Gyda Pattern Released

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I am so pleased to announce that I have released both Gyda – the jacket – and Gyda Cowl – the cowl and belt – patterns in English after an exciting test knit in my Ravelry group. Take a look at all the different versions and the modifications including into a sweater on the links above. Gyda, knitted in the beautiful Hifa Ask, for my collaboration with shoe designer Monica Stålvang and dress designer Judith Bech, created for Made by Me – now Familien Trend – modeled by gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger/Pholk, hair and make up by Sissel Fylling, and brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at Hvalstrand Bad. Familien Trend with the Norwegian pattern was published in March. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Cables that create diamond shapes adorn this fitted jacket on all its parts. A deep v-neck and a button band with three bespoke buttons by Siri Berrefjord make it suitable to wear on top of any treasured outfit. The fronts and back are knitted flat, while the sleeves are knitted in the round, all in the bouncy pure wool melange Hifa Ask.

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: 69 (76, 83, 91, 93, 113) cm/ 27.25 (30, 32.75, 35.75, 36.5, 44.5)” 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: 50 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.75 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.50)”

Yarn: Hifa, Ask – Hifa 2 (100% wool, 100 g, 315 m/345 yds). Sample is knitted in Melange turquise 6584: 3 (3.5, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5) skeins: 900 (1023, 1147, 1273, 1462, 1650) m/984 (1119, 1254, 1392, 1599, 1804) yds. http://www.ull.no/garn/ullgarn/ask-melert

Alternative Yarn: Cascade 220 Sport (100% wool, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds). http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-220Sport.asp Madeline Tosh, Pashmina (75% superwash merino, 15% silk, 10% cashmere, 100 g, 329 m/360 yds). http://madelinetosh.com/store/index.php/yarns/pashmina.html Rowan, Wool Cotton (50% merino, 50% cotton, 50 g, 112 m/123 yds) http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/wool-cotton Shalimar Yarns, Breathless DK (75% merino, 15% cashmere, 10% silk, 100 g, 247 m/270 yds) https://www.theloopyewe.com/shop/g/knit-crochet/yarn/shalimar-yarns/breathless-dk/ Or another sport weight/5 ply yarn.

Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (80 cm/32″). 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32″) for hem and button band. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 3 buttons (13 mm/0.5″). Special ordered buttons on sample are made by Siri Berrefjord, siri@fredenshavn.no see http://epla.no/shops/sirisskattkammer/, 10 stitch markers, 4 stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 sts and 28 rows in st st using 3.5 mm/US 4 measures 10 cm/4″ square. Cable Panel across 84 sts measures 31 cm/12.25″. Cable Panel across 36 sts; 1 pattern measures 11 cm/4.25″.

Notes: Each front is 1 cm wider than 1/2 the back circumference, to achieve symmetry, usual in typical vintage garments. This jacket is fitted, please compare your waist measurements to the size you need and adjust if necessary, to make sure it will fit.

Butterflies adorn this generous Gyda Cowl, in the shape of a lace pattern divided by a rib. A rich melange brown color has been created by combining the pure wool of Huldra Kamgarn by Hifa with the tonal alpaca mixture of Dreamline Soul by Du Store Alpakka. A tweed belt made for the Gyda jacket introduces the brown shade together with farmblue Hifa Ask. The belt, just like the jacket, has bespoke buttons by Siri Berrefjord.

Sizes: Belt: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL) Cowl: One size

Finished Measurements: Belt: Bottom: 80 (90, 100, 110, 120, 130) cm/31.5 (35.5, 39.25, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25)” Top: 68 (78, 88, 98, 108, 118) cm/ 26.75 (30.75, 34.75, 38.5, 42.5, 46.5)” Height 30 cm/11.75″ Cowl: Height 46 cm/18″, circumference 92 cm/36.25″

For more info, see Gyda Cowl on Ravelry. The yarn for this set was kindly sponsored by Hifa and Du Store Alpakka.

