Author Archives: Linda Marveng

Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church: Ataraxia

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I am thrilled to show you the first two sets of photos of Ataraxia brilliantly taken by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in Oslo in November last year. Ataraxia was designed for Pom Pom Quarterly, Issue 27: Winter 2018 and the sample I knitted in SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK in Pumpkin was returned to me together with the sample Pom Pom had knitted up to fit better with the remaining collection in the magazine in The Copper Corgi Fiber Studio, Jones Street Worsted in Goldenrod, which I borrowed for the photoshoot and then returned. The rights have reverted to me, so these new photos were taken for my individual pattern release. Both colours suited the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with make-up & hair by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design.

I decided to style the pumpkin coloured cardigan with cream coloured silk slacks and the goldenrod coloured one with a long black silk skirt since I prefer to style my designs up, but it looks equally well with jeans or skinny trouser, see how it looks on me here: Ataraxia Again. We decided to photograph the bright one upstairs next to the windows, where the heavy snowfall gave us what felt like a divine light, while the other one was photographed at the top of the stairs.

Ataraxia is named after one of Caroline Norton’s poems, to give you a sense of calm, sheltering you from whatever storms you bravely weather. She was known for her drive to establish basic legal rights for women. The long jacket’s fitted shape is achieved through a careful arrangement of vertical texture panels and I-cord highlights. Finished with a tucked asymmetrical peoplum. Designed with a mythic shield maiden in mind, not unlike Caroline Norton.

The handmade buttons on pumpin colored sample are made by Siri Berrefjord in Norway, see www.fredenshavn.no and can be ordered from siri@fredenshavn.no. You can see them close-up, photographed by Siri herself, in this blogpost: Ataraxia Buttons by Siri Berrefjord.

The pumpkin yarn is SweetGeorgia Yarns Mohair Silk DK made of 90% superwash merino, 9% super kid mohair, 5% silk with 200 meters/218 yards on each 100 gram skein. While the Goldenrod yarn is The Copper Corgi Fiber Studio, Jones Street Worsted made of 60% merino, 30% alpaca, 10% silk with 192 meters/210 yards on each 113 gram skein.

Ataraxia is knitted flat, in pieces, from bottom up, and seamed. The asymmetric lower body has extra width in each side that will be bound off before the tuck is made. Waist shaping is worked at the sides and the shoulders are shaped using short-rows. The collar is picked up and completed using an I-cord bind off.

Olivia is wearing size S with + 14 cm/5.5″ ease and stands 167 cm/5’6″ tall. I have graded the jacket from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 91 to 132.5 cm/35.75 to 52.25″.  Both samples are knitted using 4 mm/US 6 needles and a gauge of 21 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

The English pattern is now available in my Ravelry store and will soon be available on LoveCrafts. The Norwegian pattern has been sold to Familien and will be printed at a later date. I was so incredibly lucky that Erica Poppe could do the make-up & hair, since both Sissel Fylling and Jens Wiker were booked on other jobs, and that Olivia Lindtein could step in two days before the photoshoot. Thank you to my amazing team!

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New Design: Jendine

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Next out in the series of new designs for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is the Jendine pullover. It was made to go together with the Rebine skirt as a set, but works equally well with trousers. I chose a narrow cable that looks like a more advanced rib to adorn the center and wanted a high low effect for the pullover. Jendine and Rebine are both knitted in Tinde pelt wool, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 and a 3 mm/US 2.5 for the sleeve band by my skilled sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka quiltefeen! Michael took these photos of me, wearing size S with a 90 cm/35.5″ bust, in Barcelona, when I was teaching at Barcelona Knits 2019 back in November last year.

Jendine is an a-line pullover with a panel of elegant cable ribbing at the center, longer rounded hem at the back and a shorter front. The v-neck splits the cable panel into two parts each framed with an I-cord. Jendine is an old historic Norwegian name that fitted this flowing pullover, that can be worn together with the Rebine skirt. Jendine is worked in the beautiful Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

I have graded Jendine and Rebine (I will make a separate post with more photos of the skirt, especially the top of it) in sizes XS to 3XL with finished bust measurements of 84 to 136 cm/33 to 53.5″.

The test knit of Jendine begins on the 16th of March and it is followed by a test knit for Rebine on the 6th of April, both in my Ravelry group. I look forward to showing you how this set looked on my model Olivia Lindtein!

