Category Archives: Knitting

Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church: Gyro

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I am thrilled to show you the brilliant photos taken by Eivind Røhne, at Mortensrud Church in Oslo in November last year, of the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with make-up and hair by Erica Poppe and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, wearing my Gyro dress knitted in both Tinde and Sølje pelt wool yarn, designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. I wanted to show Gyro both as a dress and also as a tunic with trousers beneath. Olivia is wearing size S, the second size, which has a 122 cm/48” wingspan. She has an 83 cm/32.75” bust circumference and stands 167 cm/5’6” tall.

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.

Gyro is graded from size XS to 2XL, 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 sample is knitted by Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, using 3.5 mm/US 4 on the center cable part in Tinde (100% pelt wool, 100 gram,  m/yds) and using 3 mm/US 2.5 on the side part in Sølje (100% pelt wool, 100 gram, m/yds. The gauge for Tinde in stockinette stitch is 21 stitches and 30 rows to 10 cm/4″ square, while for Sølje it is 24 stitches and 32 rows.

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 of Gyro will be test knitted beginning on 17th of February in my Ravelry group before the pattern is released. Yarn kits will be available with English or Norwegian pattern from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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Aife Knitted By Georgette

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I wanted to show you the beautiful version of Aife that Canadian test knitter Georgette, aka Gemzones on Ravelry, made in Sweet Georgia Yarns, Superwash Sport in Sapphire. She knitted size Medium since her gauge was a bit bigger than in the pattern – 23.5 instead of 25 stitches – to make it a size Large with a 104 cm/41″ bust circumference. Georgette also omitted the waist shaping on the front, but kept it on the back so it would be more flattering on her.

Here you see the back, with the waist shaping. The brilliant blue hand dyed colour together with the stitch definition in the yarn shows off the cable so well!

Finally, here is a closer look of the side. Thank you so much, Georgette!

Aife was the Queen of the Isle of Shadow according to Celtic mythology. This elaborate cabled pullover with a slightly fitted waist, is made for a female warrior. A large cable panel, created by Devorgilla, is mirrored with two small cables at the center. The sweater ends in a generous turtle neck in ribbing. To show off the stunning hand dyed Pure Sport yarn by Dye Dye Done, the sleeves are in stockinette stitch with only two small centered cables. Aife is knitted in pieces for the ultimate fit.

The Aife pattern in both English and Norwegian is available in my Ravelry store and on Love Crafts.

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New Design: Grian

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The next and the last in the series of new designs is Grian made in The Fibre Co. Cumbria in their new colour Threlkeld. Named after the Faery Goddess from County Tipperary, is this pullover with heavy cabled texture. Grian means sunny, from her days as a regional sun deity, perfectly suited for this pullover. Honeycomb and stag horn cables adorn the body, while only honeycomb rule on the sleeves. Grian is slightly fitted with a crew neck and has a high cowl as a collar. The Fibre Co. Cumbria make the cables pop and allow the texture to shine in all its glory.

I had the idea for a fitted pullover with Honeycomb and stag horn cable, so I sent a yarn support request to The Fibre Co. which they approved. I knitted the pullover back and forth in separate pieces and crocheted it together. The sample is knitted in size Small, measuring 92 cm/36.25″ and in these photos taken by Michael in Barcelona you can see me wearing it with 4 cm/1.5″ positive ease. I have graded the pattern in sizes XS to 3XL, with a bust & hip circumference of 84 to 132 cm/33 to 52″.

The Fibre Co. Cumbria is made of 60% merino wool, 30% masham wool, 10% mohair and comes in 100 gram skeins with 218 meters/238 yards. I knitted it with the gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch using 4 mm/US 6 measures 10 cm/4″ square.

I also wanted a large cowl to go with the pullover. Especially since I could not decide want collar I wanted for the pullover.

Before I release the English pattern of Grian I will have a test knit in my Ravelry group, beginning on the 20th of April. I look forward to showing you the photos Eivind Røhne took of this pullover worn by Olivia Lindtein.

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Oslo Design Fair January 2020

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Last Wednesday Michael and I went to Oslo Design Fair in Lillestrøm, to visit the yarn stands, as well as to meet fellow designers. The theme for this trade fair was Impossible/Possible. “What if we can make the impossible, possible? It is hard to imagine a society that is   different than how we have it just now. But if we look back in time, we know that the changes will come and with today’s environmental threat and technological development the changes will come quicker than ever. Think about everything we know that we still do not know yet? Large challenges also create large possibilities. Oslo Design Fair wants to promote Norwegian Design and industry, art, crafts and architecture.” The well-known quote from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: “Sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” was the inspiration for this theme.

I am wearing my Alva design, knitted in Tropical Lane Woolissimo, with a belt around the fronts, looking at the new samples from Rauma Garn. In the top photo the posters display the catalogue cover for the “Tumi” yarn and for the “Tjukk Mohair” yarn. The yarn companies are in Hall B, which hosts the categories jewellery, Norwegian craftsmanship, textile, fashion, yarn & hobby.

The best stand, that stood out in its bright pink & flower glory, was in Hall C (Design & Interior Architecture) by the company “Lykke Blomster” and they wanted to spread the “Luck” in their name “Luck Flowers”. It worked, they did!

Now, this piano was not only for display, but was actually in use during the day, while we were there.

 Here are more of the samples on the Rauma stand.

Sandnes Garn display.

Järbo Garn, the Swedish company. The were more yarn companies there, but as you might have guessed, Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk did not have a stand (they usually do not on the January fair).

