Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Familien Julens Småstrikk 2016

Posted on November 16, 2016 by Linda Marveng

Chrismas is coming, and you can see it in the magazines in Norway. The special issue published by Familien called Familien Julens Småstrikk features accessories and small projects for Christmas including two of my designs: Keya Scarf and Maith. I am delighted to have my designs included in this packed issue with a total of 107 patterns. The photos are of the gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger, with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design is brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne.

My spreads of pages is introduced with the heading “Fin med fletter”/Nice with cables. Keya Scarf: Voluminus hidden sand cables in a tweed mixture made of Rowan Lima and Rowan Fine Tweed held together, creates a divine texture for this reversible scarf, called Keya after the bloom of a flower.

Maith: Divine silk and gracious cables give this shrug a feeling of goodness just as the old Irish word ”maith”. The shrug is worked from one sleeve cuff, across the back to the opposite sleeve cuff. Knit a cowl and use it as a collar on the shrug. Rowan Truesilk gives you a luxurious feeling and makes it perfect even for evening wear.

The magazine is available in selected supermarkets and at newsagents in Norway, if you live abroad you can order the magazine by e-mailing Kari.Bachke@egmont.com. I am fascinated to see that the number of Christmas issues with knitting patterns are increasing here in Norway. One reason might be the recent research paper by SIFO that found an astonishing 43% of women in Norway knit.

My Juul Cardigan in Interweave Knits Winter 2017

Posted on November 12, 2016 by Linda Marveng

Interweave / Harper Point Photography

@ Interweave / Harper Point Photography

The submission call for Interweave Knits Winter 2017 with its Winter Bride theme, hit me hard. Or hit home, you might say. Since I had just finished photographing my own Bridal inspired series, I called Norse Goddess Collection, and there were more ideas filling my head. I wanted a lacy jacket with a long cowl collar and tucks at the bottom of the sleeves. I choose an old favourite yarn the Jaggerspun Zephyr Lace 2/18 (50% tussah silk and 50% merino) held double for its crisp stitch definition, lusciousness and softness. I was delighted that my design was accepted by editor Meghan Babin. The winter bride story is stunningly styled by Tina Gill, with beautiful hair & makeup by Kira Friedman and photographed by Harper Point Photography at – the commonly called – Chapel on the Rock in Colorado. Just look at the wedding bouquet! There are several lace shawls and a long lace bridal jacket to blow your mind in the issue with 18 designs especially made for the issue.

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@ Interweave / Harper Point Photography

This is my introduction to Djuser Cardigan, the working title for the design: A reversible lace pattern reminiscent of the step pyramid of Djuser in Egypt, is the focus point of this straight cardigan with a generous cowl collar and cuffs made of tucks. A fake garter stitch seam add a bit of structure to this cardigan. The cowl collar can be worn loose behind the neck, folded once around the neck or twice in front or three times around the neck in a ballerina style hence perfect for a Winter Bride. Here is Meghan’s introduction to the theme: “…Our “Winter Bride” story is ethereal, bright, timeless, and elegant. This story captures the sophisticated tone of the issue while being decidedly feminine. This all white story features cardigans, shawls, a magnificent veil, and show stopping lace bridal jacket.”

Interweave / Harper Point Photography

@ Interweave / Harper Point Photography

The Juul Cardigan is worked from the bottom and up. The body is worked in one part to the armhole and then separated into 3 parts. I worked the sleeves in the round but the technical editor at Interweave suggests only working the tucks in the round and add a seam for stability to the sleeves. The extra long cowl is knitted separately in two parts and then joined together and sewn in place around the opening.

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@ Interweave / Harper Point Photography

The sample is knitted in the third size, with a bust measurement of 104 cm/41″, worn with 18 cm/7″ of ease. So it came out looser than intended, the same with the sleeve length, that had to be pinned up during photography. The sleeve length has been adjusted in the pattern. The cardigan is available in six sizes. Here is the Interweave introduction to the cardigan: “This unusual cardigan will draw every eye with its striking features. The tucked stitch cuffs and long attached loop collar add sophistication to the already beautiful lacework that adorns the back and sleeves.” Thank you so much, Interweave Knits team!

