Arcade Vest in Familien

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Linda Marveng

On the cover of the latest issue – no 3 – of the Norwegian magazine Familien is my Arcade Vest in the bottom left corner, photographed by Esten A. Borgos. The straight vest is inspired by Haider Ackermann’s architectonic style and jewel colours. It features arcades knitted by cables, framed by double moss/seed stitch and ends with an I-cord trim around the neck and armholes. The double front gives the vest weight – close it as you prefer with a shawlpin or a belt. Close it at the top for a trendy look and an asymmetrical opening. The sample is knitted in the beautiful Norsk Pelsull/Norwegian Furyarn from Hifa in a turquoise mélange color, see ull.no. The pattern is available in size S to 3XL, bust measurement 92 cm/36.25″ to 134 cm/52.75″, for more details see ravelry. I am delighted with the responses to the vest on Facebook and Ravelry so far, and love following the test knit of the English pattern still ongoing in my group on Ravelry. The English pattern will be released in my Ravelry store after the test knit is complete.

Familien did not have enough space to show the vest with the wrong side out, which turned out surprisingly well, despite it being unintentionally photographed so. I already know one knitter who prefer the abstract side out as a result of that photo shoot, see this earlier blog post: professionally-photographed-arcade-vest. You can also follow my design process of it from the swatch to my own photo shoot here on my blog, if you want to backtrack: new-design-arcade-vest.

New Released Pattern: Regal Purple Jacket

Posted on January 1, 2014 by Linda Marveng

Happy New Year! The test knitting is coming to an end, and I have released the English version of the Regal Purple Jacket in my Ravelry Store. I want to take this opportunity to thank all my test knitters! The Norwegian pattern will be published in “Vårens Strikkebok”, a magazine by Familien, due out in March. I am thrilled that it will be accompanied by photos of dancer Francesca Golfetto by Kim Müller, see above. The tech edited pattern includes the cowl, and the English version have 3 different sleeve lengths, chart, schematic plus video links. Here is a link to where you can buy and download the pdf : ravelry.com/stores/linda-marveng.

This vibrant rich purple is regal to me. I choose a lace pattern called Flower Wave, which is half lace and half garter stitch, hence easy to memorize. The Regal Purple Jacket has an A-line shape with added garter stitches in the side for decreasing, short sleeves and a V-neck with a garter stitch then stocking stitch band. It is knitted flat, in a divine 4 ply/fingering cotton called Perle/Pearl from Hifa, and then sewn together to give stability to the garment. Optional 3/4 length or long sleeves patterns are included in addition to a stripy stocking stitch cowl, knitted in the round and grafted together, to accentuate the lace pattern.

Sizes: S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)

Finished Measurements: Bust: 92 (98, 106, 116, 126, 136) cm/36.25 (38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5, 53.5)” Hip: 112 (118, 126, 136, 146, 156) cm/44 (46.5, 49.5, 53.5, 57.5, 61.5)” Length: 60 (62.5, 62.5, 65, 67.5, 67.5) cm/23.5 (24.5, 24.5, 25.5, 26.5, 26.5)” Short sleeves: 14 (14, 16, 16, 18, 18) cm/5.5 (5.5, 6.25, 6.25, 7, 7)” OR 3/4 sleeves: 36 (36, 33.5, 33.5, 31, 31) cm/14.25 (14.25, 13.25, 13.25, 12.25, 12.25)” OR long sleeves: 50 (50, 47.5, 47.5, 45, 45) cm/19.75 (19.75, 18.75, 18.75, 17.75, 17.75)” Cowl: Circumference: 33 cm/13”, length: 123 cm/48.5″

Yarn: Hifa, Perle in red purple sh 18357 (100% Egyptian mercerized cotton, 670 m/732yds, 200 g cone), see ull. Jacket with short sleeves: 2 (2, 2, 3, 3, 3) cones: 1005 (1172, 1340, 1507, 1675, 1843) m/1099 (1282, 1465, 1648, 1832, 2015) yds. Jacket with long or 3/4 sleeves: 2 (3, 3, 3, 3, 4) cones: 1340 (1507, 1675, 1843, 2010, 2178) m/1465 (1648, 1832, 2015, 2198, 2382) yds. 3/4 sleeves version uses approx 135 m/147 yds less in each size. Cowl: 1 cone: 600m/656 yds

