Author Archives: Linda Marveng

Andor Poncho Knitted by Katja

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I did promise to show you another of Katja’s projects and here it is; Andor Poncho or as she calls it “We own the night“. Very fitting indeed, when you look at these photos, I think! The poncho was designed for a Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk yarn kit with Tinde pelt wool yarn, but Katja, aka ekatja on Ravelry, test knitted the English pattern using the Norwegian yarn Gjestal Silja Superwash. As she wrote in her project notes it is a stash buster, with its large circumference and one size. Katja modified it to have a turtle neck, joined the sides and worked the resulting armhole bands with short rows. The turquoise poncho is photographed north of the Lofoten islands in Northern Norway where Katja lives. They are often listed as Best things to do in Norway. You might remember the stunning photos she took of her other project on my blog here: Check Cable Cardigan. I had to include one more photo, see below. Thank you so much, Katja!

The Norwegian pattern is only available as part of yarn kit from selected yarn stores in Norway or online directly from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk‘s website: www.ull.no, while the English pattern is available digitally on Ravelry and on Loveknitting (where it is on special offer during Indie June). Next up is another new design for – yes – Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, because their pelt yarn is wonderful to knit with and to wear!

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New Design: Wa

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My collaboration with Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk that started last autumn continues and I was delighted when they asked me to make four new designs for yarn kits to be launched at Oslo Design Fair at Lillestrøm 30. August to 2. September. The result is one shawl, one poncho, one pullover and one jacket, each with character of its own. First out is Wa:  A shawl turned into a vest with a back piece, named Wa; Eskimo for ”here it is”. A large Celtic Cable adorns the center with Round cables on each side and small framing cables, on both parts; the shawl and the back piece which is sewn onto main piece at the end. Wear it as a vest, a wrap or a generous shawl around your neck.

I know the wet-look is not best suited to show off knitwear, but what do you do when the rain pours down day out and day in. I am wearing Wa as a vest, photographed by my husband in our front garden in mid May. In these top photos I am just using my hands to hold it close.

Wa is knitted in the luscious Norwegian pelt wool yarn called Tinde Pelsull from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the divine shade called Lime 2107. Yes, it is not the first time I have used that colour, it is an addictive shade. I used it in my sweater Mistale. Each 100 gram skein has 260 meters/284 yards and is made of 100% pelt wool. The sample is beautifully knitted by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle due to the number of stitches. Kristin suggested a change to the edges from garter stitch to rib, and it was an improvement. Thank you, Kristin!

Above you see the shawl worn crossed at the front and pinned together using a shawl pin. Yes, our grass did appear close to a shade of lime green for a short while and seemed to grow several centimeters each time we looked at it. I am happy to report that the rain did take a break on our photoshoot day, we were blessed with warm sunshine. And the weather has improved since but is still very unpredictable, like most Norwegian summers are. The pattern is in one size with the shawl measuring: 50 cm/19.75″ wide and 156 cm/61.5″ long, and the back piece measuring 60 cm/23.5″ wide and 40 cm/15.75″ long. You can adjust the width by removing or adding cable repeats and/or adjust the number of side stitches in rib.

Here you see it worn as a generous shawl. If you study this photo closely you can probably also see the rain has started to drip from my hair.  So it was a good thing that it was the last of the photos taken at home. The Norwegian pattern will only be available in the yarn kits to be launched in early September. While the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group, it is scheduled to start 4th of September and will be released approximately 6 weeks later. Do join us. In the meantime you can look forward to seeing this worn by gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger (for a sneak peek check out the funny video photographer Eivind Røhne made on Instagram) as well as more new designs. Stay tuned and keep knitting!

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Elfa Pattern Released

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The test knit of Elfa is coming to an end and I have released the English pattern. On Ravelry you can have a look at the different versions of it, with fascinating names such as “Carolin” meaning Wood Duck or “Ask not the elves for advice“. Do take a look at the colours as well as modifications the test knitters chose to make. The design was made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk who sells yarn kits with the Norwegian pattern. The sample jacket was modelled by the stunning Alexandria Eissinger, Nordic Model Agency, with make up & hair by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, and brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla in June last year.