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@ Interweave / Harper Point Photography

Here is a detail of the back and how I choose to end the lace pattern on the sleeve cap. It is knitted using a 3.25 mm/US 3 needle with a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows in Lace pattern with 2 strands held together. The other story in the magazine is called “Whiskey and Wool” and you will find … “five rugged, sophisticated menswear sweaters, along with seven women’s wear design equal to their male counterparts”. The Donegal Sweater is my favourite among the menswear sweaters while the Bray Cardigan is the womenswear one, just in case you were wondering.

The Juul Cardigan is available as an individual download pattern or as part of the Interweave Knits Winter 2017 magazine available both digitally or in print. In Norway you will find the printed magazine in the larger Narvesen, or order it from your local one.

Makeløs Catwalk at Strikke 2016

Posted on October 8, 2016 by Linda Marveng

Hadeland Glassverk is organizing the knitting festival Strikke 2016 for the first time to celebrate the opening of their new gallery with a magnificent glass entrance area by Snøhetta. The launch of the festival was the first weekend in September, and the highlight was the outdoors catwalk by Makeløs/Remarkable – yes, it was and she is – stylist Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik. You see her above commenting on the gorgeous vintage table cloth used as a dress, worn with my Lattice Back Jacket and Aran mansjetter/cuffs. Yes, she did style that photoshoot of the jacket with the same divine table cloth, in Fredrikstad for the Norwegian magazine Made by Me too.

From the front view you see the table cloth worn with a brooch made by Siri Berrefjord. Kristin’s motto is that it is not essential that you know how to sew, to make an old stunning embroidered tablecloth into a poncho or a skirt, as long as you know how to use a stapler or creatively use safety pins. I could not attend this catwalk as I was teaching at Strik Bornholm that very same weekend. The photos above are taken by Geir Arnesen, and I am so grateful that he captured these moments to film.

Kristin’s signature is her use of vintage embroidered table cloths for dresses and skirts as well as embroidered bell pull as belts. You will find more photos from another cat walk here: Makeløs Redesign Fashion Show. Above is the Fletteskjørt/Cable skirt from my Norwegian knitting book styled with a bell pull as a magnificent belt. This photo taken by designer Helle Siggerud also gives you an idea of the size of the audience. Kristin was also asked to take part in the knitting festival in Fredrikstad, for a Makeløs Festaften/Remarkable Party Evening. And in case you are wondering: Yes, it was!

Oydis in Familien

Posted on October 5, 2016 by Linda Marveng

My design Oydis Sweater together with the Cowl is published in the Norwegian magazine Familien issue number 20 which has 40 pages of knit. The design is not featured on the cover but on the introduction to the Handicraft section together with a photo of the handicraft editor: Åse Myhrvold Egeland. She writes: “Those who predicted that the knitting wave that hit the country a few years back would dribble out after awhile, were wrong, very wrong. The yarn producers increase their turnover every year, and magazines and books with pattern are torn off the shelves. Many begin to knit when they are expecting a baby, there are so much wonderful baby wear. In this issue you will find 40 pages of knitting patterns, so there should be something for every taste, whether you knit for yourself, your spouse, child or grandchild.”

Here is my introduction to the Oydis Sweater: A shadow diamond cable dominates this a-line sweater with a curved flattering hem. I-cord bands frame the bottom of the sweater, while garter stitches mark the sides and the round neckband. The sweater, with or without the cowl to dress it up, make the outfit ideal for the Goddess of good luck; Oydis. The body of the sweater is knitted flat, while the sleeves and the cowl, are knitted in the round. A fine tweed yarn is held together with an alpaca lace yarn, with a chain construction, to create a fabric with a beautiful stitch definition and a slight halo.

The Oydis Sweater and Cowl is knitted in Du Store Alpakka Dreamline Soul held together with Pickles Merino Tweed using a 4 mm/US 6 needle with a gauge of 20 stitches and 30 rows in Stocking stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The sweater is available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″. The cowl can be worn both hanging loose or twice around the neck.

It was gorgeously modeled by Alexandria Eissinger with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design, all brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne. The English pattern for both sweater and loop has been test knitted and is available as part of the Norse Goddess Collection e-book with 7 patterns or as individual patterns on Ravelry and on Loveknitting.

