The time has come to share the last set of photos taken by Wenche Hoel-Knai at Sentralen during our shoot back in December last year. The Tweed Scarf is an old design originally made for my Norwegian knitting book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” published in 2012 by Cappelen Damm. I wanted some new photos as the backside was not photographed the first time around. This time I styled the Tweed Scarf with black pencil pants and a chalk white coat. I loved seeing the scarf on model Olivia Lindtein, with Make-up & Hair by Nina Hjertaas Bull and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design. In the first two photos you see it with the tuck side out, while the remaining ones have the cable side out. Continue reading
Tag Archives: To rett en vrang. Designstrikk
Photoshoot at Hvalstrand Bad: Syrin Shrug
Finally, the time has come to begin to show you the magnificent photos Eivind Røhne took of model Aksa Mortensen, with hair & make-up by Nina Hjertaas Bull and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, at Hvalstrand Bad back in June. The first set of photos is of my old design Syrin Shrug, first published in Norwegian in my book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” published by Cappelen Damm in 2012. It was actually the last design we photographed on that first hot day of the summer. Aksa was introduced to me by photographer Geir Arnesen and his wife designer/author/journalist Tove Fevang, early in the spring. My plan was to use both Aksa and Olivia Lindtein at the photoshoot, but Olivia had to go into a Covid waiting quarantine – as a friend of hers had been exposed to the virus – so she could not come (her friend tested negative a few days later). To my relief, Aksa could stay on for the full day.
I styled the shrug and the wrist warmers with cream coloured silk trousers and a top. Nina suggested to take Aksa’s hair down for these photos and I agreed. We photographed it in the different ways that the shrug can be worn and with the wrist warmers buttoned on. I love the look on Aksa!
The Syrin Shrug is knitted in the Australian Wagtail 4ply Kid Mohair in Violet using a 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle. The pattern includes a pair of wrist warmers that can be worn as loose sleeves and was first published only in one size. I have revised the pattern and included three more sizes: XS to M (L to 2XL, 3XL/4XL, 5XL). With the elastic bind off worn at the bottom, the shrug can be lightly stretched to 110 (127, 145, 162) cm/43.25 (50, 57, 63.75)” wide.
Choose a larger size shrug only if you want to wear it around your bust. The sample shrug width 87 cm/34.25” (size XS to M) is worn on model with an 86 cm/33.75” bust circumference.
The eyelet pattern creates a spiral that moves around the shrug and the wrist warmer. The shrug is worn upside down with the cast on edge at the top, as the elastic bind off makes it wider. The yarn overs on the bottom of the shrug are used as buttonholes for the wrist warmers when they are worn as loose sleeves.
A beautiful subtle sheen mohair yarn shown off by an eyelet pattern, gives this set, consisting of a shrug and button-on wrist warmers, an elegant look. The color capsulates the essence of the lilac flower hence it is irresistible for warming your neck and shoulders. The Syrin Shrug can also be used as a hood or a cowl with wrist warmers that can be buttoned on like sleeves by using the yarn overs. The set is knitted in the round with the stunning Wagtail 4ply Kid Mohair.
I am ever so grateful for these new photos of my Syrin Shrug and want to thank my amazing crew!
Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020: Cable Skirt
I have been waiting to show you the first set of photos we took at Mortensrud Church in Oslo, back in November 2020. The Cable Skirt is not a new design, but one that I made for my Norwegian knitting book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” published by Cappelen Damm back in 2012. This time I made sure that we photographed it worn as a poncho in addition to as a skirt. I decided to style the skirt with a camel silk blouse and then with the matching trouser. Model Olivia Lindtein looked stunning in both the skirt and the poncho! Her hair & make-up is by Sissel Fylling, the jewellery is borrowed from Kaja Gjedebo Design and brilliant photographer Eivind Røhne captured it all!
The pattern has been revised and I have added two more sizes to it. My technical editor Barbara Khouri has made a schematic for it and edited the pattern for me. The Cable Skirt pattern will be released in my Ravelry Store tomorrow in both English and Norwegian.
