Ravelry Group 4th Year Anniversary

Posted on June 3, 2017 by Linda Marveng

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!

Idunn Pattern Released

Posted on May 10, 2017 by Linda Marveng

The next pattern I have released in my Ravelry store in English is Idunn, made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk’s yarn kits. The pattern has been test knitted and I am thrilled to see all the finished projects on Ravelry. Idunn was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne, worn by the stunning model Alexandria Eissinger/Nordic Model Agency, with hair & make up by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, at Villa Malla in June last year. The pattern is also available in English at Loveknitting and in Norwegian together with the original yarn in your own colour choice from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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 Pelsull from Hifa.

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

Finished measurements:
Bust: 88 (94.5, 101, 109, 119, 129) cm/34.75 (37.25, 39.75, 43, 46.75, 50.75)”
Length: 60 (61, 62, 63, 64, 65) cm/23.5 (24, 24.5, 24.75, 25.25, 25.5)”
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.5)”

Yarn: Hillesvåg, Tinde Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 260 m/284 yds, 100 g). Sample is knitted in Petrol 1105:
4 (4.5, 5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5) skeins; 952 (1092, 1232, 1419, 1653, 1887) m/1041 (1194, 1347, 1552, 1808, 2064) yds.
http://www.ull.no/garn/ullgarn/norsk-pelsull

Alternative Yarns: Berroco, Ultra Alpaca Light (50% alpaca, 50% wool, 50 g, 133 m/144 yds). http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-ultra-alpaca-light
Jamieson’s, Double Knitting (100% wool, 25 g, 75 m/82 yds).
http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double…
Rowan, Tweed (100% wool, 50 g, 118 m/129 yds).
http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/rowan-tweed
Malabrigo, Arroyo, (100% superwash merino, 100 g, 306 m/335 yds).
http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/subyarn.php?id=29
Or another DK/8 ply yarn.

Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”).
3.5 mm/US 4 DPNs.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

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

Gauge: 21 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
1 cable (18-sts) measures 5.5 cm/2.25” across.

Notes: The sweater, both the sleeves and the body are worked in the round to the armhole and then worked back and forth in rows.

Report Two: Vienna Wool & Design Festival

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Linda Marveng

It has taken awhile to mentally land after attending Vienna Wool & Design Festival. I look forward to seeing the official photos taken with all of us teaching present on the stage. In the meantime I can show you one with four of us, taken Sunday afternoon before my last workshop: Italian designer Valentina Cosciani, standing next to me, in front of her American designer – living in the Netherlands – Nancy Marchant and Polish designer Hanna Maciejewska. Photographing are Daniel, Hanna’s husband and my husband with extra cameras. Valentina has her own YouTube Channel and she has made an excellent video from the festival where she walks through the workshop rooms and all the 23 stalls in the market hall. Yes, it is in Italian but it does make you feel like you are there: youtube.com.

I also wanted to share my haul from the festival: Gorgeous mini-skeins and a full skein of British Gotland 4ply in addition to their two magazines called Sticka, all given to me by The Little Grey Sheep so I can play with their yarns. Take a look at the previous blog post to see how I am holding onto the skeins as if my life depended on it. 5 lovely balls of Lalland Lambswool by Di Gilpin, I could not decide which colour I wanted to test and when Sheila – Di’s assistant talked about how to work with two or three strands at a time, my mind exploded. I did not really want to let go of any of the colours and Di let me keep them all to test. My friend, test knitter and organiser Uschi, was so kind and ordered the two German magazines “Neu Strick Mode” for me – they are German versions of the two latest American knit.wear magazines. Uschi also gave me the rest of her Doulton Flock Border Leicester Yarn DK she used to knit my design Helka for me to try out. Suncica gave me a copy of the festival magazine: wool 2 go – a large glossy magazine with 12 patterns in English and German from 9 participating designers, including yours truly. The pink flyer at the back is the floor plan of the market hall.

Susanne, aka shannara13 on Ravelry, assisted at Suncica’s first stand, Wollsalon and showed off her test knitted version of my design Idunn sweater, knitted in String Theory Hand Dyed Yarn Merino DK in a pale grey called Pewter. Thank you, Susanne! I was so happy to meet knitters, test knitters and designers, some I had only meet online before, in person!

