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.