Tag Archives: Rowan Alpaca Merino DK

Hel Pattern Released

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hel-coverThe long a-line vest Hel was received with excitement in my Ravelry group together with a request of a much earlier test knit than the one I had scheduled for next spring. I was happy to oblige and moved the test knit to July in time for late summer. The result was numerous stunning versions of Hel. You can see a selection of them here: Hel. The pattern was published in Norwegian in the special magazine Familien Strikk in August 2016. You will also find the English pattern available at Loveknitting. The sample knitted vest is one of five designs exhibited at Strikke 2016 at Hadeland Glassverk, and will be there until 30. October. Hel was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla by the fjord in June, worn by gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger with hair & make up by Jens J. Wiker and jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Here is my introduction to the pattern:

Sweeping Cables crown this long a-line vest with vents. The v-neck, framed by an I-cord bind-off, can be worn on the front or on the back. The cables have areas of rib in between hence a high rib became the obvious bottom band. Hel means complete in Norwegian and the Norse Hel ruled over nine worlds.

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

Finished measurements:                                                                                                       Bust: 82 (90, 98, 106, 116 126) cm/32.25 (35.5, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)”                            Hip: 92 (100, 108, 116, 126, 136) cm/36.25 (39.25, 42.5, 45.75, 49.5, 53.5)”                 Length: 77 cm/30.25″

Yarn: Rowan Yarns, Alpaca Merino DK (83% alpaca, 10% nylon, 7% wool, 25 g, 105 m/115 yds). Sample is knitted in Belvoir 107. 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins; 869 (1016, 1103, 1200, 1310, 1420) m/950 (1111, 1206, 1312, 1432, 1553) yds. http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/alpaca-merino-dk

Alternative yarn: Rowan Softyak DK (76% cotton, 15% yak, 9% nylon, 50 g, 135 m/148 yds). http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/softyak-dk

Needles: 4.5 mm/US 7 circular needle (80 cm/32″). 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (40 cm/16″) for armhole bands. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.   

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

Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4″ square. 24 sts and 30 rows in rib measures 10 cm/4″ square. 62 sts Sweeping Cables measures 18 cm/7″ across.

Notes: The vest is knitted back and forth in parts.

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New Design: Hel

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MMP-2081I knew I wanted to design a garment with these Sweeping Cables as soon as I saw them. I knew it had to be a long garment so they would have some space to unfold across. A vest, but should it be open or not? Not, I decided so it could be used as a summer top too. I tested a few yarns before I was happy with the result of the cable which stretches two stitches across four hence need to be of a filling type like Rowan Alpaca Merino DK – an alpaca, merino and nylon mix – of a chainette construction with a generous 105 meters/115 yards on each 25 g ball. The vest is knitted using a 4.5 mm/US 7 with a gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch. The Norwegian pattern will be published in Familien Strikk in late August while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group in mid-July.

MMP-2071The rib in the cables became the obvious choice for the bottom band and lent itself to making vents in the side. A relaxed fit, hence an a-line shape, makes the vest wearable for any occasion. It was stunningly worn by model Alexandria Eissinger with silk slacks, see my previous post: Villa Malla Sneak Peek. The deep v-neck can be worn on the front or on the back, due to the shoulder shaping. It is framed by an I-cord bind-off which I tried to offset with a few rows of reverse stocking stitch. Due to the fuzzy yarn the contrast did not work as well I had imagined.

MMP-2087The vest is knitted in two parts due to the vents. I named the vest Hel because it means complete in Norwegian and because the Norse Hel ruled over nine worlds. Complete because of the different looks you can create with it, whether you wear the v-neck at the front or at the back and what you prefer to wear under it.

MMP-2094I have graded the vest from size XS to size 2XL. The sample, the only one of the nine new designs we photographed at Villa Malla, I had time to knit since I was knitting samples for Interweave and SweetGeorgia Yarns. All the photos above are taken at Ormøya, down from where we live. Unlike the heat from the photoshoot day these photos were taken in a very cold wind and I would have preferred to have worn all three on top of each other instead of separately. Hel is the fifth new design and the last in the series to be published in Familien Strikk together with the Yellow Gold Pullover. Next up are each of the four designs I have made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and their yarn kits to be launched at Oslo Design Fair in early September. To be continued.

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Villa Malla Sneak Peek

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MMP-1608I wanted to share some more of the magnificent photos from our photoshoot at Villa Malla on the 1st of June. Above you see Jens Johan Wiker in action, doing some last minute finish to gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger/Nordic Model Agency wearing my design Githa with cowl together with a tulle skirt by Judith Bech Design and jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design. I wanted the blue water as a back drop to this top and suggested using the pier, which photographer Eivind Røhne agreed to. But he ended up with only the sky as the background, like the photo below by Michael.

XT1B1595However, this made the photos quite iconic in my opinion. Alexandria is standing on one reflector, the second is on its stand and to provide enough light at the right spot, I held the third reflector when Eivind started shooting. We photographed 11 garments, 6 for the Norwegian Familien Strikk out in late August and 4 for yarn kits for Norwegian yarn producer: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk – to be launched at Oslo Design Fair in September – and 1 for Ravelry.

XT1B1624The Yellow Gold Pullover, first published in Interweave Knits Fall 2015, was photographed again this time for my use and it will be published in Norwegian in Familien Strikk and in English in my Ravelry store. I decided to style the sweater with beige trouser and wanted the beach as the backdrop. It worked so well with the jewelry from Kaja Gjedebo Design.

XT1B1658Here is a sneak peek of a new design: Hel to be published in Norwegian in Familien Strikk in August. This is the only design, of the 9 new ones, that I actually knitted this time, in the new and lovely Rowan Alpaca Merino DK. Hence it was finished the day before the photoshoot. It has a slight a-line shape, vents and a v-neck that fits both ways; on the front or on the back. Hence you have two options and the meaning of Hel in Norwegian is complete. In addition the Norse Hel ruled over nine worlds…

More details on this new design will follow. I can also reveal that I have chosen my favorite photos from the huge selection Eivind sent me, and cannot wait to show you those in time.

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