Merry Christmas, Happy Knitmas & Holidays!

Posted on December 22, 2017 by Linda Marveng

Yes, it is that time of year again, today is Tiny Little Christmas Eve/Bitte Lille Juleaften, aka 22nd of December! Christmas is definitely here and in Norway it seems to extend even further, as we now also have 3rd and 4th Christmas Day, aka 27th and 28th of December. It is going to be a Knitmas for me! I have been proof reading Christmas patterns since August for the Norwegian magazine Familien so I completely lost track of the days and had planned to buy Christmas presents next week… I realised in time, that it would be too late and squeezed it in this week between my deadlines. Now, I only have the wrapping left. This is our first Christmas in our own house here in Ørje and we are looking forward to it. But we are invited to my brothers’ house on Christmas Eve so we will celebrate Christmas there! I will be relaxing, eating delicious food & cakes as well as knitting these next few days.Above you see some of our Christmas decorations in our house with the lovely view of the lake – Rødenessjøen. I wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Knitmas and Holidays! Enjoy!

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New Design: Cahal

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Linda Marveng

Olive green was the second shade I chose for the new collection for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk to be launched at the Oslo Design Fair in late January. Yes, in the divine Tinde Pelsull, that is. Origami vest with reversible cables that folds into shape. Vents are made by leaving the seam open at the bottom. The horizontal seam draws a line across the shoulders ending in a curve at the armhole. You can wear the vest with both sides out by making a neat or flat seam. The name Cahal is Celtic for strong in battle.

The brilliant sample knitter is none other than Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, who knitted this vest in a week’s time. Yes, she is a turbo knitter, that is for sure! I am wearing size S with a bust measurement of 106.5 cm/42″ with the intended right side out in the top two photos and with the wrong side out as well as visible seams in the bottom two photos. The pattern is graded into two larger sizes too (m, XL/2XL) with (117, 127) cm/42 (46, 50)” bust.

The vest is knitted in two parts. The front is a square, while the back has 30.5 cm/12″ extra body length that folds to the front at each shoulder to form the upper front and the neck opening. Above you see the wrong side out and visible seams. The vest is knitted using 3.5 mm/US 4 needle with a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. Tinde Pelsull is made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards per 100 gram skein and comes in 30 divine colours all with the natural black base.

My husband photographed me at the outdoor stage next to Ørje Brug, today a museum called Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum on a very windy day in October. Below is the arty shoot, he took. The background I wanted, but the sun was not in the right position for photos from this angle.

The cables are from Norah Gaughan’s brilliant Knitted Cable Sourcebook, yet again. The English pattern for Cahal will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning on 9th of April before it is released in mid May. But before that I will show you how it looked on the gorgeous model Emma Ross with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and captured by photographer Eivind Røhne.

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New Design: Donia

Posted on December 16, 2017 by Linda Marveng

In a divine blue shade is my new poncho – Donia – one part of a collection I have made in collaboration with Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in their Tinde Pelsull. I think it is my best poncho so far, but I am curious to see if you agree: Round knot cables adorn the bottom and the top of this poncho. A high collar gives it a noble look, hence the name Donia; Celtic for rules all. The upper part is picked up and knitted from the lower cable panel and worked in stockinette stitch with shaping for the shoulders. The short sleeves in rib hold the poncho together. You can wear it with a belt or a shawl pin to gather it at the front or loose, just as you prefer. The one size sample is beautifully knitted by Airin Hansen, aka Teodor on Ravelry. Thank you, Airin!I decided to make the round knot cables run along the bottom and on the high collar, with stockinette stitch in between. I did consider making the collar lower with only one cable but opted for all three in the end. A possible option would be to make the collar loose as a cowl and just add an I-cord bind off to the neckline. The lovely cables are from Norah Gaughan’s brilliant Knitted Cable Sourcebook, but you probably guessed it. Above you see the front worn with a narrow belt, while the back is hanging loose. Below and in the bottom photo, I have used a shawl pin to hold together the two sides of the front under the back.