Hel Pattern Released

Posted on October 1, 2016 by Linda Marveng

The long a-line vest Hel was received with excitement in my Ravelry group together with a request of a much earlier test knit than the one I had scheduled for next spring. I was happy to oblige and moved the test knit to July in time for late summer. The result was numerous stunning versions of Hel. You can see a selection of them here: Hel. The pattern was published in Norwegian in the special magazine Familien Strikk in August 2016. You will also find the English pattern available at Loveknitting. The sample knitted vest is one of five designs exhibited at Strikke 2016 at Hadeland Glassverk, and will be there until 30. October. Hel was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla by the fjord in June, worn by gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger with hair & make up by Jens J. Wiker and jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Here is my introduction to the pattern:

Sweeping Cables crown this long a-line vest with vents. The v-neck, framed by an I-cord bind-off, can be worn on the front or on the back. The cables have areas of rib in between hence a high rib became the obvious bottom band. Hel means complete in Norwegian and the Norse Hel ruled over nine worlds.

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

Finished measurements: Bust: 82 (90, 98, 106, 116 126) cm/32.25 (35.5, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)” Hip: 92 (100, 108, 116, 126, 136) cm/36.25 (39.25, 42.5, 45.75, 49.5, 53.5)” Length: 77 cm/30.25″

Yarn: Rowan Yarns, Alpaca Merino DK (83% alpaca, 10% nylon, 7% wool, 25 g, 105 m/115 yds). Sample is knitted in Belvoir 107. 9 (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) skeins; 869 (1016, 1103, 1200, 1310, 1420) m/950 (1111, 1206, 1312, 1432, 1553) yds. http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/alpaca-merino-dk

Alternative yarn: Rowan Softyak DK (76% cotton, 15% yak, 9% nylon, 50 g, 135 m/148 yds). http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/softyak-dk

Needles: 4.5 mm/US 7 circular needle (80 cm/32″). 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (40 cm/16″) for armhole bands. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

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

Gauge: 22 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4″ square. 24 sts and 30 rows in rib measures 10 cm/4″ square. 62 sts Sweeping Cables measures 18 cm/7″ across.

Notes: The vest is knitted back and forth in parts.

Yellow Gold Pullover Released

Posted on September 28, 2016 by Linda Marveng

Yes, this is not a new pattern but the rights have reverted to me from Interweave Knits and it is now available in English in my Ravelry Store and on Loveknitting. The English pattern was first published in Interweave Knits Fall 2015 issue, and in Norwegian in Familien Strikk in August 2016. The sample knitted sweater is one of five designs exhibited at Strikke 2016 at Hadeland Glassverk, and will be there until 30. October. Yellow Gold Pullover was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla by the fjord in June, worn by gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger with hair & make up by Jens J. Wiker and jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Here is my introduction to the pattern:

Elegant chain link cables framed by a welt pattern adorn this casual sweater. It is knitted straight from the bottom and up in parts with extra ease for comfort. Spindrift, a fine heathered wool was chosen for its lightness and color. The round neck makes it easy to wear over a crisp shirt or your favorite t-shirt.

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

Finished measurements: Bust: 88 (95, 100, 110, 122, 132) cm/34.75 (37.5, 39.25, 43.25, 48, 52)” Length: 55 (56, 57, 58, 59, 60) cm/21.75 (22, 22.5, 22.75, 23.25, 23.5)” Sleeve length: 45 (45.5, 45.5, 45.5, 47, 47) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 20, 20)”

Yarn: Jamieson’s Spindrift (100% wool, 25 g, 105 m/87 yds). Sample is knitted in 1160 Scotch Broom: 10 (11, 12, 14, 15, 17) skeins; 1045 (1134, 1218, 1386, 1554, 1722) m/1143 (1240, 1332, 1516, 1699, 1883) yds. http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double-knitting-1-c.asp

Alternative yarn: Brooklyn Tweed, Loft (100% wool, 50 g, 251 m/275 yds) https://www.brooklyntweed.com/shop/loft/

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (40 cm/16″) for neckband. 2 sets of 3.25 mm/US 3 circular needle (60 cm/24″) for body and tucks. 3.25 mm/US 2 circular needle (40 cm/16″) for neckband. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 2 cable needles (cn), stitch holders, stitch markers and yarn needle.

Gauge: 51-sts Chain Link Cable Panel measures 13 cm/5.5″ across. 23 sts and 32 rows in Welt pattern measures 10 cm/4″ square.

Notes: The straight sweater is worked from the bottom and up in parts and then sewn together. The cables are gathered before the neck bind off to keep their volume.

