The clouds were sweeping across the fjord yesterday morning. My husband captured this dramatic photo from our terrace of their movement. The clouds seemed to glide gracefully along the fjord before they disappeared, and a bright blue sky appeared. We are still experiencing mild autumn temperatures this late in November, and enjoying it…
My design has been published in the recently published Fall/Winter issue of Clotheshorse digital magazine. I am delighted with Heather Dixon’s photography and styling as well as the stunning model, Natalie! In my design submission in response to their experimental mood board, I wrote: “Tyrol Scarf and Loose Sleeves. An experiment with layered tucks and a patterned cable results in an exciting scarf with matching loose sleeves. I adore these Tyrol cables with their flower bud shapes and the contrasting tucks at each end. The layered tucks create a sculptural feel and add drama to the bottom of the loose sleeves. Both are knitted in the round to form a tube of textured volume.” I suggested knitting it in Madeline Tosh DK in Composition Grey but Clotheshorse selected the much softer and more divine Blue Sky Alpacas Metalico in 50% alpaca, 50% mulberry silk in the natural color of Platinum, see blueskyalpacas. Each skein is 50 g with 135 m/147 yds, so you will need 13 for the scarf and 5 for the loose sleeves or 17 for the set and 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needles. Here is a link directly to the pattern page: issuu.com/clotheshorse.
The scarf is worked in the round, bottom up in two parts; first: tucks and cables and second: opposite tucks to make the tuck layers identical. The parts are knitted together with a 3 needle bind off. The loose sleeves have elastic in the encasing at the top (or knitted in elastic, if preferred), in addition to a cord which can be tied onto the scarf at cable crossings when worn around the shoulders and fastened with a shawl pin or tucked into the end, see photograph below taken by my husband. One loose sleeve also looks nice worn as a small scarf around the neck.
The most popular of the 25 designs in this issue of Clotheshorse is the cabled cardigan; Hardy by Kristen Tendyke, see ravelry, while I prefer the spiked shoulder jacket; Hepworth by Ruth Roland, see ravelry. Here are all the designs presented on Ravelry; clotheshorse-fall-winter-2013/patterns but do not miss the Runway Reports in the magazine itself, see clotheshorsemag. Thank you, Clotheshorse!
I know at lot of knitters who prefer to minimize the amount of finishing and especially avoid sewing if they can. Kristen Tendyke encourages every knitter to try an unfamiliar technique in her introduction, and I want to see what I can learn. Beginning a shrug with the cable panel at the centre of the back and then picking up stitches on each side of the panel is a smart solution, I had not considered in any detail. While shaping lace by working with different needle sizes is a technique I know and have used. There are several top-down projects worth studying as well as tips on how to avoid puckering at the underarms. My favorite part of the book is how to shape set-in sleeves while working in the round and it will be my homework for now. At Amazon you can see inside the book: Finish-Free-Knits-No-Sew-Garments-Classic and on her website you can see all the 20 projects presented: kristentendyke. Kristen Tendyke is also an technical editor for the digital magazine Clotheshorse where my second pattern just have been featured. More details will follow.
Here are my favorite photos of the Arcade Vest, modeled by stunning dancer Francesca Golfetto, captured by brilliant photographer Kim Müller taken at the Astrup Fearnley Museum at Tjuvholmen in Oslo. Test knit of the English pattern in my group on Ravelry will start 22nd November with a flexible deadline of 17th January, but you can sign up now. A straight vest inspired by Haider Ackermann’s architectonic style and jewel colours. Arcades knitted by cables, framed by double moss/seed stitch and ended with an I-cord around neck and armholes. The double front gives the vest weight and close it as you prefer with a shawlpin or a belt. Close it at the top for a trendy look and an asymmetrical opening. Knitted in the beautiful Norsk Pelsull/Norwegian Furyarn from Hifa in a turquoise mélange colour.
Size: S (M) L (XL) 2XL (3XL)
Finished measurements: Bust: 92 (96) 102 (116) 124 (134) cm/36.25 (38.25) 40 (45.75) 48.75 (52.75)” incl overlap: 6.5 (6.5) 6.5 (6.5) 8.5 (8.5) cm/2.5 (2.5) 2.5 (2.5) 3.25 (3.25)” Length: 77 (77) 77 (79) 79 (79) cm/30.25 (30.25) 30.25 (31) 31 (31)”
Yarn: Hifa, Norsk Pelsullgarn in turquoise sh 1106: 4 (4.5) 5 (6) 6.5 (7.5) skeins; 1014 (1144) 1300 (1508) 1664 (1846) m/1109 (1251) 1422 (1649) 1820 (2019) yds (100% Norwegian furyarn wool, 100 g, 260 m/284 yds). www.ull.no.
