Lofn Knitted by Tina

I wanted to show you Tina’s gorgeous version of my Lofn design, knitted in Mirasol Sulka Nina. Tina is one of my eagle eyed test knitters and volunteered to make size Small. I was fortunate to meet the lovely Tina, who is from Slovenia at the Vienna Wool & Design Festival, back in May 2017.  On her project page on Ravelry, where she is tinkaslo, she writes: “Another wonderful Linda’s pullover. I love special designs and it was my big wish to test knit it. Here I am. Due to different gauge I’ll be busy all the time – some adjustments needed.” Tina has written down all the adjustments she did on her project page!

Tina found a scenic background to photograph Lofn, somehow it made the texture and cables pop even more. Tina used a 4 mm/US 6 needle, while my sample knitter Grete Jenssen used a 3 mm/US 2.5 and the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Sølje pelt wool yarn. Thank you so much for test knitting for me and for making such a stunning version, Tina!

Here is my introduction to the pattern: Lofn is Norse for praise. This pullover is praising texture with its sideways voluptous cables and welt pattern that works like a rib. The upper part is picked up and knitted in Fisherman’s Rib and increased into top part of sleeve, while the bottom part of sleeve is knitted separately.

The Lofn pattern is available in English and in Norwegian in my Ravelry store and on Loveknitting. Yarn kits can be ordered directly from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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Lofn Pattern Released

The test knit of Lofn was completed in December and the English pattern, in addition to the Norwegian one, is now available from both Loveknitting and Ravelry. The sweater is knitted in the divine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje using 3 mm/US 3 needles and part of my Fall 2018 Collection for Hillesvåg. Gorgeous model Emma Ross, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is wearing size Small and brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla in late May, last year.

Lofn is Norse for praise. This pullover is praising texture with its sideways voluptous cables and welt pattern that works like a rib. The upper part is picked up and knitted in Fisherman’s Rib and increased into top part of sleeve, while the bottom part of sleeve is knitted separately.

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

Finished measurements:
Bottom width: 92 (102, 112, 122, 132) cm/36.25 (40.25, 44, 48, 52)“
Wingspan (without lower sleeve): 71 (76, 81, 86, 91) cm/28 (30, 32, 33.75, 35.75)”
Lower sleeve length: 24.5 (22, 19.5, 17, 14.5) cm/9.75 (8.75, 7.75, 6.75, 5.75)“
Length: 53 (53, 54, 54, 55) cm/20.75 (20.75, 21.25, 21.25, 21.75)”
Note: Sample is knitted in size S but with a bottom width of 80 cm/31.5” and height of 25 cm/9.75” due to a tight gauge.

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 350 m/383 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Red 2132; 4 (5, 5, 6, 7) skeins; 1330 (1540, 1750, 1960, 2170) m/1454 (1684, 1913, 2143, 2373) yds. https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/solje-pelsullgarn/

Yarn alternatives: Cascade 220 Sport (100% wool, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Cascade220Sport.htm
Tosh Sock (100% wool, 100 g, 361 m/394 yds).
http://madelinetosh.com/tosh-sock/
Berroco Cosma (60% alpaca, 30% wool, 10% silk, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-cosma
Or another Sport/5 ply or Fingering 4/ply yarn.

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 straight circular needle (80 cm/32”).
3 mm/US 2.5 DPNs for sleeves.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers (removable), 3.25 mm/US D/3 crochet hook (for preliminary cast-on), cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
24 sts and 40 rows in Fisherman’s rib measures 10 cm/4” square.
30-sts Cable measures 8 cm/3.25” wide.

Notes: The body is knitted in four parts with cables and welt pattern on the bottom part and Fisherman’s rib on the upper part. Increases are made in each side of the upper part for top of sleeve part. Bottom sleeves are worked flat separately. If you want to lengthen the sweater, work extra rows on the upper back and front before the shape of top sleeves and allow more yarn.

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Oslo Design Fair August 2018

The summer came to an end and the Oslo Design Fair opened its door on last Wednesday, at Lillestrøm. It is a day to catch up with designer colleagues as well as yarn producers, and this time was no exception. First on the agenda was a visit to the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk stand to see my latest collection exhibited and look at the new retailer brochure they have made. Above you see me talking to Øyvind Myhr with the sweater Lofn and the dress Sigyn in the background. Both are knitted in the lovely Sølje pelt yarn. Øyvind and Anette did want me to design 4 new designs and I am delighted to do so. Yes, I am wearing my Harding Cardigan, knitted in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter, first published in Interweave Knits Summer 2016.

Here is another photo of the mannequins with the yarn kit and brochure at the floor. When Michael and I arrived at the stand, designer Kari Hestnes and co-author Hege Dagestad were there. They have recently written the book: Garnmagi med Plantefarging (Yarn magic with plant based dying), recently launched by Cappelen Damm. Kari to the left, next to Berit Løkken and Anette Toft both from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and Hege.

I also met up with Thomas Kvist of House of Hobbies. He is now the agent for Lana Gatto and the American Distributor Knitting Fever. Designers Iselin Hafseld and Tove Fevang, as well as Dagfinn Sigridson Skoglund –  Works Manager at Oslo National Academy of the Arts – were also there and I had coffee breaks with them all. It is such an amazing and inspiring day!

