Alva Pattern Released

Alva Poncho COVERA few weeks ago I released the English pattern of Alva on Ravelry and on Loveknitting. I had the pattern both tech edited and test knitted. Everyone helped me improve and perfect the pattern. Alva was first published in Norwegian in Familien Strikk in August last year. It was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne, worn by Anne Dorthe/Team Models with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling, jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design and boots by Monica Stålvang. You can see some of the finished ones on the pattern page. Here is my introduction to the pattern: A feminine poncho with a deep shawl collar in a reversible diamond pattern worked only in knit and purl stitches. Close it at the front or pin both fronts together at the back with a beautiful shawlpin. Or you can throw one front across your shoulder or wear it hanging loose. If you prefer, make buttonholes along the double seed stitch edge. The wide shoulder makes it drop down so, add a pair of long wrist warmers to make the outfit complete. The set is knitted in a luscious merino called  Tropical Lane Woolissimo, available at Det Mjuke in Norway.

Size: One size

Finished Measurements:                                                                                                      Bust: 177.5 cm/70″. Length: 77.5 cm/30.5″                                                                                  Shawl collar depth: 30 cm/11.75″. Shawl collar width at widest: 20 cm/7.75″ Wristwarmers: Bottom circumference: 18 cm/7″. Top circumference: 28 cm/11″

Yarn: Tropical Lane, Woolissimo (100% merino, 50 g, 125 m/137 yds). Sample is knitted in Wine 706:                                                                                                                                   Poncho: 18 skeins; 2188 m/2393 yds                                                                                             Wrist warmers: 2 skeins; 225 m/246 yds                                                                                   Note: 20 skeins is sufficent for set; 2413 m/2639 yds http://www.tropicallane.it/work.php?AREA=CHI&L=ENG

Alternative Yarn: Lang Yarns, Merino 120 (100% merino, 50 g, 120 m/131 yds) http://www.langyarns.com/index.cfm?a=spn&PageNum=3                                              Dream in Color, Everlasting DK (100% merino, 100 g, 251 m/274 yds) http://www.dreamincoloryarn.com/color-options-for-jilly-jilly-lace-everlasting-sock-dk-and-wisp/                                                                                                                                            Rico Essentials Merino DK,  (100% merino, 50 g, 120 m/131 yds) http://www.loveknitting.com/rico-essentials-merino-dk 

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (80 cm/32″). 4 mm/US 6 DPNs or long circular needle for magic loop method for wrist warmers. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 8 stitch markers, waste yarn and yarn needle.1 m/1 yard thin round elastic for wrist warmers if desired.

Gauge: 22 sts and 32 rows in st st, Double Seed sts and Diamond pattern measures 10 cm/4″ square.

Notes: The poncho is knitted in 3 parts and the shawl collar is worked at the same time as the front. The selvedge st is knitted in Double Seed st. At the end the collar is attached at the center back neck and the shoulders are sewn together. Make buttonholes if you prefer. The pattern is reversible, so choose which side you prefer as the right side. You can easily thread a thin elastic through the top of the wrist warmers if preferred. The only sewing required is the join at the shoulders and at the center back neck.

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Familien Photoshoot: Alva

20150529 Linda Marveng HO 559 cropI am thrilled to show you the stunning photos of gorgeous model Anne Dorthe/Team Models, with beautiful hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and matching Carmen-wine boots by Monica Stålvang, as well as jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo, all brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne on location: Henie Onstad Kunstsenter. Alva, a feminine poncho with a deep shawl collar in a reversible diamond pattern worked only in knit and purl stitches. Close it at the front or pin both fronts together at the back with a beautiful shawlpin. Or you can throw one front across your shoulder or wear it hanging loose. If you prefer, make buttonholes along the double seed stitch edge. The wide shoulder makes it drop down so, add a pair of long wrist warmers to make the outfit complete. The set is knitted in a luscious merino called Tropical Lane Woolissimo, available at Det Mjuke in Norway, who kindly sponsored both yarn and knitting. The Norwegian pattern will be published in the special issue Familien Strikk out on 24th August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my group on Ravelry before its release.

