Strikkefestivalen at Fefor 2019

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For the first time I attended the Strikkefestival/knitting festival at Fefor Høifjellshotell/High Mountain Hotel at Vinstra in the Gudbrandsdalen. Designer Kari Hestnes asked me last year if I wanted to attend and hold workshops as well as a talk there, from the 3rd to the 5th of May.

I was delighted to accept and Michael wanted to join me. My sister-in-law Marianne Spæren Marveng and her friend Tove Wahl took the challenge to become my models for the Saturday evening Catwalk. Neither of us stayed in the historic amazing suites dating back to 1902 pictured on their website but in the newer wing of the hotel. After a very warm April, we drove from Ørje to Vinstra and had snow on the way up, during the five hour long drive. The nearby Fefor Lake was still frozen, see the photos above.

We arrived just in time for lunch on Friday, then we had time to look around before the opening of the festival at 5.30 pm. Lunch was a small buffet with soup of the day and a large selection of cakes. There are several lounges and salons to sit and knit in. A total of nine stands were placed in some of these: Designers: Helle Siggerud; May Britt Bjella Zamori; Pinnedans (read: Needle dance – sisters; Heidi and Mette) and Kari Hestnes. Yarn dyers: Nina Petrina and Hege Dagestad. Yarn spinners: Amadeus Angora and Natur Gull. Yarn shop: Håndarbeidsstua. Kari showed us around the knit cafe areas, the dining hall and the large conference hall where I also would hold my workshops: Flettestrikk Masterclass/Cable Knitting Masterclass and Engelske Mønstre/English Patterns.

Before dinner at 7 pm, I used the opportunity to meet Nina Petrina in person and look at her hand dyed yarn – all dyed on Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk pelt wool and lambswool bases. She presented gorgeous colours and the book “Strikk med Gradienter”/Knitting with Gradients available in English on Ravelry.

Photographed by Nina but also with design by other designers. I also caught up with May Britt, Pinnedans and Helle. It was also fun to meet new knitters and friends from Ravelry there. Some Norwegian knitters seem to be on all or many of the knitting festivals I attend; Hello Marianne Skatten and Lill-Ann Borgen!

Breakfast began at 7.30 AM and we were ready for it by that time on Saturday. I had my first workshop at 9.30 AM to 1 PM, so Michael helped me set up the room. 13 participants had signed on for my first workshop: Cable Knitting Masterclass. Above you see us all in action, captured by Kari Hestnes. After my workshop, my sister-in-law Marianne and her friend Tove arrived in good time for their catwalk meeting with Kari. Marianne is size Extra Small and her friend Tove is size Small so they were both perfect for my sample garments as well as some of the other designers samples. I had an hour to spare and decided to try the swimming pool before my talk.

Kari chose the Digital Knitting talk, and everyone was welcome to join in, if they wanted. After my talk most of the knitters rested before dinner at 7 PM and the catwalk at 9 PM. I rested in the bar with my knitting and talked to Kari. This was her 6th and last as knitting festival general. New generals are May Britt Bjella Zamori and Hege Dagestad, they were presented at the closing do on Sunday afternoon. Above you see me presenting Tove wearing my Gyda jacket with Gyda Cowl knitted in Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Ask, photographed by Marianne Skatten. I am wearing my Yellow Gold Pullover knitted in Jamiesons Spindrift.

There were strong spotlights on the catwalk so all the photos became a bit washed out. All the models were told to relax and have fun. There was no need to take this too seriously. It worked, they all seamed to enjoy themselves, even though it was the first time for some of them. Above you see my sister-in-law Marianne wearing the Harding Cardigan knitted in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter. In the background you also see the Pinnedans sisters.

Here is my Oydis Sweater with the Oydis Cowl worn by one of Kari’s models whom she also uses for her designs. Michael has taken many more photos of the catwalk and I will share more of those, but I will end this blog post with a photo of Pinnedans that shows some of the fun we had.

Of course it is an advantage to be two when present your designs, it is so much more fun… I had a wonderful weekend in the best company! More photos of the catwalk will come next.

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Oydis Sweater Pattern in Japanese

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My popular Oydis Sweater pattern was published in English and Norwegian in 2016.  Above you see it photographed by Eivind Røhne, worn by Alexandria Eissinger with makeup & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, at the Ekeberg Restaurant in Oslo.