A cabled skirt inspired by the late Alexander McQueen with a center braid cable framed by a tulip cable on each of the six panels. In the sides there are double seed stitches to allow the cables to add an extra dimension to the stitch pattern. Instead of elastic, a comfortable boot laces is inserted so that you can adjust the length by wearing it on your hips instead of waist or as a poncho, if you prefer. The Cable Skirt or Poncho is knitted in the lovely Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine with a small percentage of nylon so it will keep its shape.
The skirt is knitted using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and with a 28 stitch and 36 rows gauge in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. The finished waist measurement for the smallest size is 126 cm/49.5″ and it will fit sizes XS to M, while the second size will fit sizes L to 2XL and the third size will fit sizes 3XL to 5XL. Olivia is wearing the smallest size with 62 cm/24.5″ positive ease.
The skirt is knitted in six panels with shaping for the waist and then sewn together. Boot laces is inserted into the waistband before it is folded over and seamed to the wrong side. Each panel has a centred Braid cable with a Tulip cable on each side, divided by reverse stocking stitch and edged by double seed stitch. If you only want to use the skirt as a poncho, make the smallest size.
I look forward to showing you more of the photos from the photoshoot! I am so thrilled with these new photos of the Cable Skirt. Thank you to my wonderful team!
Photoshoot at Oslofjord Museum: Bell Jacket
I am ready to begin to show you the photos we took from our base at the Oslofjord Museum at Vollen in Asker, outside of Oslo at the end of May. First out the Bell Jacket, this is an old pattern that was first published in my Norwegian book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” by Cappelen Damm in 2012. I want to present a new model, chosen for the occasion since I had so many designs to photograph this time I choose to book both Emma Ross and Kaja Kvernbakken. The multi talented Kaja is a former editor, designer, novelist and one of the few Norwegian technical editors. In addition she has been modelling for years and years, ever since she was working as a designer for the Norwegian yarn company Du Store Alpakka. You will find her face on several Norwegian knitting books and magazines. So here she is wearing my Bell Jacket with a pair of pirate trousers, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, plus ankel boots by Monica Stålvang, brilliantly photographed next to the corten steel wall by Eivind Røhne.
The Bell Jacket was photographed again since I am releasing the pattern as an individual pattern and because I wanted to sell the Norwegian pattern for reuse to the magazine Familien. I have received several requests for the pattern in English, but knew I had to revise the pattern and have my technical editor to check it as well draw a schematic drawing for it, hence it has taken a lot longer than anticipated.
The jacket is knitted in Valley Yarns, Tencel 8/2 made of 100% Lyocell that comes on 454 gram/1 pound cones with 3072 meters/3360 yards. The sample is knitted in Sienna and Pompeii with 1 strand of each color held together throughout using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and a 2.5 mm/US 1.5 needle for the front band. The gauge is 29 stitches and 38 rows in stockinette stitch using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle with 2 strands held together measuring 10 cm/4″ square.
Kaja is wearing the smallest size with a 96 cm/37.75″ bust circumference. I have added a size extra large and done a few adjustments to the pattern as well as rewriting the pattern into my current pattern writing style. I loved seeing this jacket on Kaja! I am so proud to have such a fabulous team to work with! Thank you!
Eira Pullover and White Mountain Ruana in Vårens Strikk
Vårens Strikk/Spring Knits is a special knitting issue published by the bimonthly magazine Familien in Norway released yesterday. I am delighted to have two designs: Eira Pullover and White Mountain Ruana as well as a brief interview in this magazine. Eira Pullover was made for knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 and knitted in the lovely The Fibre Co. Cumbria using 4 mm/US 6 needles, while the White Mountain Ruana was made for Interweave Knits Winter 2018, knitted in the divine Shibui Knits, Maai using 4 mm/US 6 needles. Both designs were photographed for the second time around worn by the gorgeous Emma Ross, with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, this time by Eivind Røhne at the Vigeland Museum in November 2018.
