Oydis in Familien

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Linda Marveng

My design Oydis Sweater together with the Cowl is published in the Norwegian magazine Familien issue number 20 which has 40 pages of knit. The design is not featured on the cover but on the introduction to the Handicraft section together with a photo of the handicraft editor: Åse Myhrvold Egeland. She writes: “Those who predicted that the knitting wave that hit the country a few years back would dribble out after awhile, were wrong, very wrong. The yarn producers increase their turnover every year, and magazines and books with pattern are torn off the shelves. Many begin to knit when they are expecting a baby, there are so much wonderful baby wear. In this issue you will find 40 pages of knitting patterns, so there should be something for every taste, whether you knit for yourself, your spouse, child or grandchild.”

Here is my introduction to the Oydis Sweater: A shadow diamond cable dominates this a-line sweater with a curved flattering hem. I-cord bands frame the bottom of the sweater, while garter stitches mark the sides and the round neckband. The sweater, with or without the cowl to dress it up, make the outfit ideal for the Goddess of good luck; Oydis. The body of the sweater is knitted flat, while the sleeves and the cowl, are knitted in the round. A fine tweed yarn is held together with an alpaca lace yarn, with a chain construction, to create a fabric with a beautiful stitch definition and a slight halo.

The Oydis Sweater and Cowl is knitted in Du Store Alpakka Dreamline Soul held together with Pickles Merino Tweed using a 4 mm/US 6 needle with a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows in Stocking stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The sweater is available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″. The cowl can be worn both hanging loose or twice around the neck.

It was gorgeously modeled by Alexandria Eissinger with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design, all brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne. The English pattern for both sweater and loop has been test knitted and is available as part of the Norse Goddess Collection e-book with 7 patterns or as individual patterns on Ravelry and on Loveknitting.

Oydis Sweater Pattern Released

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Linda Marveng

The test knit of Oydis has just been completed and the English pattern is released. 18 testers took part and you can see the different variations on the pattern page and there are more too come as well. I am grateful that some testers knit it as I intended, but I am also curious to see what changes testers would prefer to do. Quite often a test knitter suggest an idea I had thought about but chosen not to follow through. It is amazing how much a different color and different fiber will change the outlook of the garment too, hence a treat to see a large number of completed projects to compare against. Above you see Oydis worn by Alexandria Eissinger with hair and make up by Sissel Fylling, jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design all captured brilliantly by Eivind Røhne. Here is my introduction to Oydis: A shadow diamond cable dominates this a-line sweater with a curved flattering hem. I-cord bands frame the bottom of the sweater, while garter stitches mark the sides and the round neckband. The sweater, with or without the cowl to dress it up, make the outfit ideal for the Goddess of good luck; Oydis. The body of the sweater is knitted flat, while the sleeves and the cowl, are knitted in the round. A fine tweed yarn is held together with an alpaca lace yarn, with a chain construction, to create a fabric with a beautiful stitch definition and a slight halo.

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

Finished Measurements: Bust: 84 (90, 96, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (35.5, 37.75, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)” Hip: 98 (104, 110, 120, 130, 140) cm/38.5 (41, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 55)” Length: 74 (75, 76, 77, 78, 79) cm/29.25 (29.5, 30, 30.25, 30.75, 31)” Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.50)”

Yarn: Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline, Soul (68% baby alpaca, 32% nylon, 25 g, 177 m/195 yds). Sample is knitted in DL204 Greybrown. http://www.dustorealpakka.com/garn-sortiment/?category=29 7 (8, 9, 10, 12, 13) skeins; 1111 (1274, 1437, 1713, 1996, 2269) m/1215 (1393, 1571, 1873, 2183, 2481) yds. Pickles, Merino Tweed (100% wool, 100 g, 380 m/415 yds). Sample is knitted in PMT5508 Nature. http://shop.pickles.no/en/products/yarn/pickles-merino-tweed/ 3 (4, 4, 5, 6, 6) skeins; 1111 (1274, 1437, 1713, 1996, 2269) m/1215 (1393, 1571, 1873, 2183, 2481) yds. Note: One strand of each yarn is held together throughout.

