The time has come to tell you about the release of the Khayam jacket and the Laplace pants patterns in English (read: the Norwegian ones are coming very soon) on Ravelry, as the test knit is coming to an end. I wanted to release both pattern at the same time as they were made to be worn together as a set. Both are knitted in the gorgeous Australian yarn Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 5 ply with a crepe construction using a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle and a 24 stitches and 34 rows gauge in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square by sample knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry. My test knitters did a brilliant job correcting and improving the pattern! The set was photographed worn by Model Olivia Lindtein – with make-up & hair styling by Nina Hjertaas Bull jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design – at Sentralen in Oslo back in December last year by Wenche Hoel-Knai. Continue reading
New Design: Riona
The time has come to show you my new designs, first out is Riona a fitted pullover made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The sample is knitted by the skilled sample knitter Nadja Bresky, aka 77stricknadel on Ravelry, in Ask in size XS using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle with a gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. Yarn kits will come for sale directly from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk this autumn, while the single pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group starting on the 8th of August before its release in both English and Norwegian. Michael took these photos of me wearing size XS with 3 cm/1.25″ negative ease in our front garden last month.
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Kistefos Museum & Sculpture Park
My husband suggested we visit Kistefos Museum at Hadeland – on the way back from Hamar to Oslo with our friends Chris & Martin and so we did. Kistefos is located at an old pulp mill from 1889, with a large International Sculpture Park incorporated into the beautiful and peaceful nature. Kistefos calls itself a cultural destination with a twist. And The Twist is a new fabulous gallery at Kistefos that crosses the river, designed by world renowned architect Bjarke Ingels Group, Big. It opened in September in 2019.
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Domkirkeodden – The Ruins of Hamar Cathedral
Our friends Chris & Martin, who came from London to visit us, wanted to go to the Domkirkeodden, an open-air museum in Hamar, so we did and it was only a short drive from the Wood Hotel – where we stayed for a night. The ruins of Hamar Cathedral, erected with the creation of the diocese in 1152/1153, is located at the highest point of the headland with a view of the lake Mjøsa inside a protective structure of steel and glass hence called the Glass Cathedral. This structure to preserve the ruins was completed in 1998 and made by Lund+Slaatto Architects. The overwhelming size of the remaining columns and the sun shining in create a celestial feeling when you walk around inside the cathedral. There is a long waiting list for weddings, as you can imagine. Above you see Michael walking about. Continue reading
Wood Hotel in Brumunddal
Thanks to our friends Chris (short for Christine) Hung and Martin who came to visit us from London, we all went to stay at the Wood Hotel in Brumunddal for a night to visit Domkirkeodden in Hamar (about 10 minutes away). Michael and I had seen this hotel while it was under construction in 2018 when we drove past it. The building is called the “Mjøstårnet” (The Tower of Mjøsa – named after the lake) – and was the tallest timber building in the world in 2019, see the plaque below. Continue reading
Oráiste Pattern Released
I have been looking forward to releasing the pattern to the dress and cowl/belt Oráiste made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in Ask. The test knit has come to an end and you can see some of the gorgeous versions made on the pattern page on Ravelry. My test knitters did a brilliant job correcting and improving the pattern. The English pattern is available to download in my Ravelry Store and the Norwegian pattern will be added shortly. Yarn kits are available directly from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. In these photos you see it worn by the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with hair and make-up by Nina Hjertaas Bull and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, photographed by Wenche Hoel-Knai at Sentralen during our shoot back in December last year. Continue reading
Workshops at Strikkefestivalen in Fredrikstad
My workshops schedule for this autumn, begins with the Strikkefestivalen/ Knitting Festival in Fredrikstad 16. to 18. September 2022. Yes, I have been to this festival several times including last year. I am holding 4 workshops in Norwegian: Smarte strikketeknikker/Smart Knitting Techniques – which I held in English in Vienna back in 2017 at the Vienna Wool & Design Festival – Flettestrikk Masterklasse/Cable Masterclass, Perfekt Passform/Perfect Fit and Engelske Mønstre/English Patterns. Just like last year the festival offers Talks, Exhibitions, a Market Hall, Knit & Sing and Knitting Cafés, in addition to the workshops. You can see the full program and book tickets here: strikkefestivalen.no. I look forward to going back to Fredrikstad (the oldest fortified town in Norway, founded in 1567) and already know I will meet some of you there.
Behind the Scenes: Photoshoot at Bøler Church June 2022
Last Monday I had a photoshoot at Bøler Church in Oslo with my brilliant team: Photographer Eivind Røhne, Make-up & Hair Stylist Janne Skarpeid Hermansen, Model Emmalin Williams and Assisting Photographer Michael. This is the third time we are back in the church, as it is such a fantastic venue. Emmalin is a new model, that I discovered in the high-end clothes shop Vincci, where she works part-time while studying Marketing. I worked with Janne back in 2014. We were photographing 7 new designs: 4 made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and 3 for self publishing as well as 2 old designs; Conic Coat and Lyre Bolero. It was a wonderful day, despite the fact that the pre-ordered lunch from Eckers Cafe was not delivered – as they had sold out of most of the ingredients during the weekend… So Michael did a food run to the local supermarket instead. Above you see Eivind setting up sun screens with Michael helping him, while Janne is doing the last finishes on Emmalin wearing one of the new designs. Continue reading
Sirona Knitted by Sarah
I wanted to share this stunning version of Sirona knitted by Sarah, aka sarahthecomposer on Ravelry, in size Small using Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok Worsted in Wild Thyme. On her project page, she writes: “I adore this sweater so much. I understand why it’s named after a Celtic goddess because when you put it on, you will feel like one.”. I am ever so chuffed to hear it! Thank you so much, Sarah! Continue reading
Photoshoot at Sentralen: Tweed Scarf
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