I am so pleased to show you Marit’s beautiful Arcade Vest, knitted in a stunning burgundy Norsk Pelsull by Hillesvåg – the original yarn, see Norsk Pelsull. The color is so vibrant is should really be called Ruby. If you are a knitter you will be drawn into the background – yes indeed, it is a yarn shop – Fortuna run by Marit’s daughter Ellen. No wonder, you can find a marvelous photo of Marit dancing around in the yarn shop on her Ravelry page. Her Ravatar is Marit, and she test knitted size 2XL. Marit has also test knitted the Tyrol Jacket for me, so I am honored. Thank you so much, Marit! Now, for the link to Fortuna, located outside of Trondheim in Norway, but with an online shop stocking Hifa yarn among others, here it is: Garnbutikken Fortuna. The Norwegian pattern for the Arcade Vest was published in Familien no 3, and the English pattern is available to download from Ravelry, see: Ravelry.
Author Archives: Linda Marveng
The Game of Thrones Exhibition in Oslo
I had the best intentions of seeing the Game of Thrones Exhibition, until I spotted the never-ending queue that went along the block and continued around the corner. The security guard confirmed my suspicions; the first part of the queue would take one hour to reach the entrance, and then another to be able to see the exhibition. I did want to see the costumes from the popular television series, even though I did not have an urgent need to sit on the Iron Throne, nor use 4-D headphones with display to ascend the massive wall of ice. The exhibition has only visited two cities in Europe: Belfast, where it is filmed, and Oslo, due to the massive number of viewers. Since I did not have enough time to spare, I gave up and will continue to study the costumes on television. Here are photos from one who queued, see blackforestmag, and here is a video showing a selection of the brilliant costumes and their designer: Game of Thrones: The Costumes. Norwegian actor Kristofer Hivju – Tormund Giantsbane in the series – came to visit on the opening day, and feed a part of the queue on his way in, take a look at this video and enjoy: Kristofer Hivju meets the fans.
Design in Progress: Conic Coat
Here is another of my designs in progress. I have slightly modified one of my Brooklyn Tweed Designs Submissions, and the pattern will be published in Familien’s Strikkebok this autumn instead. The yarn I chose is Embla – Hifa 3, a pure wool with bounce, in a shade called lilac beige (read: in other words; taupe) which is perfect for a certain pair of Monica Stålvang shoes. I do hope the coat will match her stunning shoes, and I am ready for the challenge! The stitch pattern I have chosen is Blocks and Triangles by Lynne Barr – the boring blocks are on the back, and they are completely flat unlike the sculptural triangles on the front. Yes, they are made with a DPN or a cable needle in hand. Above is the bottom of one of the sleeves, I will start making the other now, so that I can work them together to the end. After pondering for awhile I decided not to knit them in the round because of the equal amount of purl and knit, the yarn overs on the WS, and the folding. I have also tested how I wanted to make the hem and to make the set up perfect I chose the old fashion way of sewing it up. The coat itself will have an a-line shape and end in a large shawl collar in a seeded rib pattern. I am very pleased it is an addictive stitch pattern, just as long as I remember to increase along the way, since I am working as fast as I can with plenty of ideas flowing through my head at the moment!
Design in Progress: Scarftex
I have had a lot of fun lately coming up with new designs, and if I could not find the texture or color I had in mind, I made it up by combining two different yarns. To make cables really pop I love working them in double yarns, usually of the same quality but this time I chose to hold a pure wool, Rowan Fine Tweed, together with an alpaca mixture, Rowan Lima, to add bounce to the cables. A chunky jewelry scarf just like the type of statement jewelry I prefer. The stitch pattern I choose is a combination of reversible cables to make a scarf with a lot of texture; a Scarftex! Rowan Fine Tweed is a thin 4-ply/Fingering weight pure wool that comes in 25 g balls with 90 m/98 yds, while Rowan Lima is an Aran/Worsted weight yarn of a chain construction made of alpaca 84%, wool 8% and nylon 8% that comes in 50 g balls with 110 m/120 yds. The Norwegian pattern will be published in Familien’s Strikkebok late August after being photographed professionally, while the English pattern will be published on Ravelry. More designs are in progress and coming here on my blog soon!