Hillesvåg Exclusive

Posted on September 3, 2016 by Linda Marveng

My four designs for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk were launched on Thursday at Oslo Design Fair. Halli, Elfa, Idunn and Andor are all knitted in a lustrous pelt yarn, the first two in the new finer Hifa Sølje with 350 meters/382 yards on each 100 gram skein and the last two in Hifa Tinde – formerly Norsk Pelsull with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein. Here are photos from the A-5 brochure made for wholesale and which will be available online later. On the cover is a photo of the sideways cardigan Halli.

On the following next 2 pages are an overview together with a brief presentation of me as well as the Hillesvåg Exclusive: “Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk have in connection with the acknowledged knitwear designer Linda Marveng compiled a collection consisting of four designs in Norwegian Pelt yarn. Linda Marveng loves to design feminine garments, especially with cables or in lace. She worked for Rowan Yarns as a Design Consultant in London and published her first Norwegian knitting book in 2012. Linda designs for both Norwegian and International magazines, proofread knitting publications, translates patterns and hold workshops. www.marveng-puckett.com/wordpress/. Hillesvåg Exclusive are collections made in co-operation with selected designers. The collections hold an extremely high quality and are specially made with the fashion conscious knitter in mind.

Idunn: Named after the Norse goddess of spring and immortality is this straight sweater with a Henley neck with center cables. Ribs frame the cables in each side and make the sweater figure hugging. One center cable adds texture to the sleeve. Yarn: Tinde Pelsullgarn.

Elfa: Elfa is an a-line long jacket with central cables along all parts. Tucks divide the different patterns giving a slight flair and a softer touch to the jacket. A large shawl collar crowns the garment, hence the given name Elfa – after the Norse king and warrior. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round to the underarm. Yarn: Sølje Pelsullgarn.

Halli: A sideways cardigan with a reverse textural pattern, and deep waterfall fronts. Each front and sleeve has two tucks at the end; one in reverse stockinette stitch and one in stockinette stitch. Choose if you prefer to leave the fronts hanging loose, pinned loosely together or draped across each other. Halli, comes from Old Norse and means rock. Perfect for the stitch pattern and symbolicly for becoming the rock in your wardrobe. Yarn: Sølje Pelsullgarn.

Andor: A trendy oversized poncho defined by its pairs of ornamental cables on each wide shoulder part. The stockinette center part is crowned by a high neck collar. The poncho has sidebands that can be closed with buttons. It is knitted flat in two parts with shoulder and neck shaping. Andor is the Norse element for Eagle and its wingspan appropriate for this poncho. Yarn: Tinde Pelsullgarn.

Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is a living handicraft company which has produced quality yarns and combed wool through four generations. In 1898 Mikkel Myhr started the production on the same wooden floors which today makes an historic frame around our wool goods.

With windows towards a quiet fjord north of Bergen, is Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk proud to be a completely Norwegian run producer of yarn, combed wool and Norwegian knitting design.

Credits: Photo: Eivind Røhne. Model: Alexandria Eissinger/Nordic Model Agency. Hair and Make up Artist: Jens J. Wiker. Thank you to Kaja Gjedebo Design for loan of jewelry. Photographed at Villa Malla, Filtvet.

www.hifa.no and www.ull.no

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Andor

Posted on August 31, 2016 by Linda Marveng

The last of the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk yarn kit designs is also the most popular, the poncho Andor. As always I enjoyed seeing it worn by Alexandria Eissinger, she made it look more stylish than I ever can. With hair and make by Jens J. Wiker and statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design as well as boots by Monica Stålvang Shoes, Alexandria was brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne at Villa Malla by the Oslo Fjord. Wearing long gloves, boots, scarf and a woolen poncho in a sweltering heat reaching above 30 degrees Celsius/86 degrees Fahrenheit, she looked so cool while the rest of us were suffering in thin summer clothing. Andor is the favorite project of both Alexandria and my husband, of those photographed in June. The poncho knitted in Hifa Norsk Pelsull soon to be renamed Hifa Tinde, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle and 4 mm/US 6 for the turtle neck. The yarn kits will be launched at Oslo Design Fair tomorrow.

A trendy oversized poncho defined by its pairs of ornamental cables on each wide shoulder part. The stockinette center part is crowned by a high neck collar. The poncho has sidebands that can be closed with buttons. It is knitted flat in two parts with shoulder and neck shaping. Andor is the Norse element for Eagle and its wingspan appropriate for this poncho.

