Vienna Part Two

Posted on October 24, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Our program in Vienna was so packed, just as the Wollness Weekend was, with plenty of knitting related events, in addition to a fashion show and sightseeing. We had 3 knit nights at Steinschalerhof and then a fourth in Vienna, again organized by the Austrian Yarn Club. Did I tell you that I have discovered Bingo? Knitting bingo that is; where all the numbers are replaced by well known pattern names, knit speak or a fun yarn fiber quote. Who wants to shout bingo when we can use knitting terms, right? Above is a photo from the Elke Freytag Fashion Show, we were invited to join curtesy of Teresa Schinwald of the Austrian Yarn Club. The brilliant photo is taken by my husband! We all loved mingling with well known politicians and other celebrities, as well as watching the fashion show and the possibility to study all the garments.

Designer Hanna Maciejewska, aka Hada Knits, had arranged to meet her test knitter Susanne and she asked me if I wanted to join them. I would be mad not too, since I have enjoyed every minute of Hanna’s company as well as our exchange of experiences. Susanne turned up in the latest pullover she had test knitted for Hanna; Wien. It was beautifully knitted with a perfect fit on her. Hanna was wearing her own design: Endearment, while I was wearing my Gyda. To our joy Susanne took us to the Museum Hundertwasser, where the coffee shop look as charming as the outside did. Below you see a photo of the three of us, so happy to be sharing our knitting experiences.

I was overwhelmed to meet several of my test knitters and seeing so many of my designs at the Wollness Weekend – a total of 8 to my astonishment. Due to our tight program I was not able to photograph them all, but here is Anne Marie, aka anne1981 on Ravelry, wearing her stunning Lattice Back Jacket knitted in Schulana Donegal-Tweed.

On our last day in Vienna, Michael and I went to see the Edvard Munch exhibition at Albertina with Hanna and Daniel, and then to the Leopold to see their Klimt and Schiele collection. The atrium took our breath away with its height, light and scale. Just as most of the buildings in Vienna did…

I am still trying to land after this amazing trip to Vienna and the Wollness Weekend. Thank you Austrian Yarn Club for this opportunity!

Vienna Calling

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Isabella Mach, aka Isa, offered to take us back to Vienna directly to our hotel from Steinschalerhof and we obviously accepted in a flash. We arrived in a wet Vienna, unpacked and then located designer Hanna Maciejewska + husband, before we headed out for dinner and a long walk through the city centre of Vienna. We are all staying at the Hotel Wien in the 2.nd District with a walking distance to the city centre, recommended by Austrian Yarn Club organiser Irene Brenner who live nearby. Above is a photo of the landmark, St. Stephen’s Cathedral

Irene and her husband took us sightseeing on our first day in Vienna. They are in the centre of the photo above. Of course we meet up with Ursula Koll – notice her love of bright colours, see pink shawl above – and then later on Teresa Schinwald, as well as the German visitors Betta and Andrea for coffee and cake at a famous café – as you do.

Before we left Steinschalerhof, we had a session with photographer Dominik Matyas who took a number of group photos. Isa was helping out, doing a hilarious hippo dance in the background. We will have to wait a couple of weeks to see all of his photos, since he was busy taking numerous project photos for most of the knitters present.

Dominik Matyas/ byDominik.com

Above is one of the workshop photos he took of my Professional Finishing Workshop, part II. At the rail you can see a few of my designs I had brought to show off and to wear at the venue.

There was a yarn market at the Wollness Weekend, where knitters could destash and yarn shops display their yarn and knitting gadgets. Despite the fairly small room the selection was overwhelming!

Above is the stunning modified Gyda – from a jacket into a sweater with a wonderful deep square neck knitted by Ursula Koll, aka Grinsekatz on Ravelry. Yet another of my designs I spotted at the Wollness Weekend, to my utter delight. At the moment Ursula is finishing her Hennika, this time not only in pink but in a fluorescent pink. I cannot wait to see the finished result.