For more details on the design, become a patron and receive rewards like monthly newsletter, sneak peeks, free pattern(s), monthly video, all depending on the level chosen, see more details here: www.patreon.com/lindamarveng

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Epona Pattern Released

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The test knit of the Epona has come to an end and the pattern have been released in both English and Norwegian. My test knitters did a brilliant job; correcting and improving the pattern. I was so excited to see all the different colours they chose. Soon I will show you more versions of Epona. The design was made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the Sølje Pelsullgarn. On the pattern cover the sweater is worn by Kaja Kvernbakken, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, photographed by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum in May. The pattern is available from my Ravelry Store and also from Love Crafts. Below is my introduction to the pattern and pattern details.

Graceful cables run along the center of this pullover with a high rib, creating a narrower waist. A sweater perfect for riding or worn together with a skirt, it is crowned by a high collar with interfacing to make it stand up. Epona is Celtic for the Goddess of horses and knitted in Sølje Pelsull from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in a deep bottlegreen shade.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
Shown in size Small
Skill level: Experienced

Finished measurements:
Bust: 84 (90, 98, 104, 114, 124) cm/33 (35.5, 38, 41, 45, 49)“
Hip: 74 (80, 88, 94, 104, 114) cm/29 (31.5, 34.5, 37, 41, 45)”
Length: 59 (60, 61, 62, 63, 64) cm/23.25 (23.5, 24, 24.5, 24.75, 25.25)“
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20, 20.5)”

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 350 m/383 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Green 2126; 4 (4, 5, 5, 6, 7) skeins; 1193 (1351, 1561, 1719, 1982, 2245) m/1305 (1477, 1707, 1880, 2168, 2455) yds.
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/solje-pelsullgarn/

Yarn alternatives: Cascade 220 Sport (100% wool, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Cascade220Sport.htm
Tosh Sock (100% wool, 100 g, 361 m/394 yds).
http://madelinetosh.com/tosh-sock/
Berroco Cosma (60% alpaca, 30% wool, 10% silk, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-cosma
Or another Sport/5 ply or Fingering 4/ply yarn.

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 straight needles.
3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle for collar (40 cm/16”).
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers (removable), holders, cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows in st st using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.
29 sts and 32 rows in rib slightly stretched (average) using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.
26-sts cable panel using 3 mm/US 2.5 measures 10 cm/4” across.
50-sts cable panel using 3 mm/US 2.5 measures 19.5 cm/7.75” across.

Notes: The pullover is worked in pieces and seamed. The cable pattern continues on the collar which is worked in the round with an interfacing part.

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Ovedine in På Pinnen

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I am thrilled to have my shawl Ovedine in issue 4/2019 of “På Pinnen“/On the Needle, a membership magazine for the Norsk Strikkeforbund/Norwegian Knitting Association. On the cover is a sweater called Maria by Iselin Hafseld, (yes: she is the author of the Norwegian book “Strikk fra Tinde“) who I interviewed for the previous issue. Below you see Ovedine, knitted in two hand dyed by Værbitt on Sølje pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, worn as a wrap by the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with hair & make up by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, photographed by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in November last year.

Named after an old female name from Norway is this shawl with tucks, short rows and garter stitch stripes in two colors. The hem and one tuck made on the wrong side, in addition to the double I-cord bind off, make the shawl two-sided. Choose if you want to wear it as a shawl, or a wrap around your body or as a shawl collar. Ovedine is knitted in two gorgeous hand dyed shades by Værbitt on the pelt wool Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The divine turquoise colour is Drageegg, Værbitt hand dyed on Sølje pelsull by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk made of 100% pelt wool on 100 gram skeins with 350 m/383 yds on each skein. You need 2 skeins in this or your preferred main colour; 497 m/544 yds.
Lillebror is the darker blue colour also hand dyed by Værbitt on Sølje pelsull. Only 1 skein in this or your preferred contrast colour is needed; 315 m/344 yds.

The shawl is made in one size, but can easily be adjusted if you prefer. The finished wingspan is 162 cm/64”, the width at widest point is 42 cm/16.5”  and the width at narrowest point is 12 cm/4.75”. Ovedine is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle for the garter stitch sections and 3.5 mm/US 4 for the tucks.

Ovedine is knitted with a looser than recommended gauge of 21 sts and 40 rows in garter stitch using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4 square. 21 stitches and 32 rows in st st using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle measures 10 cm/4” square.

Both the Norwegian and English pattern is available from my Ravelry store and from Lovecrafts.

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Happy New Year!

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Takk for det gamle/Thank you for the old one, 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 & decade, and I wish you a happy and healthy new year! I hope it will be one that makes us grow, not physically but mentally, that is! I also hope it will bring lots of happiness and shared pleasures!