Familien Trend Photoshoot: Gyda

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Here are the fantastic photos taken by Eivind Røhne of gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk, with beautiful hair and make-up by Sissel Fylling, stunning faux suede dress by Judith Bech, wearing my design Gyda, a fitted jacket. The divine Elena black shoes designed by Monica Stålvang are not seen in these photos but photographed separately, see those on Ravelry together with more details of the pattern: Gyda. The Norwegian pattern is part of the Nordic Vintage series recently published in Familien Trend.

Here is my introduction to the pattern: Cables that create diamond shapes adorn this fitted jacket on all its parts. A deep v-neck and a button band with three bespoke buttons by Siri Berrefjord make it suitable to wear on top of any treasured outfit. The fronts and back are knitted flat, while the sleeves are knitted in the round, all in the bouncy pure wool melange Ask – Hifa 2.

The English pattern in all sizes from XS to 2XL is currently being test knitted in my Ravelry group with 12 knitters making the jacket, in addition to a some just making the accompanying tweed belt or cowl. Gyda Cowl has details for the cowl plus the belt, while Gyda is only the jacket. You can follow the thread if you are a member of Ravelry. The pattern will be released after the test knit is finished. I chose to end the cables before last bind off or short rows on the shoulder and gather them to avoid flat cables then continue the last few rows in stockinette stitch. Take a look at the triangle created by the short row shaping on the shoulder. Some of my test knitters have instead chosen to continue the cables all the way to the last row.

We have also been talking about preferences in the different hem techniques; I recommend to sew it by hand at the end to make it stay flat while others decided to use a temporary cast-on. Occasionally I also use two circular needles, where one is used as a holder until it is closed with a row of knitting two together with one stitch from each needle. This tends to make a hem that is more rounded and which tends to turn upwards so that the lower part of the WS is visible.

Butterflies adorn this generous cowl, in the shape of a lace pattern divided by a rib. A rich melange brown color has been created by combining the pure wool of Huldra Kamgarn by Hifa with the tonal alpaca mixture of Dreamline Soul by Du Store Alpakka. A tweed belt made for the Gyda jacket introduces the brown shade together with farmblue Ask – Hifa 2. The belt, just like the jacket, has bespoke buttons by Siri Berrefjord. The statement ring in silver is designed by Kaja Gjedebo. If you have been following my blog closely you will have noticed that the last photo has not been shown previously, and is not included in the magazine. It was another of my favourite photos that I just had to have.

New Design: Bech

Posted on February 28, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I was smitten by Judith Bech’s halterneck dress, even though the first one I saw was a shop sample made in cotton, at the Made by Me planning meeting last July. Former editor Mary-Ann Astrup suggested grey silk to match my lace swatch and Judith obliged, with a stunning result. My swatch was made of a solid grey in a beautiful pure combed wool Huldra Kamgarn from Hifa combined with a tonal grey in a luscious alpaca mixture Dreamline Soul, from Du Store Alpakka knitted on a 4 mm/US 6. The name for the design had to be Bech after the dress. A shawl to cover the bare back together with loose sleeves to warm the arms, and a belt that could also be worn around your neck as a piece of knitted jewelry, tied or pinned together with a brooch was my design idea. But would the dress not look fabulous with a shawl collar too? Of course it would, hence the shawl must be given a collar.

The collar can be folded down when you wear the shawl around your shoulders or if you wear it close around your neck as a scarf. I decided to knit the collar in garter stitch as a contrast to the lace stitch with its parts of stockinette stitch, and to finish the collar with an i-cord bind off. As a divider between the stitch patterns I made a tuck and I prefer to make it using two circular knitting needles held parallel on the first row or round and then use the second needle as a stitch holder until the tuck is complete instead of picking up stitches on the wrong side afterwards.

The loose sleeves begin with five tucks that adorn the hands before you knit a purl band to add some texture before the lace pattern begins. On the inside of the sleeves is stockinette stitch so that you can easily increase to the full width. I did not want to end the loose sleeves with a rib and decided that a hem where I could insert a thin round elastic would be the best solution. The belt is all about tucks and related to the loose sleeves. I was so delighted that Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, could assist and knit the belt since I had too many other parts to knit.

