Tag Archives: Kaibara

Kaibara Pattern Released

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The test knit of Kaibara has just come to an end with 20 knitters taking part in my Ravelry group. Not only did they correct and improve my pattern but they also made stunning versions of Kaibara! Thank you so much! The Kaibara pattern, in both English and Norwegian, is available on Ravelry and soon on LoveCrafts too. Above you see it worn by the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, captured by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church last November.

Named after Kaibara Ekken the father of botany in Japan is this flowery lace adorned A-line pullover with short sleeves. To allow the lace pattern to shine, the remaining pullover is worked in stockinette stitch. The pullover is knitted in pieces then seamed, for the ultimate fit, in the drapey and lustrous Como Silk from Handweavers Studio. Kaibara is made to be worn on a perfect summer’s day or at a party.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL, 5XL)
Shown in size XS
Skill level: Experienced.

Finished measurements:
Bust: 82 (92, 100, 110, 124, 134, 146, 156, 166) cm/32.25 (36.25, 39.25, 43.25, 48.75, 52.75, 57.5, 61.5, 65.25)“
Hip: 94 (102, 112, 120, 138, 148, 166, 174, 184) cm/37 (40.25, 44, 47.25, 54.25, 58.25, 65.25, 68.5, 72.5)”
Length: 60 (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68) cm/23.5 (24, 24.5, 24.75, 25.25, 25.5, 26, 26.5, 26.75)“
Sleeve length: 24 (24, 24, 25, 25, 26, 26, 26, 26) cm/9.5 (9.5, 9.5, 9.75, 9.75, 10.25, 10.25, 10.25, 10.25)”
Intended ease: + 5-10 cm/2-4”. Sample shown is 82 cm/32.25” and worn with + 1 cm/0.5” ease on model.

Yarn: The Handweavers Studio, Como Silk 4.5nm (100% Silk, 100 g, 350 m/382 yds).
Sample is knitted in Poppy Red: 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 6, 6, 7, 7) spools; 1278 (1404, 1530, 1656, 1831, 1957, 2083, 2209, 2335) m/1398 (1535, 1673, 1811, 2002, 2140, 2278, 2416, 2554) yds.
https://www.handweavers.co.uk/como-silk-45nm.ir

Yarn alternatives: Lang Yarns, Mulberry Silk (100% Mulberry Silk, 50 g, 145 m/159 yds).
https://www.langyarns.com/index.cfm?a=spn&PageNum=2
Malabrigo Yarn, Silky Merino (51% Silk, 49% Merino Wool, 50 g, 137 m/150 yds).
https://malabrigoyarn.com/yarns/silky-merino
BC Garn, Jaipur Silk Fino (100% Silk, 50 g, 300 m/328 yds)
https://www.bcgarn.dk/article.php?id=jaipur-silk-fino
Or another Sportweight or Light DK yarn.

Needles: 3.25 mm/US 3 straight needle.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers (removable), stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 17-st Lace repeat measures 8 cm/3.25” across after blocking.
23 sts and 34 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square after blocking.

Notes: The pullover is worked back and forth in pieces from bottom up and seamed. The lace repeat is the same for all sizes but not the number of reverse stocking stitch in between the lace panels; 2 for some sizes and 4 for other sizes.

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Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020: Kaibara

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Finally, the turn has come to the last design photographed at our photoshoot at Mortensrud Church in Oslo, in November. I chose to style the silk pullover Kaibara, knitted in Poppy Red in the luxurious Como Silk from The Handweavers Studio in London with cream coloured silk trousers. The gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is captured by Eivind Røhne upstairs on the gantry. Kaibara is the next pattern to be test knitted in my Ravelry group starting on May 3.

Olivia is wearing size XS with a bust measurement of 82 cm/32.25″ with only 1 cm/0.5″ positive ease. But I have graded Kaibara in sizes XS to 5XL, with bust measurements up to 166 cm/65.25″ and a recommended positive ease of 5-10 cm/2-4″.

Named after Kaibara Ekken the father of botany in Japan is this flowery lace adorned A-line pullover with short sleeves. To allow the lace pattern to shine, the remaining pullover is worked in stockinette stitch. The pullover is knitted in pieces then seamed, for the ultimate fit, in the drapey and lustrous Como Silk from The Handweavers Studio. Kaibara is made to be worn on a perfect summer’s day or at a party.

The Handweavers Studio, Como Silk 4.5nm is made of 100% Silk on a 100 gram spools with 350 meters/382 yards. I ordered the silk by telephoning the shop, that I used to visit when I lived in London. The sample is knitted, by yours truly, in Poppy Red using a 3.25 mm/US 3 needle with a 23 stitches and 34 rows in stockinette stitch gauge measuring 10 cm/4″ square after blocking. That is a loose gauge, as the heavy silk had quite a drop after blocking.

The English and Norwegian Kaibara pattern will be released after test knitting – that begins on the 3rd of May – in the middle of June.

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New Design: Kaibara

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Finally, the last of the new designs for now; my Kaibara photographed by Michael on me. Do notice the sailboat and the duck, I had to wait for them to both be in the frame, so I hope you appreciate the effort we made. Kaibara is knitted by yours truly in a fantastic silk made in the city of Como in Italy, that squeaks while you knit, first discovered at The Handweavers Studio & Gallery in London and ordered in the colour Poppy Red. The Como Silk 4.5nm can be bought on either 25 gram reels or 100 gram spools with 80 meters/87 yards or 350 meters/383 yards.