The heading is a play on the word “flette” meaning cable in Norwegian, joined with the word “fin” meaning beautiful. Feminine garments with exciting cables is the introduction to the two patterns. The picture text is a short version of my introduction to Eira Pullover: A visually striking center cable named Kanik which is Eskimo for snowflake, adorns the center front and back on this pullover with saddle shoulders.
Here is the White Mountain Ruana, with part of the pattern text in Norwegian. My pages cover a total of 6 page in this special magazine which has a total of 100 pages with patterns for mainly women but also a few for men, children and babies.
The handcraft editor Åse Myhrvold Egeland, sent me a number of questions about my life in stitches such as what is your favourite pattern. I replied: “It is a difficult question. Just now, it is cables designed by the Polish designer Dorota Kowalczyk, aka devorgilla on Ravelry. I have used one of those on Corra, designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and their Tinde Pelsull, which is currently being test knitted”. Åse also wanted a number of photos not only of Em but also of me, so I sent her a small selection she could choose from. Michael is pleased to have his name as a photographer in the magazine. I am wearing Ataraxia, the sample I made that had to be re-knitted since the colour did not fit in together with the other designs in Pom Pom Quarterly Winter 2018 magazine. On the next page you see me wearing the dress Sigyn designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
This special issue is for sale in newsagents and in selected super markets in Norway. If you live abroad you can order the Norwegian special magazine by e-mailing kari.bachke@egmont.com and then transfer payment into their bank account.
Ruby Snood Pattern Released
I designed a large drapey snood in a luscious tencel, which feels like silk, for my Norwegian knitting book: To rett en vrang. Designstrikk. Ruby Snood was stunningly worn by dancer Francesca Golfetto, with hair & make up by Line Sekkingstad and brilliantly photographed by Kim Müller. The English pattern is now available in my Ravelry Store. Here is my introduction to the Ruby Snood: Cone after cone, color after color of luscious Tencel 8/2 at Handweavers Studio in London made my feel like the ground vanished from under me. I managed to short list a few colors and favoured this deep glossy red color, Ruby for a snood. You can wear it in different ways as a top, hood, belt or as a cowl. Find your own favourite color or make your own melange color!
Size: One size
Finished measurements: Circumference: 62 cm/24.5″ Length: 158 cm/62.25″
Yarn: Valley Yarns Tencel 8/2 (100% Lyocell, 1 lb/454 g cone, 3675 m/3360 yds). http://www.yarn.com Sample is knitted in Ruby: 1 cone: 3311 m/3621 yds. Note: Yarn is held double throughout pattern.
Alternative yarns: Jaggerspun Zephyr Wool-Silk 2/18 held double (50% merino, 50% tussah silk, 454 g/1lb, 4609 m/5040 yds) http://www.jaggeryarn.com Drops, Lace held double (70% alpaca, 30% silk, 100 g, 800 m/874 yds) http://www.garnstudio.com Fyberspates, Srumptious Lace held double (45% silk, 55% merino, 100 g, 1000 m/1093 yds) http://www.loveknitting.com/fyberspates-scrumptious-4-ply Or another 2 ply/lace weight yarn held double or 4 ply/fingering held single.
Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (40 cm/16″). Or size needed to obtain gauge.
Notions: Stitch marker and yarn needle.
Gauge: 29 sts and 36 rnds using double yarn in st st measures 10 cm/4″ square.
Notes: The snood is knitted with double yarn in the round, and is made with a provisional cast-on method so it can be grafted together. Or use an ordinary cast-on and mattress stitch together if preferred. Stripes of st st and reverse st st are made by turning the work.
