Prescott Pullover and Cambridge Cardigan Again

Posted on September 8, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I wanted to show you how the Prescott Pullover and the Cambridge Cardigan – designs published in Interweave Knits Fall 2018 – look on me. Michael took these photos indoors, due to the extremely wet weather outside and also because the final pick up time for FedEx at Mail Boxes in Oslo was approaching too fast. I did make it, I am pleased to say. The Prescott Pullover is knitted in the divine Acadia from The Fibre Co.; a luxurious mixture of wool and alpaca with silk noil. The sample is made in the third size and measures 99 cm/39″ around the bust. I am wearing it with 11 cm/4.25″ of positive ease, while I recommend about 5 cm/2″ of ease.

The cable is time consuming to knit, but rewarding. The sample is knitted in Mountain Ash colour way and took 14 skeins to make. The gauge is 24 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette using 4 mm/US 6 measures 10 cm/4″ square due to all the cabling, while the rib gauge is 21 stitches and 30 rows. Here is the introduction to the design: “The Prescott Pullover emulates intricate iron- and stonework found on historic university buildings. This professional and sleek pullover features soft cabled bell sleeves, and the side ribbing gives it a body-hugging silhouette. The design is worked from the bottom up in pieces, and it’s finished with a cozy turtleneck.”

“The Cambridge Cardigan is the quintessential collegiate cardigan. Inspired by Scottish tartans, this preppy, oversized cardigan is ready for a chilly library, reading on the quad, or a beer at the local pub. The body of this project is worked in the round and steeked at the center and armholes.”

I secured the steeks using a crochet hook and slip stitches despite it being knitted in a pure Shetland untreated wool, Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift – 100% wool, 105 m/115 yds on each 25 gram balls – before I cut it open at the front and at the armholes. If you are new to steeking, make a swatch in the round and cut that open first in order to gain confidence to do it on a larger project. The sample is made in the fourth size with a bust measurement of 111 cm/43.75″ and modelled with 23 cm/9″ of positive ease, while I recommend around 10 cm/4″ ease. The Cambridge Cardigan is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 and 3.25 mm/US 3 and with a gauge of 24 stitches and 33 rounds in stranded colourwork pattern on larger needle measuring 10 cm/4″ square. As you can see of the back photo the vertical lines in the contrast colour 2 (CC2) are made of duplicate stitches/swiss darning using a darning needle on the fronts and at the center back at the end.

Pattern of the Week: Prescott Pullover

The editorial staff at Interweave has blogged about both designs to my utter delight and you can read the blogposts by clicking on the inserted links.

Interweave Knits Fall 2018: Cambridge Cardigan

The Interweave Knits Fall 2018 issue is available in a digital edition or print edition. In Norway you can buy the print issue at larger Narvesen stores or order it at your local one. Do join the Prescott Pullover KAL or the Cambridge Cardigan KAL in my Ravelry group if you are interested and join the party.

Ena Knitted by Siret

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Siret took part in the test knit of Ena and chose to make it in another yarn from The Fibre Co. than the one I used in the sample; Cumbria Fingering as opposed to Acadia. She made size Medium and shortened it with 9 cm/3.5″. Here are some of the stunning photos Siret took of her daughter with an iPhone, close to her home in Estonia, on an island called Saaremaa. Siret told me that the beach is in the city of Kuressaare and has been given a funny name among locals “Titerand” which means “the beach for the babies”. Regardless of its name it is such a perfect backdrop for the taupe coloured cardigan. Siret has knitted it in the shade Eden Valley #11.

This is what Siret writes on her ravelry project page: “Ena is wonderful cabled cardigan! I love these little cables. I was afraid of sewing sleeves. But Linda has designed sleeves that fits perfectly and there’s no worries at all. Eden Valley color is green-blue. Hard to catch on photo”. You can read more on her project page, you will find her as kollane on Ravelry and Siretsini on Instagram.

Siret reveals on her profile page on Ravelry that: “My grandmother taught me to knit when I was four. I love to knit mostly cardigans and pullovers, socks and shawls. At summers I love to crochet. I have been in Raverly for a long time but I started posting my works here from June 2017.”

I love how young and cool the cardigan appears, thanks to her daughter! This was the first of my designs that Siret knit and I do hope it will not be her last. Thank you so much, Siret!

The test knit is finished and I have released the Ena pattern in English on Ravelry and Loveknitting. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in the magazine Familien at a later date. Here is my introduction to it: Ena is Celtic for fiery. As you need to be passionate about cables to make this jacket. The woven cables lean towards the left and the right hence the spine has been accentuated with a twisted stitch at the center back and along front opening. Ribbing in the sides make the jacket appear casually fitted. The collar in rib can be worn open or closed and folded over. Ena is knitted in the rustic Acadia with silk noil from The Fibre Company.