Spring is here
I captured yesterday’s beautiful weather from our terrace, where I have spent a lot of time during Easter, knitting swatches and new designs. Not long now, and I can show you some of my latest designs. Outside it is getting greener by the day, and we have had lovely summery temperatures for several days now. The smell of barbecues is all around in the early evening, since everyone is making sure they enjoy the warm sunshine. So this is where you will find me, sitting on the terrace knitting!
Summer Leaves Sweater by Siv Jorunn Hjellbrekke
I am delighted to show you the beautiful Summer Leaves Sweater Siv Jorunn Hjellbrekke made during the test knit of the English pattern in my Ravelry group. It did not scare her off because she has taken part in many more test knits since then. Siv choose the same yarn, Hifa Luxor, a pure mercerized cotton, in the same color I choose; Wine Red, see Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and knitted size XL. She shortened the sleeves to 3/4 long, after consulting me. It was the first time she made a hem using two circular needles held parallel as I suggest in the pattern and shown in my video no 5 here: Marveng-Puckett. You can also see more detailed photos on Sivjor’s Ravelry page. I love the matching nail varnish and shoes, the pose as well as the stunning view from her garden! Thank you, Siv! The Norwegian pattern will be published in Familien, date to be confirmed, while the English pattern is available to download from Ravelry.
Above is stunning dancer Francesca Golfetto, brilliantly photographed by Kim Müller.
Monica Stålvang Shoes
I am in shoe heaven, and I have been there for quite awhile now. It is several months since I first spotted Monica Stålvang‘s amazing shoe creations at Designerkollektivet in Oslo. So what happened? Well, last week, I went to her showroom and studio at Bislett, and I have hardly slept since! Yes, her shoes have kick started a whole series of new designs to match their elegance and superiority. No, I did not leave the shop empty handed since I need to have them in front of me when I design! Entering the shop, with a studio at the back, feels like entering a smart shoe showroom in Milan. No wonder really since there are photos on the wall from Milan and Florence, indeed all of Monica’s shoes are made in Milan, where she has lived for years. I also loved seeing her sketches and then being able to study the finished pair. Monica has sourced the finest Italian leather, as well as Italian craftsmanship, and combines it with different materials, builds numerous kinds of soles and heals – that you can walk in and not merely totter around – into exquisite shoes and boots.
Above is Carla in wine, and despite Monica’s good photo, it does not do them justice because they are even more gorgeous in real life. The platform at the front and the stable heel do make them easy to walk in, to my utter astonishment!
Above is Carmen in petrol, which shows the play with different types of leather as well as colors. The interesting color and leather combinations makes each design seem like an unexpected innovation. Monica showed me some of the leather samples for the new collection which has not arrived yet, and I cannot wait to see it. There is, unfortunately, a limit to how many pairs I can buy, but thankfully I can borrow for press loans, so I am planning future photo shoot in detail far into the night.
Strikk til smårollinger
Knitting clothes for small children is the English translation of this charming book by two sisters; Eli Østgård and Mette Harbo, who have 11 children together, and hence are very focused on children’s fashion and especially knitting. Together with their third sister, they have a popular blog called GustavogBerta, where you can see their retro style inspired by their own mother, and the outfits they wore as children. The book contains 50 patterns for children at the age of 0 to 6 years, in a classical, or modern or retro style in different difficulty levels. It is a book to treasure with stunning photos, taken by different photographers including the sisters themselves, that makes you smile, and wanting to dress up all the small children you know in these outfits. Take a look inside the book here: Issuu. The book is available in selected bookshops in Norway and directly from the publisher Gyldendal. You will find one of the patterns for a pleated skirt in Norwegian on Gyldendal’s blog, together with Easter Greetings, see Puff.Gyldendal.