Yesterday, we went to visit Suncica Wilhelmer, an architect and a yarn shop owner who lives in the Rufer House designed by the architect Adolf Loos. Not only did we want to see her house but Hanna and I also wanted to check out her yarn selection and fondle some yarn. The name of her yarn shop is Wollsalon Sunshine Loop, and we were both tempted into buying several skeins of yarn. The yarn shop is located in the former kitchen, and I loved the fact that the owner wanted not only a window facing the street but also one facing the indoor staircase so he could spot the visitors from his office. In the evening Hanna and I were at their knit night. We finally managed to do some more knitting…

Wollness Weekend

Posted on October 17, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I had no problem spotting Isabella Mach, aka Strickizzy on Ravelry, at the airport in Vienna, not only was she wearing my Lattice-Back Jacket but she was also holding onto a skein of yarn, since I had only seen photos of her online before. Isabella had knitted like obsessed to finish the jacket in time for my arrival, even though it was not because I demanded it, see below. The skein of yarn was the idea of the organisers’ of The Austrian Yarn Club. Isabella took Michael and me in her little car to the location of the Wollness Weekend in the beautiful hills of the Pielach Valley, to the family-run Nature Hotel Steinschalerhof.

I was delighted to meet some of the organisers but also a number of the knitters that had already arrived for the weekend in addition to the designer Hanna Maciejewska, aka Hada Knits also accompanied by her husband, Daniel. As all addicted knitters (minus two husbands) we had to do some knitting before we all went to dinner in this charming hotel. The Steinschaler kitchen is ecological, with a lot of the vegetables and herbs grown in the kitchen garden, and the portions are extremely generous. No wonder, last year’s participants gained quite a lot of weight.

After dinner, we continued to knit into the late hours, before we gave in. The breakfast did match the dinner and I will work my way through the huge selection including numerous home made jams and juices. After breakfasting for a couple of hours we continued to knit. My first workshop Finishing part 1 began in the afternoon and will continue today in the morning. I am enjoying all the knitting and the possibility to lower my shoulder back into the right position.

Morning Sky

Posted on October 14, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Tomorrow I am off to Vienna for the Wollness Weekend, and I cannot wait! I so look forward to meeting a number of my Ravelry friends in real life as opposed to online. Before I go I plan to submit another design to Interweave, and do some serious knitting for my upcoming photoshoot at the end of the month. I am pleased to say that I do have excellent sample knitting help in Grete Jenssen, aka ma9, so I can achieve all my goals for it. In the meantime I wanted to show you this marvelous photo my husband took from our terrace of the moon early one morning a few months back in July. Enjoy the view, we do!

Talila Pattern Released

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I am so happy to publish the English version of Talila on Ravelry, with an introductory offer which will be valid until I am back from Wollness Weekend on the outskirts of Vienna on Thursday 22nd of October. Talila was recently published in Norwegian in the new digital magazine “På Pinnen” for members of Norsk Strikkeforening/Norwegian Knitting Association. The set was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne in May, worn by gorgeous model Anne Dorthe/Team Models with hair and make up by Sissel Fylling, statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo and boots by Monica Stålvang.

TALILA

Just as the morning dew, they are named after, these cables move from one end to another across wrist warmers and all over a divine large cowl, with a matching clutch. The warm accessories are knitted in the beautiful Norwegian pelt yarn, Norsk Pelsullgarn from Hifa to make the cables soft and the background texture pulsating. The set is knitted in the round but can easily be adjusted by adding a pattern repeat or stitches in garter stitch. The clutch is reinforced and has magnetic bag closures.