The body is knitted in four parts with cables on bottom part and stockinette stitch on the upper part. A long circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches. The sleeves are knitted in the round in rib. The collar is knitted separately using a provisional cast-on so that the ends can be grafted together. If you prefer to have the collar loose, pick up and knit stitches around the neck and work an I-cord bind-off.

The poncho is made in one size with a bust circumference of 194 cm/76.5″, and can be adjusted by removing or adding sets of 7 stitches to avoid having to adjust the shoulder shaping. The finished length is 74.5 cm/29.25″ and the sleeve length is 32 cm/12.5″. The gauge used to achieve these measurements is: 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square using a 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle. Tinde Pelsull is made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein.

All these photos are taken by my husband at the outdoor stage next to Ørje Brug, today a museum called Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum on a very windy day in October.The yarn kit with a Norwegian pattern will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at the end of January next year, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group, beginning on March 5th, before it is released at the end of April. But before that I will show you how it looked on the gorgeous model Emma Ross with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and captured by photographer Eivind Røhne.

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Juul Cardigan Pattern Released

Posted on December 13, 2017 by Linda Marveng

Juul Cardigan was designed for Interweave Knits Winter 2017 and their Winter Bride theme. The pattern rights have reverted to me and the English pattern has been released on Ravelry and on Love Knitting with new photos brilliantly taken by Eivind Røhne. The gorgeous model is Alexandria Eissinger, with hair & makeup by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design. I also wanted to style it with a wedding skirt and borrowed one from Judith Bech. For a more casual style see the cardigan worn with grey pencil trousers by me here: Juul Cardigan Again. Below is the pattern introduction.

A reverisble beautiful lace pattern, is the focus point of this straight cardigan with a generous loop collar and tuck stitch cuffs. A fake garter sttich seam add a bit of structure to this cardigan. The loop collar can be worn loose, folded once behind the neck or twice in front or three times around the neck in a ballerina style hence perfect for a Winter Bride.

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

Finished Measurements:
Bust: 90 (98, 104, 114, 124.5, 134.5) cm/35.5 (38.5, 41, 45, 49, 53)“
Length: 54 (54.5, 56, 56.5, 57.5, 59) cm/21.25 (21.5, 22, 22.25, 22.75, 23.25)”
Sleeve length: 46 (46, 47, 47, 47.5, 47.5) cm/18 (18, 18.5, 18.5, 18.75, 18.75)“
Cowl: 17 cm/6.75 wide and 296 cm/116.5” long

Yarn: Jaggerspun, Zephyr Lace 2/18 (50% merino, 50% tussah silk, 100 g, 1024 m/1120 yds). Sample is knitted in Vanilla.
http://www.jaggeryarn.com/wholesale-yarn-lines/zephyr-woo…
4 (4, 4, 5, 5, 5) skeins; 3258 (3549, 3840, 4204, 4640, 5078) m/3562 (3881, 4199, 4597, 5074, 5553) yds.
Note: Yarn is held double throughout.

Alternative yarns:
Fyberspates, Gleem Lace (55% British Bluefaced Leicester Wool, 45% silk, 100 g, 800 m/874 yds)
http://www.fyberspates.co.uk/mall/departmentpage.cfm/Fybe…
Madeline Tosh, Praire (100% superwash merino wool, 100 g, 768 m/840 yds)
http://madelinetosh.com/store/index.php/yarns/prairie.html
Shibui, Cima (70% alpaca, 30% merino, 50 g, 300 m/328 yds)
http://www.shibuiknits.com/Yarn/Colorways.php?Yarn=Cima
All held double throughout, or another 4 ply/fingering yarn held alone.

Needles:
3.25 mm/US 3 circular needles (30 cm/12”, 40 cm/16” and 80 cm/32”).
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge:
25 sts and 32 rows in st st using 2 strands of yarn held together and 3.25 mm/US 3 needles measures 10 cm/4” square.
25 sts and 40 rows in garter st using 2 strands of yarn held together and 3.25 mm/US 3 measures 10 cm/4” square.
24 sts and 32 rows in Lace using 2 strands of yarn held together and 3.25 mm/US 2.5 measures 10 cm/4” square.

