Tag Archives: Guri Pfeifer

Book Launches at Cappelen Damm

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Last Wednesday my husband and I attended a knitting evening at the Norwegian publishing house Cappelen Damm in Oslo. We knew the authors and their photographers: Helle Siggerud (left), was publishing her first knitting book called “Strikk til alle tider“/Knitwear for all occasions, while Nina Granlund Sæther was publishing her 10th book called “Sokker fra hele Norge“/Socks from Around Norway. Both books are beautifully photographed: Helle’s by no other than Eivind Røhne and Nina’s by Guri Pfeifer. Both authors have travelled around Norway visiting museums and studying local traditions. They did bump into each other at a carpark at a small museum in Telemark late one afternoon. Both talented designers held a talk; Helle on the costume traditions she discovered on her trip and Nina on the history of stockings going all the way back to the Egyptians. We were offered sparkling wine, the opportunity to study their sample projects, buy books at a discounted rate, take part in the raffle as well as ask our questions. Some of the women present were knitting, but I could only focus on their talks and gladly gave up my attempt.

Helle’s book is published in Norwegian, but the Cappelen Damm Agency presents the book as follows in English in order to sell the foreign rights: “40 garments inspired by Norwegian traditions In this wonderful knitting book, Helle Siggerud has been inspired by costume traditions and folklore from all over Norway. She has traveled far and wide and immersed herself in Norwegian patterns; used in knitting, weaving, embroidery and wallpaper; and has transformed it into beautiful knitwear. Helle is famous for her figure-hugging garments, good cuts and snappy details. And you’ll find all that here. The book features mostly women’s garments, but there are also great designs for men and children – and for dogs!”

Nina’s previous book “Votter fra hele Norge”/Mittens from Around Norway is in its 5th edition in Norwegian and has sold more than 31 000 books so far. The English translation has been reviewed in magazines abroad as well as promoted by the library in New York in the US. Here is an introduction to her latest book from the Cappelen Damm Agency pages: “Nina Granlund Sæther is back, this time with the follow-up to her best seller Mittens. In Socks From Norway, we travel once again through Norway’s countryside and it’s knitting traditions – this time while keeping our feet warm. In this book you’ll find fascinating stories about the origins of the various socks, archive images from museums around the country, and plenty of instructions for socks for the whole family.” I believe it is only a question of time before these books are translated into English.

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Book Launch: Poncho by Denise Samson

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12924560_10153870714624504_6049135262072545522_nLast Wednesday my husband and I went to the launch of Denise Samson’s second book: Poncho at Cappelen Damm. This launch was held in the book shop which is long and narrow hence well suited for a catwalk. We found our seats next to designers; Ellen Andresen (photographer); Kristin Wiola Ødegård (with glasses on her head) and May Britt Bjella Zamori (in a beige poncho – not hand knitted) as well as knitters; Grete Nymoen (in burgundy) and Cathrine Lovord (in grey). Denise made this book with 50 patterns, not all ponchos but accessories to go with them, as well as shawls in an unprecedented 2 months period. No, Denise did not design all 50 in two months but she did design more than 30 of those. In case you did not know, Denise is a turbo knitter but this time she needed help knitting for once. She did find it, together with a selection of ponchos from other designers  to make this tempting book. Above is the tempting invitation to the launch. Yes, “vinn” does means “win”.

12140733_10156695428805361_3941559106259158816_nHere is our table, as we are listening and knitting to Denise telling the story behind the book before the catwalk started. This photo is taken by Ellen. Denise told us she wanted to make not only those traditional triangular ponchos and not only those used for outerwear. Below is Denise presenting her favorite poncho with a Keltic Knot Cable here worn by Linda Aagnes, the sales manager at Cappelen Damm, photographed by Michael Marveng-Puckett. The cable can be worn at the centre front as below or with the cable across one shoulder.

XT1A9024My favorite is the delicate lace poncho with wrist warmers brilliantly photographed in the book by Guri Pfeifer and modeled by her daughter Anna Pfeifer. You might recognize Anna from my book too. This poncho and mittens set has been published in the Norwegian magazine Made by Me previously.

