Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Sigyn

Posted on July 21, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Model Emma Ross’ favourite garment of the ten designs to be photographed at Villa Malla, was the dress, Sigyn made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. It was cloudy when Em, Michael and I met up with photographer Eivind Røhne and makeup & hair artist Sissel Fylling in the morning at Filtvet by the Oslo Fjord in late May. I decided to style Sigyn with Evalina boots by Monica Stålvang and borrowed jewellery from Kaja Gjedebo Design. In addition I wanted to show the dress with a belt and also beneath the long jacket Irpa. The Norwegian pattern and kit will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at the end of August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning on the 10th of September before it is released.

Sigyn is Norse for victorious girl-friend and ideal for this a-line dress with a central swing cable, surrounded by ribbing to make it figure hugging. The cable is divided and moves towards the shoulder to make a v-neck at the front. Decreases are made in the purl sections to emphasize the silhouette of Sigyn. The dress is knitted in the bouncy Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The dress was perfectly knitted by Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry in the shade Grass Green using a 3 mm/US 2.5. Grete knitted size S with 28 stitches gauge due to the time pressure (instead of 24 stitches) hence the sample measures 88 cm/34.75″ across the bust instead of 94 cm/37″. I have graded the dress in sizes XS to 2XL, with bust circumference of 88 to 130 cm/34.75 to 51.25″.

The dress is worked back and forth in pieces and seamed. The decreasing for a-line is done in the purl sections of the rib. The cables are moved towards the shoulder on the front, beginning 10 cm/4″ before the armhole and ending just before the neck shaping. The swing cable is the same I used on the sweater Vaga and found in Norah Gaughan’s inspiring Knitted Cable Sourcebook.

You can easily adjust the length of the dress if you prefer, for instance by shortening (or lengthening) it with up to 7 cm/2.75″ before the a-line shaping begins. For a tunic, reduce the length with a further 17 cm/6.75″ by working 1 cm/0.5″ less between each of the decreases.

Here is the cool shot of the Irpa jacket worn on top of the Sigyn dress. More photos of the jacket is coming next in this series.

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Kohno Kimono in Sommerstrikk

Posted on July 18, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Sommerstrikk/Summer Knits is a special magazine from Familien that came out last Monday, with 124 pages of knitting patterns. I am delighted to have my Kohno Kimono included in the issue. Kohno Kimono was made for Interweave’s magazine knit.wear Fall/Winter 2016 and first published in English. The text on the first page reads: Inspired by the sculptural aestehtic of architect Hugo Kohno’s work in Tokyo. It continues on the next page with: This oversized long jacket is adorned with a domed check pattern ending in wide moss stitch borders at the front and in the sides. The kimono is knitted in The Fibre Company Acadia – a divine mix of wool, alpaca and silk – using 4 mm/US 6 and comes in sizes XS to 2XL. Gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger is wearing size M with a 124.5 cm/52″ bust circumference. Her hair and make up is by Jens J. Wiker while her jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Brilliant photographer Eivind Røhne captured these moments at Ingierstrand Bad in May 2017.

The kimono is worked back and forth in separate pieces and seamed. The front band is worked at the same time as each front. The sleeves have raglan shaping. When working in Domed Check pattern, if there are not enough stitches at the sides to work a complete cable crossing, work the stitches of the partial cables as they appear. The English pattern is available to download at Ravelry and Loveknitting, while the knit.wear Fall/Winter 2016 is available at Interweave. If you are a retailer, you will find the printed pattern with a download code available wholesale at Deep South Fibers.

The Norwegian magazine Sommerstrikk is available at selected news agents and super markets. If you are in Norway you can also order it by SMS just write “sommerstrikk18” in addition to your name & address to 2205 or buy a digital version for iPad, see www.klikk.no. 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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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Var

Posted on July 14, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I have been looking forward to showing you the photos of the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk designs taken at Villa Malla in late May. It look more like the Greek island of Santorini than Filtvet with the Oslo Fjord in the background due to the heat and the white wall that surrounds the upper terrace at the restaurant. I certainly get a holiday feel just being there and would have like to have the opportunity to stay for a few days. My plan for the day was to start photographing the warmest garment; the dress Sigyn, since it was bound to get even hotter during the day. Photographer Eivind Røhne agreed. Var was the next since it had to be photographed together with the Hillesvåg garments. While Sissel Fylling was doing Emma Ross’ hair and makeup, Eivind and I decided to use the upper terrace as background for the second time around, like we did in June 2016. Just as last time, I borrowed jewellery from Kaja Gjedebo Design. The Norwegian pattern and yarn kit will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at the end of August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group in September before its release.