Notes: The body is worked back and forth in one piece from the lower edge to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately.
The sleeve cuffs are worked in the round, then the remainder of the sleeve is worked flat and seamed to the underarm to provide stability for the heavy cuff.
A circular needle is used to accomodate the large number of stitches.
The hem and tucks on sleeves are made by holding a 30 cm/12” and a 40 cm/16” circular needle together.

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New Design: Ena

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I love the Acadia yarn from The Fibre Co. and this amazing Orange Storm shade. Yes, it is my colour! A long cabled cardigan with a high collar was my aim. The result is Ena: Ena is Celtic for fiery. As you need to be passionate about cables to make this jacket. The woven cables lean towards the left and the right hence the spine has been accentuated with a twisted stitch at the center back and along front opening. Ribbing in the sides make the jacket appear casually fitted. The collar in rib can be worn open or closed and folded over. Ena is knitted in the rustic Acadia with silk noil from The Fibre Company.

The cable I chose is from Norah Gaughan’s brilliant Knitted Cable Sourcebook, so no surprise there, as I have found a lot of inspiration in it. The Acadia yarn, made of 60% merino wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk with 133 meters/145 yards on each 50 gram skein, makes the jacket quite dressy so I wanted bespoke jewellery-like buttons. So I sent a request to Norwegian designer Siri Berrefjord, aka fredenshavn.no, and she never disappoints… In addition to the wonderful buttons I also received a series of close-up detailed photos, which I look forward to showing you.

The jacket is made in pieces and seamed. The collar is picked up and knitted before the buttonband. The last buttonhole is on collar before fold over. The cardigan is knitted using a 4 mm/US 6 needle with a 21 stitches and 30 rows in Stocking stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square gauge.

My husband has photographed me at the outdoor stage next to Ørje Brug, today a museum called Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum on a very windy day in October. I am wearing size S with a bust circumference of 92 cm/36.25″, worn with 4 cm/1.5″ positive ease. The cardigan is graded in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 124 cm/33 to 48.75″. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group, beginning on March 12th, before it is released at the end of April. Ena was photographed by Eivind Røhne at Bøler Church in October, worn by the gorgeous Emma Ross and I look forward to showing you those photos. Next of the new designs to show off is Donia, a poncho made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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White Mountain Ruana Again

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Linda Marveng

Let me show you the photos Michael took of me wearing the White Mountain Ruana, recently published in Interweave Knits Winter 2018, in our old garden in January. In the photo above you see me wearing it open so you can see the snap fasteners and the I-cord tie. This is how the editor introduced the ruana: “Voluptuous, luxurious, and enveloping, the White Mountain Ruana is a chic layer perfect for winter wanderings. The overlapping fronts can be worn loose or closed with snap fasteners and an I-cord tie. An easy-to-knit allover ripple rib pattern gives this ruana an elegant texture; garter stitch on the collar offers contrast to the body.”

For the first time I could knit with the lovely Shibui Knits Maai yarn. It is a chainette yarn made of 70% super baby alpaca, 30% fine merino with 160 m/175 yds per 50 g skein and knits to a 24 stitches gauge to 10 cm/4″ gauge using 4 mm/US 6. I am wearing the smalest size with a lower edge circumference of 151 cm/59.5″ and have a 88 cm/34.75″ bust. The ruana pattern also includes 2 larger sizes with a lower edge circumference of 167.5 (184) cm/66 (72.5)”. I am stretching out my arms so that you can see the shape of it a bit better.

The back and each front is worked from the bottom and up flat. A provisional cast on is replaced by an I-cord bind off, at the end. Stitches are cast-on for the width of the sleeve parts. The shoulders are shaped with short row shaping and bound off using a 3-needle bind off. The shawl collar is picked up and knitted at the end and worked with short row shaping, ending in an I-cord bind-off. The sleeve parts are identical for all sizes but the larger sizes end in a shorter rib that are picked up and knitted at the end. Two I-cords are made for a tie; one part is attached to the collar and the other to the inside seam. Three snap fasteners are sewed on along seam under arm on Right Front with the corresponding parts on the inside of the collar.

