I just had to share this brilliant photo taken by my husband from our terrace of the moonlight, a few nights ago! He has captured the magic moonlight, so you can let your imagination roam. Let the fairy tales begin. Enjoy!
Japanese Lace Jacket by Johanna Pyy
I am thrilled to show you the marvelous Japanese Lace Jacket, knitted in Bamboo by Novita in a fitting vintage pink by Johanna Pyy! It was the reason for Johanna buying “Nyt Neulomann!” (read: my book title in Finnish which translates to: Time to Knit!) and has made her own version of it by modifying the pattern to fit her perfectly: Added length, added 1/2 pattern repeat on each side and continued in chart after the armholes, made a deeper neckline and replaced the neck band with an I-cord edge around the neck, see the gorgeous back below and more detailed photos on Johanna’s blog: silmukkasatuja (read: loop fairytales). Thank you, Johanna!
The book sample was knitted in the lovely cotton and alpaca mixture called Amoretto by Thomas Kvist Yarns, now unfortunately discontinued. It can be replaced with for example Lerke, a cotton and wool mixture by Dale Garn or Luxor, a pure cotton by Hifa, see ull. This beautiful Japanese Lace pattern, I discovered in a stich manual. I have designed a vintage jacket in cream colored Amoretto, a lovely yarn mixture which emphasizes the delicate lace pattern. Knitted in a A-shape framed with pattern borders to avoid decreasing into the chart, or modify it to do just that, as Johanna did! Below is the stunning Francesca Golfetto, photographed by Kim Müller for my book available only in Norwegian and Finnish. So far, that is…
On the Fjord
Summer is here and we have been out on the Oslo Fjord, by ferry this time, visiting my childhood paradise; the island of Lågøya. A private island owned by the Norwegian company Statoil, which my mother used to work for before she retired. Both she and my brother with his family still go there every summer, renting a basic cottage (read: with no electricity and no running water but with breathtaking views) and wind down. They enjoy being close to nature in the middle of the fjord, just before it narrows and approaches the small charming town of Drøbak. It is my nephew that throws himself into the big waves from the cruise ships these days while we are more than happy to simply watch them from ashore. Below is the view from Lågøya towards Søndre Langåra, an ideal spot to sunbathe or go for a swim or row around the island like we used to do when we were young…
Aran Bolero by Grete Jenssen
I am delighted to show you the beautiful Aran Bolero, Grete has knitted from my book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” in Angora Soft in a zingy blue (30% angora, 50% wool and 20% polyamide, 50 g, 250 m/273 yds) ordered from Turkish online shop: Yarn Paradise. We had a knit-along on Facebook, just the two of us, with progress photos taken along the way. Well, it did not daunt Grete at all, she is now making her second one, this time in a wool mix yarn from Novita and taking part in the knit-along in my group on Ravelry. My bullfighter bolero, inspired by Dolce & Gabbano’s Spanish-inspired collection, is short but can be lengthened by knitting a belt. Mostly Merino is a yarn made of wool and mohair which creates sculptural cables. They and the bolero is meant to create a stir. The original yarn is unfortunately discontinued by can be replaced by Norsk Pelsullgarn from Hifa, see ull and compare here: marveng-puckett, the pattern is only available in my book in Norwegian and Finnish. Below is the stunning Francesca Golfetto, photographed by Kim Müller.
DUODU Norsk Strikkedesign/Norwegian Knitting Design
This marvelous Norwegian book sums up 15 years as artists and designers for the two women behind the brand DUODU; Rita Nylander and Anne Grut Sørum, excellently written by Art Historian Eva Furseth, designed by Bodil Mostad Olsen (see more!) and published by Forlaget Schrøder, see forlagetschroder. DUODU works in the span between haute couture and limited series production, in the very intersection between art, handcraft and design. Their motto from the very beginning was fun, simple and elegant. Brilliantly illustrated in the book, just take a look at the photo below. A small selection of their garments can be described as body jewelry or body decoration as the book cover illustrates and are exhibition pieces. Knits in wool is their main material, why is answered in their introduction: “What could be more beautiful than a yarn storage filled with spools in all the colors of the rainbow? With yarn we make creations with different expressions, sizes and shapes. There is enormous satisfaction, in seeing our ideas materialized. We are often asked what inspires us; where do the ideas come from? Often, just a spur of the moment, is enough to start the creative process.” See more photos from one of their exhibitions: bymuseet. I discovered this inspiring book at Tanum and their limited edition clothes range at Norwaydesigns.