Alternative yarns: For Soul: Fyberspates, Gleem Lace (55% British Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 45% silk, 100 g, 800 m/874 yds). http://fyberspates.com/gleem-lace/ Madeline Tosh, Praire (100% superwash merino wool, 100 g, 768 m/840 yds). http://madelinetosh.com/store/index.php/yarns/prairie.html Shuibui, Cima (70% alpaca, 30% merino, 50 g, 300 m/328 yds). http://www.shibuiknits.com/Yarn/Colorways.php?Yarn=Cima For Merino Tweed: Rowan Fine Tweed (100% wool, 25 g, 90 m/98 yds). http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/rowan-fine-tweed Or another DK/8 ply yarn held singularly.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (80 cm/32″). 4 mm/US 6 DPNs. 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (40 cm/16″) for neck band. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

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

Gauge: 20 sts x 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4″ square. 1 Shadow Diamond Cable across 30 sts measures 11 cm/4.25″. 20 sts x 30 rows in garter st measures 10 cm/4″ square.

Notes: The body is worked flat, while the sleeves are worked in the round. The sleeves begin with making an I-cord and picking up stitches from the cord, but use a provisional cast on and then later work an I-cord bind off, as on the body, if you prefer. Each side has garter stitches as edging and the sleeves have a fake seam created with garter stitches.

Photoshoot at Ekeberg Restaurant: Oydis Sweater & Cowl

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Linda Marveng

I am proud to show you the stunning photos of Oydis, Eivind Røhne took of gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger wearing the Oydis Sweater and Cowl. The hair and make up artist is Sissel Fylling, who worked her magic yet again. The jewelry is by Kaja Gjedebo Design and complements the texture of the knitting as well as lifting the outfit to another level altogether. I will self publish Oydis in Norwegian on Ravelry at the end of February together with four other designs. The English pattern will be published after test knitting in my group beginning in March.

Here is my introduction to Oydis: A shadow diamond cable dominates this a-line sweater with a curved flattering hem. I-cords bands frame the bottom of the sweater, while garter stitches mark the sides and the round neckband. The sweater, with or without the cowl to dress it up, make the outfit ideal for the Goddess of good luck; Oydis. The body of the sweater is knitted flat, while the sleeves and the cowl, are knitted in the round. A fine tweed yarn is held together with an alpaca lace yarn, with a chain construction, to create a fabric with a beautiful stitch definition and a slight halo.

The chainette yarn Dreamline Soul from Du Store Alpakka (68% baby alpaca, 32% nylon, 25 g, 177 m/195 yds) is held together with Merino Tweed from Pickles (100% wool, 100 g, 380 m/415 yds). The Dreamline Soul yarn was kindly sponsored by Du Store Alpakka. The set is knitted using 4 mm/US 6 with a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

The body is worked flat, while the sleeves are worked in the round. The sleeves begin with making an I-cord and picking up stitches from the cord, but use a provisional cast on and then later work an I-cord bind off, as on the body, if you prefer. Each side has garter stitches as edging and the sleeves has a fake seam created with garter stitches.

The sweater comes in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″, hip circumference of 98 to 140 cm/38.5 to 55″ and length from 74 to 79 cm/29.25 to 31″. The cowl is one size but can be adjusted in width by adding extra side stitches in garter and in length by removing or adding pattern repeats. The cowl is knitted in the round, and then the ends are joined using mattress stitches. But you could easily use a provisional cast-on and graft the stitches together instead.

This set has been the most popular design in this series so far, but it will be interesting to see if that changes as I keep showing you all the professional photos. I follow the number of favorites on my project page on Ravelry and you can too. Do find me and join my group on Ravelry, if you have not done so already.

New Design: Oydis Sweater & Cowl

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Linda Marveng

The Shadow Diamond Cable, was love at first sight and one centered on all parts would be more than sufficient I thought. I have long wanted to test making a curved hem so I gave the sweater an A-line shape so that the bottom part would hang perfectly. I decided to begin with a provisional cast-on so that I could add an I-cord bind off all along the bottom at the end. The round neck has a thin garter stitch band, and there is a garter stitch edge in each side of the body. Of course it needed a cowl with the cable knitted on one side. The body of the sweater is knitted flat, while the sleeves and the cowl are knitted in the round. A fine tweed yarn, Pickles Merino Tweed, is held together with an alpaca lace yarn, Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline Soul to create a fabric with a beautiful stitch definition and a slight halo. I plan to publish the pattern in Norwegian on Ravelry in February, and the English pattern after test knitting in my group late next spring.

The inside of the sleeves have the same garter stitch panel as the sides of the body. You can glimpse it in the top photo. The unevenness of the yarn mixture does make the I-cord slightly uneven as you can see in the photo above. Parts of the yarn was generously sponsored by Du Store Alpakka. Oydis is a Norse name and means the Goddess of Good Luck, which I felt was very fitting especially when the sweater is worn with the cowl.

