We Are Well Settled

Posted on April 22, 2017 by Linda Marveng

Yes, we are well settled in our new house. Michael has just finished the last building the last bookshelf and has moved onto the next project; extending the front terrace. I am working in my new studio – still at our dining table but it is not our dining table any more and it will eventually become my working & meeting table. Most of the boxes are unpacked, even though there are plenty of tidying and sorting of drawers to be done. We have even met a few of the neighbours and discovered that this is indeed a small place. A few shop owners in our local town knew we were moving in and exactly which house we have moved into. The previous owners are well known in Ørje, and so will we be, by the sounds of it.

Now even our mailbox is in the right place across the road now – the first few days we did not have one and missed having one. Even the mail redirection service works well, I am pleased to say. There are deer out in the forest close to our kitchen window in the early mornings. Above you can spot one of them. All we can hear are the birds and a bit of traffic, so my shoulders seemed to have moved down several centimeters since we moved.

My studio, originally the garage then a “peisestue” (read second living room usually with a fireplace – here a gas heater), will be refurbished beginning this summer when we are planning to replace the small basement windows with floor-to-ceiling windows. The gas heater will be removed, since there is floor heating installed beneath the slate floor tiles. A number of my folders, samples, yarn and workshop materials are still in boxes and I need to sort out the ones that will be kept stored in boxes in the next door storage room. My new orange leather chairs are from IKEA, while I have inherited the bookshelves we used to have in our old living room, in addition to the cow skin. As you can guess, I wanted to add some colour to my studio and it was an easy choice for me. My sister-in-law and niece have already tested them and approved of my choice.

On the short wall you can see two of the five photos exhibited at the Strikke 2016 at Hadeland Glassverk last autumn. There is a third one in the corner and two on the opposite short wall. I do love having so much space and living for years in London does make me appreciate it even more. If you find my desk extremely tidy, it is not because I do not have any work on, but because I cleared it especially for this photo. As usual I am working to keep my deadlines. A new place to photograph has been found and it has already been tested; it is a nearby beach. All we need now, is for warmer weather to arrive since it has been colder than usual for April. However, I am busy preparing for the upcoming Vienna Wool & Design Festival as well as writing patterns, so it does not matter that much.

Strick Mode – Bowery Tunic in German

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Linda Marveng

The American magazine knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017 has been translated and is published in German as strick mode issue 0217. I am excited to hear this news since it means that my design Bowery Tunic is now available in German as well.

Above you can see the Bowery Tunic presented in German at the strick mode website. Here is the American version: “The body of this pullover is worked back and forth in pieces and seamed. The sleeves are worked in the round, with the sleeve cap worked flat. You’ll love working the gorgeous cable motifs on the front panel, and the asymmetrical hem gives unexpected flair to this pullover.”

The tunic is knitted in madelinetosh, Tosh DK, a hand-dyed merino wool with crisp stitch definition, in a divine medium grey called Tern. The yarn comes in 100 gram skeins with 205 meters/225 yards and knits with a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows in stocking stitch to 10 cm/4″ square.

Biondo Scarf Pattern Released

Posted on April 15, 2017 by Linda Marveng

My new design, Biondo Scarf, has been released in English on Ravelry and Loveknitting. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in Familien at a later date. The pattern has been test knitted and you can see the four completed ones on Ravelry. The reversible scarf, that can be used as a shawl was worn by Silje Andresen/Team Models, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, over Judith Bech’s divine silk skirt. The scene was brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at the National Museum – Architecture in late November last year.

Biondo – Italian for blond – scarf is reversible with a twisted stitch as a divider between each of the three cables. The stitch also work as a folding line, hence emphasises the more relaxed alternate side. The scarf is knitted in a divine silk and alpaca mixture for that lovely feel and sheen.