Sizes: Cowl: One Size. Wrist warmers: One Size. Clutch: One Size

Finished Measurements: Cowl: Height: 26 cm/10.25″. Circumference: 108 cm/42.5″ Wrist warmers: Circumference: 22 cm/8.75″ (can be stretched to 26 cm/10.25″). Length: 26 cm/10.25″ Clutch: Width: 22 cm/8.75″. Height: 13 cm/5″

Yarn: Hifa, Norsk Pelsullgarn (100% pelt yarn, 100 g, 260 m/284 yds). Sample is knitted in Burgundy 1104: http://www.ull.no/garn/ullgarn/norsk-pelsull Cowl: 2 skeins; 416 m/455 yds Wrist warmers: 1 skein; 161 m/176 yds Clutch: 1 skein; 255 m/279 yds Set: 3.5 skeins is sufficient for set: 832 m/910 yds

Alternative Yarns: Berroco, Ultra Alpaca Light (50% alpaca, 50% wool, 50 g, 133 m/144 yds). http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-ultra-alpaca-light Jamieson’s, Double Knitting (100% wool, 25 g, 75 m/82 yds) http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double-knitting-1-c.asp Rowan, Tweed (100% wool, 50 g, 118 m/129 yds) http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/rowan-tweed Malabrigo, Arroyo, (100% superwash merino, 100 g, 306 m/335 yds) http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/subyarn.php?id=29 Or another DK/8 ply yarn.

Notions: Cable needle (cn), 4 stitch markers and yarn needle. Firm table mat to be cut into two pieces: 30 by 22 cm/11.75 by 8.75″ and 6 by 22 cm/2.25 by 8.75″, magnetic bag closures (19 mm/0.75″), sewing thread and sewing needle for clutch.

Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (80 cm/32″) for cowl and clutch. 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32″) for clutch. 3.5 mm/US 4 DPNs for wrist warmers.

Gauge: 22 sts and 32 rnds in st st measures 10 cm/4″ square. 23 sts and 32 rnds in cables measures 10 cm/4″ square.

Notes: Cowl is knitted sideways, in the round as the wrist warmers, both with centering stitches making a ladder to frame the pattern. Adjust the width by adding pattern repeats of 10 sts or an equal number of garter sts in each end of the round. The clutch is knitted in 2 parts; a main part knitted in the round in pattern and st st for lining and divider. Reinforce it with e.g. a firm place mat which is put inside the main part. The divider is folded and attached in the sides, the bottom and then a pocket is made by sewing seams on the inside.

Eira Pattern Released

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Linda Marveng

It is awhile ago since I released Eira in English on Ravelry, but I have not yet announced it here until now. Gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger at Pholk, brilliantly styled by Sissel Fylling, is wearing a beautiful linen silver printed dress by Judith Bech and perfect flats called Elisabetta black by Monica Stålvang, all magically captured by photographer Eivind Røhne at Hvalstrand Bad. The Norwegian pattern was published in the Nordic Vintage series in the new magazine Familien Trend which briefly took over after Made by Me, at the end of February.

EIRA

A sporty looking cowl with a matching belt knitted in a reverisble rice pattern closed with snap fasteners was the idea for Eira; A Norse name meaning merciful. A thin drapey mercerized cotton called Hifa, Perle, held doubled, seemed ideal for these accessories.

Size: One size

Finished measurements: Cowl: Height: 20 cm/7.75″ Length: 120 cm/47.25″ Belt: Height: 10 cm/4″ Length: 72 cm/28.25″

Yarn: Hifa, Perle 12/6 (100% mercerized cotton, 200 g cone, 670 m/733 yds). Sample is knitted in Grey 18370. Cowl: 1 cone; 555 m/607 yds Belt: 1 cone; 270 m/295 yds http://www.ull.no/garn/bomullsgarn/perle-merc-bomull-12-6 Note: Yarn is held double throughout.

Alternative yarn: Patons, 100% Cotton 4 ply (100% cotton, 100 g, 330 m/361 yds) http://www.makeitcoats.com/en-gb/explore/knitting/patons/100-percent-cotton-4-ply Mondial, Cotton Soft Speciale Baby (100% cotton, 50 g, 180 m/197 yds) http://www.lanemondial.it/home/sv/?option=com_content&view=article&id=1870:cotton-soft&catid=280&Itemid=403&lang=sv Elann, Lustrado (100% cotton, 50 gm, 169 m/185 yds) Or another fingering/4 ply yarn to be held double throughout. Or another DK/8 ply yarn held single.

Notions: Waste yarn, 3 snap fastners for belt (1.5 mm/0.059″) and yarn needle.