Yarn alternatives: Filatura di Crosa, Dolce Amore (100% cotton, 181 m/198yds, 50 g), see tahkistacycharles. Fyberspates, Vivacious 4 ply (100% superwash merino, 365 m/399 yds, 100 g), see fyberspates. Anzula, Squishy (80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere, 10% nylon, 352 m/385 yds, 115 g), see anzula or another fingering/4 ply (14 wpi) yarn.

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32”) for jacket, (40 cm/16”) for cowl or size needed to match gauge.

Notions: 2 stitch markers, 5 stitch holders, spare circular needle in same or smaller size than working needles, yarn needle and waste yarn for cowl cast on.

Gauge: 24 sts and 34 rows in Flower Wave Pattern measures 10 cm/4″ square. 24 sts and 36 rows in garter st measures 10 cm/4″ square. 30 sts and 34 rnds in stocking st measures 10 cm/4″ square. Or size needed to match gauge.

Next is my first test knit of 2014: The Nora Sweater.

Professionally photographed: Arcade Vest

Posted on November 6, 2013 by Linda Marveng

My Arcade Vest has been photographed twice by the Norwegian Magazine Familien/The Family. Once is usually sufficient but since the stylist had unknowingly chosen to use the wrong side out, not showing the cables, it had to be photographed again. I must admit that it took me a couple of seconds to discover what was wrong with the photo until the penny dropped. The straight vest inspired by Haider Ackermann’s architectonic style and jewel colors was not meant to be reversible nor did I consider that some knitters would prefer the wrong side out. The abstract pattern has its admirers, just as the beautiful Norsk Pelsull/Norwegian Furyarn from Hifa it is knitted in. Below is one of the photos from the second series of photos with the right side out. Both are taken by Esten A. Borgos and will be shown in Familien when the pattern is published, date to be confirmed. I can also reveal that I chose to include the vest in my photo shoot and that it has now been photographed professionally three times. To be continued.

New Design: Regal Purple Jacket

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Linda Marveng

I am thrilled to present my latest design, complete: Regal Purple Jacket. The vibrant, rich purple catch my attention and demanded to be chosen out of the 62 marvelous colours on offer in Perle, meaning pearl in Norwegian, a divine mercerized 4-ply/fingering cotton with a crisp stitch definition from Hifa, see ull. I chose a pattern, I have named Flower Wave, which is half lace and half garter stitch hence easy to memorize. With garter stitch inside the pattern it also became the obvious choice for the edging. Regal Purple Jacket has an A-line shape with added garter stitches in the side for decreasing, with short sleeves and a V-neck with a garter stitch then stocking stitch band. It is knitted flat and sewn together to give stability to the garment. The pattern has been sold to the Norwegian magazine Familien where it will be printed next spring/summer.

As a contrast and an add on, I decided it needed an accessory so I made a cowl, made all in stocking stitch with stripes in reverse stocking stitch, knitted as a tube I turned so I could continue to knit instead of purling to make the stripes, and grafted it together at the end. I still have a bit of work left on the pattern (read: grading) but I am pleased with the result!

Aran Bolero by Grete Jenssen

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Linda Marveng

I am delighted to show you the beautiful Aran Bolero, Grete has knitted from my book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” in Angora Soft in a zingy blue (30% angora, 50% wool and 20% polyamide, 50 g, 250 m/273 yds) ordered from Turkish online shop: Yarn Paradise. We had a knit-along on Facebook, just the two of us, with progress photos taken along the way. Well, it did not daunt Grete at all, she is now making her second one, this time in a wool mix yarn from Novita and taking part in the knit-along in my group on Ravelry. My bullfighter bolero, inspired by Dolce & Gabbano’s Spanish-inspired collection, is short but can be lengthened by knitting a belt. Mostly Merino is a yarn made of wool and mohair which creates sculptural cables. They and the bolero is meant to create a stir. The original yarn is unfortunately discontinued by can be replaced by Norsk Pelsullgarn from Hifa, see ull and compare here: marveng-puckett, the pattern is only available in my book in Norwegian and Finnish. Below is the stunning Francesca Golfetto, photographed by Kim Müller.