The shade is a warm Brick (115) and closest in colour in the top photo. The Interweave Knits Winter 2018 magazine is available both digitally or in print. In Norway you will find the printed magazine in the larger Narvesen stores, or order it from your local one.

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New Design: Airic

Posted on December 2, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I am excited to show you another new design, this is Airic knitted in the divine Di Gilpin’s Lalland Lambswool in Silver Birch. As you might recall I met Di for the second time around in Vienna in April, the first time we met was at the Knitting and Stitching Show in London years back when I was at the Rowan Yarns’ stand and she was launching her first book. Di creates amazing stitch patterns as well as designs. So I was thrilled to meet her again and even happier to take home a selection of colours in her lovely yarn to test. Lalland Lambswool has a unique twist that makes it look felted when knitted up, an extreme length of 175 meters/191 yards per 50 gram ball and knits up with a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle to a 24 stitches and 30 rows gauge. I had several ideas for the yarn but this is my initial one. This sample is beautifully knitted by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram.

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, Lalland a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

As you can see it has the same silhouette as the Rørbye Cardigan recently published in knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 knitted in Dale Garn Eco Wool. These magnificent rib braids are also found in Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I chose to add garter stitches to the sides to this one and knitted the last stitch on the Lower Body instead of making an I-cord edge.

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. 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.

My husband has photographed me at the outdoor stage next to Ørje Brug, today a museum called Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum on a very windy day in October. I am wearing size S with a finished bust circumference of 92 cm/36.25″ with the collar overlapping and closed, but the cardigan will be available in sizes XS to 2XL. The pattern will be released in April after the test knitting, which begins 26th February in my Ravelry group, is finished. But before that I will show you how stunning professional model Emma Ross looked in this.

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Aki Pattern Released

Posted on November 29, 2017 by Linda Marveng

The next pattern I have released in English is Aki, made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The pullover has been test knitted in my Ravelry group and you can see the stunning results on the pattern page on Ravelry. The English pattern is available on Ravelry and on Loveknitting. Aki was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne, worn by Alexandria Eissinger with hair & makeup by Jens J. Wiker and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design at Ingierstrand Bad, late May. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Round cables, reminiscent of antic coins hence the name Aki; Eskimo for value, adorn this a-line pullover with vents at the bottom. The pullover is crowned with a double collar with cables and garter stitches. The body is worked in two parts, while the sleeves are knitted in the round, all parts with garter stitch in the sides. Aki is knitted in a soft heather pink in the luscious Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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: 72 (72, 74, 74, 76, 76) cm/28.25 (28.25, 29.25, 29.25, 30, 30)”
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 50, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.50)”

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje pelsull (100% pelt wool, 100 g, 350 m/383 yds). Sample is knitted in Pink 2110:
5 (5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6.5) skeins; 1563 (1638, 1737, 1886, 2035, 2184) m/1709 (1791, 1899, 2062, 2225, 2388) 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”).
3 mm/US 2.5 DPNs for sleeves.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

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

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
34 sts in Aki Cable measures 11 cm/4.25” across.

Notes
The front and back are worked back and forth, while the sleeves are worked in the round. The rib on the body is not seamed at the bottom to create vents. The double collar is picked up and knitted in the round, allowing the cables to continue. The interfacing part of the collar is knitted in stockinette stitch.

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Gift-A-Long 2017

Posted on November 25, 2017 by Linda Marveng

GAL 2017 has began on Ravelry and I am one of 311 independent designers who take part. “What is Gift-A-Long? It’s a multi-designer promotion to help you kick your holiday gift-making into high gear! The Indie Design Gift-A-Long is a 6 week long KAL/CAL of holiday gifts made from patterns designed by a rather extensive list of independent designers. From November 21, 2017 at 8:00 pm US EST to December 31, 2017 at midnight US EST there will be fun games, contests, and 8 KAL/CALs that will help you get your holiday knitting and crocheting done with companionship and fun! From November 21, 2017 at 8:00 pm US EST to November 28th at 11:59pm US EST tons of indie designers will be discounting between 10 – 20 of their patterns 25% for this event”. Use coupon code: giftalong2017

I have discounted 20 of my patterns and you can see them all in this gift-a-long-2017 bundle. The total of all discounted patterns is 5 388. All participating designers have given away 6 individual digital patterns as prizes in the Knit/Crochet-A-Long threads in the dedicated Indie Design Gift-a-Long group. So the total number of digital prizes in these threads is just below 2000. So what are you waiting for? Do join us!