Needles: 2 sets of 4 mm/US 6 circular needles (80 cm/32″). Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Gauge: 21 sts and 26 rows in st st using yarn held double measures 10 cm/4″ square. 20 sts and 28 rows in Rice Pattern using yarn held double measures 10 cm/4″ square.

Notes: Both Cowl and Belt are knitted flat. The Cowl is cast on with a provisional cast-on using waste yarn which is removed at the end so that it can be grafted or bound off with 3 needles to join into a loop. The Belt only comes in one size but can easily be adjusted to your preferred waist length by adding or removing pattern repeats. It is closed with snap fasteners and has a folded hem.

Familien Photoshoot: Talila

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Talila was also photographed at the end of May, worn by the gorgeous Anne Dorthe/Team Models with beautiful hair and make up by Sissel Fylling, fantastic statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo and stunning Carmen boots by Monica Stålvang, all brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne. The pattern is recently published in the new digital magazine called På Pinnen/On the Needles for members of Norsk Strikkeforening/Norwegian Knitting Association, and will be released shortly in English on Ravelry. Here is my introduction to Talila: Just as the morning dew, they are named after, these cables move from one end to another across wrist warmers and all over a divine large cowl, with a matching clutch. The warm accessories are knitted in the beautiful Norwegian pelt yarn – Norsk Pelsull – from Hifa to make the cables soft and the background texture pulsating. The set is knitted in the round but can easily be adjusted by adding a pattern repeat or stitches in garter stitch. The clutch is reinforced and has magnetic bag closures.

The set is knitted using 3.5 mm/US 4 and 3 mm/US 2.5, and comes in one size. The cowl and the wrist warmers can easily be adjusted in size. I began knitting a swatch in the round in this lovely burgundy yarn and discovered I might as well make it straight into a wrist warmer. Hence I did make a second before I asked Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry to assist me and knit the cowl. It was Grete’s marvelous idea to also make a clutch to go with the set and used a firm placemat, cut to size, to reinforce it. I did not need a lot of convincing, and loved the finished set! The yarn is generously sponsored by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The cowl is knitted sideways, in the round as the wrist warmers, both with centering stitches making a ladder to frame the pattern. Adjust the width by adding pattern repeats of 10 sts or an equal number of garter sts in each end of the round. The clutch is knitted in 2 parts; a main part knitted in the round in pattern and st st for lining and divider. Reinforce it with e.g. a firm place mat which is put inside the main part. The divider is folded and attached in the sides, the bottom and then a pocket is made by sewing seams on the inside. See the detailed photos below.

Dorthe is wearing the amazing Karakoram large earrings and Hekla ring, both in oxidized silver, which fitted so well to the geometry in the stitch pattern as well as the melange yarn.

The Norwegian pattern will also become available on Ravelry when the rights revert to me in 6 months time. But in the meantime the board of the Norsk Strikkeforening will also discuss to make the digital magazine available for non-members and I will keep you posted.

På Pinnen with My Design: Talila

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I am so thrilled to have the full cover of the new digital magazine “På Pinnen”/On the Needles for the members and published by Norsk Strikkeforening/Norwegian Knitting Association. Gorgeous model Anne Dorthe/Team Models, with hair and make up styling by Sissel Fylling, as well as beautiful jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo, is wearing the Talila Cowl – while the matching wrist warmers and clutch are shown inside the magazine – and is brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne. The design submission request came early this spring from editor and Leader Tove Fevang who wanted an accessory with a cable pattern. I was not difficult to ask, and Talila was created and accepted. A few months later, Tove wondered if I wanted to be part of the editorial team together with Åse Bjørndal. I was flattered and certainly wanted to be part of making this digital magazine. In addition, Tove wanted to profile me, and asked if she could interview me at home bringing her husband, photographer – Geir Arnesen – to take some photos. Below you see the result, I was wearing my Quamara jacket and had prepared a rail with a number of my designs. The clean and modern look layout of the magazine is done by Janette Balchen of Designstreken.no.