There was no fashion show but House of Yarn did have a video of their fashion show running on their large stand. There were plenty of new yarns to look at and fondle. As you can see I was way to busy to take photographs so I am lucky that Michael did.

Finally I wanted to show you one of the photos Michael took of the Japanese inspired coffee shop in hall C named Scandinavian Design & Lifestyle. The Coffee shop is designed by Anderssen & Voll, with furniture from Japanese Ariake and food from Happolati. In addition I took one photo of the glass gate (read: the floor to ceiling glass wall is on the left hand side), where new exhibitors were presented on one side and exhibitions between the food outlets on the opposite side. For the first time at Oslo Design Fair, Hall C will be open to the public, today Saturday 1. September. So if you are tempted and nearby, this is your chance. You can find more information on the website: Oslo Design Fair.

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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Lofn

I knew red would look marvellous on model Emma Ross. This particular red has a grey core and is a wonderful pelt wool from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk called Sølje. The pullover Lofn is the last of four new designs made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and the Norwegian pattern and yarn kit will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at the end of August. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group, beginning in mid October before it is released. Lofn is Norse for praise. This pullover is praising texture with its sideways voluptous cables and welt pattern that works like a rib. The upper part is picked up andknitted in Fisherman’s Rib and increased into top part of sleeve, while the bottom part of sleeve is knitted separately. Photographer Eivind Røhne brilliantly captured this moment at Villa Malla in late May. Sissel Fylling styled Em’s hair and makeup. The statement jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design and the ankle boots by Monica Stålvang.The sample is brilliantly knitted by Grete Jenssen in size S using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle but with a bottom width of 80 cm/31.5″ instead of 92 cm/36.25″ and height of 25 cm/9.75″ instead of 30 cm/11.75″ due to a tight gauge. However, it did fit Em perfectly. Lofn will be available in sizes S (M, L, XL, 2XL) with a bottom width of 92 to 132 cm/36.25 to 52″ and a wingspan (without the lower sleeve) of 71 to 91 cm/28 to 35.75″.

The body is knitted in four parts with cables and welt pattern on the bottom part and Fisherman’s rib on the upper part. Increases are made in each side of the upper part for top of sleeve part. Bottom sleeves are worked flat separately. If you want to shorten or lengthen the sweater, adjust the height of the lower panel, adjust the stitch number in Welt pattern and allow more yarn. Lofn was the last of the new designs we photographed at Villa Malla. I also decided to photograph three old designs: The Free Falling Pullover returned from Interweave, The Tau Scarf returned from Vienna Wool & Design Festival as well as the Merino Omslagsvest/Merino Wrap Around Vest from my Norwegian knitting book. So stay tuned to see how these photos turned out. But next on my blog I will show you two new designs to be released on Thursday 2nd August in the Interweave Knits Fall 2018 issue.

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New Design: Lofn

Here is the final new design – for now – a pullover called Lofn made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Lofn is Norse for praise. This pullover is praising texture with its sideways voluptous cables and welt pattern that works like a rib. The upper part is picked up andknitted in Fisherman’s Rib and increased into top part of sleeve, while the bottom part of sleeve is knitted separately. As you can see the bottom part with the cable is very tight, and was meant to be 92 cm/36.25″ and not 80 cm/31.5″ wide and 30 cm/11.75 instead of 25 cm/9.75″ in size small. There is a very good reason for that and it is that turbo knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, made this pullover in only 1 week’s time using a 3 mm/US 2.5 so it made it to the photoshoot. We lost several weeks due to an incredibly slow mail service and I had to find a new sample knitter to make this. So all in all I am delighted that Grete knitted it at such an amazing speed and that it made it to the photoshoot.

Lofn is knitted in Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje Pelsull/Pelt wool made of 100% pelt wool, with 350 meters/383 yards per 100 gram skein. The sample is knitted in a stunning Red; 2132 in size S, but with a bottom width of 80 cm/31.5″ and height of 25 cm/9.75″ due to a tight gauge. The pattern gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square. I have graded the pattern in sizes S to 2XL with bottom width of 92 to 132 cm/36.25 to 52″.  I could just squeeze into the bottom part of the pullover and I did provide entertainment for the bikini clad women sunbathing next to me at the beach in Ørje. It was a sweltering day, so I am pleased that my husband took this photos quickly so I could change back into my summer clothes.

The body is knitted in four parts with cables and welt pattern on the bottom part and Fisherman’s rib on the upper part. Increases are made in each side of the upper part for top of sleeve part. Bottom sleeves are worked flat separately. If you want to shorten or lengthen the sweater, adjust the height of the lower panel, adjust the stitch number in Welt pattern, e.g. to 24 sts for 3.5 cm/1.5″ extra length and allow more yarn.

The Norwegian pattern and yarn kit will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at the end of August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group – beginning on 15th October – before its release. As you can imagine, this pullover fitted modell Emma Ross better since she is a size smaller than I am and she totally owns it. You wait and see!

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