I have been on a 3-day knitting trip to Rauma, with twenty-one knitters, my husband hired in as a photographer and organised by designer Terje Tjelle, aka StrikkeTerje, for Travel Maker. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Yellow Gold Pullover
Bergen Strikkefestival 2019
I was delighted to be invited to hold workshops and a talk at the Bergen Strikkefestival in 2019 at the Norwegian Knitting Industry Museum at Salhus about 20 minutes outside of Bergen by the Salhusfjord. Michael had never been to Bergen, so he wanted to come along. I had already heard about the well organised event and the delicious food on offer before I arrived. That was no exaggeration, by any means. For the first time, I had access to a Backstage Room and used it well, since the knitting cafe was packed most of the time with a high level of buzz in addition to clicking knitting needles. I met a number of knitters I knew during the even and even spotted designers Marianne Skatten & Rasa Ziburkute, aka Galgen Design, on the same plane, flying from Oslo to Bergen.
The festival began on last Friday 27. September with an Opening Party including a concert with Sigrid Moldestad (vocals & fiddle), a talk by Pickles & Dagny about colour choices in their patterns and a knitting quiz. I thoroughly enjoyed the concert which was a perfect ending to the party. Pickles had encouraged knitters to wear their garments knitted from their recent book and it was fun especially to see all these women on the stage in different colours all wearing different versions of the same dress.
The opening party took place in the Spoleloft/Winding Attic, with seating at the front and tables along the sides of all the old machinery. I saw Rasa walk by, so she and Marianne came to join us. We knitted and chatted through the evening. Marianne was wearing my design Yellow Gold Pullover, Rasa her own design Royal Cardi and I was wearing the Damara Skirt as a poncho. Michael took most of these photos, but I am better at photographing the yarn stands as you can see below.
For dinner I had the lasagne on offer and it was delicious as if I was in an Italian restaurant! You could also have Norwegian homemade waffles or a selection of homemade cakes. On the menu for Saturday and Sunday was two different soups: Indian Dal Soup and Beta Soup (a vegetable soup) and freshly made baguettes instead of the Lasagne. I choose the Indian Dal Soup both days, enough said.
My talk on Digital Strikking/Knitting was moved to the same location on the Saturday afternoon since there was a cancelled talk. They had a technician giving me a microphone, but I had Michael to assist on setting up my laptop. I talked about my social media experience, how much the internet has changed knitting with events such Knit-A-longs and Test Knitting on Ravelry, technical videos and Podcasts on YouTube as well as all the useful dictionaries as tips to be found these days. My experience with the different pattern sales platforms and magazine submissions. I was thrilled with the comments afterwards that it had been a revelation packed with useful information and very professional.
The festival volunteers made sure I was driven to and from the festival so I did not have to take the two buses to get there. 9 AM on Saturday, Michael and I was picked up outside our hotel – the festival hotel Augustin close to the harbour. I was quick to spot Julie Dubreux, aka JulieKnitsInParis, at breakfast since her hair is bright blue and introduced myself. We went in the second car, while the third car had to carry one extra suitcase, and were driven to the door. We had a lovely chat on the way there and will meet up again at Barcelona Knits. Below you see us in the Market Hall, Julie is wearing her Tuva’s Arrows and I am wearing my Aife, in case you were wondering.
I had booked the chartered festival ferry going back to Bergen at 6 PM, since it was so tempting to travel on the fjord. It also gave me some time to check out the Market Hall after my talk.
Flettestrikk Masterclass/Cable Knitting Masterclass was my first workshop, held on Saturday morning at the Strikkeloft/Knitting Attic. Again a very atmospheric large room with a view of the fjord. It was nice to meet knitters I have met at other festivals, that I knew as well as new ones. I had an hour in between the workshop and the talk so I had lunch Backstage. The photo above is from Japanske Mønstre/Japanese Patterns workshop I had on Sunday and you see Rasa wearing her Lithuanian Lily Cardigan at the front.
Here is the view from down along the inner wall.
The view towards the fjord from the Backstage room. Bergen is know for all its sideways rain as it is on the west coast of Norway, but we were lucky and sunshine one day and only a few scattered showers the next day.