Elfa is an a-line long jacket with central cables along all parts. Tucks divide the different patterns giving a slight flair and a softer touch to the jacket. A large shawl collar crowns the garment, hence the given name Elfa – after the Norse king and warrior. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round to the underarm. It is knitted in the in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

Finished Measurements:
Bust: 84 (92, 98, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (36.25, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)” excl collar
Hip: 104 (113, 119.5, 127.5, 138.5, 149) cm excl collar/41 (44.5, 47, 50.25, 54.5, 58.75)”
Length: 77 (77.5, 78.5, 79.5, 80.5, 82) cm/30.25 (30.5, 31, 31.25, 31.75, 32.25)”
Collar width to v-neck: 7 cm/2.75”
Collar width (mid-neck) widest: 18 cm/7”
Sleeve Length (incl cuff): 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.5)”
Cuff length: 7.5 cm/3”

Yarn: Hillesvåg, Hifa Sølje (100% pelt yarn, 350 m/383 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Jeansblue:
4.5 (5, 5.5, 6.5, 7, 8) Skeins: 1488 (1698, 1908, 2118, 2381, 2644) m/1627 (1857, 2086, 2316, 2604, 2891) yds. https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/ullgarn/nyhet-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 circular needle (80 cm/32”).
2 sets of 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (120 cm/48”) for collar.
3 mm/US 2.5 DPNs.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders, cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 34 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
Cable (18-sts) measures 5.5 cm/2.25” across.

Notes: The body is worked flat in pieces, unlike the long sleeves which are worked in the round to the armhole. The hem and the tuck are worked with 2 sets of circular needles held together. To make the bottom band and tuck to flare less choose needle size 2.5 mm/US 1.5. The number of stitches picked up for collar has been adjusted from the sample to avoid the flare.

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New Design: Wilma Lind Jacket

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Who is Wilma Lind, you ask? If you are Norwegian and have read the crime books by Hanne Kristin Rohde, you will know that she is a fictitious Police Inspector in Oslo. Author Hanne Kristin had the real job for many years, before she began writing crime and holding talks on improving business management. I recognised Hanne Kristin’s name from the Norwegian television news (lately also seen in a series called Åsted Norge/Crime Scene Norway) and her crime books, when she approached me several months back with the idea of designing a long jacket for Wilma Lind. That was the beginning of our collaboration. And yes, she does knit but have not done so for awhile since her writing take up most of her time. A strong red colour was chosen since Wilma is brave and daring.

A long a-line jacket with cables covering the back, and moving cables on the front. Instead of a shawl collar the jacket was given a deep v-neck and a loose shawl to use as a collar. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round after the rib to the underarm. It is knitted in the in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The cables are the same I used in both the sweater Idunn and Elfa, both designed for yarn kits for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. But this jacket has a rib at the bottom and a button band unlike Elfa (currently being test knitted in my Ravelry group). I liked the idea of the moving the cables towards the shoulder on the front, while working them straight on the back and on the sleeves.

The jacket is beautifully knitted in size S on 3 mm/US 2.5 needles by Nadia Bresky, aka 77stricknadel on Ravelry while I was finishing off another design for Interweave’s knit.wear magazine. I finished in time to knit the accompanying shawl. Worn twice around the neck in the top photo and as a shawl collar in the photo above.

The shawl has 3 cables in the center and ends in a rib. It is shaped in the reverse stocking stitch panels in between the cables. All the photos are taken by my husband, a short walk from our house in Ørje by the Rødenessjøen in late May, just before the rain. Also before the photoshoot we had 29th of May at Ingierstrand Bad. I have finally been able to select the photos I want from Eivind Røhne’s contact sheet and look forward to showing you those. The Norwegian pattern will be sold digitally on www.wilmalind.no from late August/September, while the English pattern will be released after test knitting in my Ravelry Group set to begin 26th June. Hanne Kristin is a blogger too, so expect to see a lot more of this jacket…

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Freja Knitted by Kristina Ringness

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Canadian Kristina Ringness decided to knit my Freja pattern last year to my delight. She choose Artyarns Ensemble Light – a luscious silk & cashmere blend – in Turq Blue and called her project Blue Lagoon. I am so pleased to present the stunning result of her modified version in size Small. Here you can her notes: “Fabulous pattern, fabulous yarn. It should be a gorgeous combination! I opted to add some little cap sleeves, lower the neckline a bit, and shorten the back. This was a wonderful pattern to knit; easily memorized and fun to watch grow. I knit this in the round, to avoid the abrupt colour change at side seams in this multi-coloured yarn. The colour in the finished garment photos is true, this is a beautiful colourway! The yarn itself is, of course, heavenly to knit and scrumptious to wear! As predicted, a perfect combination of pattern and yarn!!” Thank you so much, Kristina!