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Ena

Posted on January 20, 2018 by Linda Marveng

The next set of photos from our shoot is of Ena, knitted in The Fibre Company’s Acadia, beautifully worn by Emma Ross leaning towards the rusty cor-ten wall panel with Bøler Kirke/Church carved into it. Photographer Eivind Røhne who captured these brilliant shoots made sure to position Em so that the two letters “Bø” as in “Boo!” was visible at all times. Yes, we do have a lot of fun! Hair & makeup stylist Sissel Fylling made sure that Em’s hair was not covering up the collar. On Em’s finger is one of Kaja Gjedebo Design’s statement rings in gold-plated silver.

Ena is Celtic for fiery. As you need to be passionate about cables to make this jacket. The woven cables lean towards the left and the right hence the spine has been accentuated with a twisted stitch at the center back and along front opening. Ribbing in the sides make the jacket appear casually fitted. The collar in rib can be worn open or closed and folded over. Ena is knitted in the rustic Acadia with silk noil from The Fibre Company.

The bespoke buttons are made by Siri Berrefjord in a brown orange colour she matched to my knitted swatch, ideal for this dressy jacket I styled with a pair of wide silk trousers in navy. The handmade buttons are moulded in plastic after old traditional national costume/bunad silver. You can look forward to seeing her stunning photos later. Siri is also a photographer so even the yarn and stitch definition can then be studied in detail!

The cable I chose is from Norah Gaughan’s brilliant Knitted Cable Sourcebook, so no surprise there, as I have found a lot of inspiration in it. The Acadia yarn, made of 60% merino wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk with 133 meters/145 yards on each 50 gram skein and it is a luxury to both knit and to wear. I used a 4 mm/US 6 needle with a 21 stitches and 30 rows in Stocking stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square gauge. The jacket is made in pieces and seamed. The collar is picked up and knitted before the buttonband. The last buttonhole is on collar before fold over.

Em is wearing size S with a bust circumference of 92 cm/36.25″, worn with 6 cm/2.25″ positive ease. The cardigan is graded in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 124 cm/33 to 48.75″. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group, beginning on March 12th, before it is released at the end of April.

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Dash Falls Again

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I thought you might want to see how my design Dash Falls made for the Fell Garth II collection for The Fibre Co, looks on me as apposed to the beautiful model. Dash Falls is knitted in the new lovely tweed yarn called Arranmore Light using a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle. This is the wonderful introduction written by The Fibre Co: “Wrap up against any stormy weather ahead with this sweep of a cardigan. Long lines combine with soft flowing cables along the front bands, drawing the eye down. Worked in pieces from the bottom up, this seamed garment offers the interest of more textured sections with the soothing safety of stockinette for the main body. Longer in length, this open front a-line cardigan can be worn as a sweater coat in milder weather or offer the ultimate layer in colder times when its comforting texture is needed. This garment was designed to be worn with 2.5-10 cm (1-4 in) positive ease at the bust”.

The body is knitted from the bottom and up with a provisional cast-on to be replaced by an I-cord bind-off, in parts. The sleeve begins with a cable panel. The stockinette stitch part of the sleeve is picked up from the panel and knitted in the round to the armhole, then sleeve cap flat to final bind off. The collar is knitted in two pieces, joined with a 3-needle bind-off and then attached along opening. The reversible cable adorning the collar and the sleeve cuff is one of the many inspiring ones found in Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I love the look of the cable from both sides and how well it works with the rib interfacing on the collar. My husband took these photos early in March on a very cold day in the garden of our old house in Oslo. I am wearing size S with plenty of positive ease created by the wide collar meant to worn folded over. The cardigan is available in size XS to 2XL with bust circumference from 86 to 128 cm/33.75 to 50.5″ and hip circumference from 106 to 148 cm/41.75 to 58.25″. The photo in the middle shows Dash Falls worn with the collar just slightly folded and shows off the extra ease as well as the backside of the cable. Were it not for the seams, this might have worked worn from the wrong side as well.

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Beckside Again

Posted on September 6, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I wanted to show you the photos of me wearing Beckside, made for Fell Garth II by The Fibre Company photographed by my husband in our garden in our old house in early March last year. It was freezing but the photos do not exactly blow your mind like the stunning images of it worn by model Emma Ross captured by photographer Tommy Martin. You need to see them in full size, so look here: my blog post and Fell Garth II Lookbook. This is how it looks on a normal person (read: mortal person). Thank you, Em for making the pullover appear divine!

