The book launch for ‘To rett en vrang. Designstrikk’ went so well and I had more photographs taken by Guri Pfeifer so I had to write another post about it. It was exhilarating to be able to present my first knitting book to the audience it was meant for, all of you Norwegian knitters who want inspiration as well as flattering and trendy knitting patterns, and show a selection of the garments on gorgeous looking models.

Here I am demonstrating how the reversible Japanese Vest, with only one armhole can be worn in two different ways with a shawl pin: Long with a small collar or short with a large collar. Katja is modeling the vest, knitted in Huldra Kamgarn by Hifa.

Photograph: Guri Pfeifer

Photograph: Guri Pfeifer

One of the most popular patterns is this Japanese Lace Jacket with a small puffed sleeve and a pattern from a Japanese stitch dictionary, hence the name. Worn by Anna and knitted in the soft Amoretto by Thomas Kvist Yarns.

Another popular pattern is the Mohair Poncho worn Katja, knitted in Alamo, now discontinued but can be replaced by Destiny Mohair, by Texere Yarns. It is an easy knit on 5 mm/US 8 needles, made up of 3 rectangles sewn together. My idea was to design a more fashionable poncho, than the ones worn decades ago, with a matching set of wrist-warmers.

Photograph: Guri Pfeifer

Blackberry pattern is an old favourite of mine, used here in a sweater knitted in Egyptian Cotton, held double, by BC Garn worn by Anna. I love wearing loose collars because they can be taken off, easily and make the sweater look more ‘dressed up’.

Photograph: Guri Pfeifer

Last picture from the fashion show is the Daisy Shrug and Snood, knitted in Tynn Alpakka by Du Store Alpakka, worn by Katja. It can easily be worn on top of a dress, oversized shirt or tunica instead of these body conscious clothes.

Photograph: Guri Pfeifer

I am so grateful that so many people came to my book launch, that ‘Nøstet Mitt’ took the challenge to sell yarn for the patterns, see www.nostetmitt.no, and that my publishers, see www.cappelendamm.no, believed in me. Thank you!

I am very proud to present you photos from my knitting book launch of ‘To rett en vrang. Designstrikk’ at Cappelen Damm held last Thursday. Around 60 people made it to the launch, including sponsors, family and friends. Here I am, in the middle, with gorgeous models Katja and Anna!

Photograph: Guri Pfeifer

By the time my husband, Michael and I arrived the yarn stall by ‘Nøstet Mitt’ was already set up! I was delighted that they decided to take part in my launch, so that those present would have the chance to touch and feel a large selection of the yarn chosen for the book and several of the alternative ones. You can see their yarn selection on their website www.nostetmitt.no. With a lot of assistance from my editor, Inger Margrethe and Hobby Book Club editor Guri, I hung the knitted garments to be worn by models Anna and Katja on a rail, later to be transferred next to the yarn stall for everyone to study in detail.

Next Anna and Katja tried on the selected shoes and boots before they tested their catwalk round. I wanted them to stop on the stage so that I could comment on their garments and show the different ways they could be worn before the continued on their round. Playing in the background is a film made by the wonderful photos taken by Kim Müller for my book created by my husband with Norwegian music by Øystein Sevåg.

While Events Manager, Kristin,  informed me about the agenda and how to use the so-called ‘mosquito microphone’, I recalled my 20 year old tour-leader experience and remembered the old-fashioned microphones which left a black mark on your chin. During the fashion show and my presentation of the book, the inside cover with Cristiane Sá was on the screens and the music was Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells.

Each model showed 7 garments each and thankfully Anne Grethe and Vibeke from ‘Nøstet Mitt’ had offered to wear one as well. Here I am showing the reversible Cabled Snood, knitted in Ultra Alpaca Fine by Berroco, and the different ways it can be worn.

In between talking about what the models were wearing, I talked about my knitting journey and the book process.

Photograph: Guri Pfeifer

Anna posing wearing the Lilac Shrug and wrist-warmers, that can be buttoned on, knitted in 4-ply mohair from Wagtail Yarns.

Photograph: Guri Pfeifer

Anna wearing the Japanese Lace Jacket, knitted in Amoretto by Thomas Kvist Yarns, a popular pattern & yarn choice.