Alternative Yarns: Berroco, Ultra Alpaca Light (50% alpaca, 50% wool, 50 g, 133 m/144 yds). www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-ultra-alpaca-light Anzula, Kern (100% alpaca, 50 g, 160 m/175 yds) see anzula.squarespace.com/anzula/ Or another DK/8 ply yarn.
Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needles (80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”), 2 DPNs (for I-cord) or size needed for gauge.
Notions: Cable needle, 3 stitch holders and yarn needle
Gauge: 20 sts and 24 rows in Arcade Pattern, 20 sts and 26 rows in double moss/seed stitch equals 10cm/4” square.
Notes: The vest is knitted in rows in one piece to armhole, where it is separated. The armhole band is knitted in the round. Dec: When decreasing for neck and armhole only for L and XL, change first and last Arcade Pattern repeat into reverse st st to avoid decreasing in pattern. Length: Adjust length by knitting additional rows in double moss/seed st at the bottom and/or more/less Arcade Patterns before armhole dec.
The test knit pattern includes video links to techniques used, chart and schematic. Come and join us at www.ravelry.com/groups/linda marveng.
My Arcade Vest has been photographed twice by the Norwegian Magazine Familien/The Family. Once is usually sufficient but since the stylist had unknowingly chosen to use the wrong side out, not showing the cables, it had to be photographed again. I must admit that it took me a couple of seconds to discover what was wrong with the photo until the penny dropped. The straight vest inspired by Haider Ackermann’s architectonic style and jewel colors was not meant to be reversible nor did I consider that some knitters would prefer the wrong side out. The abstract pattern has its admirers, just as the beautiful Norsk Pelsull/Norwegian Furyarn from Hifa it is knitted in. Below is one of the photos from the second series of photos with the right side out. Both are taken by Esten A. Borgos and will be shown in Familien when the pattern is published, date to be confirmed. I can also reveal that I chose to include the vest in my photo shoot and that it has now been photographed professionally three times. To be continued.
I am delighted to show you the Jacket in Cross made by Tone Camilla in a thin beautiful red alpaca yarn. She shortened the sleeves and worked fewer rows on the collar than stated in the pattern. I met Tone Camilla last weekend at the Finishing and Fairisle workshop I held in Larvik. As ever it was a thrill to see one of my designs knitted and worn. Thank you Tone Camilla! It is one of my favorites from my knitting book available in Norwegian and Finnish. Below is a photo from the book of the stunning Francesca Golfetto captured by Kim Müller. Missoni’s thin and featherlight garments inspired me to design this jacket that can be tied at the back. I chose a neutral but fashionable color, namely Taupe. The pattern creates an intricate cross effect and look a lot more complicated than it is to knit. The stitch pattern is stretchy and knitted loose to create a sculptural effect. The sleeves are knitted with double yarn in the round, while the body is knitted flat. It is knitted in Valley Yarns Tencel 8/2 with 2 strands held together (100% Lyocell, 453 g/1lb cone, 3072 m/3360 yds) and available to order from WEBS in the US; yarn and Handweavers Studio in the UK; handweavers. Tencel is a delight to work with a sheen and touch similar to silk but less slippery. Like a magic trick it only needs a light stretch to create a machine knitted resemblance and an evenness you thought you could only dream of.
Photograph: Kim Müller
Inspiring knitting gathering this coming Saturday at Gyldendal, the publisher of Sidsel J. Høivik’s book “Lekre masker og Lekne Sting”/Gorgeous stitches and playful stitching. I have been waiting for this book launch where Sidsel will present her book, garments will be displayed, yarn and books will be available for sale. Refreshments and free entrance, so there is no reason for not going in other words. Here is my review of the beautiful book lekre-masker-og-lekne-sting, that came out in June, and here are photos from the amazing space at Gyldendal: knit-cafe-at-gyldendal-publishing-house. I am looking forward to this and to the National Knitting Night on Friday, a slow television program with 10 hours of televised knitting from 20.00 to 06.00, see slow-tv-norwegian-movement-nrk. NRK is working on streaming the program online, according to their Head of Social Media, due to the enormous response for all over the world. I will post the link when it is available, see message from Head of Social Media below; on how you can follow and talk to them. In the meantime here is the trailer with English sound: nrk.