The large photo of me is taken on the terrace while the other ones are taken in my living room. You might recognize my swatch photo of the Arcade Vest in the top right corner and that I am holding on to the back of the Gyda Jacket. I also asked jewelry designer Siri Berrefjord if we could use some of her fantastic photos of my swatches with her buttons. I was delighted when she accepted. The first part of the profile on me is based on my book introduction.

While the second part is more about my work and productivity today. Below is the first page of the pattern with all the essential information like the yarn; Hifa Norsk Pelsull and needles 3.5 mm/US 4 and 3 mm/US 2.5. The second page has a detailed photo of the clutch which I will show you in my next blogpost, together will all the brilliant photos Eivind Røhne took.

The magazine contains two more patterns, book reviews, report from Alta Strikkefestival and briefly from Koftefesten, article on yarn thickness, tips and ideas. I am delighted that the magazine has been popular so far, and we have started to plan the next issue and scheduled our next Skype meeting. So if you are Norwegian, or speak Norwegian, please join Norsk Strikkeforening and send us your ideas & suggestions for the magazine.

Saga Knitted by Dorothy DesRoches

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Does both the cables and the model look familiar? Yes, this is actually the first of two designs with these very addictive Cross Chain Link Cables, my Saga jacket; here beautifully knitted by Dorothy DesRoches from Canada, and again brilliantly modeled by her grand-daughter Hilary Scoffield, who lives in France. Hilary has previously modeled her Gyda, also knitted by Dorothy. The jacket, pictured above and below, is knitted in Filatura Di Crosa Zara, Extra Fine Merino – a DK weight – held together with Berroco Ultra Alpaca – an Aran/Worsted weight – to create a dense fabric with a saturated melange color, and combined beautifully, using a 5.5 mm/US 9 needle! Hilary is wearing a size M with a finished bust size of 98 cm/38.5″.

Here is back view of Hilary’s stunning jacket. Dorothy is planning to knit my Mistale next and I cannot wait to see it! Thank you, Dorothy and Hilary!

Saga was first published in Norwegian, with the sample knitted in Norsk Pelsull and Rowan Lima held together, in the magazine Familien Trend in February 2015, then in English, after a test knit, on Ravelry where it is available digitally. The second design with the same cables is the Yellow Gold Pullover, that was published in Interweave Knits Fall 2015.

Soon it is time for to reveal a new design, to be published in the new Norwegian digital magazine for the members of the Norsk Strikkeforening/Norwegian Knitting Association, see www.norskstrikkeforening.no and in English on Ravelry. To be continued.

Yellow Gold Pullover Knitted by Valeria Patorra

Posted on September 23, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Valeria Patorra, living in Germany, began knitting the Yellow Gold Pullover the day after it was published in Interweave Knits Fall 2015 to my delight. Instead of the sample yarn Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift, Valeria picked Schachenmayr nomotta Alpaka Fashion in a red-orange shade from her stash and the project Rowanberry was born. Valeria decided to knit a size S to obtain a size M because of the thicker alpaca yarn so it would fit her. The three dimensional cables combined with the welt pattern and the tucks, which she calls “Linda’s trendy style” to my utter joy, attracted her to the design. After an amazing 14 days the pullover was finished, and Valeria decided to photograph it on her holiday in Denmark with her daughter – 14 year old – Gwendolyn as the model. The result is a number of brilliant photos, you can see two of them here and more of them on Valeria’s, aka nickknitterton, project page on Ravelry. As it happens, Gwendolyn wanted the sweater and Valeria happily gifted it to her. I just like to add that Valeria is a very prolific knitter and has since been addicted – her words not mine – and knitted the following of my designs: Saga Jacket, Cable Round Sweater with a turtle neck modification, and is currently test knitting the Sculpted Frost Jacket. Thank you Valeria and Gwendolyn!

The magazine Interweave Knits Fall is available digitally and in print around the world. The print version has just reached my closest newsagent Narvesen. I am so looking forward to seeing more versions of this design and I know there are several in progress in different countries from Japan to the UK. And Yes, I have sent in submissions to their recent Summer 2016 call!