Cappelen Damm podium on the main street promoting some of their popular titles. We met designers Tove Lindtein, Bente Presterud and Familien editor Åse Myhrvold Egeland during the day. I enjoyed the fair, even though there were even less yarn companies than at the last fair this time, I always have the opportunity to see the new yarns and designs coming this spring.

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New Design: Edia

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The last new design for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is an oversized pullover called Edia with the same cable as I chose for the Gyro dress. I was uncertain which colour of pink or burgundy purple in Tinde pelt wool to choose for the cable on the dress, so I thought I could make a sweater with the cable in the second colour; “Burgunderlilla 2131”. The sample was beautifully knitted by Airin Hansen, aka Teodor on Ravelry, for me to sew (read: crochet with slip stitch) together and make the collar. Airin knitted Edia using a 3.5 mm/US 4 and a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch.

Edia is an oversized sweater with a central cable panel, vent in the sides and a crew neck crowned by an I-cord bind off. The pullover has dropped shoulders and simple cables on the sleeves. Edia is an old Norwegian female name fitting for this relaxed sweater knitted in the gorgeous pelt wool yarn Tinde from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The sweater is worked back and forth in pieces and seamed. The neck is deeper on the front, than on the back.

I have graded the pattern from size XS to 3XL with measurements from 136 cm to 184 cm/53.5 to 72.5″. In these photos taken by my husband in Barcelona, you see me wearing size Small with a bust circumference of 144 cm/56.75″.

Above you can see the cable detail. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning on the 18th of May, before the pattern is released. I have one more new design to show you, before you will see how these designs looked on my model Olivia Lindtein.

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Macha Jacket Knitted by Erdmuthe

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I want to share the beautiful Macha Jacket including the cable cowl and Macha Cowl that Erdmuthe made during the test knit back in September last year. She went yarn shopping at Trollenwol in Driebergen in The Netherlands and writes on her Ravelry project page: “I still prefer going to a “real” shop, seeing the colors and feeling the yarns. It took me quite a while before I was satisfied about the combination of colors”. Erdmuthe chose Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Sølje in 2126 Grønn as the main colour, 2106 Turkis as the contrast colour 1 and Vilje in Hvit (read: Natural) as the contrast colour 2. The yarn is the same as I used for the sample the pelt wool Sølje and the lambswool Vilje. The size she adjusted to fit her and began working an XL decreasing down to a L, as well as adding extra length to it. Erdmuthe also decided to work the body in one piece. You can read more on her detailed project page on Ravelry and follow her as erdmuthe9977 on Instagram.

“It’s a great design, lots of interesting features that will keep you busy for some time.
The finished Jacket is going to be worn a lot this coming winter”.

Erdmuthe ends her project page notes with: “I forgot about the cable cowl. A very quick knit in the round. Chose to work it in color C as I loved the “Türkis” and wanted to give it some “attention” and opportunity to show a bit off.” Finally she chose to use only 3 buttons from Luena, that she discovered at the Hannover fair. Thank you so much for making this stunning version, Erdmuthe!

Here is my introduction to the Macha Jacket pattern – the Macha Cowl  (the stranded colorwork one) is a separate pattern, both are available in my Ravelry Store: Macha is the Celtic protectress in peace as well as the name of this heavily textured jacket with cable and tweed body and stranded colorwork sleeves. A tuck marks the end of the cable pattern, the beginning of both the tweed pattern and the deep v-neck shaping. The Macha body is worked in pieces but the sleeves are knitted in the round to the armhole in stranded colourwork with purl stitches and garter stitch stripes in three contrasting colors in both Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Vilje Lamull and Sølje Pelsull. A cable cowl completes the jacket which can also be worn together with the Macha Cowl.

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New Design: Rebine

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Just as promised here is the skirt Rebine, designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, knitted in  the Tinde pelt wool yarn, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle by the skilled sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka quiltefeen! One of my patrons, Tamar aka tamari.joy on Instagram, suggested I design a pencil skirt and I loved that idea. Hence Rebine was designed before I made Jendine to go with it, so you would have a set option if you so desire. I wanted it to sit properly and be as flattering as possible, so I shaped it for both the hip and the waist. The pattern stitch I selected was a cable rib. Instead of inserting an elastic for the waist, I chose a high waist and made belt loops that are inserted into the seam in the side.

Rebine, an old Norwegian name, is a pencil skirt with an all over elegant cable pattern ending in a high waist. The skirt is shaped for the hip and the waist. Belt loops, inserted in each side seam, hold the skirt in place. Rebine is knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Below you see the skirt worn with Ovedine, knitted in the thinner Sølje Pelsull, hand dyed by Værbitt in two colours: Drageegg and Lillebror.

The Tinde Pelsull is made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein. The sample is knitted in Lys Marine 2125 and requires only 3 skeins in the two smallest sizes. Rebine is knitted with a 21 stitches and 30 rows in Stockinette stitch gauge measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

In these photos taken by Michael in Barcelona last November, I am wearing size Small with a 92 cm/36.25″ hip measurement. I have graded the skirt in sizes XS to 3XL with hip measurements from 86 to 132 cm/33.75 to 52″. Due to the cable rib pattern, the skirt is very elastic.

The skirt is worked in pieces from the bottom and up. Make two belt straps to insert in the side seam. 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 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. Yarn kits for both designs will be available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. I look forward to showing you how this set looked on my model Olivia Lindtein!

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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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