I had to photograph all the lovely yarns on display at Norne Yarn where I found Julie again. The yarns are dyed by Tuva, who is an indie-dyer based in Oslo, to the left in the photo above.
Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is located quite close to Salhus, at Hjelmås, so they had a stand. I had asked them bring more brochures and they had. I met the “Princess” as she introduced herself as from the Faroe Island there. Above you see her flicking through the latest brochure. She knew my designs and book well, I was happy to hear.
Saturday night, Michael and I had another nice evening with Marianne and Rasa. I had brought my knitting, but I got very little knitting done, as usual! Above is another photo from the Market Hall, of Ystabø Gull, taken late Saturday afternoon when it was possible to walk around in there. I had a wonderful weekend! Thank you to all the knitters, designers and yarn dyers I met! Well done, Bergen Strikkefestival!
Deep South Fibers
I follow the Designers group on Ravelry for submission calls and also for general business advice. A few months back Larissa Brown asked who deals with your print distribution? The answer from several other designers were Deep South Fibers. So I went there, spotted all the famous designers and filled in their Designer Application, after reading that I should… “Allow Deep South Fibers to introduce and promote your work to qualifying retailers internationally so you can focus on what you do best, create! Time is valuable so let us distribute and manage your portfolio exclusively as we use our market presence and base of relationships to get you noticed. In the meantime, you are free to continue to reinvent yourself as you push your craft forward.” By the way, so did Larissa Brown and I am grateful that she asked. The owner Patrick Higgins came back to me after reviewing my line, with all the essential information including their new ‘Download Too‘ program, and wrote that they would love to work with me. I signed the agreement letter and had Michael helping me with the pattern graphics and the technical side of this.
Above you see the ad they made to introduce me as a new designer on their webpage, featuring my most popular pattern Oydis Sweater, see top photo. All the photos are taken by Eivind Røhne with model Alexandria Eissinger except for the center photo below which is Emma Ross. Before the TNNA (The National Needle Arts Association) Summer Show (read: The trade show) in Cleveland, Ohio Deep South Fibers made a pdf download with the news and on the cover – above – is my Yellow Gold Pullover.
While I was selecting patterns and Michael remaking them into a concise version more suitable for printing than my digital patterns, several technical questions appeared. Patrick and his team guided us through the process and the second batch of patterns we uploaded have made it to their webpage. I love the ads they made with my photos and look forward to working with Deep South Fibers. Thank you, Patrick! So if you are a yarn store owner or manager and wonder if I sell printed patterns with a download code too, I do – just take a look here and contact Deep South Fibers.
Yellow Gold Pullover at Hadeland
When we went to Hadeland Glassverk and the Strikke 2017 festival, I wanted Michael to take a few photos of me wearing my Yellow Gold Pullover with the beautiful Randsfjorden in the background. It was a cold autumn day so I wore my loose Saqqara sleeves and shawl as well to keep warm. My hands easily get cold so the extra cuffs were perfect. Both designs were also worn for my workshop in Cable Knitting Master Class. Here is my introduction to the Yellow Gold Pullover: Elegant chain link cables framed by a welt pattern adorn this casual sweater. It is knitted straight from the bottom and up in parts with extra ease for comfort. Spindrift, a fine heathered wool was chosen for its lightness and color. The round neck makes it easy to wear over a crisp shirt or your favorite t-shirt.
The Yellow Gold Pullover is knitted in Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift in the lovely Scotch Broom shade using a 3.25 mm/US 3 and was first published in Interweave Knits Fall 2015. The straight sweater is worked from the bottom and up in parts and then sewn together. The cables are gathered before the neck bind off to keep their volume. The pullover is available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 88 (95, 100, 110, 122, 132) cm/34.75 (37.5, 39.25, 43.25, 48, 52)”.
The pattern is now also available in Norwegian from both Ravelry and Loveknitting. This weekend I am at the Strikkehelg 2017/Knitting Weekend in Stavanger. But I am also busy preparing for the next photoshoot on Wednesday in Oslo. I am crossing my fingers for a dry day without any rain! Much more on that later…
Strikke 2017 at Hadeland Glassverk
For the second time around the knitting festival and exhibition Strikke 2017 is organised by Hadeland Glassverk at Jevnaker, by the south end of Randsfjorden, about 1 hour from Oslo. I am pleased to say that I was invited to exhibit and to hold workshops, this year too! The festival is on from 2. September to 29. October. Above you see the entry to the exhibition, with the list of participating designers. I was very excited to see my name listed at the top, and as you can see I am in excellent company. Luckily, I had my husband with me to take some great photos.