Cablewing Sweater by Margaret Rowe
Today, I am delighted to show you the beautiful Cablewing Sweater Margaret Rowe, aka Marg3016 on Ravelry, test knitted in the stunning bright pink tweed yarn called Loden by Grignasco. She was inspired to join the test knit after seeing Yelena’s gorgeous version, see my blogpost Cablewing Sweater by Yelena Malcolm Dasher. In fact they are both popular test knitters due to their eagle eyes, and amazing pictures. Do notice Margaret’s matching lipstick! Her excellent choice of yarn in a mixture of 50% wool, 25% rayon and 25% alpaca with 110 m/120 yds per 50 g, has made me add it to my long list of yarns I want to test, see Grignasco. The only modification she made is to make the sleeves a little longer. Equally well fitting is the back, see below. Thank you so much, Margaret!
My original sample of the Cablewing Sweater was knitted in Hifa Embla, a pure wool with bounce, and first published in the Norwegian separate issue called Familien Strikkebok in August 2013. The pattern is available in both English and Norwegian on Ravelry.
New pattern release: Arcade Vest
The Arcade Vest pattern is now available in English, to download from my Ravelry Store, with chart, schematic and useful video links. Beautifully modeled by dancer Francesca Golfetto and photographed by Kim Müller. I am so grateful to the 11 test knitters who have checked and improved my English pattern in addition to my tech editor, thank you! The Norwegian pattern was published in the magazine “Familien”/The Family in January in issue no 3, and will be added to Ravelry when the rights revert to me. A straight vest inspired by Haider Ackermann’s architectonic style and jewel colours. It features arcades knitted by cables, framed by double moss/seed stitch and ends with an I-cord trim around the neck and armholes. The double front gives the vest weight – close it as you prefer with a shawlpin or a belt. Close it at the top for a trendy look and an asymmetrical opening. The sample is knitted in the beautiful Hifa Norsk Pelsull/Norwegian Pelt yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in a turquoise mélange color.
Size: S (M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL)
Finished measurements:
Bust: 92 (96, 102, 116, 124, 134) cm/36.25 (38.25, 40, 45.75, 48.75, 52.75)”
incl overlap: 6.5 (6.5, 6.5, 6.5, 8.5, 8.5) cm/2.5 (2.5, 2.5, 2.5, 3.25, 3.25)”
Length: 77 (77, 77, 79, 79, 79) cm/30.25 (30.25, 30.25, 31, 31, 31)”
Yarn: Hifa, Norsk Pelsullgarn in turquoise sh 1106: 4 (4.5, 5, 6, 6.5, 7.5) skeins;
1014 (1144, 1300, 1508, 1664, 1846) m/1109 (1251, 1422, 1649, 1820, 2019) yds (100% Norwegian pelt wool, 100 g, 260 m/284 yds). Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk
Alternative Yarns: Berroco, Ultra Alpaca Light (50% alpaca, 50% wool, 50 g, 133 m/144 yds). Berroco
Anzula, Kern (100% alpaca, 50 g, 160 m/175 yds). Anzula
Or another DK/8 ply yarn.
Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (80 cm/32″)
3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (40 cm/16″)
3.5 mm/US 4 DPNs (2 for I-cord bind off)
Or size needed for gauge.
Notions: Cable needle, 3 stitch holders and yarn needle
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows in Arcade Pattern, 20 sts and 26 rows in double moss/seed stitch measures 10cm/4″ square.
Notes: The vest is worked in rows in one piece to armhole, where it is separated. The armhole band is worked in the round.
Dec: When decreasing for neck and armhole only for XL and 2XL, change first and last Arcade Pattern repeat into reverse stocking stitch to avoid decreasing in pattern.
Length: Adjust length by knitting additional rows in double moss/seed stitch at the bottom and/or more/fewer Arcade Patterns before armhole decrease.