Pine cables play on the center of this oversized vest, named Var, Norse for beloved. The side panels – giving the vest a dropped shoulder appearance – are knitted sideways in broken rib and is divided from the cable pattern with a tuck as well as a reverse stocking stitch band. Var ends in an I-cord bind off around the shallow neck. The vest is knitted in the luscious pelt wool yarn Tinde from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Em is wearing size XS/S, but I have graded it to include M/L and XL/2XL too. The finished bust measurement with the side panels is 156 (172, 188) cm/61.5 (67.75, 74)” and the length is 55 (57, 59) cm/21.75 (22.5, 23.25)”. The vestis knitted in two parts, then the stitches are picked up along the side. Size M/L has a wider side panel but the same center panel as size XS/S. Size XL/2XL has a wider center panel with one extra cable repeat.

The center panels are knitted by English knitter Jean Molloy, who also knitted a garment for my Norwegian knitting book back in 2011, using 3 mm/US 2.5 for the rib (and tuck) and 3.5 mm/US 4 for the cable pattern. The gauge is 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. I knitted the tuck, then the side panels after I had sewn the shoulders together. Var is styled with a black silk shirt and black pencil pants. Next in this series is the dress, Sigyn!

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Barra Pattern Released

Posted on July 11, 2018 by Linda Marveng

The last of the autumn 2017 designs made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk; Barra, has been test knitted and released. Thank you to my test knitters for correcting and improving the pattern. You can see three of the finished jackets on the pattern page, one has been made into a shorter version and more versions will come. The sample jacket was beautifully worn by Emma Ross, with makeup & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, and captured by Eivind Røhne at Bøler Church last autumn.

Elaborate spear cables run like a spine on the back of this long jacket before they are moved towards the shoulder at the top. At the front one cable follow the line along the v-neck. The sleeve has a spear cable running around it at the bottom, before the upper part is knitted in the round in stockinette stitch. The a-line cardigan is named Barra – Celtic for spear.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

Finished Measurements:
Bust: 84 (91, 98, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (35.75, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)“
Hip: 104 (112, 118, 126, 136, 146) cm/41 (44, 46.5, 49.5, 53.5, 57.5)”
Length: 79.5 cm/31.25”
Sleeve Length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.5)“

Yarn: Hillesvåg, Hifa Sølje (100% pelt yarn, 350 m/383 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Light Brown 2102:
4 (4.5, 4.5, 5, 5.5, 6) skeins: 1360 (1470, 1555, 1665, 1803, 1941) m/1487 (1607, 1700, 1820, 1971, 2122) yds.
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/ullgarn/nyhet-sol…

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 circular needle (80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”).
2.5 mm/US 1.5 circular needle (120 cm/48”) for frontband.
3 mm/US 2.5 DPNs.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 10 buttons (15 mm/0.52”), stitch markers, stitch holders, cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 34 rows/rnds in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
Barra Cable (12-sts) measures 5.5 cm/2.25” across.
Barra Cable (50-rows) measures 14 cm/5.5” high.

Notes: The body is worked flat in pieces, unlike the long sleeves which are worked in the round after the sideways cable panel cuff to the armhole. Stitches are picked up along right side of the cuff for the top sleeve.

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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Sirona

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Sirona, was another pullover that looked magnificent on Emma Ross at Villa Malla in late May. Photographer Eivind Røhne made sure we did not have any women in bikinis’ in the background and captured all these brilliant shots. Yes, I did struggle to minimise the number of chosen photographs. Sissel Fylling made sure Em’s hair & makeup was up to scratch and suggested a number of poses to Em. The statement jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design and the boots are by Monica Stålvang. Sirona is Celtic for Star Goddess, the name for this fitted pullover with an intricate central cable surrounded with smaller cables and seed stitch. The round neckline needed a crown and was given an I-cord bind off decoration. Sirona is knitted in pieces in the divine The Fibre Co. Cumbria.