Her Ravelry id reveals her job; Kristinavet. According to her profile page, she is “…a veterinarian by day and obsessive knitter whenever I am not working.” I can vouch for that, she has test knitted a number of my patterns without any deadline issues! Recently she has also started to hand dye her own yarn. And as if that was not enough, the yarn Kristina used for to knit another of my designs is spun from her own alpacas. Yes, you will definitely see her version of Kori too! Maybe we can request a few photos of her alpacas too? I live in hope!

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Sarya in Familien 12/2017

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The Norwegian bimonthly magazine Familien, well known for their handcraft pages, has 40 extra pages with knitting, sewing, embroidery and crocheting in their next issue number 12/2017 out on Monday 12. June. On the cover at the bottom is my design Sarya, earlier self published on Ravelry in both English and Norwegian. It was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne, worn by the beautiful model Alexandria Eissinger/Nordic Model Agency, with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and statement jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, at my photoshoot at the Ekeberg Restaurant in Oslo. You will find the Norwegian magazine for sale in selected supermarkets and news agents. 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.

A beautiful lace pattern adorns the lower part of this jacket with overlapping fronts, while garter stitch rules on the top part. The stitch patterns are divided by a tuck and the jacket has identical hems. A deep elegant v-neck allows it to be worn loose creating waterfall fronts. Or you can close it with jewelry or a shawl pin for a more tailored look. The jacket is named Sarya; the night traveler hence knitted in the stunning Jagger Spun Zephyr Wool-Silk Lace, held double, because of its luster and drape.

You will find the English pattern for sale at Ravelry and on Loveknitting.

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Indie June on Loveknitting

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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.

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Ravelry Group 4th Year Anniversary

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My Ravelry group is now 4 years old! There are now more than 1400 members and my fear that only a few would join was needless. I am so pleased to have attracted so many knitters! It has been another thrilling year with many test knits of my English patterns, showing off of finished garments, discussions of different knitting techniques, chatting and bi-monthly free pattern pdf draws just to mention a few of the topics in this lovely group. I am delighted to have met so many new knitters. So it is time to celebrate that four years has passed! How can I best do this? By organizing a draw in my group with 9 exciting prizes like yarn kits, e-books and pdf patterns from my Ravelry store.

All you have to do is join my group if you have not already done so, and answer one of these questions: “What design – with an available pattern – would you love to wear but never knit in a million years and why? Or if that is too difficult or impossible to imagine what have you knitted and never worn (or only once)?” in my Ravelry group. I have had numerous fascinating answers already. I anticipated a couple of the answers to the first question – like my design Halli, designs by Di Gilpin; designs from the book: Norwegian Knitting Designs; designs from the book Tudor Roses and designs from Christel Seyfarth (simply because those would have been my answers too) – while others have introduced amazing new patterns and designs to us. I will use Random org to pick winners based on the number matching the response/posting on Friday 9th. June. Here are the top two prizes, and a good reason to join, see ravelry.com/groups/linda-marveng, in my opinion:

1. and 2. Prize: Choose one of these yarn kits from Hillesvåg and choose which size & colour you want (includes pattern in English as well as Norwegian): Andor or Idunn or Halli or Elfa. The yarn kits have been generously sponsored by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. See kits, Tinde colours for Andor and Idunn, Sølje colours for Halli and Elfa

Or Elfa, the English pattern is currently being test knitted. These four designs all made for yarn kits for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk were brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla in June last year. The gorgeous model is Alexandria Eissinger and her hair & make up are by Jens J. Wiker, while her jewellery are by Kaja Gjedebo Design.

Good luck!

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Behind the Scenes: Photoshoot at Ingierstrand Bad

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On Monday I had a photoshoot at Ingierstrand Bad, just outside of Oslo, with an amazing crew. The weather was perfect; warm and sunny. The restaurant, open for private parties during the weekdays and for the public at the weekends, is a popular spot for weddings due to its location next to one of the most popular beaches with a diving tower in Oslo. In fact jewellery designer Kaja Gjedebo, who came to join us, had her wedding party here 11 years ago and this was the first time she was back. You can find a video she made at Instagram. While Jens J. Wiker worked on gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger‘s hair & make up, photographer Eivind Røhne, second photographer/roadie/technical manager Michael Marveng-Puckett looked at possible back drops. As always it was a day filled with laughter and breath taking results. Eivind always gives everything, above you see how him delivering on his promise to make Alex taller. Jens, next to him is checking his mobile.