Now, the pattern is also available in Japanese, translated by Tomoko Nishimura, I am delighted to say. Here is the introduction in Japanese, followed by the English version:

Shadow Diamond Cable （シャドウ・ダイアモン ド・ケーブル＝ダイヤモンド型の交差模様）と 裾のカーブが特長的なAラインのセーターです。 裾はアイコードで縁取り、脇と襟ぐりにはガー ター編みを施しています。カウルと合わせて着 用してもしなくても、幸運の女神 Oydis にぴっ たりの装いです。前後身頃は往復に編むのに対 し、袖とカウルは輪に編みます。繊細なツィー ド糸とチェーン撚りのアルパカ糸を引き揃えて 編むことで、編み目が美しく浮き出て艶やかな 編み地に仕上がります。

A shadow diamond cable dominates this a-line sweater with a curved flattering hem. I-cord bands frame the bottom of the sweater, while garter stitches mark the sides and the round neckband. The sweater, with or without the cowl to dress it up, make the outfit ideal for the Goddess of good luck; Oydis. The body of the sweater is knitted flat, while the sleeves and the cowl, are knitted in the round. A fine tweed yarn is held together with an alpaca lace yarn, with a chain construction, to create a fabric with a beautiful stitch definition and a slight halo.

The pullover is available in sizes XS to 2XL, knitted in a DK weight yarn (or two lighter weight yarns – e.g. lace and fingering weight – held together) using a 4 mm/US 6 needles with a 20 stitches and 30 rows in pattern gauge. For more versions take a look at the Ravelry pattern page.

You can read more about my creative life, by becoming a patron with rewards such as a monthly free pattern, sneak peeks and a monthly video on Patreon.com.

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Next Photoshoot Venue: Oslofjord Museum

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My next photoshoot will be on Monday 27th of May at the Oslofjord Museum  in Asker, on the west side of Oslo. I got the idea last year after seeing designer Nina Granlund Sæther post a lovely photo from the beach in Vollen. If you follow my blog, you know that I was holding a talk for the Norwegian Knitting Association back in March in Asker and since we were staying with Tove and Geir, I suggested to them that I would like to go there on Sunday to have a look around. They took Michael and me around the whole area. Above you see the entrance area with Tove’s reflection in the glass. The wall has the same rusty cor-ten wall panel as at Bøler Church in Oslo, where we had a photoshoot in October in 2017.

I had initially planned to have the nearby marina as a base but that is a rather long walk from the beach and the museum. Hence the museum will be our base. Yes, we will have to pay a fee for photographing at the museum, both inside and outside. Hopefully the weather will be good enough for us to photograph outside. Photographer Eivind Røhne gave me a couple of Mondays, when the museum is closed, as options before I sent a message to model Emma Ross. Em could do the first date, so then I booked hair & make up stylist Sissel Fylling.

The coffee shop at the museum is also closed on Mondays, so I checked with Eckers, who I used last time, if they could deliver and I was relieved to hear that they could. So now, I am working on finishing the new designs. Luckily I have had help from my fantastic sample knitters Grete Jenssen and Kristin Nygård. I could not have managed to knit all the new designs myself. I am planning to have seven new designs ready and to add three that has been returned back to me from Interweave in the US. You will know when I post the behind the scenes blogpost after the shoot.

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Lofn Knitted by Tina

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I wanted to show you Tina’s gorgeous version of my Lofn design, knitted in Mirasol Sulka Nina. Tina is one of my eagle eyed test knitters and volunteered to make size Small. I was fortunate to meet the lovely Tina, who is from Slovenia at the Vienna Wool & Design Festival, back in May 2017.  On her project page on Ravelry, where she is tinkaslo, she writes: “Another wonderful Linda’s pullover. I love special designs and it was my big wish to test knit it. Here I am. Due to different gauge I’ll be busy all the time – some adjustments needed.” Tina has written down all the adjustments she did on her project page!

Tina found a scenic background to photograph Lofn, somehow it made the texture and cables pop even more. Tina used a 4 mm/US 6 needle, while my sample knitter Grete Jenssen used a 3 mm/US 2.5 and the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk Sølje pelt wool yarn. Thank you so much for test knitting for me and for making such a stunning version, Tina!

Here is my introduction to the pattern: Lofn is Norse for praise. This pullover is praising texture with its sideways voluptous cables and welt pattern that works like a rib. The upper part is picked up and knitted in Fisherman’s Rib and increased into top part of sleeve, while the bottom part of sleeve is knitted separately.