Munch 150
The most comprehensive presentation of Edvard Munch’s art ever displayed is currently on at the National Gallery in Oslo, covering the years 1882-1903, and at the Munch Museum, covering the years 1904-1944. Edvard Munch was artistically active for more than 60 years from his debut in the early 1880s until his death in 1944 and this exhibition illustrates the scope of it. “In his day he elicited anger and admiration for his unorthodox style of painting. His continual experimentation arouses interest even today. The enormous scope of the exhibition has been made possible through cooperation between the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design and the Munch Museum. The works on display have been selected from the museums’ own collections and supplemented by generous loans from public and private institutions in Norway and abroad.” In addition Edvard Munch’s monumental paintings can be experienced in the University of Oslo Aula – including The Sun (see below) and in the Dining Hall (read: employee cafeteria) at Freia Chocolate Factory and his studio at Ekely. They are open at weekends during the exhibition period: 2. June – 13. October. The exhibition is inspiring and haunting at the same time. Munch depicts the creative and destructive powers of love to an astonishing depth of raw emotion. An exhibition not to be missed if you are in Oslo. Enjoy his paintings (see press) at: munch150
Check Cable Cardigan Pattern Released
It is now 6 months since the Sjakk Flette Kardiganen/Check Cable Cardigan pattern was first printed in Norwegian in the magazine Familien, and I am allowed to release the pattern this time also in English in my Ravelry store. The Check Cable Cardigan is knitted in a simple yet decorative stitch pattern which is reversible combined with a wide collar in a ribbed cable pattern. It has a generous fit and designed to make you feel comfortable yet smart. The cardigan is knitted in Dale Yarns’ Lerke a mixture of wool and cotton with an optimal stitch definition on needle no 4 mm/US 6, see dalegarn. An alternative yarn is Rowan Yarns’ Wool Cotton, see knitrowan. The pattern is available here: Ravelry.
Size: S (M) L (XL)
Finished Measurements: Bust: 102 (116) 130 (144) cm/ 40 (45½) 51 (56¾)” Length: 70 (70) 70 (70) cm/ 27½ (27½) 27½ (27½)” Upper arm: 50 (50) 50 (50) cm/ 19¾ (19¾) 19¾ (19¾)” Belt: width: 4 cm/1½”, length: 195 cm/76″
Yarn: Dale Yarns: Lerke (52% fine merino, 48% Egyptian cotton, 50g/1.7oz, 115m/125yds): 14 (15) 16 (17) balls: 1730 (2200) 2420 (2650) m/1892 (2406) 2646 (2898) yds needed (incl double belt: 180 m/197 yds). Alternative yarn: Rowan Yarns: Wool Cotton (50% merino, 50% wool, 50g/1.7oz, 113m/123 yds)
Needles:
Circular needle 4mm/US 6 (80 cm/32”) and an additional ndl for 3 ndl cast off. 2 circular needles 3mm/US 2.5 for belt. 2 dpns 3mm/US 2.5 for i-cord belt loops
Notions: Stitch holders, stitch markers, cable ndl and darning ndl.
Tension:
22 sts and 30 rows in curvy checks pattern using 4mm/US 6 equals 10cm/4” square.