DS PonchoWe were all given a raffle ticket when we arrived to we could take part in the draw for a number of incredibly prizes: 3 different yarn kits, 1 shrug designed & knitted by Denise, 1 pair of wrist warmers also designed & knitted by Denise. There were some very happy knitters who walked away with those prizes. Below you see one of them with Denise handing over a kit from A Knit Story, again captured by my husband Michael Marveng-Puckett.

XT1A9098lt was a great opportunity for us designers to meet up and have a chat. Yes, Kristin Wiola is working on her fourth book, May Britt is busy tech editing and translating as well as making crochet designs, Ellen has just sent off another design submission and so have I. Nina Granlund Sæther is back from her trip to Peru with so many stories to tell.

XT1A9127Finally I wanted to show you this photo off the organizers including, photographer Guri Pfeifer and Anna, photographed by Michael Marveng-Puckett. I first met Denise at Cappelen Damm, since she made the charts for my book. I convinced her to contact the handcraft editor Åse Myhrvold Egeland at Familien who bought everything she had designed up to then. Denise has since delivered designs to Familien at an impressive speed! You can find Denise’s book at www.cappelendamm.no, and you can join her group on Facebook to see all the knit cafes she will be visiting next!

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Book Launch: Votter by Nina Granlund Sæther

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12487065_10156367055735361_2225260334015340371_oLast Wednesday I went to the book launch of Votter/Mittens by editor, journalist, hand craft teacher and acknowledged author Nina Granlund Sæther and Sitteunderlag/Mat Seat by first time author Ann-Heidrun Skår. Above you see Nina, photographed by Ellen T. Andresen aka Siso Designs, reading from her book like authors usually do but it was hilarious since she was reading from one of the 43 knitting patterns in her book. Everyone present knew knitspeak so we understood. Nina told us about her hunt for the mittens, and her visits to museums in 10 of Norway’s counties, as well as her online search. A total of 30 of the patterns are reconstructed based on historic materials while the remaining ones are her own designs. The history to the different mittens is beautifully presented in the book with brilliant photos by Guri Pfeifer. No wonder that the book is on the best seller list really. 17 500 copies are sold so far, hence the 3rd edition has just gone to print. I predict that it will be translated into English just like two of Nina’s previous books: Putefest/Cushion Party published as: Making Cushions and Pillows: 60 Cushions and Pillows to Sew, Stitch, Knit and Crochet as well as Raske Sting/Quick Stitches published as The Joy of Stitching. See Amazon.com. The publisher Cappelen Damm predicted that the knitting wave would wane, but it does not show any signs of it here in Norway.

12615366_10156367027470361_8858140010843196765_oAnn-Heidrun Skår’s book about how to needle felt and crochet then felt Sitteunderlag/Mat Seat has just hit the book stores. Editor Kaja Marie Lereng Kvernbakken asked her about her inspiration and she told us how her family had assisted in the drawing process. A number of knitters, we were told did not want to use the mats as mat seats but used them instead as table mats. In the photo above, also photographed by Ellen T. Andresen, you see a large selection of her mat seats. Do read, with or without the aid of Google translate, Kaja Marie’s reply to what a knitter is at forlagsliv.no.

MMP-8408There were a number of us fellow designers that wanted to attend Nina’s launch and many of us queued up so that Nina could sign our newly bought copies. We were chatting away at the end of the queue. Some had to leave to prepare their own upcoming book launch like: Vanja Blix Langsrud, see the cover on her & Tone Loeng’s book Koftefest. Vanja is also selling her own knitting calendar here: vanjastrikk.no. From left in the photo above, taken by my husband, is designer and translator Denise Samson and her friend & knitter Mona Helén Rønningsen, designer Ellen T. Andresen in a bought kofte and me wearing Sarya. Denise was just telling us about her hectic period before Christmas and her new book coming in April. The knitting wave definitely continues here in Norway.

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