The Lofn pattern is available in English and in Norwegian in my Ravelry store and on Loveknitting. Yarn kits can be ordered directly from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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Eira Pullover and White Mountain Ruana in Vårens Strikk

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Vårens Strikk/Spring Knits is a special knitting issue published by the bimonthly magazine Familien in Norway released yesterday. I am delighted to have two designs: Eira Pullover and White Mountain Ruana as well as a brief interview in this magazine. Eira Pullover was made for knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 and knitted in the lovely The Fibre Co. Cumbria using 4 mm/US 6 needles, while the White Mountain Ruana was made for Interweave Knits Winter 2018, knitted in the divine Shibui Knits, Maai using 4 mm/US 6 needles. Both designs were photographed for the second time around worn by the gorgeous Emma Ross, with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, this time by Eivind Røhne at the Vigeland Museum in November 2018.

The heading is a play on the word “flette” meaning cable in Norwegian, joined with the word “fin” meaning beautiful. Feminine garments with exciting cables is the introduction to the two patterns. The picture text is a short version of my introduction to Eira Pullover: A visually striking center cable named Kanik which is Eskimo for snowflake, adorns the center front and back on this pullover with saddle shoulders.

Here is the White Mountain Ruana, with part of the pattern text in Norwegian. My pages cover a total of 6 page in this special magazine which has a total of 100 pages with patterns for mainly women but also a few for men, children and babies.

The handcraft editor Åse Myhrvold Egeland, sent me a number of questions about my life in stitches such as what is your favourite pattern. I replied: “It is a difficult question. Just now, it is cables designed by the Polish designer Dorota Kowalczyk, aka devorgilla on Ravelry. I have used one of those on Corra, designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and their Tinde Pelsull, which is currently being test knitted”. Åse also wanted a number of photos not only of Em but also of me, so I sent her a small selection she could choose from. Michael is pleased to have his name as a photographer in the magazine. I am wearing Ataraxia, the sample I made that had to be re-knitted since the colour did not fit in together with the other designs in Pom Pom Quarterly Winter 2018 magazine. On the next page you see me wearing the dress Sigyn designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

This special issue is for sale in newsagents and in selected super markets in Norway. 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.

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Easter is Here

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Easter arrived with summer here in Ørje, we seem to have skipped spring this year. In one week from freezing temperatures and snowflakes to brilliant summer & shorts weather. You can see flake ice on the lake in the bottom photo, taken last week. Michael and I am are staying at home. I am working on designs for my next photoshoot as well as translations, while Michael is out in his newly acquired boat or yacht as our neighbours call it. It is after all a skiff (tiny boat for maximum two people), 8 foot and with no engine, so far that is.

Yesterday we went abroad to Sweden, which is only 15 minutes away, and checked out the newly opened extension of our nearest shopping centre in Töcksfors. There were plenty of Norwegians there, since all shops in Norway are closed for the Easter holiday.

 Michael made the top image: God Påske means Happy Easter. Our house is known as the British Embassy since Michael is a British citizen as well as a Norwegian one (read: dual citizenship). This Easter the ambassador is out on his yacht.

I wish you all a Happy Easter and hope you will receive an Easter Egg, regardless whether you have to fill it yourself or not!

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Aibell Pattern Released

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The test knit of Aibell has come to an end, and the pattern has been corrected as well as improved. I am delighted to let you know that the pattern is now available in both Norwegian and English in my Ravelry Store and on Loveknitting. Aibell was made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and is knitted in their divine Tinde pelt wool yarn using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and 3.5 mm/US 4 needle. The dress came alive to me when Emma Ross wore it at the Vigeland Museum last November. Sissel Fylling who did her hair and make up also suggested wearing the cowl as a belt for those who dare. The stunning jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design, while the black Benedetta wedge boots are designed by Monica Stålvang. Eivind Røhne captured it all.

The idea began as a balloon dress, with a tight rib at the bottom and a voluminous stockinette stitch part. What if I used the stockinette stitches to make cables instead of decreasing and what if I made the introduction of the cables to look like a royal sash? Hence the front and back had to be opposite and not identical. I made a small swatch to see if the idea would work out. Yes, it did to my excitement. I choose to make the sample in a neutral colour and went for natural grey.

Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, knitted the sample for me in her usual turbo speed and grafted the ends of the cowl together. After I had finished crocheting the dress together and made the neckband, I tried it on and discovered that I could wear it with the rib pulled up a bit, or folded in to make a thick layered tunic or merely hanging down.