Professionally photographed: Summer Leaves Sweater

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Linda Marveng

I am delighted to show you a couple of the professional photographs of the Summer Leaves Sweater, taken by Esten A. Borgos on behalf of the Norwegian magazine Familien/The Family. The preliminary publishing date is set to 12. August, issue 17 but this might still change so I will keep you posted. The stylist selected a white shirt to be worn under it to emphasize the lace sleeves, with a scarf and a necklace. The sweater has an A-line shape, with a triangle in each side of a body in stocking stitch knitted in the round until the armholes, then flat. The lace pattern is the highlight of the sweater and relishes the beautiful mercerized Egyptian cotton, called Luxor from Hifa, see ull. The English pattern is currently being test knitted in our group on Ravelry, please come and join us here: ravelry.

One of the group members on Ravelry asked for an additional size to be added to the pattern to fit her 120 cm/47 1/4″ bust, so I have added an XXL size to the range from a size S photographed on the model above. You can read more about the design and see the photos my photographer (read husband) took of me wearing size S, here: new-design-summer-leaves-sweater.

Regal Purple

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Linda Marveng

I knew straight away that I had to design in this regal purple, which is slightly darker in real life, and could not wait to receive it. It is another divine mercerized cotton called Perle 12/6 (yes – it does means pearl) from Hifa, another old favorite I used years ago in a cardigan that looks new even today, it comes on a handy 200 g/7 oz cone with 670 m/732 yds of 100% mercerized cotton with a pearl twist, which gives the yarn an extra color richness and a superb stitch definition. I am using a 3 mm/US 2.5 and have found a stitch pattern that captures the color, see below! My initial idea is to make a lace jacket with a short sleeve with a slight A-line shape, but we will see if the design agrees! I will keep you posted. There are so many divine colors so I am bound to come back for more; see ull.

Professionally photographed: Cablewing Sweater & Cowls

Posted on February 23, 2013 by Linda Marveng

I am pleased to show you my Flettevinger/Cablewing Sweater with cowls plus the Tweed Cowl stunningly photographed by Esten Borgos on behalf of the Norwegian Magazine Familien/The Family. Unfortunately, I do not have a publication date yet, but will keep you posted. Above the large cowl, is worn as a hood but equally elegant worn around the shoulder like a shrug, see the photo below. The yarn is firm pure wool with a beautiful stitch definition, called Embla – Hifa 3 from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and comes in a large selection of magnificent colours. It knits on a 4 mm/US 6. Here is the link: ull.

If you prefer knitting accessories, I designed matching wrist warmers and a smaller version of the cowl. I was smitten by this purple pink with all its flower connotations which seemed so perfect for the lace and cable pattern. It is an additive pattern – the number of projects tells its tale of how I addicted I became – and not as complicated as it looks with its symmetry of yarn overs and cable crossings. The cowls are created in two sizes so that they can be worn in layers, essential in cold climates like here in Norway.

A second pink, named red purple, was chosen to make a third cowl in tweed, more like a high neck and to bind the offwhite sweater together with the pink accessories. See the Tweed Cowl photographed below. So if you have a high neck – like me – and need to wrap up in the winter, wear all three cowl at the same time. Photographed by my husband on me, here: new-design-cablewing-sweater-and-cowls.

These patterns will be published in Norwegian together with the Patent Poncho, knitted in the thinner Ask – Hifa 2 by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, which I am excited to show you very soon in another post.

PS: When the pattern rights are released after one year, I will publish the patterns for sale in both Norwegian and English from my Ravelry pattern store, see ravelry.com/designers/linda-marveng.

Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Tag Archives: Hifa