The set is knitted using a 4 mm/US 6 with a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows in stocking stitches measuring 10 cm/4″. It will be available in sizes XS to 2XL with a finished bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″, and length of 74 to 79 cm/29.25 to 31″. The cowl is knitted in the rounds and the ends are joined using mattress stitches, but you could easily choose a provisional cast-on and graft if you prefer.

The inside of the cowl is knitted in a rib but with garter stitches for folding so that it stays flat. It can be worn hanging loose or twice around the neck with the rib visible. All these photos are taken of me by my husband on our terrace in October just before the professional photo shoot.

I had no stylist available to tell me to pull the sweater down nor fold the cowl more neatly in the photo above, so I apologize. The stylist is usually me, magnifiscently assisted by hair & make up artist Sissel Fylling and whenever possible editor Mary-Ann Astrup. As you can imagine I had a very difficult time choosing among the professional photos taken by Eivind Røhne of Alexandria Eissinger on the other hand, and ended up with 7 fantastic photos, I am looking forward to showing you after I have presented all the new designs.

Atika Pattern Released

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Finally, I have been able to release Atika. The cowl and the loose sleeves were stunningly worn by Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk, with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling, dress by Judith Bech, jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo and brilliantly captured by photographer Eivind Røhne for the Norwegian magazine Made by Me. I am thrilled that I have been able to gather the same team again – hence the delay in releasing this pattern – and our photo shoot is today – more will be revealed later. As usual my test knitters had some great suggestions for improvements of the English pattern, and I followed their advice. Below is the essential pattern information.

ATIKA A cowl to warm your shoulders or your neck. Or why not wear it as top with matching loose sleeves gracing a stunning dress like this designed by Judith Bech. Both the cowl and the loose sleeves are knitted in the round using a beautiful reversible stitch pattern called Hearts of Oak with both texture and a drapy edge. Make your own perfect yarn by combining a lace weight yarn like the luscious Dreamline Soul from Du Store Alpakka with a fingering yarn like Merino Tweed from Pickles.

Sizes: Cowl: One Size Loose Sleeves: S/M (L/XL, 2XL)

Finished Measurements: Cowl: Width: 26.5 cm/10.5″ Length: 109 cm/43″ Loose Sleeves: Bottom 23.5 (25, 28) cm/9.25 (9.75, 11)”. Top: 32.5 (34.5, 37) cm/12.75, (13.5, 14.5)”. Length: 40 (42, 44) cm/15.75 (16.5, 17.25)”

Yarns: Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline Soul (68% baby alpaca, 32% nylon, 25 g, 177 m/195 yds). Sample is knitted in DL214 Melange green/blue tones. http://www.dustorealpakka.com/garn-sortiment/?category=29 Pickles, Merino Tweed (100% wool, 100 g, 380 m/415 yds). Sample is knitted in PMT551 Mountain Far. http://shop.pickles.no/en/products/yarn/pickles-merino-tweed/ Note: Yarns are held together throughout. Cowl: 3 skeins of Dreamline Soul, 2 skeins of Merino Tweed; 424 m/464 yds of each yarn. Loose Sleeves: 2 skeins of Dreamline Soul, 1 skein of Merino Tweed; 318 m/348 yds of each yarn. Or another DK/8 ply yarn held singularly.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (80 cm/32″) for cowl. 4 mm/US 6 DPNs for loose sleeves. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 1 m/1 yard thin round elastic for loose sleeves, 3 stitch markers and yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rnds in st st using both yarns held together measures 10 cm/4″ square.

Notes: The cowl is knitted sideways and in the round. You can adjust the length by removing or adding pattern repeats of 10 sts. If you want to wear it twice around your neck, add 2 pattern repeats. The loose sleeves are knitted in the round to the end. An elastic band is threaded through the stitches on the wrong side of the top of each sleeve. Use knit-in elastic if you prefer.

Familien Photoshoot: Syndra

Posted on September 16, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Syndra, another design of mine professionally photographed by the brilliant Eivind Røhne for the Norwegian magazine Familien Småstrikk – a special issue out in November. The gorgeous model is Anne Dorthe/Team Models with stunning hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and wonderful statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo. Here is my introduction to the design: Named after Syndra with her immense magical potential, is this cowl to warm your shoulders and the matching loose sleeves. Both the cowl and the loose sleeves are knitted in the round using a beautiful reversible stitch pattern called Reverse Fern Stitch with a lush texture and I-cord bands. Make your own perfect yarn by combining a lace weight yarn like the luscious Dreamline Soul from Du Store Alpakka with a fingering yarn like Merino Tweed from Pickles.