Size: One size

Finished measurements:
Width: 29.5 cm/11.5”
Length: 140 cm/55”

Yarn: Du Store Alpakka, Baby Silk (80% baby alpaca, 20% mulberry silk, 50 g, 133 m/145 yds). Sample is knitted in Pale Yellow 352:
6 skeins; 758 m/828 yds.
http://dustorealpakka.no/garn/baby-silk/

Alternative Yarns: Madeline Tosh, Pashmina (75% merino wool, 15% silk, 15% goat, 100 g, 329 m/360 yds).
http://madelinetosh.com/pashmina/
Blue Sky Fibers, Alpaca Silk (50% silk, 50% camelid alpaca, 50 g, 134 m/146 yds).
http://blueskyfibers.com/product/alpaca-silk/
Drops, Baby Alpaca Silk (70% alpaca, 30% silk, 50 g, 167 m/182 yds).
http://www.garnstudio.com/yarn.php?cid=1&id=98

Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (80 cm/32”) or straight needle.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

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

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
33 stitches in Rib Cable measures 9.5 cm/3.75” across.

Bowery Tunic Again

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Linda Marveng

The time has come to show you the photos – well, a selection of the best ones, really – that my husband took of me wearing the Bowery Tunic just before I sent it off to Interweave in July. The pattern was released in the latest issue of knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017, which is available both in a digital and a print edition. We photographed the tunic close to the beach at Ormøya, in walking distance to our old house at Bekkelaget in Oslo. It was not a sweltering July day, so I had no problems wearing boots and the tunic knitted in hand-dyed merino wool – madelinetosh, Tosh DK to be specific. The yarn comes in 100 gram skeins with 205 meters/225 yards and knits with a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows in stocking stitch to 10 cm/4″ square using a 4 mm/US 6 needle. The shade chosen by editor Meghan Babin is a stunning medium grey called Tern.

I wanted to make sure that the different length on the back and the front plus vent was easy to see: A cable panel with electronic vibes, not unlike Jean Michel Jarre renown music – hence the Jarre working title – is the focus point for this a-line pullover with a longer back ending in a vent in the sides. The collar, just like the bottom edge, is in garter stitch and crowns the garment ending in an i-cord bind off.

I am wearing the sample, made in the third size with a bust circumference of 105.5 cm/41.5″, with 15.5 cm/6″ of positive ease. The tunic is graded into 6 sizes with a bust circumference from 85 to 136 cm/33.5 to 53.5″. The back is one cable pattern repeat longer than the front, 11 cm/4.25″. Here is a presentation of the Leather & Lace Story in the knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017 issue.

We also wanted to have a go at photographing it sitting down so here is one of those photos. I did look for a high stone that could work, but could not find any in the correct position nor size.

Last but not least, here is a detail of the back and the sleeve. The sleeve has a center garter stitch panel since the cable was too dominant to add to the sleeve. I also wanted more texture than what plain stocking stitch can provide, but this can easily be omitted if you prefer to work it plain. Now that we have moved to Ørje, we are on the look out for a new place to photograph, but is bound to be close to Rødenessjøen.

Check Cable Cardigan Knitted by Katja

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I just had to share these amazing photos showing Katja’s Check mate based on my Check Cable Cardigan pattern. Yes, Katja is Norwegian and lives north of the Lofoten islands in Northern Norway. She braved the icy waters to take these photos. The cold hit her later, as you can imagine… Katja knitted size XS/S with some adjustments and choose garter stitch bands instead of double hems. It is knitted in Ice Yarns Viscose Merino, now discontinued, using a 3 mm/US 2.5 instead of the given 4 mm/US 6 to achieve the stated gauge of 22 stitches and 30 rows. The cardigan has grown while Katja has been wearing it, due to the 50% viscose content. But the long length looks stunning and Katja loves it!

Here is the back view with the same stunning nature in the background. Thank you so much Katja! I am so thrilled that Katja discovered my patterns this January and quickly signed on for the test knit of my Andor poncho. Yes, those photos are equally stunning and will appear here later. Katja is a meticulous test knitter and a very skilled knitter who knows exactly what adjustments she wants to make! I am so grateful that she has chosen to knit more of my designs! You will find more of Katja’s photos on Ravelry where she is known as ekatja.

The Check Cable Cardigan pattern is available in sizes XS/S (M, L, XL/2XL) in both English and in Norwegian on Ravelry and Loveknitting. It was first published in Norwegian in the magazine Familien in December 2012, but was revised and tech edited last autumn. New photos were also taken by my favourite team including photographer Eivind Røhne, since they needed to be updated. But we did not have Katja’s wonderful nature in the background.