Named after Kaibara Ekken the father of botany in Japan is this flowery lace adorned A-line pullover with short sleeves. To allow the lace pattern to shine, the remaining pullover is worked in stockinette stitch. The pullover is knitted in pieces then seamed, for the ultimate fit, in the drapey and lustrous Como Silk from Handweavers Studio. Kaibara is made to be worn on a perfect summer’s day or at a party.

I am wearing size XS with a bust circumference of 82 cm/32.25″ with negative ease: 6 cm/2.25″ and as you can see the duck is no longer interested. That was not my plan, but my swatch did not match my stockinette stitch gauge on the sample. Hence my planned size S sample became a small size XS sample and fitted my modell Olivia Lindtein even better.

The Kaibara pullover is worked back and forth in pieces from bottom up and seamed. The lace repeat is the same for all sizes but not the number of reverse stocking stitch in between the lace panels; 2 for some sizes and 4 for other sizes. I have graded Kaibara from size XS to 5XL with a bust circumference of 82 to 166 cm/32.25 to 65.25″ and suggest a positive ease of 5-10 cm/2-4″.

I knitted Kaibara using a 3.25 mm/US 3 needle with a 23 stitches and 34 rows gauge in stockinette stitch and used 4 spools of the yarn for size XS.

Here is a detail of the lace pattern which is the same on the body as on the sleeves. My beautiful oxidised silver necklace and ring are made by Kaja Gjedebo Design, just in case you were wondering. Kaibara will be test knitted beginning on May 3, before its release in both English and Norwegian.

I look forward to showing you the brilliant photos that Eivind Røhne took of Olivia Lindtein wearing it at our photoshoot last November.

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Behind the Scenes: Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020

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It was a dark and grey morning when we set off from Ørje to Mortensrud Church in Oslo on Friday 13th of November for our photoshoot. I had planned and booked Vardåsen Church in Asker, but due to stricter Corona restrictions they cancelled all arrangements including our photoshoot. Mortensrud Church, on the other hand, still have a few small events taking place and allowed us to have a photoshoot there. Model Olivia Lindtein was at the church, when we arrived. She had planned extra time this time as she was late last year, but so were we due to traffic chaos as a result of the extremely heavy snow. Photographer Eivind Røhne arrived next before Make-up and Hair Stylist Sissel Fylling turned up. Straight to work and it did not take long until Sissel asked Olivia if she could cut off about 7 cm/2.75″ of her hair at the back and shorten it around her face. Thankfully, Olivia agreed.

Eivind prepared his equipment, while I hang the new designs on the clothes rail, while Michael was making a Patreon Behind the Scenes Video. When I was done, Eivind and I had a walk around the church to decide which backdrops to use. We chose a couple of the same ones we used last November. Eivind suggested a small change to an old location and I went for three different backdrops. Three and not four since there was little good daylight due to the weather. Michael and Eivind moved the chairs so that we would have enough space to move around at the first backdrop.

I had eight new designs to be photographed, that I had finished a few days earlier, with a lot of help from sample knitters Grete Jenssen and Airin Hansen. In addition I chose two of my old designs, made for my Norwegian knitting book, “Fletteskjørt“/Cabled Skirt and “Japansk Vest“/Japanese Vest that I wanted new photos of. Four of those new designs are made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and I decided to have those photographed first. Above you can see both Eivind and Michael (read: photographer number two) in action, photographing Olivia wearing Kyi; a skirt made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. If you wonder, yes, I have taken the top three photos with my mobile phone.

I was wearing my Gyda, knitted in Ask, a pure wool from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.  When we left home, I was also wearing the lace cowl and the tweed belt that is part of the Gyda Cowl pattern, but since the heating was on in the church I had taken those accessories off. Above you see both Sissel and me adjusting Rym the ballet top that goes with Kyi the skirt on Olivia. Both are knitted in the new yarn called Vidde a mix of 50% Pelt wool and 50% Lambswool with 200 meters/220 yards on each 100 gram skeins using a 4.5 mm/US 7 needle.

I know I look very sceptical in this photo, but I did not feel it. My mascara is already under my eyes due to all the laughing. Sissel is quicker than me to adjust the clothing as well as the hair & make-up. So often her head ended up in one of Eivind’s photos, that we all had to laugh, you get the idea from the previous photo.

I love this photo of Olivia eating cake, she admitted that she always have extra space for cake. Just as last time I had ordered a delicious lunch with juices and smoothies from Eckers Café at Frogner in Oslo city center.

My mum lives at Mortensrud, only 5 minutes away from the church and she wanted to pop in to see us all in action. Sissel took this photo of us, standing in the staircase ready for the fifth design to be photographed just after our lunch. On the hanger is the Seneka skirt and a matching silk scarf I had brought.

Here is exactly what my mum and I could see of Olivia wearing the Cabled Skirt, taken at the very spot. We photographed the Seneka skirt next. I had not figured out how to use the silk scarf, but Sissel instantly knew that it should be in her hair. We both agreed that it softened the outfit and made it absolutely perfect.

Michael had a similar view to me, behind me in the staircase, so above you can see Olivia wearing Senna – cardigan – and Seneka – skirt here worn as a poncho – putting on those high healed shoes. Both are knitted in the divine hand dyed Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted yarn.

The last photo I will share is the view Sissel and I had of Olivia wearing Kaibara being photographed by Eivind upstairs on the narrow gantry. We were told off by Eivind for not standing straight enough. That meant that we were both in the photo. So we straightened up even further after we had stopped laughing. I had a wonderful day, which I am reliving as I select photos from the pdf that Eivind has sent me. Thank you to my magnificent team!

More photos of all the new designs are available for those of you with a Patreon membership, while some of them will be shown here later on. Michael is doing the last finishes on a Patreon only; Behind the Scenes Video.

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