I knitted this sample in the St. Bees Beach colourway of The Fibre Co. Cumbria using 3.5 mm/US 4 and 4 mm/US 6 needles with a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The yarn is made of 60% Merino wool, 30% Brown Masham wool, 10% Mohair, with 218 meters/238 yards on each 100 gram skein.

Yes, Cumbria has become one of my staple yarns. This is the third pullover I have designed in this yarn. Vaga was the previous one and the first one was Eira Pullover made for knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017. Eira Pullover has been returned from Interweave to me and will be photographed again in my next photoshoot.

Sirona is worked back and forth in pieces and seamed. The neckband is worked in the round. Stitches are picked up and knitted from the first round of the neckband for the I-cord bind off decoration. Em is wearing size S, but I have graded the pullover from sizes XS to 2XL with a bust & hip circumference of 86 to 126 cm/33.75 to 49.5″. Waist circumference from 76 to 116 cm/30 to 41.75″.

The Norwegian pattern will be published in a special magazine by Familien released in August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning 6th of August before its release.

I did wonder whether I should use the brown ski pants or the navy blue silk trousers together with Sirona, but opted for the silk trousers in the end since it is a fitted pullover. Next in this series from the photoshoot is the vest Var made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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Ardra Pattern Released

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Linda Marveng

The test knit of Ardra has been completed and you can see a number of lovely versions on the Ravelry pattern page. Thank you to all my test knitters who corrected and improved the pattern. Ardra was made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the divine Sølje Peltwool. I choose the shade Cognac, since I knew how well it would match gorgeous modell Emma Ross’ hair. Photographer Eivind Røhne captured this shot of Em, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, at Bøler Church, last autumn.

Round knot cables run along the body of this a-line pullover with a slightly longer back. Only one cable adorns each sleeve. The body is worked in the round and ends in a round neck with an I-cord bind-off. A false seam on the sides make the fit better. Ardra is Celtic and means noble.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

Finished Measurements
Bust: 84 (90, 96, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (35.5, 37.75, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)“
Bottom width: 98 (104, 110, 120, 130, 140) cm/38.5 (41, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 55)”
Length back: 75.5 cm/29.75”
Length front: 69.5 cm/27.25”
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 50, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 20, 20)“

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 350 m/383 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Cognac 2103; 3.5 (4, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5) skeins;
1215 (1295, 1375, 1509, 1643, 1777) m/1328 (1416, 1503, 1650, 1796, 1943) yds.
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/ullgarn/norsk-pel…

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”).
3 mm/US 2.5 DPNs for sleeves.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers (removable), cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows in st st, after blocking measures 10 cm/4” square.
48-sts Ardra Cable Body measures 13 cm/5” across.

Notes: The body is knitted in the round with short rows for a longer curved hem at the back up to the armhole. Then it is worked back and forth in Back and Front. The sleeves are knitted in the round up to the armhole.

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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Vaga

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Vaga, knitted in the sea green, Yew Tree shade of The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted, looked magnificent on modell Emma Ross, at our photoshoot at Villa Malla. As usual Sissel Fylling had to cut her hair, so it would look immaculate, before styling it and then doing Em’s make up. We did not raise an eyelid, since this is the norm, now. Em is also wearing statement silver jewellery I borrowed from designer Kaja Gjedebo. Photographer Eivind Røhne captured these magic moments on a sweltering day in May. I choose to style Vaga with a pair of brown ski looking pants and boots from Monica Stålvang in a very similar green tone.Named after the Celtic Goddess of the River Wye is this pullover with cables that runs over the body and sleeves. A saddle shoulder allows the swing cable to continue to the neck with its twisted rib ending. The pullover is slightly shaped for the waist and knitted in the gorgeous The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted.

Cumbria Worsted is made of 60% Merino wool, 30% brown Masham Wool and 10% Mohair, with 218 meters/238 yards on each 100 gram skeins. Vaga is knitted using 4 mm/US 6 needle and with a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square. It was sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on both Ravelry and Instagram, that made this in size S for me. Kristin knitted the pieces, while I crochet them together and knitted the neckband.