The poncho is knitted in two parts, back and forth. The large collar is picked up and knitted at the end, just as the sidebands. The shoulder is shaped with short-rows and then joined using a 3-needle bind-off. Each sideband has two buttonholes.

Instead of wearing long gloves you could easily knit a pair of long wrist warmers in for example a rib. The poncho comes in one size with a bust measurement of 212 cm/83.5″, and a length of 72 cm/28.25″. You can easily change the size by removing or adding stitches to the center and or next to the shoulder part, or merely by changing the needle size.

The yarn kits will be available in selected yarn stores and online from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk after the launch at Oslo Design Fair. You will find the kits on this page after their launch: Eksklusiv Gjestedesign. Unfortunately I will not be at the launch at Oslo Design Fair but I am at Strik Bornholm and looking forward to traveling back to the sunshine island of Bornholm. I hope to see some of you there.

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Elfa

Posted on August 20, 2016 by Linda Marveng

I am pleased to present the magnificent professional photos of the third design for yarn kits for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Elfa is an a-line long jacket with central cables along all parts. Tucks divide the different patterns giving a slight flair and a softer touch to the jacket. A large shawl collar crowns the garment, hence the given name Elfa – after the Norse king and warrior. The body is worked in pieces while the sleeves are worked in the round to the underarm. It is knitted in the in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Sølje from Hifa. Gorgeous Alexandria Eissinger – with hair and make up by Jens J. Wiker, jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design and boots by Monica Stålvang Shoes – shows it off so elegantly at the upper terrace of Villa Malla by the Oslo fjord brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne. It was a sweltering day that made the fjord look more like the Mediterranean Sea. The yarn kits with the Norwegian pattern will be launched at Oslo Design Fair from 1. to 4. September. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group in April next year before its release.

Elfa is knitted using 3 mm/US 4 needles with a gauge of 24 stitches and 34 rows in stocking stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The body is worked flat in pieces, unlike the long sleeves which are worked in the round to the armhole. The hem and the tuck are worked with 2 sets of circular needles held together. To make the bottom band and tuck to flare less choose needle size 2.5 mm/US 1.5. The number of stitches picked up for collar has been adjusted from the sample to avoid the flare.

The bottom band on all parts begins with a provisional cast on, which will be pulled out and replaced by an I-cord bind off at the end. The collar also ends in an I-cord bind off. The cables are the same ones chosen for the Idunn pullover. Framed by stocking stitch in the sides and divided by a tuck to the garter stitch collar and bottom band, instead of a rib, the jacket has a more feminine look to it.

Alexandria is wearing size S and is a clothes size European 34/UK 6/US 2. Elfa is graded from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/41 to 49.75″. The yarn kits will be available from selected yarn stores and online here: Eksklusiv Gjestedesign. The last design for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in this collection is the most popular of them all the Andor Poncho.

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Idunn

Posted on August 16, 2016 by Linda Marveng

Next out of the four designs for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is Idunn. Alexandria Eissinger looks gorgeous in the pullover, with beautiful hair and make up by Jens J. Wiker, statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design and boots by Monica Stålvang Shoes, all brilliantly captured b Eivind Røhne on a sweltering day in June at Villa Malla by the Oslo fjord. Idunn is: Named after the Norse goddess of spring and immortality is this straight sweater with a Henley neck with center cables. Ribs frame the cables in each side and make the sweater figure hugging. One center cable adds texture to the sleeve. The sweater is worked in the round to the underarm in the lustrous pelt yarn with a mohair feel, Norsk Pelsull – re-named Tinde – from Hifa. The Norwegian pattern will be available only in yarn kits to be launched by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk at Oslo Design Fair from 1. to 4. September. The yarn kits will be available in selected yarn stores and online here: Eksklusiv Gjestedesign. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group in March.

Idunn is worked using 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle with a gauge of 21 stitches and 30 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The pullover, both the sleeves and the body are worked in the round until the armhole and then worked back and forth in rows.

The pullover is straight without any shaping but the ribbing in the side make it appear fitted. I have graded the pullover from size XS to 2XL, with a bust circumference of 88 cm to 129 cm/34.75 to 50.75″.

Alexandria is wearing size S and is a clothes size European 34/UK 6/US 2. Next up is professional photos of the a-line jacket Elfa with the same cables.