Here are some of my hot tips: Check out fellow Norwegian designer Kari-Helene Rane, her sale bundle is here: gift-a-long-2017. And Doreen Blask, aka Mrs Mumpitz, her sale bundle is here: gift-a-long-2017. Both designers are presenting other GAL designers, Kari-Helene on Facebook and Doreen on her blog. I have answered Doreen’s questions and you will find the interview on Tuesday 28. November here: mumpitz.design.

Country representation of designers:
Australia – 11 designers
Austria – 1 designer
Belgium – 1 designer
Bulgaria – 1 designer
Canada – 46 designers
Chile – 1 designer
Czech Republic – 1 designer
Denmark – 1 designer
Estonia – 1 designer
Finland – 6 designers
France – 5 designers
Germany – 10 designers
Hungary – 3 designers
India – 4 designers
Ireland – 1 designer
Israel – 1 designer
Italy – 3 designers
Malaysia – 1 designer
Montenegro – 1 designer
Netherlands – 5 designers
New Zealand – 4 designers
Norway – 4 designers
Poland – 1 designer
Portugal – 1 designer
Russia – 4 designers
Sweden – 3 designers
Switzerland – 3 designers
Tanzania – 1 designer
UK – 31 designers
Ukraine – 1 designer
USA – 154 designers

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New Design: Melva

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I love the British Stein Fine Wool 4ply hand dyed by Emma Boyles of The Little Grey Sheep and here is my first design in her yarn – a pullover called Melva. I met Emma at the Vienna Wool & Design Festival in April and was dumbstruck by all her magnificent hand dyed colours. Emma gave me a selection to take home to test and I decided to test the Stein Fine Wool 4ply in a red shade first. Emma suggested the shade named Outback and kindly offered to sponsor the yarn. Named after Melva, Celtic for ruler is this straight sweater with with fancy cables at the bottom and the top. Ribbing in the side and make the sweater figure hugging. While the stockinette stitch center shows of the stunning hand dyed The Little Grey Sheep, British Stein Fine Wool 4ply. The sleeve mirrors the body. The pullover is worked in the round to the underarm.

The delicate and intricate cable is again from Norah Gaughan’s excellent Knitted Cable Sourcebook. Instead of placing the cable in the center and repeat it, I chose to place 2 at the bottom and 2 at the top of the body and 1 on the sleeve. I initially planned to work not only the sleeves but also the body flat for a better fit but ended up working only the sleeves flat. Instead of making it fitted I added ribbing to the sides so the pullover will appear casually fitted.

The British Stein Fine Wool 4ply is made of wool from Emma’s sheep at Well Manor – a small family farm on the Surrey Hampshire borders in the UK. It is 100% wool with 330 meters/360 yards on each 100 gram skein. I used a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle and got a gauge of 26 stitches and 34 rows in stocking stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. I am wearing size XS with 2 cm/0.75″ negative ease, but I will later show you how fabulous it looked on model Emma Ross with 2.5 cm/1″ positive ease. I have graded the pattern from size XS to 2XL with a finished bust circumference of 88 to 124 cm/34.75 to 48.75″.Michael has photographed me at the outdoor stage next to Ørje Brug, today a museum called Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum. We had planned to take photos at the Boat Café, but due to the high waves and the strong wind we used this place instead. Above you can see the stunning hand-dyed shades of the yarn as well as the cable in detail. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry Group at the beginning of February next year and launched in time for the Edinburgh Yarn Festival in March.

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