Vaga is scheduled for test knitting in my Ravelry group beginning on 9th July, before the English pattern will be released. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in a special magazine from Familien called Strikk, available in August.

The pattern has been graded from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference from 84 cm to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″. Next design out in the photoshoot series is Sirona.

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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Ogma Pullover

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Linda Marveng

It is showtime. Well, that is how it feels like to me, revealing all the amazing photos Eivind Røhne took of gorgeous modell Emma Ross at Villa Malla at the end of May. Her hair and make up was styled by Sissel Fylling and her jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Here you see Em wearing Ogma – an a-line pullover. The fantastic hand dyed colours in The Blue Brick, Escarpment DK yarn, looked stunning on Em. I chose to style the a-line raglan sweater with wide navy silk trouser. As always I had difficulties picking photos and ended up with ten photos, due to the two extra cowls.

We actually photographed Ogma last in the sweltering heat, just above the small beach at Villa Malla. The summer light was very bright so Eivind made sure Em was in the shadow made by one of his reflectors. Eivind did fetch his sand bags, so none of us had to hold onto his reflectors, I am pleased to say.Named after the Celtic goddess who rules over inspiration and spells is this a-line raglan pullover, which began as a fade project but ended on the wild side. The Blue Brick’s divine Escarpment DK in four handpainted colors was my epiphany. From darkness to lightness and with sleeves knitted in Succulent, a pale green with a grey tinge. A regal cable adorns the center body, surrounded by garter stitch and ends in a square front neck. To crown the pullover, make a small cabled cowl and a larger garter stitch cowl.

Em is wearing size S, but I have graded it in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust measurement of 80 to 124 cm/31.5 to 48.75″. I knitted this sample using 4 mm/US 6 needle and a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch to 10 cm/4″ square. This pullover is knitted in 4 colours and my initial plan was to make a fade. I had only seen the divine colours online and realised that it would be more colour blocking than fading. The pullover is currently being test knitted in my Ravelry group, both in a solid colour and in different fades. I am so excited to see the progress of these projects.

I have added the fade/colour block progression in the pattern and added both rows of cable as well as centimeters/inches worked. The pattern will also include details of The Blue Brick, Escarpment DK yarn which is made of 100% superwash merino in skeins of 105 g with 267 meters/260 yards. The colours used in the sample are: COL1: Cobblestone. COL2: Bauline. COL3: Winter Grass/Muddy Husky and COL4: Succulent.

The colours were different from what I had in mind, so I decided to use Succulent – a pale green with a grey tinge (read: and not the opposite way around) – on the sleeves. But I do know from the test knit that the sleeves look great in a fade. Both the English and the Norwegian pattern will be released after the test knit is completed on Ravelry.

I wanted to make a cowl or two to join the colours at the top, so in the end I made one cabled cowl which I preferred to wear folded and one large garter stitch cowl that can be worn twice around the neck. The Cable Cowl is worked back and forth using a 4 mm/US 6 needle and is 57.5 cm/22.75″ wide and 20 cm/7.75″ high.

The Garter Stitch Cowl is worked in the round with the same needle has a 80 cm/31.5″ bottom circumference, 70 cm/27.5″ top circumference and is 25 cm/9.75″ high.

With one small and one large cowl they can be worn one over the other, essential during the spring and fall in Norway. But far from necessary in nearly 30 degrees celsius at Villa Malla. So Em was happy to change out of wool sweaters into her own summer clothing. We ended the day having champagne on our back terrace. That was the perfect celebration of a wonderful photoshoot and day!

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New Design: Lofn

Posted on June 23, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Here is the final new design – for now – a pullover called Lofn made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. 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 andknitted in Fisherman’s Rib and increased into top part of sleeve, while the bottom part of sleeve is knitted separately. As you can see the bottom part with the cable is very tight, and was meant to be 92 cm/36.25″ and not 80 cm/31.5″ wide and 30 cm/11.75 instead of 25 cm/9.75″ in size small. There is a very good reason for that and it is that turbo knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, made this pullover in only 1 week’s time using a 3 mm/US 2.5 so it made it to the photoshoot. We lost several weeks due to an incredibly slow mail service and I had to find a new sample knitter to make this. So all in all I am delighted that Grete knitted it at such an amazing speed and that it made it to the photoshoot.

