Monthly Archives: January 2021

New Design: Eah

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The idea for this design came from a hoodie that the modell Olivia Lindtein was wearing during our photoshoot at Bøler Church back in May 2020. Just like Olivia’s sweater I wanted to use a mohair mix yarn in a beige or camel colour. Walk Collection had the colour I wanted the Merino Sport in Camel (100% Superwash Merino, 100 g, 325 m/355 yds). Now, did I want the same colour in the KidMohair Lace (70% mohair, 30% silk, 50 g, 420 m/459 yds) or should I choose a similar colour that would make a larger difference in the colour. Below you see the two yarns together and the cable I chose.

I was so chuffed that Cathrin Walk would sponsor yarn for a second design. The gauge with one strand of each yarn is 20 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch using a 4 mm/US 6 needle measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

Back to the choice of stitch pattern for it. Olivia’s hoodie was all in stockinette stitch. I picked a cable for the center front & back as well as sleeve. I decided to use one that I have used previously in my Vaga design and have only one pattern repeat of it, so that it could continue all the way up along the sleeve cap to the final bind off.

What kind of hood should I make for it? I looked at other patterns and the different constructions of it. In the end I chose a close hood, where the back neck continues up along the back head – so that the cable could continue – with a rounded top. Then you pick up stitches around it and increase a number of times before the last part is worked even.

 Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, brilliantly knitted this sample, in pieces, while I knitted the last part of the hood and tried out different edges on it. In the end the hood became a bit too shallow; It covers the back head but does not stay on the front part of the head.

I asked my technical editor Barbara how I could adjust it. She suggested simply to make the last part of the hood 3.5 to 5 cm/1.5 to 2″ longer, hence I have altered the pattern from sample length 11.5 cm/4.25″ to 16.5 cm/6.5″. I hope to have this theory tested during the test knit.

The photos above are taken by Michael at the beach in Ørje on a very cold November day with a cold blue light – typical for the winter season. I am wearing size S with only 2 cm/0.75″ positive ease. I have graded the hoodie in sizes XS to 5XL with a bust/hip measurement of 84 to 160 cm/33 to 63″, and a waist measurement of 78 to 154 cm/30.75 to 60.75″. This is the next test knit to start on February 15, with a release date of April 6.

I decided to style it with a pleated skirt, as I knew I wanted Olivia to wear cream coloured silk trousers with it during our photoshoot. So that you can see how it looks with different styling. I look forward to showing you those photos soon!

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Leylak Knitted by Irina

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Let me introduce you to Irina, the knitting-princess on Ravelry and Instagram, who has test knitted this stunning version of my Leylak design. Irina is indeed a knitting princess as she does “… a lot of charity projects, and some for gifts. I also really like doing test and samples, because it makes me feel like I’m more a part of the process of a pattern”, as she writes on her profile page on Ravelry. To make sure you remember her name, Irina is wearing a crown in her finished project photos. She test knitted size XS for me and used the soft Schurwollkammgarn by Seehawer & Siebert in a divine royal blue colour. The yarn is thicker than the sample yarn I used so Irina used much smaller needles to achieve gauge (22 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square); 2.25 mm/US 1, 3.25 mm/US3 and 3.5 mm/US 4 instead of 4 mm/US 6 and 4.5 mm/US 7.

If you wonder how long it took her to make it, I can reveal that it took her “…57 hours and 40 minutes to knit including weaving in ends and sewing pieces together.” That is an impressive speed! I did not track my hours, but I can tell you that I used a lot longer making the sample with bigger needles.

I love these playful photos, which were taken on a playground close to her previous home in Germany, by a friend. Irina moved to Georgia in the US, recently. It shows the sidewing construction of the cardigan so well! In the notes part of the pattern you will find this information: The asymmetric lower body has extra width in each side – sidewing – that is bound off. Each front has 3 cm/1.25” extra width at center front that is bound off at the same time as the wing, then joined with the buttonband at the end.

Irina, the knitting princess, writes that it fits perfectly and that she is super pleased with it! I am so honoured to hear it! Thank you so much, Irina!