After the fashion show, I was given beautiful flowers by my publisher and I had by then been given several bouquets by my friends! I was then asked to sign books and had brought a pile of pens, just in case …

More professional photos taken by Guri Pfeifer from the fashion show will follow. Do take a look at more of her stunning photos on www.guripfeifer.blogspot.com The remaining photos were taken by my husband, in case you were wondering…

Another design for Thomas Kvist Yarns, I have just finished. A Japanese inspired shrug with wrist-warmers that can be tied on with a cord, so that they stay up. The shrug can be worn several different ways with a shawl pin. It can be folded into a Japanese triangle at the front and fastened, or as a traditional shrug. Knitted in Amoretto, a lovely soft and warm mixture of 45 % alpaca and 50% cotton with a small percentage of polyamide 5%, 100 g/3.5 oz hank, 250 m/273 yds. Tension/guage is 27 sts in pattern equals 10cm/4″ square using 3 mm/ US 2-3. Amoretto has a stunning stitch definition as seen here. Here is a close up of the swatch.

Here is a picture of the shrug worn as a laced polo neck fastened with a shawl pin at the back, creating a hood, and with the wrist-warmers tied on. It is available in 10 beautiful colours, several of them are marled. The pattern will be available in both Norwegian and in English. I am waiting to see it professionally photographed and will keep you posted. See www.thomaskvist.se

I found myself on the cover of the Culture & Opinion section of Aftenposten/Evening Post, the largest newspaper in Norway, together with 9 other non-fiction debutants last Thursday morning. It was quite a shock to see myself there despite knowing it would be in the paper soon, but not necessarily on the cover! All 10 of us were interviewed by journalist Kaja Korsvold, at an impressive speed, while we kept commenting and occasionally interrupting in the background, and then photographed both together and separately by Trygve Indrelid. From top left:

• Benedicte Rasmussen describes her burnout experience (publisher: Cappelen Damm).
• Roger Pihl/Stein Inge Johannessen (standing next to Pihl on the photo spread) describes the legal injustice done to Johannessen, who was wrongly accused and imprisoned of a murder he did not commit (Juritzen).
• Eline Johnsen Helledal writes about her brother’s drug addiction (Gyldendal).
• Peter Wallace/Peder Kjøs demystifies burnout therapy (Vigmostad & Bjørke).
• Anne Marie Fosse Teigen writes about couple therapy and lasting love (Samlaget).
• My book cover and yours truly (Cappelen Damm).
• Anne Synnøve Simensen publishes a biography of the feminist Bertha von Suttner responsible for the Nobel Peace Price (Cappelen Damm).
• Anders Ravik Jupskås writes about extreme Europe, ideology, causes and consequences (Cappelen Damm).
• Not photographed on the cover (standing behind Jupskås on the photo spread): Kristenn Einarsson tells the book clubs’ history and his own experience as a book pusher (Gyldendal).

Anders Ravik Jupskås, with his PhD thesis on right populist parties in Scandinavia, has already had world wide press coverage after the terror attack of 22nd July in Norway. It is still a topic on everyones’ lips due to the preparation of Anders Behring Breivik’s court case to be held in April. In the aftermath of the terror attack, the outrage and sorrow each and every Norwegian feel continues, throughout the constant press coverage, on behalf of all the bereaved families whose grief we can only imagine…

“The reasonable debutants

Fiction: The genre has been strong in Norway, but it is changing. We have met 10 of the spring’s newly out sprung authors on the non-fiction front. They are publishing everything from knitting books to a book about right extremism.”

So many interesting books well worth reading, all of us debutants agreed upon.

The well chosen heading for the presentation of my book is ‘A different Knitting book’. Kaja Korsvold has included my art history background, my inspiration from international designers, my choice of dancers from the National Ballet as models and that the book is suitable for everyone from new to more experienced knitters.

I was fortunate to have both my photo and my book cover on the front of the Culture section. Francesca Golfetto, the ballerina on the cover of my book, was told by numerous friends that she was on the cover of the newspaper and had to consider for a moment why on earth she would be there…

Next week, I am going to be interviewed by Lev Landlig, formerly Country Life, and have my book launch. I will keep you posted.

Here is the invitation to all of you that are interested in knitting, and in the Oslo area, to the book launch on 16th February 18.00 at Cappelen Damm, Akersgata 47/49, Oslo. We are planning a fashion show with 2 models and a selection of the sophisticated, flattering and fashionable garments, a yarn shop stand by Nøstet Mitt offering fabulous yarns, see www.nostetmitt.no and an open Kafé Elling. It is a free event and I will sign books for sale. Do bring your knitting, if you want to, and sign up by e-mailing Liv Grønback by 14th February at liv.gronback@cappelendamm.no I hope to see you there for an inspirational evening, but if you are not able to come I will post about it and include photos from the event! Welcome!

I like the look of these geometrical formed flats against the sky at Aker Brygge/Wharf in Oslo, photographed yesterday in -15°C / 5°F.

