Familien Photoshoot: Quamara

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I am thrilled to begin the presentation of the brilliant photos Eivind Røhne took of gorgeous model (and a photographer herself – no less – see cargocollective.com) Anne Dorthe/Team Models, with beautiful hair & make up by Sissel Fylling, jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo, at location; Henie Onstad Kunstsenter. First garment out is Quamara, knitted in Permin Zenta, a luscious wool and silk mixture, with a long loop closure attached at the front. The jacket, knitted in kindly sponsored yarn using 3.5 mm/US 4, is available in sizes XS to 2XL and the Norwegian pattern will be printed in the separate issue Familien Strikk, out on Monday 24. August. The English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry Group before its release.

Several of our planned backdrops had to be ruled out due to the strong sunshine on Friday 29th May. I liked the look of this wall, which did not take any focus away from the lace pattern nor compete with the bright lime color. There are three lace repeats on the loop and on the sleeve, while the back has a panel of five pattern repeats. In the first photo the loop collar is worn hanging around the neck, just as you would put the jacket on. In the photo above the loop is crossed at the front and then folded around the neck.

I have made the fronts narrow since the loop is wide, especially when worn around the neck at least once in addition to the already attached part. All the borders on the straight jacket are worked in garter stitch including a fake side seam. Anne Dorthe is wearing statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo: Karakoram earrings and Hekla ring, both in oxidized silver. I desperately wanted to borrow more jewelry from Kaja after shoe designer Monica Stålvang introduced me to her modern work with crispy clean lines at the previous photoshoot. I was invited home to see her workshop, and to pick what I wanted to borrow. Needless to say, that I picked a lot and did not dare try any of it on since I knew it was a press loan and not a shopping spree.

Above is my favorite way of wearing the jacket like a ballerina wrap, with the loop twice around the neck, making the straight jacket figure hugging and tight. The loop is made in two parts so that the lace pattern is identical on both fronts. It is knitted together with a 3-needle bind off at the neck while the cast-on edges are joined using mattress stitches creating a neat but visible stocking stitch seam, see above. At the end it is attached along each front to center neck, while the remaining parts are left to hang loose – see bottom photo.

Just as the loop reigns on the front, I wanted the lace panel to reign on the back. As you might have noticed I am not a knitter that enjoys knitting large parts in stocking stitch, hence it will be kept to a minimum. The body is knitted flat in one piece up to the armhole, then separated, while the set-in sleeves are knitted in the round to the armhole, then flat.

It was important to show how the loop looks when it is hanging loose, hence its full length. That also gives me an excuse to show off Monica Stålvang’s Daniela boots I borrowed for the shoot. And yes, I did deliver them back the following day!

New Design: Mistale

Posted on July 18, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I love my Cable Round Sweater, not only the cables but also the fit and – above all – the immaculate styling by Makeløs/Remarkable Kristin Elise Halkjelsvik, but I still wanted to take the design further. I decided to incorporate some modifications suggested by my talented test knitters. The result is a cabled sweater with more ease in the body itself, and less ease on the sleeves. The yarn choice was easy, since the vivid lime green in the stunning pelt yarn, Norsk Pelsull, from Hifa intoxicated me. I discovered that cross cables with round cables in the middle made a gorgeous texture. By framing the cables with a rib, the sweater becomes figure hugging and is the perfect accompaniment to your favourite jeans or trousers. It ends with a squarish narrow neckband and you can choose if you want to add the matching cowl. The Norwegian pattern will be published in Familien Strikk out on Monday 24. August, while the English version will be test knitted in my group before its release.

The Sweater, both the sleeves and the body are worked in the round to the armhole and then worked back and forth in rows. The cowl is worked in the round as a long tube, and then the ends are joined together. There is more ease in the body and less in the sleeves compared to the Cable Round Sweater.

And of course, I had to make a matching cowl. Just as the Cable Round Cowl it has cables on one side and ribs on the other. Due to the thickness since it is knitted in the round, it is firm and easy to drape twice around your neck.