Lofn is knitted in Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje Pelsull/Pelt wool made of 100% pelt wool, with 350 meters/383 yards per 100 gram skein. The sample is knitted in a stunning Red; 2132 in size S, but with a bottom width of 80 cm/31.5″ and height of 25 cm/9.75″ due to a tight gauge. The pattern gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square. I have graded the pattern in sizes S to 2XL with bottom width of 92 to 132 cm/36.25 to 52″. I could just squeeze into the bottom part of the pullover and I did provide entertainment for the bikini clad women sunbathing next to me at the beach in Ørje. It was a sweltering day, so I am pleased that my husband took this photos quickly so I could change back into my summer clothes.

The body is knitted in four parts with cables and welt pattern on the bottom part and Fisherman’s rib on the upper part. Increases are made in each side of the upper part for top of sleeve part. Bottom sleeves are worked flat separately. If you want to shorten or lengthen the sweater, adjust the height of the lower panel, adjust the stitch number in Welt pattern, e.g. to 24 sts for 3.5 cm/1.5″ extra length and allow more yarn.

The Norwegian pattern and yarn kit will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at the end of August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group – beginning on 15th October – before its release. As you can imagine, this pullover fitted modell Emma Ross better since she is a size smaller than I am and she totally owns it. You wait and see!

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Airic Pattern Released

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I have recently released the Airic pattern. The cardigan has been test knitted and the pattern improved, thanks to my test knitters. You can see some of the lovely versions on the Ravelry pattern page. Airic was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Bøler Kirke/Church last autumn. Emma Ross, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is wearing the sample knitted in size S. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in the magazine Familien at a later date, while the English pattern is available at Ravelry and on Loveknitting. Here is my introduction to the pattern!

In a contemporary style with provocative visual lines – created by the sideways knitted cable panel to make a waterfall bottom – is this long cardigan. The body is all in stockinette stitch to offset the cables. Even the sleeve has a cable panel knitted sideways as a cuff. Airic is Celtic for agreeable, just as this long cardigan will cover you up. It is knitted in the divine Di Gilpin’s Lalland Lambswool a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)

Finished measurements:
Bust (with collar overlapped): 86 (92, 98, 108, 118, 128) cm/33.75 (36.25, 38.5, 42.5, 46.5, 50.5)“
Bottom width (incl waterfall Width): 111 (117, 123, 133, 143, 153) cm/43.75 (46, 48.5, 52.25, 56.25, 60.25)”
Length Back: 75 (76, 77, 78, 79, 80) cm/29.5 (30, 30.25, 30.75, 31, 31.5)“
Sleeve Length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.50)”

Yarn: Di Gilpin, Lalland (100% Scottish lambswool, 50 g, 175 m/191 yds): Sample is knitted in Silver Birch: 13 (14, 15, 17, 19, 20) skeins;
2210 (2380, 2570, 2880, 3190, 3490) m/2416 (2602, 2810, 3149, 3488, 3816) yds.
Sample is knitted in size S and modelled with 5 cm/2” ease (with collar overlapped).
https://digilpin.com/collections/yarn

Needles: 3.75 mm/US 5 circular needle (100 cm/40”, 80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”).

Notions: Markers, cable needle, stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
42-sts Rib Braid panel measures 13 cm/5” across.
18-sts Rib Braid measures 5 cm/2” across.

Notes: The cable panel on the lower body is worked sideways, then the upper body is picked up and knitted along the long side of lower body and worked from the bottom and up. The upper body is worked back and forth in one piece with false seams from the pick up on the lower body to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately. The outer 20 cm/7.75” on each side of the lower body will be attached to the collar. The cuff is worked sideways, while the remaining sleeve is worked back and forth from the cuff with garter stitch in each side. The collar is worked back and forth in two parts with an interfacing, beginning with a RS row across cable and a WS row across interfacing. The parts are joined with a 3-needle bind off and attached along opening and outer side of lower body.

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