The most striking part of the exhibition was the designs made by Imogen Abbot. She is a London based Fashion Design graduate specialising in intricate textiles and knitwear. These garments are based on the topic “childhood and escapism”. Read more here: Imogen Abbot.
I choose to exhibit 6 garments and above you see 4 four of them: Patent Poncho, Cablewing Sweater with wrap, Harding Cardigan and Kathe Cardigan. Large accompanying photos of model Alexandria Eissinger and Silje Andresen hang in background. I held two workshops on the Sunday I was there: Introduction to Sweater Design and Cable Knitting Master Class. That is why I choose to wear my Yellow Gold Pullover with the loose sleeves from my Saqqara pattern.
Also exhibited is the Embrae and Irina Pullover. As you might see my photos are taken by Eivind Røhne either at National Museum – Architecture or at Ingierstrand Bad.
Here is Nina Skarra’s exquisite designs from her book and available as kits.
Here is a few of the beautiful garments designed by Kari Hestnes who has recently published her 14th knitting book in Norwegian.
I also loved the texture and silhouette of these garments designed by StrikkeGry, Gry Johannessen.
Just like last year, Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik – Makeløs/Remarkable was in charge of the Catwalk at the opening day of the festival and also for making this fantastic wedding outfit with the special designed “kofte” for the festival by Randi Ballangrud. The crown is made of knitting needles. Kristin is not an ordinary stylist she is The re-design stylist and she is remarkable in every sense of the word. 
This photo is taken by designer Nina Granlund Sæther of the catwalk at the opening day, Saturday 2. September. The model is wearing my Aran Bolero magically styled by Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik – Makeløs/Remarkable with an embroidered table cloth as a skirt.
Here is the beginning and end of the exhibition: The Yarn Shop and the coffee shop where the knitting café takes place. At the very front you see yarn kits with my Idunn and Halli made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
Here is a close-up of the missing yarn wall with exciting yarns. In the center you see the Sølje and Ask yarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Do visit if you can. You will find a lot more photos as well as videos from the exhibition and from the catwalk on the Facebook page for the festival: www.facebook.com/STRIKKE2017.
Indie June on Loveknitting
The British online store and community Loveknitting is celebrating its 3rd annual Indie June. As an independent designer I was asked if I wanted to take part and offer some of my patterns with a discount. I certainly did; hence offer 10 patterns with a 20% discount. I was delighted to be featured in their loveknitting newsletter they sent out on the 30th of May, since it has boosted my sales of the Yellow Gold Pullover pattern. Thank you, Loveknitting! And to my gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger, hair & make up artist Jens J. Wiker and photographer Eivind Røhne! Not to mention Interweave Knits, where the Yellow Gold Pullover Pattern was first published in the Fall 2015 issue!
Here is a link to the special pattern offers: www.loveknitting.com/indie-june-offers. So use the opportunity before the sale ends on 30th June.
Yellow Gold Pullover Released
Yes, this is not a new pattern but the rights have reverted to me from Interweave Knits and it is now available in English in my Ravelry Store and on Loveknitting. The English pattern was first published in Interweave Knits Fall 2015 issue, and in Norwegian in Familien Strikk in August 2016. The sample knitted sweater is one of five designs exhibited at Strikke 2016 at Hadeland Glassverk, and will be there until 30. October. Yellow Gold Pullover 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:
Elegant chain link cables framed by a welt pattern adorn this casual sweater. It is knitted straight from the bottom and up in parts with extra ease for comfort. Spindrift, a fine heathered wool was chosen for its lightness and color. The round neck makes it easy to wear over a crisp shirt or your favorite t-shirt.
Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
Finished measurements: Bust: 88 (95, 100, 110, 122, 132) cm/34.75 (37.5, 39.25, 43.25, 48, 52)” Length: 55 (56, 57, 58, 59, 60) cm/21.75 (22, 22.5, 22.75, 23.25, 23.5)” Sleeve length: 45 (45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 47, 47) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 20, 20)”
Yarn: Jamieson’s Spindrift (100% wool, 25 g, 105 m/87 yds). Sample is knitted in 1160 Scotch Broom: 10 (11, 12, 14, 15, 17) skeins; 1045 (1134, 1218, 1386, 1554, 1722) m/1143 (1240, 1332, 1516, 1699, 1883) yds. http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double-knitting-1-c.asp
Alternative yarn: Brooklyn Tweed, Loft (100% wool, 50 g, 251 m/275 yds) https://www.brooklyntweed.com/shop/loft/
Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (40 cm/16″) for neckband. 2 sets of 3.25 mm/US 3 circular needle (60 cm/24″) for body and tucks. 3.25 mm/US 2 circular needle (40 cm/16″) for neckband. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.
Notions: 2 cable needles (cn), stitch holders, stitch markers and yarn needle.
Gauge: 51-sts Chain Link Cable Panel measures 13 cm/5.5″ across. 23 sts and 32 rows in Welt pattern measures 10 cm/4″ square.
Notes: The straight sweater is worked from the bottom and up in parts and then sewn together. The cables are gathered before the neck bind off to keep their volume.
Strikke 2016 at Hadeland Glassverk
I spent last weekend at Hadeland Glassverk holding two different workshops and visiting the knitting exhibition in the amazing new gallery, with the glass entry part designed by Snøhetta, during their knitting festival called “Strikke 2016”. The exhibition was initiated by one of the owners Atle Brynestad, who started his first company a knitwear company at the age of 16. A selection of the first sweaters are exhibited together with photos from the -70s and -80s. There are 19 participating Norwegian designers in addition to 4 International designers. Among them are Christel Seyfarth, Sonya Yong James, Tine Solheim, Sidsel Høivik, Tove Fevang, Nina Granlund Sæther, Bente Røvik, Vanja Blix Langsrud, Denise Samson and me. The festival, including the exhibition, opened on the 3. September and will hang until the 30. October.
The yarn shower containing 1000 strands of yarn, sponsored by the House of Yarn is at one end of the exhibition while the coffeeshop and the beautiful view of Hadeland is on the opposite side.
The intricate and colorful designs by Sidsel Høivik, accompanied by her first book and flyers for her second book. Sidsel now sell her designs as yarn kits directly from her website.
My part of the exhibition, taken by my husband so that I could stand next to my designs. I am wearing my long jacket, Helka and displayed are from right to left: Yellow Gold Pullover, Shalana, Hel, Kori and Ronette. I choose to display these designs since the Norwegian patterns are all found in the special magazine Familien Strikk now on sale in Norway.
Danish designer Christel Seyfarth is know for her colorwork and pattern combinations. She is one of the designers giving a talk about her inspiration on the 22. October. Here is the full list of talks: Hadeland Glassverk.
Here is a view taken from the coffee tables next to the large windows seeing the shop part at the front.
The shop with the Festival sweater hanging on the wall. The shop has a large selection of books, yarn kits, ready made knitwear, some knitting needles, patterns and accessories. I am happy to have my Norwegian book for sale there.
I know the photo is dark but I wanted to share the amazing view as well as weather with the Randsfjord in the background. Here is the full program. So if you have the chance to see it, do! Do bring your knitting too!
Familien Strikk 2016
The special issue Familien Strikk is now out in Norway with 79 patterns including 6 of mine: Kori, Yellow Gold Pullover, Ronette, Hel, Shalana and Githa. I am delighted to have a series of patterns included in this magazine together with Tine Solheim and Bente Presterud Røvik. None of my patterns are on the cover but there is a small photo of both Kori and Shalana on the contents page. Two of the patterns: Yellow Gold Pullover and Githa are available in English in my Ravelry Store and on loveknitting. The remaining patterns will be test knitted this autumn in my Ravelry group before they are released.