Above the shawl is worn with the collar hanging down. The hem is curved by the lace pattern and gives a dramatic wavy edge. As you can see in the photo above, I have pinned it quite loosely with a shawl pin.

The view from the back shows the shaping of the collar and the i-cord bind off. By wearing the shawl low on the shoulders the loose sleeves look attached to the shawl, making it appear as a bolero from a distance and not as several loose parts. You can also see how I just pulled the ties into the belt at the top. If you preferred you could easily add hooks instead of ties on the belt.

The shawl can also be worn as a top, wrapped around the body and pinned in place with the collar hanging down making a lovely curve. Then the belt can worn as a necklace, tied together. This is not my idea but given to me by redesign stylist Makeløs/Remarkable Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik who suggested it for the first belt I made in this style to the Lyre Bolero. The improvements I made on the Bech belt is that I designed it with even more tuck and made the last tuck which is the tie strings even longer.

Last view, is of the back with the shawl worn as a top with the collar down and the belt as a necklace. All these photos were as usual taken by my husband, while Eivind Røhne has taken brilliant professional ones of the gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger from Pholk, see my blogpost: sneak-peak-of-made-by-me-designs and more photos will come. The Norwegian pattern was published on Monday as part of the series Nordic Vintage in Familien Trend, the magazine that takes over from Made by Me, and can be found in selected supermarkets and newsagents all over Norway. The English pattern will be released on Ravelry after it has been test knitted in my group.

Sneak Peak of Made by Me Designs

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I am thrilled to share some of the wonderful photos Eivind Røhne took of gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk, brilliant hair and make-up by Sissel Fylling for the Spring/Summer issue of Made by Me. The colors chosen for the series are based on Monica Stålvang’s Spring/Summer 2015 collection in blue, turquoise, grey, taupe and black. The divine handprinted grey long halterneck silk dress was made especially by dress designer Judith Bech for this series (see Facebook). I just had to name my design Bech after it and created a shawl with a collar that can be worn with it down as above, or up around the shoulders or around the neck, together with loose sleeves – held up by elastic encased in a hem and a belt made of tucks. Yes, more photos will come. Bech is knitted in Huldra Kamgarn by Hifa, a pure light fingering/3 ply wool held together with Dreamline Soul by Du Store Alpakka, an lace weight alpaca mixture, using 4 mm/US 6.

Above are some of Monica’s marvelous shoes, in front: Emanuela print made of printed pony skin; actually calf skin (a misnomer that comes from 1960’s fashion trends). Yes, Monica did used to live in Milan and produces her shoes there. You will find her shoes in selected stores in Norway, see Stockists and in her onlineshop here but you need to wait a bit longer for the Spring/Summer collection to be available but there are so many other shoes and boots to add to your wish list: shop.monica-stalvang.com.

This fitted cable jacket is named Gyda from Norse mythology, meaning God is Gorgeous, and is knitted in Ask by Hifa, a sport weight/5-ply pure wool using 3.5 mm/US 4. It has a deep v-neck with 3 bespoke buttons (size small) made by jewelry designer Siri Berrefjord in layers of color matching the melange yarn color. The beautiful ring Alexandria is wearing is made of silver and designed by Kaja Gjedebo. The faux suede dress was chosen after Judith wore it to our planning meeting in July with editor Mary-Ann Astrup at Made by Me, just as my Jakke i kryss/Jacket in Cross was. I brought a large selection of swatches made based on Monica’s color charts, and from seeing photos of Judith’s dresses (and the few I remembered from the time she was a member of the Designerkollektivet), Judith brought a huge bag filled with dresses, and Monica came with her drawings. 10 dresses were selected together with 11 swatches and the four of us discussed garment options (read: Not only jackets, Linda) and photo shoot locations (read: Preferably Mediterranean, and why do we not join Monica for her one of her meetings in Milan?). In other words a lot of laughter, and a fabulous day! To be continued.

Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Tag Archives: Huldra Kamgarn

Gyda Pattern Released

Familien Trend Photoshoot: Gyda

New Design: Bech

Sneak Peak of Made by Me Designs