Named after the Celtic Goddess of Munster who had a magical harp in her possession is this balloon shaped dress where the shaping is done by the cables. The a-line created by the cables is mirrored on the body. The front has Right cables beginning at hip one at a time, while the back has Left cables. A cowl make a high cabled collar or a belt. Wear it loose hanging down, slightly pulled up or as a tunic with the rib turned.

The dress is available in sizes XS to 2XL and you can see the gorgeous projects from the test knit on the pattern page on Ravelry.

Happy Easter! Enjoy the holidays!

You can read and hear more about my creative life, by becoming a patron with rewards such as monthly free pattern on Patreon.com

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Mohair Poncho in Japanese

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The Mohair Poncho was made for my Norwegian book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” in 2012 and it has been the most popular pattern from my book. Above you see it photographed by Kim Müller, worn by dancer Cristiane Sa. Now, the pattern is also available in Japanese, translated by Tomoko Nishimura, I am delighted to say. Here is the introduction in Japanese, followed by the English version.

70年代を懐かしむ訳ではなく、ただ暖かくお洒 落なポンチョを思い描きました。同じ長方形を3 枚編むので簡単。合わせ方を少しています。使 用した糸はTexere Yarnsのアルパカとモヘアに アクリルを混紡糸です。

A poncho – not too reminiscent of the ‘70s but fashionable in addition to being warm – was my aim. It is easy to knit in 3 identical rectangular pieces but an intermediate challenge to sew together. The yarn I have chosen is a mixture of alpaca and mohair with a little acrylic from Texere Yarns.

The poncho is available in one size 120 cm/47.25″ wide and 105 cm/41.5″ long, knitted in a lightweight mohair mix yarn using 5 mm/US 8 needles with a 14 stitches and 18 rows in pattern gauge. You can also make it into a stunning Poncho Jacket like Irene did. For more versions take a look at the Ravelry Pattern Page.

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Why Am I On Patreon?

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Why should you support me through this?  Because it is an incredible opportunity for me to take a step forward in my career, in my creative process. You will know more about what is happening behind the scenes, far away from the social media, and it is on Patreon that this curiosity can be satisfied. Patreon is a support system that gives me a recurring income that allows me to approach new ventures and take more risk by spending time on more innovative or long-term projects, as well as making me able to travel to those knitting festivals I want to attend with the opportunity to meet you all.

I have already had some encouragement from friends to make a page, and in March I was invited by the Fruity Knitting Podcast to take part in a live Web event for their top two level patrons. I accepted without fully understand the concept. It was a 50 minute online video event where their patrons could ask questions in advance, with the last 10 minutes set aside for spontaneous questions/chat amongst the group. The patrons were from all over the world from Europe to the US. I was so grateful for this opportunity and enjoyed talking to their patrons about my creative life. Yet another reason for me to be on Patreon.

How does it work? If you want to support me, simply register on Patreon and subscribe to one of three levels of commitment with your credit card or your Paypal account. Please note that if you are an EU citizen the EU Digital Tax (VAT) will be added to your monthly bill. Then you will have access to the content I create for your tier of commitment. I plan to develop this Patreon page with you as we go, so I will often invite you to let me know what you will be pleased to know. You can choose to end your subscription whenever you want.

So if you are interested, take a look at my Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/lindamarveng

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Presentation at Marker Library

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I was so happy to be asked to hold a presentation at my local library in Ørje; Marker bibliotek. To make sure that at least one person would be there, I asked our neighbour Reidun to come along. She obliged and was not alone in the audience, despite the fact that there was a seminar on Mental Health held by an acknowledged professor at the same time upstairs in the town hall in Ørje. Michael was my Technical Manager and made sure that the large screen television was connected to my laptop.  I had brought a large number of garments, swatches, magazines, large pictures (last used at the Strikke 2017 Exhibition at Hadeland Glassverk) and promotional materials. So we arrived early to set it all up.

I wore my Bowery Tunic, made for knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017, knitted in Madeline Tosh DK. Above you see me, in the crime corner, talking about the collaboration I have with the Norwegian shoe designer Monica Stålvang.

After my presentation, the short version which takes about an hour, I encouraged them all to come up and take a closer look at the garments, swatches and magazines. The library also provided cake and coffee for us all! I met women I knew from my local gym, the knitting café which takes place in the library, as well as the former owner of our house. I answered questions on yarn qualities, which magazines I design for, where I am going next and other jobs I do. All in all, I had a lovely evening. Thank you to Marker bibliotek and to everyone who came!

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