All the six projects are brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne. The gorgeous model is Alexandria Eissinger/Nordic Model Agency with hair and make up by Jens J. Wiker, jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design, and tulle skirt by Judith Bech Design. I have named the series “Reiselyst” meaning “Wanderlust” or “Travel-lust” directly translated. “Water, beach and wanderlust have inspired this series by designer Linda Marveng. Intricate cables and lace pattern adorn the garments. Be inspired and travel and travel in the country or abroad. But do remember to bring your knitting!”. The introduction to Kori is as follows: “Kori is old Norse and means perfect; Kori is the result of a complex mathematical equation that cannot be calculated by the human mind. Just as the intricate cable that crowns this fitted jacket.”
On the following page is a photo of the back. Yellow Gold Pullover is next: “Elegant chain link cables framed by a welt pattern adorn this gorgeous pullover. Playful tucks add life to the rib and give the pullover more texture. It is knitted straight from the bottom and up in parts and sewn together at the end. Jamieson’s Spindrift, a fine heathered wool was chosen for its lightness and color.”
Next is Ronette: “A central cable that ends in a bulb captivated me into designing this long a-line sweater with vents in the side along the bottom rib. A few garter stitches in the side makes the seam look like a zip. The sweater ends in an I-cord bind-off at the neck only shaped by the shoulders. It is named Ronette which means ”strong councel” in Old English, because the cable pattern did just that.” Also listed are the pattern details with yarn, sizes and needle. Followed by the vest Hel: “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.”
Shalana: “A fitted pullover with Sand Cables that travel from the center towards each shoulder. At the center of the body between the cables is double seed stitch, framed by a twisted stitch which is increased into at the same time as you decrease in the stocking stitch on the opposite side of the cables.”
Githa: “A central wavy lace panel adorns this a-lined tunic tank with garter stitch bands. The lace pattern creates fans with boxes of garter stitch in between creating texture to the uneven chainette yarn made of a mixture of cotton, linen and viscose, Rowan Panama. The yarn make the tunic tank easy to wear during the summer or for a party. A generous shaped cowl covers your shoulders and dress up the tunic tank to make a perfect set called Githa, from Anglo-Saxon; to give or a gift.”
The magazine is available at selected news agents and super markets. If you are in Norway you can also order it by SMS just write “Strikk16” in addition to your name & address to 2205 or buy a digital version for iPad, see www.klikk.no. 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.
The samples and the professional photographs of all these, except for Githa, will be exhibited at Strikke 2016 Festival at Hadeland Glassverk from 3. September to 30. October.
Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Yellow Golden Pullover
The second set of photos I am going to reveal are the ones taken of the Yellow Gold Pullover, first published in Interweave Knits Fall 2015. Since the pattern rights revert to me at the end of July, I had to photograph it again for my own pattern sales. The English pattern will be released in my Ravelry Store, while the Norwegian pattern will be printed in the special magazine: Familien Strikkebok, available from end of August. I decided I wanted a tone-in-tone background, hence I choose to style it with beige trousers and cream colored shoes. It was not difficult to convince Eivind Røhne to take the photos on the small beach at Villa Malla. He suggested that model Alexandria Eissinger/Nordic Model Agency should be sitting on a rock. Above you see her with make up and hair by Jens J. Wiker, as well as statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design.
Here is my introduction to the pullover: Elegant chain link cables framed by a welt pattern adorn this casual sweater. It is knitted straight from the bottom and up in parts with extra ease for comfort. Spindrift, a fine heathered wool was chosen for its lightness and color. The round neck makes it easy to wear over a crisp shirt or your favorite t-shirt.
The sample is knitted in Jamieson’s Spindrift, a fingering/4-ply yarn in 100% wool with 251 meters/275 yards on each 50 g skein, using a 3.25 mm/US 3 needle. The gauge is 23 stitches and 32 rows in Welt pattern measures 10 cm/4″ square. The straight sweater is worked from the bottom and up in parts and then sewn together. The cables are gathered before the neck bind off to keep their volume.
The Yellow Gold Pullover will together with the vest Hel, the jacket Kori, and the sweaters Shalana and Ronette be exhibited at Hadeland Glassverk for the Norwegian knitting Festival called Strikke 2016, accompanied with their professional photos. Their new gallery is designed by the award winning architects Snøhetta, and I cannot wait to see it. The Festival begins on the 3rd September, when I am at Strik Bornholm, but I will be there holding workshops 17th and 18th of September. More information will follow.