the skin as well as Silje’s look. Silje is also wearing beautiful silver rings, necklace, brooch and earrings all designed by Kaja Gjedebo Design.
@Eivind Røhne
Of course, Eivind was again instructed to include the shoes in the photos. They are not new, and were first used in my Norwegian knitting book published in 2012. The shoes are designed by Camilla Skovgaard. Yes, I do love shoes, especially sculptural ones – like these.
@Eivind Røhne
Embrae, a fitted cardigan with a lace collar, is like a flowery embrace. A lacy leaf pattern adorns the sleeves and the back of the cardigan. The lattice at the center of the lace pattern continues on each side of it and covers the collar. The collar can be worn flat or overlapping and pinned together or folded.
@Eivind Røhne
The Norwegian pattern will be printed in Familien at a later date, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group before its release. The cardigan is knitted flat in pieces and then seamed. There are two pattern repeats on the back and one on the sleeves. The collar is knitted at the same time as each front. I have graded the pattern from size XS to size 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″, and waist circumference of 74 to 116 cm/29.25 to 45.75″. Silje is wearing size S.
@Eivind Røhne
The lovely hand-dyed yarn Anzula, Squishy is made of 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon and on 114 gram skeins with 352 meters/385 yards. I ordered it online from www.jimmybeanswool.com. The sample is knitted in Iris with a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows in Stockinette stitch using 3mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4″.
New Design: Embrae
I am proud to show you my new design called Embrae. I initially submitted the design to SweetGeorgia Yarns awhile back but it was rejected – while the second submission was chosen instead – so it was left aside while I contemplated its future. I have for a long time wanted to test the American yarn Anzula, especially their yarn called Squishy, because of its fibre mix and its beautiful hand-dyed colours. My choice for the sample was Iris, that only took a few seconds to decide. Embrae, a fitted cardigan with a lace collar, is like a flowery embrace. A lacy leaf pattern adorns the sleeves and the back of the cardigan. The garland at the center of the lace pattern continues on each side of it and covers the collar. The collar can be worn flat or overlapping and pinned together or folded. The Norwegian pattern will be published in the magazine Familien, the date to be confirmed, while the English pattern will be released on Ravelry, after test knitting beginning in mid-August.
Anzula Squishy is a luxurious fibre mix of 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon with a generous 352 meters/385 yards on each 114 gram skein. I ordered the yarn from Jimmy Beans Wool online store, and had it shipped from the US. I choose a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and found a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows in stocking stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. The cardigan is worked flat in pieces and then seamed to give the best fit and structure to the garment.
The leaf lace pattern is easy to knit and to learn by heart. Part of the lace pattern is a garland pattern which I choose to use on the collar. There are two pattern repeats on the back and only one on the sleeve. The collar is knitted at the same time as each front. The pattern is graded from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″, and waist circumference of 74 to 116 cm/29.25 to 45.75″. The sample is knitted in size S and worn on me with no ease at the bust.
I chose garter stitch for the bands, even though it does flare a bit at the back, due to the stretchy lace pattern. The stocking stitch parts show off the semi-solid colour of the yarn. The photos are taken by my husband in late November, less than a week before our photoshoot, at Ormøya by the Bunnefjord, close to where we live in Oslo. The last photo is the arty one. I cannot wait to show you the stunning professional photos of this cardigan, styled with Judith Bech’s cream silk dress, taken by Eivind Røhne. But there is one more new design to show off before I begin to show off the professional photos taken at the end of November at the Architecture Museum in Oslo.