Variations Shawl Pattern Released
I am ready to release another pattern from my Norwegian knitting book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk“, in English on Ravelry. The shawl was initially named “Sjal med variasjoner”/Shawl with variations, but I have changed the English version to “Variations”. My book was brilliantly photographed by Kim Müller, stunningly styled by Line Sekkingstad and beautifully worn by Anna Pfeifer. Knitting with silk feels divine on your hands, and so does wearing your finished garment. I chose a tussah silk from Borg, now unfortunately discontinued but can be replaced by Valley Yarns 20/2 Silk (100% silk, 249 g cone, 2240 m/2450 yds) – see Yarn.com, in a light yellow shade so I could accessorize with gold shoes, and a statement necklace. The shawl is knitted using two strands of the lace weight silk held together, in a reversible lace pattern. It can be buttoned up as a shrug, or as a vest, and has an accompanying snood you can use as a collar. The snood is knitted using a single strand in the round to create a contrast to the shawl.
Sizes:
Shawl: S (M, L) Snood: One size
Finished measurements:
Shawl: Width: 37 (42, 53.5) cm/14.5 (16.5, 21)” Length: 150 cm/59″
Snood: Width: 34 cm/13.5″
Length: 120 cm/47.25″
Yarn: Borg Tussah-silke 20/2 (100% tussah silk, 100 g cone, 850 m/930 yds). Sample is knitted in sh 2587 light yellow. The yarn has been discontinued but can be replaced by Valley Yarns, 20/2 Silk (100% silk, 249 g cone, 2240 m/2450 yds). Yarn.com Shawl: 1 cone; 1050 (1215, 1555) m/1148 (1329, 1700) yds Snood: 1 cone; 570 m/623 yds Set: 1 (1, 1) cone: 1620 (1785, 2125) m/1771 (1952, 2324) yds
Alternative yarns: Shleep Yarns, Tussah Silk Lace (100% tussah silk, 100 g, 900 m/984 yds). Etsy.com Dye For Yarn, Silk Fine Lace Yarn (100% mulberry silk, 50 g, 500 m/547 yds). Etsy.com Claudia Handpainted Yarn, Serenity (Silk Lace), (100% silk, 100 g, 1005 m/1100 yds). Eat Sleep Knit.com Madeline Tosh, Pure Silk Lace (100% tussah silk, 100g, 914 m/1000 yds). Madeline Tosh.com Or another 2 ply/lace weight yarn.
Needles: 4mm/US 6 straight needles for shawl. 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (40 cm/16″) for snood.
Notions: 10 circular Mother of Pearl 20 mm/0.78″ buttons from Perlehuset, waste yarn, 3 stitch markers and yarn needle.
Gauge: 19 sts and 28 rows in Twisted Openwork Pattern using yarn held double and 4 mm/US 6 measures 10 cm/4″ square blocked.
34 sts and 36 rnds in st st using 3 mm/US 2.5 measures 10 cm/4″ square blocked. Adjust needle size to match gauge.
Notes: The shawl is knitted with two strands held together in a reversible twisted openwork pattern, while the snood is knitted with a single strand in stockinette stitch in the round. The snood has a temporary cast-on so that the ends can be easily grafted together. The holes in the lace pattern are used as buttonholes. You can easily adjust the width of the shawl by adding pattern repeats.
Japanese Lace Jacket Released
I have been allowed by my publisher, Cappelen Damm to release two more of my book patterns in English in my Ravelry store, and here is the first; Japanese Lace Jacket, modeled by Francesca Golfetto photographed by Kim Müller. The number of requests for this pattern in English made it an easy choice, as it did for the Lace Top which will follow shortly. I have re-written the pattern into my English style, added video links plus a schematic, and sent it to my tech editor Heather Zoppetti of Stitch Sprouts, to check. I discovered this beautiful Japanse Lace pattern in a stich manual. I have designed a vintage a-line jacket in cream colored Amoretto, a lovely mixture of alpaca and cotton which emphasises the delicate lace pattern. The long puffed sleeves adorn your hands. The pattern is available to buy as a downloadable pdf here: ravelry. Other news this week, is that I have been interviewed by the talented Estonian designer Anna Verschik, and you can read it on her blog: kuduja. I am so thrilled about it!