On Saturday evening there was a Galla Dinner, so I brought a long silk skirt and a silk top. I claimed a large part of Michael’s suitcase in addition to the one I had already filled with workshop materials and my designs to show off before we left. Michael was hoping that the suitcases would be lighter coming back, but he was wrong. Yes, I did give away a lot of workshop papers but with the extra yarn and magazines, we traveled home with even heavier suitcases. But I digress. Seven of us met in the reception and walked to the Italian Restaurant, Trattoria Martinelli at the Palais Harrach: British designer Anna Maltz led the way – assisted by Michael – for German designer Isabell Kraemer, Nancy Marchant, Hanna & Daniel Maciejewska and me. When I realised I was the only one of the designers who had not brought my knitting, everyone stopped abruptly – knowing the scale of this disaster – and offered to go back. I decided that I could manage without it, but loved the shared feeling & laughter as we walked on. Of course we arrived late, but it was a very pleasant stroll through the streets of Vienna.

At the palace we talked and Suncica introduced the team behind the magazine; graphic designer, stylist and photographer. You can spot the top of my head, behind Isabell Kraemer, talking to Di Gilpin. We had champagne and canapés before we went inside and had another 4 amazing courses. I sat next to Di’s husband and across from Hanna at the end of second table. The six of us at the end of the table had not finished talking at 23.00 when most of the party had left and decided to have a last drink in the bar at the hotel. It was a marvellous evening and late one before I went to bed!

On Monday, our last day in Vienna, we said goodbye to Nancy, had a late breakfast with Hanna & Daniel pluss Isabella and her partner. That was yet another highlight from Vienna and all for this time. Thank you to everyone I met in Vienna!

Hillesvåg Stand at Oslo Design Fair

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Linda Marveng

Yes, 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!

Here 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.

Above 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.

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!

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Idunn

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Linda Marveng

Next out of the four designs for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is Idunn. Alexandria Eissinger looks gorgeous in the pullover, with beautiful hair and make up by Jens J. Wiker, statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design and boots by Monica Stålvang Shoes, all brilliantly captured b Eivind Røhne on a sweltering day in June at Villa Malla by the Oslo fjord. Idunn is: 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, Norsk Pelsull – re-named Tinde – from Hifa. The Norwegian pattern will be available only in yarn kits to be launched by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk at Oslo Design Fair from 1. to 4. September. The yarn kits will be available in selected yarn stores and online here: Eksklusiv Gjestedesign. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group in March.

Idunn is worked using 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle with a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The pullover, both the sleeves and the body are worked in the round until the armhole and then worked back and forth in rows.

The pullover is straight without any shaping but the ribbing in the side make it appear fitted. I have graded the pullover from size XS to 2XL, with a bust circumference of 88 cm to 129 cm/34.75 to 50.75″.

Alexandria is wearing size S and is a clothes size European 34/UK 6/US 2. Next up is professional photos of the a-line jacket Elfa with the same cables.

New Design: Idunn

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Linda Marveng

I included a sweater in my design submission to Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk for their yarn kits. A pullover not unlike Cable Round Sweater and Mistale with ribbing in the sides making it appear shaped but this time with a Henley neck. It might sounds familiar since it is because I was inspired by the neck modification Sabine Brenner made to her Mistale. I adored this cable the first time I saw it and moved the cable crossing row until I was totally smitten with it. The pelt yarn; Norsk Pelsull, soon to be renamed to Tinde, was chosen for this pullover while a jacket was made in the new finer pelt yarn Sølje with the exact same cables. Again, I was fortunate that skilled turbo-knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry could help me out and knit the sample. It took her 9 days, for your information. All four designs will be launched as yarn kits at Oslo Design Fair at the beginning of September.

Here is my introduction to Idunn: 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, Norsk Pelsull from Hifa.

The pullover is knitted using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle with a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows/rounds measures 10 cm/4″ square. It will be available in sizes XS to 2 XL with a bust circumference of 88 to 129 cm/34.75 to 50.75″. Above you see me wearing size S. The sweater, both the sleeves and the body are worked in the round to the armhole and then worked back and forth in rows. The color is petrol and it is so vivid, hence well suited to be photographed at Ormøya by the fjord. I loved seeing it on my model Alexandria since she made it come alive for me. You wait and see.

Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Tag Archives: Idunn