Above is a the amazing door and exterior of Trondenes Church in Harstad in Northern Norway, photographed by Michael. Trondenes Church is the northernmost medival stone church of  Norway and the world’s northernmost surviving medieval building dating back to around 1435.

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New Design: Gyro

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I am thrilled to show you the new dress I have designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Gyro works equally well as a tunic so we photographed worn both ways. The sample in size Small is beautifully knitted in pieces in Tinde and Sølje pelt wool by Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, while I crocheted the seams together and made the I-cord neckband plus the garter stitch sleeveband. Michael took these photos of me wearing Gyro outside our hotel in Barcelona, back in November when I was teaching at Barcelona Knits 2019.

Gyro is an oversized dress with bat sleeves knitted in two yarn thicknesses and colours. The center cable panel crowns the dress and ends in a wide neck with an I-cord bind off. Gyro is an old Norwegian female name, well suited to this dress or tunic made in pieces and sewn or crochet together with a garter stitch sleeve band. The dress is knitted in the divine pelt wool yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk; The thicker Tinde for the cable panel and the thinner Sølje for the side parts.

I have graded it in these sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL). Since the bust measurement includes the sleeve part I chose to write in to fit sizes and not write out the ease in cm/inches:  To fit sizes:  UK 6 (8, 10, 12, 14, 16-18, 20-22)/US 2 (4, 6, 8, 10, 12-14, 16-18)/EU 34 (36, 38, 40, 42, 44-46, 48-50).

The gauge is 21 sts and 30 rows in st st with Tinde (COL 1) and 3.5 mm/US 4 needle measures 10 cm/4″ square. 24 sts and 32 rows in st st with Sølje (COL 2) using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle measures 10 cm/4″ square.

The dress is worked in pieces and seamed. You can easily adjust the length of the dress if you prefer, for instance by shortening (or lengthening) it with one or half a cable pattern repeat 12 cm/4.75″ or 6 cm/2.25″ and work less rows in between the increases.

The English pattern, and also the Norwegian one, will be released after the test knit which begins 17th of February.

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Happy Knitmas & Holidays, Merry Christmas

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Christmas 2019, just like last year will be a Knitmas for me. I never get even close to the preparations I had planned to do for Christmas, before it is Tiny Little Christmas Eve. That is tomorrow; Sunday 22nd of December. I have worked with Christmas patterns for the Norwegian magazine Familien since July, so my first greetings I received from the handicraft editor back then. No wonder I loose track, really. Michael and I will be celebrating Christmas Eve with my brother and his family, as well as my mum.

Our next party will be on 2nd Christmas Day (read: Boxing Day) – 26th – and then on New Year’s Eve. So I will have time off relaxing in between knitting and pattern writing for my next deadline in January.

Above is a detail from the door of the new Gol Stave Church from 1995, based on the original one from about 1200, now at Norwegian Museum of Cultural History at Bygdøy in Oslo, photographed by Michael on our way home from Geilo.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Knitmas and Holidays!

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Thia and Damara Knitted by Nivine

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I am thrilled to show you Nivine’s version of Thia jacket and Damara skirt, which she test knitted for me early this spring, before the Norwegian book “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt“, which I take part in with 5 designs, was sent for print. I asked Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk if they would be willing to sponsor Tinde pelt wool yarn, made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein, to five selected test knitters and to my delight they accepted. Nivine choose the colour Cognac 2103 and knitted size small in Thia and ordered extra Naturgrå/Natural Grey for the Damara.

 Nivine, aka neevoknits on Instagram, writes: “Last spring I was thrilled and honored to be asked by dear @lindamarveng to test knit 2 of her stunning designs for The Norwegian knitting book: “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt” which has been released by publisher Cappelen Damm. First I knitted Thia, a sweet fitted cardigan with a small extra rib above the waist, cables, and a large collar that can be folded down”. I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference (without front bands 2 cm/0.75″) from 84 to 126 cm/33 to 51.5″.

Thia is a sweet fitted cardigan with a small extra rib above the waist, cables adorning the center framed by double seed stitch. The lower part is all in stockinette stitch to allow the beautiful hand-dyed Mikkel Rev on Tinde pelt wool by Værbitt shine with its colours and depth. Thia ends in a large collar that can be folded down.

Nivine writes: “Damara is an asymmetrical skirt with a seeded rib check pattern, that can also be worn as a poncho. Such a beautiful and fun design”. I have graded the skirt/poncho in sizes XS/S, M/L and XL/2XL, with a waist (top band width) of 70 (82, 94) cm/27.5 (32.25, 37)”. The rib top band can easily be adjusted according to preference.