The Leylak pattern, in sizes XS to 5XL, is available in both English and Norwegian on Ravelry and on LoveCrafts. I look forward to showing you more stunning versions of my Leylak design!

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Damara Pattern Released

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The pattern rights to the five designs I made for the Norwegian book “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt” has reverted to me and Damara is the first one I will present here. See my blogpost about the book here: Norsk strikkedesign. Strikk din-favoritt. Damara is knitted in the divine Tinde pelt wool yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, just like the other four designs. The asymmetrical skirt can be worn as a poncho if you prefer. Above you see two of the new photos that were taken of the gorgeous Emma Ross with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum back in spring 2019. The pattern is available in English and Norwegian in my Ravelry store and will soon be available on LoveCrafts.

The book will be published in March by Trafalgar Square Books with the title “Knit Like a Norwegian” with my Cian Sweater and Cian Beret on the cover. For more information see here: www.trafalgarbooks.com. Available for pre-order with free world-wide delivery here: Book Depository.

Named after the fertility Goddess is this asymmetrical skirt with a seeded rib check pattern, that can also be worn as a poncho. The high waist in ribbing is loose so that the skirt can be worn around your hips or folded down, both with a belt to hold it up. Damara is knitted in pieces with a side seam in the divine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Tinde. The ribbing is worked last so you can easily adjust it to your preference.

Sizes: XS/S (M/L, XL/2XL)
Shown in size Medium/Large
Skill level: Intermediate

Finished measurements:
Waist: Top band width: 70 (82, 94) cm/27.5 (32.25, 37)“
Hip width (before top band): 78 (92, 106) cm/31.5 (37, 43)”
Bottom width: 222 (240, 258) cm/88 (96, 104)“
Height (without top band): 55 (57, 59) cm/21.75 (22.5, 23.25)”
Top band height: 15 cm/6”

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Tinde Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 260 m/284 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Burgundy; 4 (5, 6) skeins; 884 (1092, 1326) m/966 (1194, 1450) yds.
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/ullgarn/norsk-pel…

Alternative Yarns: Berroco, Ultra Alpaca Light (50% alpaca, 50% wool, 50 g, 133 m/144 yds). http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-ultra-alpaca-light
Jamieson’s, Double Knitting (100% wool, 25 g, 75 m/82 yds).
http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double…
Rowan, Tweed (100% wool, 50 g, 118 m/129 yds).
http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/rowan-tweed
Malabrigo, Arroyo, (100% superwash merino, 100 g, 306 m/335 yds).
http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/subyarn.php?id=29
Or another DK/8 ply yarn.

Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers (removable) and yarn needle.

Gauge: 21 sts and 30 rows in st st, after blocking measures 10 cm/4” square.
21 sts and 30 rows in Seed rib check, after blocking measures 10 cm/4” square.
20 sts and 30 rows in rib, after blocking measures 10 cm/4” square.

Notes: The skirt is made in two pieces, top down with shaping for bottom.

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New Designs: Senna & Seneka

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The idea for the Senna design came from my test knitter and patron Nivine who liked the diamond shaped cable I used for the Gyro dress and wanted a long cardigan with pockets in the  cable pattern. I thought this was a brilliant idea as the cable is fun to knit. Now what yarn should I use? I heard about the Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted in several podcast and was very keen to try it out. I found their vivid hand dyed colours inspiring and wanted to test the hard twist knits up, so I picked the Woodberry shade. I sent a request to the yarn company and wondered if they would sponsor yarn for a design and I had a long oversized cardigan in mind. The Neighboorhood Fiber Co. agreed to sponsor yarn for the cardigan.

Each sleeve and front has one cable repeat, while the back has four cable repeats at the center. I began knitting the sleeves, then the back and finally the fronts. What happened next is that I ran out of yarn less than halfway up the fronts and ordered more, this time enough to make a matching straight skirt to go with it. In the end I made the skirt with an a-line instead and had to undo my swatch to have enough yarn to finish it. Running out of yarn is a familiar issue, indeed!