To illustrate the length of the cowl, here it is worn around the neck. The set was photographed in strong sunlight by my husband a few days before the professional photoshoot. The yarn color is closest to the top photo. The yarn has been kindly sponsored by Hifa. Photographer Eivind Røhne has captured it brilliantly when worn on model Anne Dorthe at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter. I have one more new design I can reveal before I show you the professional photos!

New Design: Oili

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Why not try the newly discovered cables in a thinner cotton yarn, I thought. The tape yarn Bonnie from Permin, with a generous 220 m/240 yds on a 50 g skein as well as a recommended 4 mm/US 6 needle, was irresistible. First I chose the color Wine but it was out of stock, so I had to find another and went for Pale Blue, which looked more Sea Green online. The result was a greyish pale blue shade, that grew on me. I am pleased to present Oili: Playful cables are the focus of this classic straight top, knitted in the round with each side marked by garter stitches. Narrow bands of garter stitch band frame the armholes, neckline and bottom edge. The top has a matching cowl, with cables all around. The set is knitted in a soft cotton tape yarn by Permin, called Bonnie, to make you feel like a divine woman – the meaning of the name Oili. The sample is knitted in sponsored yarn by the talented, super speedy, Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry. The Norwegian pattern will be published in the special issue Familien Strikk out at the end of August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my group on Ravelry and then released.

The top is worked in the round to the armholes, then separated. I wanted to create a visible fake side seam and a divider between the parts. A few stitches in garter stitch and one in a reverse stocking stitch made the look I wanted. The cowl is worked in the round as a long tube, and then the ends are joined together. The armhole band and the neck band are worked in the round on a smaller needle; 3.5 mm/US 4.

I decided to make a similar divider and folding point on the cowl. But the cotton is lovely and soft so it does not fold as neatly as expected. As you can see in the photo above. They are all taken by my husband a few days ahead of the professional photoshoot at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter.

The cowl can be folded twice around the neck, see above. Just like the top the cowl has 3 cables on each side. You can look forward to seeing how marvelous it looks on Anne Dorthe!

New Design: Imra

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I found this cable pattern online and instantly adored it. The pattern repetition is long hence length and cable placement had to be carefully planned. This is my introduction to it: Poetic cables framed by reverse stockinette stripes and double seed stitch, was my idea for this straight long vest. Named after the Arabic Poet, Imra. A small round neck has the same I-cord treatment as the armhole, front and bottom edge. Match with a pair of loose sleeve that can also be around the waist or one as a neck tie. To achieve popping cables two yarns were combined to make a rich colored tweed yarn; the bouncy Hifa Ask and Rowan Fine Tweed. The mix as well as the color is one I have used before (read: hooked on) in my Shawl Sleeves. I also choose to knit them with a dense gauge using a 4 mm/US 6. I was delighted that Grete Jenssen – aka turbo test knitter, aka ma9 on Ravelry – knitted the sample vest and the loose sleeves for me! The Norwegian pattern will be published in “Familien Strikk” at the end of August, while the English pattern will be test knitted then released on Ravelry this autumn.

I-cord bind off on the neck and the armhole was essential to me. Why not give the fronts and the bottom I-cord edgings too? I thought. For the bottom one, I tested out a new method to me, make an I-cord and pick up and knit stitches from it. There is an I-cord cast on, but as you may know it does create a very loose first row, hence a different solution had to be found. I found it on YouTube. It has elasticity but holds in the bottom at the same time. Another solution would have been to use a provisional method and then afterwards use the I-cord bind off. The I-cord at the front is worked at the same time as the front using this method: newstitchaday.com/how-to-knit-the-i-cord-edge-stitch. Grete suggested adding a few extra rows in even intervals on the I-cord edge to avoid it holding in the edge, and tested it out, to my utter satisfaction.

The vest is worked in rows in one piece to the armhole where it is separated. Each front has a 3-sts I-cord edge that is worked at the same time as the vest. Both the narrow neckline and the armhole band has an I-cord bind off but the armhole band is worked in the round with a Double Seed stitch band. If you prefer a smaller armhole band continue working decreases. To achieve a looser bottom band, use a provisional cast-on method, and then make an I-cord bind off instead.