Notes & Video links:
The collar is knitted together with the fronts to the end of the shoulder shaping and then left on a stitch holder for a 3 needle cast off. Both fronts have 5 garter stitches for selvedge, incl 1 stitch to knit & pick up collar band in, 4 garter stitches between cables and as a divider to the curvy check pattern. Choose between a Cabled Belt, that stretches, or a Double Belt or knit both. The belt loops are made of i-cords.
Pattern includes video links to techniques used: Short row shaping with wraps, 3 needle cast off, hem making, I-cord. As well as charts and schematic.
Summer View
It is summer, at least it does feel like it some days if not all! Here is the view from our terrace on one of the beautiful days. The awning is often in use so I can sit comfortably and knit on the terrace. What am I knitting at the moment? I am on the last part of a Clotheshorse project for their Fall/Winter issue and on the last part of a the Regal Purple design. It will be revealed. In the mean time I am enjoying our marvelous view and the bright colours of summer. I hope you are too!
Milanese Lace Shawl by Nina Hove Myhre
Does the name sound familiar? Yes, Nina is nearly ready to start on project no 4 from my book and this is her Milanese Lace Shawl knitted in the original yarn Wollmeise Lace in beautiful shades of brown called “Tollkirsche”. The tension is looser than the original making the shawl wider, covering her back which she is exactly what she wanted and with lesser repeats. Again, Nina knitted a small piece in stocking stitch to make covered buttons to match the shawl. She prefers wearing the rectangular shawl buttoned up as a shrug, see above. You can find more photos on her blog: fiberandart. The pattern is available in Norwegian in my knitting book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” (and Finnish: “Nyt neulomann!”) but also in English to download from Ravelry: stores/linda-marveng.
Nina, aka FiberAndArt on Ravelry, is one of my two group moderators together with Jane Brindley, aka JanieB, and she is currently test knitting Summer Leaves Sweater (here are work in progress photos: fiberandart), so I can promise you more photos to come. If you want to join us on Ravelry, we are here: groups/linda-marveng. Another Milanese Lace Shawl I am excited to see, is Karen’s, aka Sweaty Knitter who is using Anzula’s ”Cloud” in a divine blue (100 g, 575 yds/525 m). Cloud is one of the alternative yarns I suggest in the pattern and is made of 80% superwash merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon. Do read Karen’s blog post: marvengs-milanese-shawl-road-trip-project. I was thrilled: “Not only do her patterns evidence careful attention to detail, but her designs make sophisticated garments that are equally at home with a pair of jeans or the favorite outfit you put on when you need a bit of a boost.” Below is the stunning Anna Pfeifer photographed by Kim Müller illustrating the different ways you can wear the shawl.
I also wanted to share crime writer Val McDermod’s posting on The Guardian: “Don’t disrespect Julia Gillard – knitters are not to be messed with. We knitters wield a lot of power with our needles and yarn. My own knitting career began with an act of defiance and now I have graduated on to the hard stuff… My latest adventures in knitting involve translating patterns from Norwegian. Because knitting in English is for wimps.” Read the full article here and enjoy: guardian!
Stitch Maps
“Stitch maps are a new form of knitting chart that use traditional symbols in a novel way: without a grid. The symbols within a stitch map clearly show what stitches to work. And – not being confined within grid squares – they also show which stitches of the previous row should be worked. The end result? Charts with unparalleled fluidity, authenticity, and beauty.” According to designer JC Briar and her recently launched website Stitch Maps, stitch-maps.com. Who is she, I had to check and found this: jcbriar. It does make the knitting charts look more like the crochet charts which do follow the shape of the fabric. But how do you follow a long row? One of the most ingenuous features of it is that you can add a row guide as well as a column guides. Knitters and designers have responded to her through her group on Ravelry: Can you add a highlighter through the row you are working on? Yes, you can but only with a basic subscription and Stitch Maps will keep track of your current row. JC Briar is a puzzle solver at heart and will continue to develop Stitch Maps, which at the moment contains 145 stitch patterns. I, for one will be watching! What do you think? Would you subscribe?