I wanted to show you the steps by the water, I chose as a background for some of my knitted garments, for my newly published knitting book available in Norwegian ‘To rett en vrang. Designstrikk’ and their surroundings with a touch of snow. The strong wind has made it look quite like it is dabbed on, especially on the bush, I think!

This is how the steps looked like in early September. Here is Kari-Anne Næssø wearing Snood with Cables knitted in Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine held double using a 4 mm/US 6 needle. The snood also looks great worn twice around the neck!

Photograph: Kim Müller

Aker Brygge was my first workplace after finishing college and its location by the fjord makes it special! It is still, 20 years later, being extended further. This photo of Kari-Anne is taken outside the popular restaurant Bølgen & Moi at Tjuvholmen, well-worth testing see www.bolgenogmoi.no. When we took our lunch break, Kari-Anne was the only one dressed for the part in full make-up, hair beautifully pinned into a bun and wearing styled clothes. Here she is wearing the Japanese Vest pinned together, knitted in Huldra Kamgarn by Hifa see www.ull.no and my post on swatches from 16th. December 2011.

Photograph: Kim Müller

Next week I will invite all of you that are interested in knitting and in the Oslo area to the book launch…

I have been out walking among all the skiers from Mortensrud to Nøklevann in Marka, the forest that surrounds Oslo.

Østmarka is a forested area to the east of Oslo and part of the congregation of woodland areas known as Oslomarka. Østmarka nature reserve covers 12.5 square kilometers/4.8 square miles, while marka covers 301.1 square kilometers/116.2 square miles inside the city boroughs limits.

Nøklevann is approximately 3 kilometers/1.8 miles long lake in Østmarka, 164 meters/ 179 yards above sea level surrounded by the suburbs of Bøler and Bogerud. Its name refers to its shape, that of a key: ‘en nøkkel’ in Norwegian. The lake has a status as a reserve drinking water since 1983. Nøklevann Rowing and Paddling club is located behind the fence in the photo above.

Photograph: Kim Müller

Anna Pfeifer modeling Shawl with Variations, knitted in Tussah Silk from Borgs Vävgarner from my recently published knitting book ‘To rett en vrang. Designstrikk’ taken early in September at Nøklevann.

If you are wondering what the poles are for, they lighten the ski tracks after dusk. This is a ‘Lysløype’ a lighted ski track prepared by the municipality of Oslo. The lights are turned on at the same time as the street lights in the city, at dusk and turned off at 23.00. A total of 106 kilometers/65.8 miles of lighted ski tracks are available in Oslo and quite busy on a Sunday afternoon in January. I was quick to take a photo between skiers using the tracks!

My book ‘To rett en vrang. Designstrikk’  is out at the Gift & Interior Trade Show at Lillestrøm, just outside of Oslo, showcasing nearly 400 exhibitors, ending tomorrow Sunday 29th January. The topic of this season’s  fair is ‘Forandring’ meaning change, referring to the colours of the season S/S -12 reflecting the opposite sides of innovation and new creation according to trend analysts. If you are there you will find a display copy at BC Garn stand Hall B02-41, together with yarn for 3 of the garments. I was way too busy talking and checking out their new yarns to take a photo of their stand! See www.bcgarn.com

Here is the Trend Zone, established last year in a co-operation with the PEJ gruppen – Scandinavia’s leading trend bureau, consisting of an exciting trend book shop with free samples of the Pantone yarn colours of season S/S 2012, and numerous seminars free of charge, found in Hall E.

Du Store Alpakka stand, launching their new line of luxurious yarns called Dreamline, a new concept where 3 super fine yarns can be combined or used on their own supplemented by a new magazine, found in Hall B01-37, see www.dustorealpakka.com

Trendy in Knit – Fashion Show, a collaboration between Filati, PT, Sandnes Garn, Dale Garn, Viking Garn, Modeknappen, Coats/Rowan and Carl Permin is shown daily at 12.30 in Hall B. I was impressed by this dress designed by Rauma, found in Hall B03-52, see www.raumaull.no, and Tine Solheim’s collection for Dale, found in Hall B01-38, and her chic styling, see www.dalegarn.com.

One of many fashionable Jewellery stands, here Swedish ‘Snö’ well known for their affordable, but unique products using natural materials, found in Hall B02-26, see www.snoofsweden.com.