Matches is a chain of exclusive fashion stores offering the best in new and established labels located in the London area. It is one of those places I miss browsing in, and where I have done quite a bit of window shopping. Indeed, I have found a few treasures at the end of the sale including a pair of sky high Camilla Skovgaard shoes I bought especially for the photoshoot of my knitting book, see this post: sneak-peak-1. They do have a online shop which is great site for inspiration, and even better is The Style Report a free printed magazine filled with the biggest trends of the season. Look at the latest designs from Balenciaga, Stella McCartney, Givenchy and Alexander McQueen just to mention a few. On the cover of AW13 is Julia Restoin Roitfeld, daughter of the former French Vogue Editor-In-Chief, Carine Roitfeld, and the star of Givenchy’a campaigns this season. If you feel tempted, you can choose between a print or a digital magazine here: matchesfashion.
My husband and I went to the opening of Pierre’s new exhibition at Åpent Bakeri/Open Bakery a few weeks back. Yes it is him standing in the doorway in the photo above. This is his second exhibition at Åpent Bakeri, called “Fragments 2013” and shows “photos of 18 moments which made him stop and forget everything else for a second. Fragments from a life and a world filled with longing and happiness; to a smaller or a larger degree from France and Lebanon.” Those are the other two countries close to his heart, where he has family and friends. Pierre explains in the interview at foto.no that it is the daily moments that catches his attention; whether it is a situation, a movement or light that attracts him. Pierre is mainly driven by a wish to share the just these special moments with others. And I for one, is ever so grateful he does. Do look at the photos accompanying the interview and on his website: pierrehetzel. The exhibition will be hanging until late December, so do visit the exhibition and enjoy the moments he has captured so brilliantly, if you can.
I have been waiting to release this pattern in English since I wanted to include at least one of the photos we took at the photo shoot in September. The brilliant photographer is Kim Müller and the stunning model is dancer Francesca Golfetto. A deep rich wine red shade was the perfect choice for the leaf vines stitch patterned sleeves of this summer sweater. The A-line shape is created by the lace pattern frame and worked in twisted rib on each side of a body in stocking stitch; knitted in the round to the armholes, then flat. The lace pattern is the highlight of the sweater and relishes the beautiful mercerized Egyptian cotton, called Luxor from Hifa, see ull. I want to thank all my test knitters who checked, and suggested improvements to the pattern. You can see their versions on Ravelry where the pattern is available to buy and download: summer-leaves-sweater.
Size: S (M) L (XL) XXL
Finished Measurements: Bust: 90 (96) 104 (114) 124 cm/35.5 (37.75) 41 (45) 48.75″ Hip: 110 (116) 124 (134) 144 cm/43.25 (45.75) 48.75 (52.75) 56.75″ Length: 74 (74) 75 (77) 79 cm/29.25 (29.25) 29.5 (30.25) 31″ Sleeve length: 50 cm in all sizes/19.75″
Yarn: Hifa, Luxor (100% Egyptian mercerized cotton, 253 m/276 yds, 100 g): 6 (6) 7 (8) 9 skeins in wine red sh 345: 1290 (1442) 1645 (1898) 2150 m/1411 (1577) 1799 (2076) 2351 yds.
Yarn alternatives: Cascade Ultra Pima Fine (100% pima cotton, 50 g, 124 m/ 136 yds) cascadeyarns or Rowan Cotton Glacé (100% cotton, 50 g, 115 m/125 yds) knitrowan Or another DK/8 ply.
Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needles (2 x 80 cm/32”) and (40 cm/16”) and DPNs.
Notions: 6 Stitch markers, stitch holders and yarn needle.
Gauge: 24 sts and 31 rnds in st st using 3 mm/US 2.5 equals 10 cm/4” square. 1 Leaves Pattern repeat equals 8×6 cm/3.25 x 2.25”
Notes: Body and sleeves are worked in the round until armhole, then flat. Sleeves are made extra long. Neck border is knitted flat. Stitch number on Leaves Pattern varies.
The pattern contains video links to techniques used, chart and schematic.