I choose double seed stitch as the main contrast stitch and reverse stripes – a welt pattern – in each side bound off for the armhole. To make the armhole smaller, a band was made by picking up and knitting rounds in double seed stitch while decreasing. I could easily have continued to do so to make the armhole even smaller. The vest is graded to fit sizes XS to 2XL, with a finished bust measurement of 84 (91, 98, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (33.75, 38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)”. Both yarns have been kindly sponsored by Hifa and Permin, Rowan’s Scandinavian agent.

Above, I have joined the loose sleeves with 2 shawl pins and wear it as a belt. All the photos above where taken by my husband a few days before the professional photo shoot at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter. I look forward to showing you those stunning photos.

New Design: Alva

Posted on June 27, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I 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.

Not 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″.

The 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.

I 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.

I 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.

New Design: Sculpted Frost

Posted on June 20, 2015 by Linda Marveng

This last design in the series was only finished in the evening before the photo shoot. My vision was clear, but the knitting less so. Both the sleeves and the back was easy to plan and quick to knit, unlike the fronts which needed more calculations for the neck shaping. The beautiful frost flower lace pattern is easier to knit than it looks since it has sets of rows that are repeated throughout the pattern. It adorns the body of this a-line jacket, while the sleeves only have a part of the pattern; a central lattice panel so that the frost flowers can reign supreme. The long jacket is framed by a shawl collar in garter stitch divided by a tuck and finished by an I-cord bind off. I tried different yarn options but loved this vivid lilac, the result of combining the divine melange lace weight Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline Soul with the beautiful light fingering comb wool Hifa Huldra Kamgarn. Together they create a stunning stitch definition as well as a slight halo. The Norwegian pattern will be published in Familien Strikk at the end of August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group and then published there.

The two yarns held together create a DK/8 ply weight yarn and are worked using a 4 mm/US 6 needle throughout. It will be available in sizes XS to 2XL, and in these photos by my husband, you see me wearing a size S. 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. The 3 larger sizes have been given a garter st panel on either side of the Frost Flowers, which you change to stocking stitch if you prefer.

To a hem that was too tight, I cast a larger number of stitches and decreased those extra stitches after the hem was closed using two circular needles. The stitch pattern makes it curve slightly. I decided to use garter stitch for the collar and shaped it with short rows before the I-cord bind off. With hindsight I could have made the collar even wider, since the garter stitch pattern does tend to contract.

Here is a detail of the collar. And you can see the divine color the two yarns make combined. Both the Dreamline Soul yarn by Du Store Alpakka and Huldra Kamgarn by Hifa were sponsored. The design was initially made as a design submission for Amirisu, but not accepted, see my blogpost: Design in Progress Sculpted Frost Coat. The jacket has been stunningly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter and you can look forward to seeing those photos.

New Design: Quamara

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I discovered Zenta by the Danish yarn company and agents Permin last December, and was instantly drawn to the vivid lime color as well as their full shade card in a luscious wool and silk mixture: 50% wool, 30% silk, 20% nylon, 50 g, 180 m/196 yds. I decided to design a straight cardigan with a combined lace and cable stitch pattern to adorn the back, sleeves and the generous loop closure named after a beautiful elf, for the special issue called Strikk by Familien to be published at the end of August. The loop collar can be worn loose, folded once behind the neck or twice in front or three times around the neck in a ballerina style. I thought the idea was brilliant until I realized how long I actually need to knit the loop to make it work as I wanted: 300 cm/118″ consisting of two parts joined together at the neck and at the front. Permin could sense my stress, when I phoned them desperate for 2 more skeins to be able to complete the loop to my preferred length. Above you see me wearing it with the loop twice around my neck.

Place the loop around your neck to put the cardigan on, and leave it like that, see above. The photos are taken by my husband, but only give an indication of the cold and the strong wind we experienced at the end of May. Hence I do not look my best. The cardigan has garter stitch edges at the bottom, at the end of the front, as well as a fake garter stitch side seam to add a bit of structure to the cardigan.