The set is knitted using 4 mm/US 6 needles and the cowl available in one size, while the loose sleeves are available in sizes: S/M (L/XL, 2XL). The cowl is knitted sideways and in the round. You can adjust the length by removing or adding pattern repeats of 10 sts. If you want to wear it twice around your neck, add 2 pattern repeats. The loose sleeves are knitted in the round to the end. An elastic band is threaded through the stitches on the wrong side of the top of each sleeve. Use knit-in elastic if you prefer. The Dreamline Soul yarn was kindly sponsored by Du Store Alpakka.

The stitch pattern gives a lovely texture, and I discovered how neat it looked increasing into reverse stocking stitch instead of beginning to add stitch patterns, see the photo above. If you wanted to shape the cowl, you could easily apply the same idea and decrease towards a narrower neck instead of making it straight. Dorthe is wearing Ivy hanging earrings and Caprifol wide ring both with fresh water pearls, all in silver. I am delighted that I have even more photos to show you from this photoshoot at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter! To be continued.

New Design: Syndra

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I loved how my design Atika came out, and discovered a new gorgeous textural stitch pattern for another cowl and loose sleeves to wear with a stunning dress or with a vest. Named after Syndra with her immense magical potential, is this cowl to warm your shoulders and the matching loose sleeves. Both the cowl and the loose sleeves are knitted in the round using a beautiful reversible stitch pattern called Reverse Fern Stitch with a lush texture and I-cord bands. Make your own perfect yarn by combining a lace weight yarn like the luscious Dreamline Soul from Du Store Alpakka with a fingering yarn like Pickles Merino Tweed. Syndra will be published together with Nuala (turquoise shawl & cowl) and Hertha (cerise shawl & loose sleeves) in the Norwegian special magazine Familien Småstrikk due out on 2. November. The English pattern will be published after a test knit in my Ravelry group.

The cowl is knitted sideways and in the round. You can adjust the length of the one size cowl by removing or adding pattern repeats of 10 sts. If you want to wear it twice around your neck, add 2 pattern repeats. The loose sleeves are knitted in the round to the end and come in sizes: S/M (L/XL, 2XL). An elastic band is threaded through the stitches on the wrong side of the top of each sleeve. Use knit-in elastic if you prefer. For edgings I choose I-cords and since the I-cord cast-on gives a loose edge I decided using a provisional cast-on (e.g. the backward loop cast-on) later to be replaced by an I-cord bind-off for the cowl, while for the loose sleeves I made an I-cord, then picked up and knitted stitches from it, see video on YouTube. The set is knitted with sponsored yarn from Du Store Alpakka on a 4 mm/US 6 needle.

You can wear the cowl loose around your neck, or across your shoulder or twisted around your neck as above. If this is how you prefer to wear it, pin together two of your scarf, try on and measure to get the right length. For these photographs, taken by my husband, I choose black but for the photo shoot I choose cream to let the stunning lilac color come alive. I think you will agree with me when you see the photos taken by Eivind Røhne at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter. Stay tuned, and keep knitting!

Familien Photoshoot: Atika

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Magic, is the best description of seeing gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk wearing Judith Bech’s divine felted wool dress with my design Atika on top. Alexandria’s hair and make up was by Sissel Fylling, while the stunning jewelry is by Kaja Gjedebo and the shoes not visible but equally perfect are by Monica Stålvang. The magic moment was captured by brilliant photographer Eivind Røhne at Hvalstrand Bad in Asker last October. The bar seemed the ideal backdrop for this party outfit, according to former editor Mary-Ann Astrup who suggested the glas of wine as an accompaniment. Atika, consisting of a cowl with loose sleeves, is knitted in the luscious Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline Soul a lace weight alpaca mixture held together with the speckled Pickles, Merino Tweed, a thin fingering weight wool using a 4 mm/US 6. The pattern was released as part of my Nordic Vintage series in Familien Trend.

Here the cowl is twisted around the body, to make a halterneck top. You can also here easily see the loose sleeves which have elastic band inserted at the top so they will stay in place. The cowl is knitted sideways and in the round. You can adjust the length by removing or adding pattern repeats of 10 sts. If you want to wear it twice around your neck, add 2 pattern repeats. The loose sleeves are knitted in the round to the end.