New House

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Linda Marveng

We are moving tomorrow, to a house of our own. But this time we are not moving countries, and not that far away luckily, but from Oslo to Ørje, a small town close to the Swedish border. It is slightly more than an hour’s drive from Oslo, and you keep following the signs for Stockholm. Funnily enough, the coach from Stockholm is also the quickest commute back to Oslo, from nearby Töcksfors in Sweden. I do not need to travel to Oslo regularly, but my husband will commute once a week either by car or by the Stockholm bus or by train from Mysen. We both work from home, hence we could find a house we really liked as opposed to making do with a tiny apartment in Oslo. Above is our location: Our house is facing the Rødenessjøen (translates to Red Headland Lake), which is about 25 kilometer long lake and part of a long chain of lakes and waterways leading to the sea at Halden, and close to the nearby town of Ørje and Sweden.

My British husband, recently also a Norwegian citizen – as well a British citizen – made this wonderful poster. The terraced house at Bekkelaget where we have been living in for the last 4,5 years has been the British Embassy (Bekkelaget) according to Michael. The biggest change for me will be that I will have my own studio, and not occupy the dining room table anymore. The house is made in the early 1960’s by a local architect and has been refurbished several times since, to our satisfaction. We are not planning on any major works, except for installing larger windows in my studio in the summer.

Yesterday, we received the keys, and here is our new view taken from the terrace. It was a grey and wet day. Now we are hoping it will stay dry tomorrow. We are still trying to sort out the broadband connection to our new house, so a radio silence will follow for the next week.

Bowery Tunic in knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017

Posted on March 29, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I am thrilled to show you my latest design the Bowery Tunic published in the knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017 issue in the company of other designers such as: Pam Allen and Carol Feller. On the cover is Mary Anne Benedetto’s stunning Park Slope Top. My working title for the design was Jarre: A cable panel with electronic vibes, not unlike Jean-Michel Jarre renown music, is the focus point for this a-line pullover with a longer back ending in a vent in the sides. The collar, just like the bottom edge, is in garter stitch and crowns the garment ending in an i-cord bind off.

Interweave / Harper Point Photography

The sample is knitted in size 105.5 cm/41.5″ (third size) bust circumference and modelled with 18.5 cm/7.25″ of positive ease on the model. The tunic is graded into 6 sizes with a bust circumference from 85 to 136 cm/33.5 to 53.5″. The back is one cable pattern repeat longer than the front, 11 cm/4.25″.

Interweave / Harper Point Photography

The intricate cables are fun to knit in a mixture of rib and garter stitch that moves across both the front and the back of the tunic. I found their volume and texture too much for the sleeves and opted for a garter stitch panel on the center of the sleeve since I do love texture. As you might know I also get easily bored working just in stocking stitch.

Interweave / Harper Point Photography

The gorgeous photos are taken by Harper Point Photography, while the photo styling is by Tina Gill and Hair & Makeup is by Janie Rocek. Thank you to editor Meghan Babin and the Interweave team for accepting yet another of my designs!

Interweave / Harper Point Photography

knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017 is available in both a digital and a print edition. This large issue also includes 4 of the designs from the Wool Studio volume 1 digital magazine, including the popular Hyannis Port Pullover by Bristol Ivy.

Irina Pullover Pattern Released

Posted on March 25, 2017 by Linda Marveng

The time has come to release the Irina Pullover Pattern, since the rights from Interweave has reverted to me. It was first printed in knit.wear Spring/Summer 2016 with stunning photos by Harper Point Photography, see my blogpost. My photoshoot team took the challenge and managed to create wonderful photos of it too, see my blogpost. Model Silje Andresen/Team Models, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellry by Kaja Gjedebo Design, wore the pullover with a long silk skirt with a train by Judith Bech Design, at the National Museum – Architecture and was brilliantly captured by photographer Eivind Røhne. The English pattern is available on Ravelry and shortly on Loveknitting while the Norwegian pattern will be printed at a later date in the magazine Familien. Here is the pattern introduction:

Named after the beautiful Russian ballerina Irina Baronova, a fitted pullover with elegant cables swooning across it in panels with garter stitch dividers for shaping. Timeless, knitted in the round from the bottom up to the armholes then flat to soft square neckline and shoulders. The sleeves are also knitted in the round, long to adorn the hands and set-in. A divine sky blue color, and luscious texture was made by combining Rowan Felted Tweed with Rowan Kidsilk Haze.