The sleeves, knitted in the round, have one pattern repeat with what looks like 3 panels of lace, just as the loop which is knitted flat in two parts and then joined. The back has two pattern repeats with what looks like 5 panels of lace. The garter stitches in the side are divided by one stitch in reverse stocking stitch which give the appearance of a side seam.

The body is knitted in one piece to the armholes, then divided into 3 parts. The loop collar is knitted separately in two pieces, bound off on 3 needles and sewed on from the back neck, while the cast on edges are joined by mattress stitches. Maybe some knitters will opt to make a loop closure at the bottom instead of sewing it together? Or make a shorter scarf collar? The sleeves are knitted in the round and set-in.

Above you see it worn in ballerina style, three times around the neck and with a safety pin at the bottom of the fronts to make it stay flat. With the loop worn like this the cardigan gathers around the bust and the back, making it appear more like a fitted cropped bolero. Hence you have two cardigan in one: a straight casual one and a close fitting one.

The best way to illustrate the length of the loop is having it hang loose as above. I am sure there are more ways to wear the loop if you want a more avant-garde style. I plan to have the English pattern test knitted in my Ravelry group this autumn before it will be released. But long before that I will share the marvelous professional photos Eivind Røhne took of modell Anne Dorthe/Team models.

Behind the Scenes: Familien Strikk Photoshoot

Posted on June 3, 2015 by Linda Marveng

Would it stop raining for our scheduled photoshoot for Familien Strikk on Friday 29th May? It did, it was sunny but still cold. To plan the event I had booked photographer Eivind Røhne, hair & make up artist: Sissel Fylling and model: Anne Dorthe from Team Models. Then I convinced former Made by Me editor Mary-Ann Astrup to join us to for her essential advice. That my husband would be part of the team was obvious from the start. Next on the agenda was picking a location venue, and it is not easy, but I opted for Henie Onstad Kunstsenter because of the building itself and its location with a nature trail and marina. For styling, I borrowed from dress designer Judith Bech her magnificent fringe skirt, jewelry designer Kaja Gjedebo a selection of gorgeous jewelry and then obviously also Monica Stålvang some stunning boots. Above you can see Eivind and Dorthe in action with my husband assisting. Dorthe is wearing Quamara, a jacket with a loop closure knitted in Zenta by Permin in a mixture of wool and silk.

It was no surprise to hear that Sissel wanted to cut Dorthe’s hair, and that she was allowed. Just as last time, we could easily have formed a line wanting just that. The meeting room, Onstad, was our base for the day and the storage for all our suitcases packed with equipment and clothing. While Sissel was working away on Dorthe’s make up and hair, we discussed photo locations and order of garments. The strong sun was an issue we had to resolve at times, as well as the strong wind. As a result a couple of our prime locations such as the pier and next to the sculpture in the water with the Marina in the background had to be given up. Above, you can see how Mary-Ann is providing necessary shadow for Dorthe whose legs are covered in blankets, while she is wearing Nuala, a shawl buttoned up with a cowl knitted in Rowan Softknit Cotton.

Sissel is busy putting on nail varnish on Dorthe’s nails, just as we are ready for the first project to be photographed: Hertha shawl with loose sleeves knitted in Jaggerspun Zephyr Lace held double, worn together with Judith Bech’s fringe skirt. The stair case on the side of the building was first out as first back drop. If you look closely on the photo above, over the roof of the black tent you will see part of the sculpture of a banana. Now, using that as a backdrop would have made a very different photoshoot, we agreed!

Here we are looking at locations; 3 geniuses at work as Eivind put it, photographed by my husband. The marina is just in the background but also in the sun, unfortunately. But we did find another suitable location instead. We photographed 9 new designs for Familien, and a secret project. Sissel made sure we had a plan allowing only 30 minutes for each garment so that we would have time for a delicious lunch at Bølgen & Moi as well as finish before we needed to vacate the meeting room at 16.30. We made it, thanks to brilliant co-operation. A marvelous team work, thank you all!