Above is a photo that was not published in the Familien Trend magazine. It is one of the many extra photos I desperately wanted from Eivind Røhne. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Atika: A cowl to warm your shoulders or your neck. Or why not wear it as top with matching loose sleeves gracing a stunning dress like this designed by Judith Bech. Both the cowl and the loose sleeves are knitted in the round using a beautiful reversible stitch pattern called Hearts of Oak with both texture and a drapy edge.

This last photo was chosen because of its sensuality, and has not been published earlier either. I plan to organize a test knit of Atika before I release it in English. The test knit will take place in my Ravelry group some time after the Honeysuckle Shawl and Saga which are the next two patterns to be test knitted.

Familien Trend Photoshoot: Freja

Posted on March 21, 2015 by Linda Marveng

My design Freja, worn by model Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk looking like a goddess, with a stunning fringe skirt with a train by Judith Bech, beautiful hair and make-up by Sissel Fylling, and captured by Eivind Røhne. No wonder it was chosen as the introduction to our Nordic Vintage series in the recent Norwegian magazine Familien Trend. Freja, named after the goddess of love with the added meaning of like a lady, is knitted with a longer back shaped at the bottom. Three Lace panels adorn the sleeveless top with garter stitch bands and vents in the side. A fine tweed yarn is held together with an alpaca lace yarn, with a chain construction, to create a fabric with beautiful stitch definition and a slight halo.

I was enchanted with the result of combining Dreamline Soul, a fine lace weight alpaca mix in tonal colors from Du Store Alpakka with Merino Tweed, a fingering/4-ply yarn from Pickles in the same range of shades of light turquoise. Using a 4 mm/US 6, I got a gauge similar to a thick DK with 20 sts and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. The top is knitted flat in two pieces, while the armhole and neck band are worked in the round. The bottom of the back is shaped by short rows in garter stitch before the decreases are worked in between the lace panels. Both parts have edge stitches in garter stitch at the bottom for the vents.

I made a chocker to go with the top using one lace panel with garter stitch all around. 3 snap fasteners where sewed onto the chocker for closure. The chocker is one size but can easily be adjusted by adding or removing garter stitch rows as well as pattern repeats. The top is made in size XS to 2XL with a finished bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″.

Above is another gorgeous photo Eivind took, I could not resist! Why? Because, here you see the train on the skirt, and how the back of the top mimics it, at least it does in my imagination. I would like to have the English pattern test knitted before it is released in my Ravelry store. In the meantime I will show you some more of the fantastic photos Eivind took.

New Design: Atika

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Hearts of Oak is an attractive stitch pattern I came across last summer, and just had to use in a design. The sculptural feel it gives make the texture stand out. Judith Bech has designed a stunning felted wool dress in exactly the same grayish aqua color I choose for my swatch made in the luscious Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline Soul held together with Pickles Merino Tweed using a 4 mm/US 6 needles. A large cowl to cover your shoulders or neck that can also be worn as a tight wrapped top together with matching loose sleeves was my solution to grace Judith’s dress.

Fabulous knitter, Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, agreed to knit the sample for me and to assist on deciding how to work the increases as well as whether to work them in the round or flat. It is a stitch pattern that is harder to work flat since the centering stitches on each side does not seem flow naturally, in my opinion. Grete found a great solution to increasing by working them on either side of the pattern increase or decrease, and suggested knitting both in the round for ease. Ideal solutions, I think! Thank you, Grete!

Above it is worn as a tight top with a twist around the neck. I know this is a style that does not suit everyone, but I love how it transforms the cowl completely. You can easily add or remove pattern repeats to both the width and the height of the loop, depending on how you prefer to wear it. The loop is worked straight without any increasing while the loose sleeves have increases on the inside of them, and a thin round elastic cord thread through the top to keep them in place around the upper arm.

It can also be worn twice around the neck if preferred. All these photos of me wearing it are, as usual, taken by my husband. You can look forward to seeing the gobsmacking photos photographer Eivind Røhne took of gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk beautifully styled by Sissel Fylling, wearing that stunning matching dress by Judith Bech and divine shoes by Monica Stålvang. The Norwegian pattern will be published in Familien Trend, out on Monday 23. February, while I plan to test knit the English pattern in my Ravelry group before releasing it.

Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Tag Archives: Pickles Merino Tweed