My favourite stand is Tinde, designed by Iselin Hafseld, a Norwegian Knitwear Designer which inspire me no end. Do visit the stand at B04-10 if you can! The great posters are photographed by Kim Müller. See www.knits.no

Handweavers Studio & Gallery in London is my yarn heaven, where I find a lot of inspiration in the neatly stacked beautiful colourful cones of yarns from the whole world of fibres. To my delight I have discovered that they sell two sample sets of their yarns. Set 1 includes all the colours of the chunky and supersoft lambswool, the 2/16 and the 3×2/16 mercerised cotton, the 60/2 and 30/2 silks, and the various weights of cabled cotton warp. Set 2 includes all the colours of tencel, cotlin, the viscose/linen blend, the Puma stretch viscose, the Jaggerspun merino and the Jaggerspun Zephyr. I recommend you visit but ordering by phone or e-mail works, for details see their website www.handweavers.co.uk

 If you have been reading my blog you will recognise two of those yarns: Tencel and Jaggerspun Zephyr. I discovered both at the Studio and have used both in my book, out in Norwegian today, Wednesday 25.th of January, called ‘To rett en vrang. Designstrikk’. I wanted to introduce you to my heaven and show you a few photos from it. Here is a series photos of the Jaggerspun Zephyr.

Jaggerspun Zephyr Lace is a luxurious yarn made from 50% fine merino, 50% tussah silk. Because the wool and silk accept the dye slightly differently, the yarn has a softly tweedy or marled effect.

It is sold on a small spool of 25 g/0.8 oz or 100 g/3.5 oz or on the 1lb/453 g cone supplied by Jaggerspun. I prefer knitting from spools or cones since the yarn tangles less and there are usually no knots unlike in balls of yarn. When you knit with yarn doubled you can make your own melange colour and I find the small spools are perfect for colour testing. The result of knitting with 2 strands is a denser fabric which gives the garment a professional finish, in my opinion, and why I chose to do so.

Zephyr Lace knits up beautifully with a single strand in a lace project or with a double strand in a 4 ply project using a 3mm/US 2-3 or a larger needle. I have used it double, to show off its lustre even more.

Here you can see the colour I fell for, Magenta, and the cardigan I designed using a cluster pattern, stunningly worn by Anna Pfeifer.

Photograph: Kim Müller

Here is the second sneak peek of my book ‘To rett en vrang. Designstrikk’ available in Norway from the 25th January. Professional make-up and hair styling was a priority for me since I wanted different looks to go with the garments. Here you can see the amazing result made by make up artist Line Sekkingstad Sigberg, see also post on her dated December 2011. The stylist is yours truly since I have a too strong fashion opinion to allow anybody else to interfere with my knitwear designs. I love statement jewelry, especially chosen for its chic boldness, made by Monies, see www.monies.dk, on loan from one of my favourite shops in Oslo, Zenit in Skovveien at Frogner. And I also adore out-standing sculptural shoes from Camilla Skovgaard, see www.camillaskovgaard.com

Please note, all photographs are copyright and may not be used or reproduced without permission.

I love wearing knitted skirts so I had to design one. Inspired by the late Alexander McQueen Cabled Skirt I made my own version, knitted in Ultra Alpaca Fine, by Berroco, using a 3mm/US 2-3. The yarn is a soft alpaca and wool mixture with nylon, see www.berroco.com. Worn by Kari-Anne Næssø at Aker Brygge in Oslo.

Photograph: Kim Müller

Ruby Snood, can be worn in several different ways: twice around your neck as a cowl, around your waist as a belt or a top, or hanging loose as it is here on ballerina Francesa Golfetto. It is knitted in Tencel 8/2 by Valley Yarns, held double using a 3 mm/US 2-3. A natural yarn made of cellulose with stunning drape and shine, available from www.yarn.com

Photograph: Kim Müller

Japanese Lace Jacket, worn by Francesca, is knitted in Amoretto by Thomas Kvist Yarns using a 3mm/US 2-3, an incredible cosy cotton and alpaca mixture with polyamide with stunning stitch definition, see  www.thomaskvist.se

Photograph: Kim Müller

Shawl with Variations and Snood, worn by Anna Pfeifer at Nøklevann, is knitted in a beautiful Tussah silk by Borg Vävgarner, held double using a 3mm/US 2-3. Wear the shawl as a shrug, a vest or as a scarf. The Tussah Silk itself is worth a trip to Vittsjö in Sweden, even from London, to stock up. See www.borgsvavgarner.se

Photograph: Kim Müller

This Tweed Scarf that can be made into a sculptural necklace by inserting two cords into the holes created by the tucks, while there are cables on the opposite side, as photographed worn by Francesca. It is knitted in Delicious Tweed by Thomas Kvist Yarns using a 5mm/US 8, a lambswool, angora, cashmere and polyamide mixture. See  www.thomaskvist.se

Photograph: Kim Müller