I have used exactly this cable combination before in my Aran Bolero, made for my Norwegian knitting book. But since that jacket is cropped and intended to be worn with little positive ease, I wanted to make a pullover version using two of those cables. Beckside is knitted in the new and lovely tweed yarn Arranmore Light using 3.75 mm/US in Orla, the same deep bright orange as I worked my swatch in and comes in 6 sizes with bust measurements from 90 to 132 cm (35.5 to 52″).Beckside, is a classic cabled sweater initially named after the ruins in Hawkside, with basket cables adorning the center front and back, framed by a braid on each side. Stockinette stitch fills the background to allow the cables to shine. A saddle shoulder allows the center sleeve cable to continue to the neck.The Fibre Co. wrote a much longer and wonderful introduction to it: “In every knitter’s wardrobe we would hope to find a timeless cabled sweater, rich in texture and beautifully twisted stitches. We believe that Beckside is everything we need from a classic sweater: rich cabling, a slightly boxy shape but with all the finishing that make it crisp and easy to wear for most occasions. The deeply textured centre panel is flanked by softer, undulating cables to add something just a little soft to this otherwise unisex style. Worked in pieces from the bottom up, Beckside is seamed for a stronger, more flattering shape. The tubular cast on gives the finished garment a polished look. For a boxy fit as shown, opt for 5-10 cm (2-5 in) positive ease, Beckside would be equally flattering as a more fitted sweater with less positive ease.” I am so proud to be part of the Fell Garth II collection!

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Oslo Design Fair 2017

Posted on September 2, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I spent both Wednesday and Thursday at Oslo Design Fair this time, since I tend to meet more and more people I know. Jewellery designer Kaja Gjedebo Design found me first listening to a talk about Fast and Slow Fashion. Yes, knitting belongs to the slow one, whereas fashion shows where you are able to buy the garments straight after the show belong to the fast one. Kaja captured my hand since I was wearing her stunning Wide Caprifol Ring. I just had to make sure she photographed a bit of the Kohno Kimono I was wearing too. Later I read on Instagram that Kaja after 15 years in the business still enjoys seeing people wearing her jewellery.I spent a lot of time at the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and made sure those that had not met them did so. Including the VIPs – at least to me – from the UK, Daphne Marinopoulous and Iain Stanley, owners of The Fibre Co. So I got to meet them for the first time in real life after working with them online for my contributions to the Fell Garth II collection (see below). But Photographer Eivind Røhne was first since he has not met them in real life before and could take a look at his photos decorating the stall. He had brought his camera and photographed the stand. While my husband photographed me below and talking to Iselin.

Managing Director Øyvind Myhr to the right. And me photographed mid sentence. Here is a more detailed shot with the Aki sweater on the cover of the brochure they have made with the 4 new designs I made in their Pelsull/Pelt wool yarn qualities: Tinde and Sølje. On the wall is Sulli jacket with a loop and the Aki sweater while the Iglu Poncho and Wa Shawl is displayed on a mannequin.I was thrilled to meet Iselin Hafseld again, she was on the House of Yarn stand launching her new book (in Norwegian): Strikk fra Tinde/Knit from Tinde published by Cappelen Damm as well as a collection for Du Store Alpakka. Iselin has now turned back to designing hand knits from machine knitting and her brand Tinde. She was instrumental in making my book happen and has been a mentor to me since we first met at Heimen Husfliden in 2000. It is her partner Kim Müller who has not only photographed her book but also made the brilliant lay-out. Yes, Kim also photographed my book. You can find Iselin at Instagram as tindeknits and her book available to order from the publisher Cappelen Damm.The fashion show also attracted designers Sidsel Høivik and Kristin Wiola Ødegård, and I photographed them sitting down as we were catching up.The most inspiring part of the fashion show was these three outfits made of thick woven furniture fabrics.

I was also fortunate to meet up with Marketing Manager Mary-Ann Astrup at House of Yarn, Agent Thomas Kvist of House of Hobbies and for the first time the two talented women behind the Norwegian new knitting magazine Bladet Garn– Unni Cathrine Eiken, Malsengarn (see Ravelry) and Solveig Engevold Gaustad, aka Surrehue. Yes, I did enjoy the fair tremendously and received more job offers than I can handle at the moment. Now, that is a vote of confidence I am so grateful for. Thank you!

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Fell Garth II by The Fibre Co.

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I am so proud to be one of the ten designers selected to be part of the Fell Garth II collection by The Fibre Co. Prior to this I had designed a kimono using one of their gorgeous yarns, Acadia for knit.wear Fall/Winter 2016 and greatly admired their other yarns, designs and stunning photography by Tommy Martin with a breathtaking scenery in the Lake District in the UK – the homestead of The Fibre Co.

The Fibre Co 2017 / Tommy Martin

The collection has nineteen designs by acknowledged designers such as fellow Norwegian Kari-Helene Rane, Marcela Chang, Holli Yeoh, Emma Welford, Francesca Hughes, Cecilia Flori, Sarah Hatton, Fiona Alice and Clare Devine. Clare was also the technical editor and quickly spotted my mistakes, I am pleased to say. On the cover is the stunning Skiddaw by Kari-Helene Rane. One of my favourites along together with Binsey and Mirehouse (see photo above) by Fiona Alice as well as Armathwaite by Cecilia Flori. I could go on, but like most knitters I do not have enough time to knit as much as I want to. Check out the lookbook and the instagram/facebook video or join the Fibre Co newsletter (with discount offer): Fell Garth II Lookbook.