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

Finished measurements: Bust & hip circumference: 77 (86.5, 95, 104, 113, 122) cm/30.25 (34, 37.5, 41, 44.5, 48) Length: 53 (54, 55, 56, 57, 58) cm/20.75 (21.25, 21.75, 22, 22,5, 22.75)” Waist circumference: 68 (77, 86.5, 95, 104, 112) cm/26.75 (30.25, 34, 37.5, 41, 44)” Sleeve length: 47.5 (48, 48, 49, 49, 50) cm/18.75 (19, 19, 19.25, 19.25, 19.75)”

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed (50% wool, 25% alpaca, 25% viscose, 50 g, 175 m/191 yds). Sample is knitted in Clay 177: 5 (6, 6, 7, 7, 8) skeins; 875 (965, 830 (910, 990, 1080, 1180, 1280) m/907 (995, 1082, 1181, 1290, 1400) yds. http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/felted-tweed Rowan Kidsilk Haze (70% mohair, 30% silk, 25 g, 210 m/230 yds). Sample is knitted in Heavenly 592: 4 (5, 5, 6, 6, 7) skeins; 830 (910, 990, 1080, 1180, 1280) m/907 (995, 1082, 1181, 1290, 1400) yds. http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/kidsilk-haze

Note: One strand of each yarn is held together throughout.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 circular needles (80 cm/32″ and 40 cm/16″). 4 mm/US 6 DPNs. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

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

Gauge: 18 sts and 30 rnds in garter stitch using 1 strand of each yarn held together measures 10 cm/4″ square after blocking. 24-sts Cable panel using both yarns held together measures 12 cm/4.75″ across after blocking.

Notes: The body is worked in the round to the underarm, then the front and back are worked separately back and forth. The sleeves are worked in the round from the bottom up, with the sleeve cap worked flat.

Helka Knitted by Kate Klocker

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Linda Marveng

Finally after a very long absence, here is another post in the series of my designs knitted by others; this time it is Helka knitted by British knitter Kate Klocker – aka Kalanche on Ravelry – but modelled by her sister-in-law at Kew Gardens, London’s Botanical Gardens in July, last year. Kate explains in her project notes: “15.7.16 Was going to get my SIL to be the photographer, but she was better as the model.” Kate took part in the test knit of Helka and made size XS in Garnstudio DROPS Merino Extra Fine using a 5 mm/US 8 with a little tighter gauge than stated. Kate worked 1 pattern repeat less than stated in the pattern since her row gauge was also slightly off and she wanted it a bit shorter than the given length of 79 cm/31″. You can read Kate’s useful and details notes on her project page.

This is how Kate presents herself with her lovely humour shining through, on her profile page: “I’m a self-taught knitter and crocheter with my own way of doing things (as in, not what my Mum calls “properly”)”. I know her to be a dedicated and meticulous test knitter, hence it came as no surprise that is a full-time doctor working in London. I love these photos of her version of Helka, so thank you Kate and to your sister-in-law for modelling! The English pattern is available in sizes XS to 2XL to buy on Ravelry and on Loveknitting.

Vienna Wool & Design Festival 2017

Posted on March 18, 2017 by Linda Marveng

I am so chuffed to be invited to hold workshops at this new knitting festival called Vienna Wool & Design Festival 29. to 30. April at Arcotel Wimberger Vienna Hotel. Also invited are the following: Polish designer Hanna Maciejewska aka Hada Knits, who I met at the Wollness Weekend outside of Vienna a couple of years ago; American designer Nancy Marchant; German designer Isabell Kraemer; Scottish designer Di Gilpin , who I first met at the Knitting and Stitching Show several years back; and British designer Anna Maltz, just to mention a few. Some of us will teach in English while the rest will teach in German. The festival is organised by Suncica Wilhelmer, owner of Wollsalon Sunshine Loop, and Ursula Koll. In addition to the workshops there will be a tempting market hall, come together evening, galla dinner and a magazine made with new patterns by participating designers. I already know that a number of my test knitters will be there and I look forward to meeting old and new friends. I suspect the majority of the knitters present will be women but at least two husbands will be there – I know this for a fact since both Hanna’s and mine is coming – both will be busy photographing unlike the rest of us!