Size: S (M, L)
Finished measurements: Bust: 90 (94, 99) cm/35.5 (37, 39)” Hip: 100 (104, 109) cm/39.25 (41, 43)” Length: 54 (55.5, 57) cm/21.25 (21.75, 22.5)” Sleeve length: 51.5 cm/20.25″
Yarn: Thomas Kvist Yarns, Amoretto in sh 3110 (45% fine alpaca, 50% cotton and 5% nylon, 100 g, 250m/273 yds, unfortunately now discontinued): 5 (5, 6) skeins; 1100 (1225, 1350) m/1203 (1340, 1476) yds.
Alternative yarns: Rowan Yarns, Wool Cotton (50% merino, 50% cotton, 112 m/123 yds, 50 g). knitrowan Dale Yarns, Lerke (52% merino, 48% cotton, 114 m/125 yds, 50 g). dalegarn Or another Sport/5ply or DK/8ply to match gauge.
Notions: 10 buttons 14 mm/0.5″ (22L) mother of pearl from ‘Perlehuset’, 6 stitch markers, 2 stitch holders or waste yarn and yarn needle. www.perlehusetpaanett.no
Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 (80cm/32″) circular needle and 3 mm/US 2.5 DPNs. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.
Gauge: 23 sts and 28 rows in Japanese Lace measures 10 cm/4″ square. 24 sts and 32 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4″ square.
Notes: Increased sts on the sleeve are knitted as the first 5 sts of the Japanese Lace. When armhole shaping begins, the pattern is changed to the same 5 sts of the Japanese Lace on the back and on the fronts and remaining additional sts are knitted in rev st st. Sleeves are extra long, adjust if you prefer, and worked first to learn the Japanese Lace pattern.
Japanese Lace Jacket by Johanna Pyy
I am thrilled to show you the marvelous Japanese Lace Jacket, knitted in Bamboo by Novita in a fitting vintage pink by Johanna Pyy! It was the reason for Johanna buying “Nyt Neulomann!” (read: my book title in Finnish which translates to: Time to Knit!) and has made her own version of it by modifying the pattern to fit her perfectly: Added length, added 1/2 pattern repeat on each side and continued in chart after the armholes, made a deeper neckline and replaced the neck band with an I-cord edge around the neck, see the gorgeous back below and more detailed photos on Johanna’s blog: silmukkasatuja (read: loop fairytales). Thank you, Johanna!
The book sample was knitted in the lovely cotton and alpaca mixture called Amoretto by Thomas Kvist Yarns, now unfortunately discontinued. It can be replaced with for example Lerke, a cotton and wool mixture by Dale Garn or Luxor, a pure cotton by Hifa, see ull. This beautiful Japanese Lace pattern, I discovered in a stich manual. I have designed a vintage jacket in cream colored Amoretto, a lovely yarn mixture which emphasizes the delicate lace pattern. Knitted in a A-shape framed with pattern borders to avoid decreasing into the chart, or modify it to do just that, as Johanna did! Below is the stunning Francesca Golfetto, photographed by Kim Müller for my book available only in Norwegian and Finnish. So far, that is…
Aran Bolero by Grete Jenssen
I am delighted to show you the beautiful Aran Bolero, Grete has knitted from my book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” in Angora Soft in a zingy blue (30% angora, 50% wool and 20% polyamide, 50 g, 250 m/273 yds) ordered from Turkish online shop: Yarn Paradise. We had a knit-along on Facebook, just the two of us, with progress photos taken along the way. Well, it did not daunt Grete at all, she is now making her second one, this time in a wool mix yarn from Novita and taking part in the knit-along in my group on Ravelry. My bullfighter bolero, inspired by Dolce & Gabbano’s Spanish-inspired collection, is short but can be lengthened by knitting a belt. Mostly Merino is a yarn made of wool and mohair which creates sculptural cables. They and the bolero is meant to create a stir. The original yarn is unfortunately discontinued by can be replaced by Norsk Pelsullgarn from Hifa, see ull and compare here: marveng-puckett, the pattern is only available in my book in Norwegian and Finnish. Below is the stunning Francesca Golfetto, photographed by Kim Müller.