In the mean time Neighborhood Fiber Co. had replaced worsted yarn base with an organic base and the yarn was only available in 4 ounces/113 gram skeins not 8 ounces/226 gram skeins, so I bought 6 more skeins to have enough… I used my first oversized cardigan Irpa as a template for the Senna pattern. The rib should be looser, hence I changed the stitch pattern for it. I liked the tuck as a transformer from one stitch pattern to the next. The stitch count is the same for the bottom pattern as for the cable pattern hence the tuck is not dead straight.

The gauge for both the cardigan – Senna – and the skirt – Seneka – is 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch using a 4 mm/US 6 needle measures 10 cm/4″ square. I knitted both the cardigan and the skirt in size Small, but have graded both in sizes XS to 5XL. The bust measurement for the cardigan is from 102 to 191 cm/40.25 to 75.5″ with + 20-30 cm/8-11.75″ intended ease. The sample shown is 110 cm/43.25″ and I wearing it with + 22 cm/8.75″ ease, I stand 175 cm/5’8″ tall. The waist measurement on the skirt is from 76 to 132 cm/30 to 52″, while the hip measurement is from 86 to 156 cm/33.75 to 61.5″. I am wearing it with no ease on my hips.

Senna is a botanical name of Arabic origin meaning brightness and suited this long oversized cardigan with a deep v-neck and A-line shaping. Elaborate cables cover the center back, while only one single cable adornseach front and sleeve. A wavy tuck introduces the cables from the check rib bottom. Senna is knitted in the divine Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted with side pockets worked together with the front. Bespoke buttons act like small gems and highlight the beautiful hand dyed shade. Wear Senna with the matching Seneka; as a skirt or a poncho or a maxi hood.

The cardigan is knitted in pieces and seamed. The second part of the v-neck decreases on the fronts moves to the opposite side of the cable in order for the cable to continue to the shoulder. The two vertical side pockets are worked at the same time as the front with extra stitches for the pocket band, with the lining attached horizontally at the bottom and top of the pocket. 

Seneka, a nickname for Senna meaning brightness in Arabic. This is an A-line skirt with an elaborate cabled center that ends in a waistband; knitted like a hem in one piece with boot laces placed inside. Seneka is knitted in the divine Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted and can be worn as a skirt or a poncho or a maxi hood – all together with the matching Senna cardigan.

The skirt is knitted in pieces and seamed. If you want to adjust the length of the skirt, remove up to 8 cm/3.25″ or add an extra length before shaping the hip. The waist band is worked like a hem, with boot laces laid inside it before it is closed.

I made sure that all sizes have stockinette stitches in the sides of the skirt to avoid adding too much volume around your hips. Hence I did increase the number of cable repeats at the center for the different sizes.

The bespoke buttons are made by Siri Berrefjord and she has taken a number of brilliant photographs of them on the swatch, see the previous blogpost: Happy New Year! Welcome 2021!. A separate blog post is coming with all of those. You can also look forward to seeing this set worn by Olivia Lindtein during our photoshoot in November 2020.

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Happy New Year! Welcome 2021!

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First I want to say “Takk for det gamle”/Thank you for the old one, as we say to each other when the new year approaches in Norway! It is a good custom, in my opinion to thank friends and family for making the year richer, and so much better. So thank you for following me this last year, and I wish you a happy and healthy new year! I hope it will be a peaceful year with the Corona virus under control. I also hope that it will be a year that bring you all lots of happiness and shared pleasures!

Above are photos of the swatch to my new Senna oversized cardigan photographed by Siri Berrefjord who made these stunning bespoke buttons on my request. The button design is based on the silver brooches used for the traditional folk costume, called “bunad” in Norwegian. Each button is moulded in plastic then painted with several layers. They are perfect on the cardigan knitted in the divine Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted yarn in the hand dyed shade Woodberry using a 4 mm/US 6 needle.

I wanted to share these photos as the summery colour and the jewellery like buttons symbolise hope of both better and lighter days to come!

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