Here you see Kaja and Eivind sharing Instagram tips. It was marvellous to have the whole place to ourselves. On the to do list was taking photographs of a total of 10 designs where 5 are new designs; 4 for yarn kits for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and 1 secret design; 3 designs returned from Interweave Knits and knit.wear in the US and 2 designs only photographed by the Norwegian magazine Familien previously. Judith Bech had as usual sent me a selection of dresses and skirts to choose from. One day I hope she will be able to fly from Northern Norway to join us. I find her dresses magical, hence I am spellbound and ask for more than I need so that I can see how they look together with the knitted garments. Just as with my ideas, some work better in my head than in real life. I ended up using only 2 of those.

Eivind and I are talking strategy, while Alex with Jens’ assistance is ready for action. We speak partly in Norwegian and partly in English all day, even though Alex speaks Danish and Michael Norwegian, they both prefer English. But Alex knows me very well and know that I want front, back and side photographed. Eivind is living in the hope that I will not demand full length photos of all designs, but I rarely give in. Alex is ready for photography of the back of Kathe Cardigan, made for Interweave Knits Fall 2016.

Alex heard a double set of camera clicks as Michael joined Eivind and photographed as well. Thankfully, neither Eivind nor Alex had any issues with that and knew that the Eivind was indeed the photographer of the day. Even Alex joined in and took a selfie, here she is, captured by Michael. Above she is wearing Aki, a new pullover designed for Hillesvåg and below wearing an old design Patent Poncho. Despite the heat, Alex managed to look incredibly cool and only suffered for a brief time when I added 3 cowls on top of each other. Yes, that would only be useful on a very cold day and not on a hot day, with women in bikinis nearby. Kaja wished that she had brought her swimwear.

Unlike me, Alex is always in control of her face when she is being photographed and do enjoy pulling some faces. I have reached the age where I tend to do so unwillingly so much of the time. That is why the back of my head as well as the side feature so much in the photos Michael take of me.

Take a look at the photo above and you understand the tone we have during the day as well as the fun! It took a few second before I saw her face! Alex is wearing Wa, a shawl vest as well as Kaja’s Abelia earring with pearls and Abelia necklace. I saw a number of Eivind’s photos during the day and know it will as usual be extremely difficult to choose photos from the hundreds of magical moments he has captured. Yet, I cannot wait to see them all!

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Nordic Architecture. Elements and Details by Takashi Koizumi

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A few days ago, this fascinating Japanese book arrived in our mail box. No, I do not read Japanese, but Professor Takashi Koizumi himself sent it to us, as a token since we allowed him to use a couple of our photos from the Bornholm Art Museum in his book: Nordic Architecture. Elements and Details. It started several months back when the Professor in the Department of Housing and Interior Design, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning at Kyusan Snagyo University wrote a comment on my blog after seeing our photos from Bornholm Art Museum by Danish architects Fogh & Følner, see my blogpost here. We promptly sent him a selection of photos for him to choose from just in case he wanted to use any of them and told him our about our backgrounds in architecture and architectural history. He choose one I took of the water well running down the staircase, with a sacral lighting more reminiscent of churches than art museums, and the one Michael took of me sitting in the alcove on the museum street.

Above are the pages from Bornholms Art Museum, and you see our photos at the bottom of the right page. Our names are found in the photo credit at the back. I also discovered that the Professor had visited Mortensrud Church by Norwegian architects Jensen & Skodvin, where Michael and I got married, as well as the National Museum – Architecture, where I held my last photoshoot, in the summer of 2015.  He would like to visit Oslo again and we would love to meet him. The ISBN number is: 978-4-7615-3232 and here is the link to the Japanese publisher Gakugei and amazon.co.jp.  Both the Professor and his wife are also interested in my knitwear design, to my delight. Now I wonder what he will think of my choice for the next photoshoot venue of Ingierstrand Bad by Norwegian architects Ole Lind Schistad and Eyvind Moestue.

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