Nivine is an experienced test knitter, originally from Lebanon but living in the US in Georgia, and I am so grateful she took part! Thank you so much! You can see the Vaga sweater she test knitted on my blog here.

Thia and Damara patterns are only available in Norwegian in print in the book “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt” until the rights reverts to me in January 2021 or if the book is bought by a foreign publisher and translated.

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New Design: Ovedine

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Værbitt, aka Laila Henriksen, asked me this autumn if I wanted to design a small accessory for the Advents Calendar she was planning to sell on her yarn shop website. Laila hand dyes so many gorgeous shades and I am especially fond of her colours on Sølje and Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. I got to choose colours from her shop and loved “Dragegg”/Dragon Egg in green turquoise shades and “Lillebror”/Little Brother in darker navy shades the most. What should I design? I pondered for awhile and ended on a shawl or a wrap. How about a shawl you can wrap around you but also use as a scarf or a collar? Ovedine was born. Above you see me wearing it as a scarf, together with the new skirt Rebine I have designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk knitted in Tinde, photographed by Michael in Barcelona. We somehow ended up photographing on the coldest afternoon while we were there, which is so typical and why I look cold.

Named after an old female name from Norway is this shawl with tucks, short rows and garter stitch stripes in two colors. The hem and one tuck made on the wrong side, in addition to the double I-cord bind off, make the shawl two-sided. Choose if you want to wear it as a shawl, or a wrap around your body or as a shawl collar. Ovedine is knitted in two gorgeous hand dyed shades by Værbitt on the pelt wool Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

I developed further my earlier design Saqqara, but choose garter stitch instead of lace to show of the subtle depth of the colours and added more tucks. The tucks I worked in both the colours and I decided to do the same with the I-cord bind off.

Ovedine is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle for the garter stitch and 3.5 mm/US 4 needle for the tucks as well as the I-cord bind offs. The gauge is 21 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle so it is knitted with a loose gauge for the sportweight yarn. Ovedine requires 497 m/544 yds of Drageegg (2 skeins) and 315 m/344 yds (1 skein) of Lillebror, both dyed on Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Each skein of Sølje has 350 m/383 yds on 100 g.

The pattern is already available from my Ravelry store and from Love Crafts in both English and Norwegian. I will soon share with you the brilliant photos Eivind Røhne took of model Olivia Lindtein at Mortensrud Church of this shawl.

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O-Chem Tunic Pattern Released

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The O-Chem Tunic pattern rights have reverted to me and I have released the pattern in English my Ravelry store with new photographs taken of the gorgeous Kaja Kvernbakken,  with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, taken by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum in May. The pattern was first published in Interweave Knits Winter 2019 and initially photographed by Harper Point Photography. The Norwegian pattern has been sold to the magazine Familien and will be printed at a later date. Below is my introduction to the pattern and its details.

The O-Chem Tunic features a striking central panel of hexagonal cables inspired by organic chemisty compounds. For visual balance with the three cables in the body, the sleeves have one main cable running down the arm, and all the cables in the sweater are framed with rope cables. The sweater sports a cozy standing collar and side vents in the rib at the bottom for a relaxed fit.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
Shown in size Medium.
Skill level: Experienced

Finished measurements:
Bust: 81 (88, 94, 104, 114, 124) cm/32 (34.5, 37, 41, 45, 49)“
Hip: 95 (102, 108, 118, 128, 138) cm/37.5 (40.25, 42.5, 46.5, 50.5, 54.25)”
Length: 74 (74, 76, 76, 78, 78) cm/29.25 (29.25, 30, 30, 30.75, 30.75)“
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.5)”

Yarn: Tahki Yarns, Alden (50% merino wool, 25% alpaca, 25% acryl, 230 m/250 yds, 50 g). Sample is knitted in 06 Wine:
6 (6, 7, 7, 8, 9) balls; 1215 (1327, 1439, 1600, 1761, 1922) m/1323 (1451, 1574, 1750, 1926, 2102) yds.

Needles: 3.75 mm/US 5 circular needle (60 cm/24” and 80 cm/32”).
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Markers (removable), cable needle, stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 20 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
32 sts and 30 rows in Cable measures 10 cm/4” square.

Notes: The pullover is worked back and forth in separate pieces and seamed. A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches. The collar is worked in the round with an interfacing part. The sides on the body and the sleeves have garter stitches after the vent up to the armhole.

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