20150529 Linda Marveng HO 586 cropThe poncho is knitted in 3 parts, using a 4 mm/US 6, and the shawl collar is worked at the same time as the front. The selvedge stitch is knitted in Double Seed stitch. At the end the collar is attached at the neck and the shoulders are sewn together. Make buttonholes if you prefer. The pattern is reversible, so choose which side you prefer as the right side. You can easily thread a thin elastic through the top of the wrist warmers if preferred. The only sewing required is the join at the shoulders and at the center back neck.

20150529 Linda Marveng HO 598The poncho comes only in one size with a bust circumference of 177.5 cm/70″ and a length of 77.5 cm/30.5″, just as the wrist warmers do; 18 cm/7″ at the bottom and 28 cm/11″ at the top with a length of 32 cm/12.5″, but both can easily be adjusted (by adding or removing pattern repeats or a longer or shorter bottom bands) to your preferred size. You will recognize the stunning jewelry from the previous design as the Karakoram earrings and Hekla ring, both in oxidized silver designed by Kaja Gjedebo. More divine photos to come…

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New Design: Alva

XT1A2750I wanted to design another poncho, since the first one I made – Mohair Poncho for my book – is so popular but whether it is due to the design or the styling or both, I am not sure. Just as last time, my aim was to make a more stylish poncho than the traditional triangular shaped ones: My Alva is a feminine poncho with a deep shawl collar in a reversible diamond pattern worked only in knit and purl stitches. Close it at the front or pin both fronts together at the back with a beautiful shawl pin, see above. Or you can throw one front loosely across your shoulder or wear it hanging loose (see below). If you prefer, make buttonholes along the double seed stitch edge. The wide shoulder makes it drop down so, add a pair of long wrist warmers to make the outfit complete. The set is knitted in a luscious merino called Tropical Lane, Wollissimo available in Norway from the online shop “Det Mjuke“. The Norwegian pattern will be published in Familien Strikk on sale from late August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group before its release.

XT1A2773Not only the yarn but also the knitting is kindly sponsored by Tropical Lane and “Det Mjuke“. It was the Manager herself, Anne Magrethe Manzetti – yes, she is Norwegian but have spent 8 years in Italy and is fluent in Italian (read: yes, including all knitting terminology) – who organized the yarn sponsoring and knitted the sample poncho with the matching wrist warmers. Yes, it is big and the poncho takes 17 skeins to knit, each consisting of 50 grams with 125 meters/137 yards in pure merino, using 4 mm/US 6. Hence it comes in only one size with a bust circumference of 170 cm/67″ and a length of 80 cm/31.5″.

XT1A2775 cropThe poncho is knitted in 3 parts and the shawl collar is worked at the same time as the front. The selvedge stitch is knitted in Double Seed stitch. At the end the collar is attached at the neck and the shoulders are sewn together. Make buttonholes if you prefer. The pattern is reversible, so choose which side you prefer as the right side. You can easily thread a thin elastic through the top of the wrist warmers if preferred. The only sewing required is the join at the shoulders and at the center back neck.

XT1A2763I did at first intend to make short-rows across the shoulders, but since there are 6 parts to it, the interference into the pattern was too massive and an old-fashioned bind off was the easier option. I did not want the poncho to hang like it was made for a super hero, hence the numerous bind off on the shoulders and the shawl collar. You could also wear the poncho with a belt either with only the front tucked in, or all around the poncho if you prefer.

XT1A2757I choose the side with most stocking stitch as the right side but the reversible Diamond pattern looks equally beautiful with the reverse stocking stitch side out. So you can decide before you need to join in your second ball which side to have as your right side. All the photos in this post is taken by my husband a few days before the professional photoshoot at the end of May. The poncho looked stunning on model Anne Dorthe/Team Models and it has been captured by brilliant photographer Eivind Røhne. To be continued.

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