Conic Coat Pattern Released

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Linda Marveng

I am behind in showing you the patterns I have released in English. In February after the completed test knit of the English pattern, I added Conic Coat with chart, schematic and video links to my Ravelry Store. The coat, knitted in Hifa Embla using a 4 mm/US 6, is worn by gorgeous dancer Francesca Golfetto, with beautiful hair & make up by Line Sekkingstad, brilliantly photographed by Kim Müller. The pattern was first published in Norwegian in the special issue Familien Strikk in August 2014. Here is my intro to the pattern: The triangles and blocks stitch pattern by Lynne Barr, creates shadows and a dense texture perfect for a long a-line coat with a soft and generous shawl collar, a seeded rib pattern, and a clever tuck. I have achieved my goal of designing a coat with architectonic elements you want to knit and wear.

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

Finished Measurements: Bust: 92 (98, 106, 116, 126) cm excl collar/36.25 (38.5, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)” Hip: 112 (118, 126, 136, 146) cm excl collar/44 (46.5, 49.5, 53.5, 57.5)” Collar width to v-neck: 9 cm/3.5″ Collar width (mid-neck) widest: 22 cm/8.75″ Length: 79 (80, 81, 82, 83, 84) cm/31 (31.5, 32, 32.25, 32.75, 33)” Sleevelength: 53.5 cm/21″

Yarn: Hifa, Embla – Hifa 3 in shade 6078 purple beige (100% wool, 100 g, 210 m/230 yds): 8.5 (9, 10, 11, 12) skeins; 1743 (1869, 2016, 2205, 2415) m/1906 (2044, 2205, 2411, 2641) yds. http://www.ull.no/garn/ullgarn/embla-hifa-3

Yarn alternative: Cascade, 220 (100% Peruvian Highland Wool; 100 g, 201 m/220 yds). http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-220.asp Berroco, Ultra Alpaca (50% Wool, 50% Alpaca, 100 g, 197 m/215 yds) http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-ultra-alpaca Madeline Tosh Pashmina Worsted (75% Merino, 15% Silk, 10% Cashmere, 100 g, 192 m/210 yds. http://madelinetosh.com/store/index.php/yarns/psh-worsted.html Or another worsted/10 ply yarn.

Needles: 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (100 cm/40″). 2 sets of 4 mm/US 6 circular needle (120 cm/48″ for collar)

Notions: 1 DPN. 6 stitch markers and 2 clip or waste yarn markers. 6 stitch holders. Yarn needle.

Gauge: 19 sts and 25 rows in st st measures 10 m/4″ square. 17 sts and 25 rows in Folded Triangles measures 10 cm/4″ square. 19 sts in Seeded Rib measures 10 cm/4″. Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notes: The coat is worked flat in pieces and then sewn together. Stitches are picked up for the collar and a tuck is worked before you begin with the Seeded Rib pattern. The shawl part of the collar is worked with short rows and ends with an I-cord bind off. The a-line decreases are worked in stocking stitch, while you discontinue the Folded Triangles pattern when you shape neck, armhole and sleevecap.

Design in Progress: Sculpted Frost Coat

Posted on December 20, 2014 by Linda Marveng

I love the frost flower lace pattern with its lattice panels and want to create a a-line coat with lattice panels on the sleeves and the frost flower pattern on the back and the fronts. It is a design that has evolved from its beginning as a design submission to the Japanese magazine Amirisu. Now it has been given cuffs, and I am planning a shawl collar. I found that by combining the divine melange lace weight Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline, Soul with the beautiful light fingering comb wool Hifa Huldra Kamgarn a stunning stitch definition as well as a slight halo was created. The color that appeared was an extra deep pink color with lilac tones. This design is one of a series I am planning for the Norwegian magazine Familien’s special issue Strikk/Knit due out in late August next year, then in English on Ravelry.

Other great design news is that one of my designs for Interweave Knits have been excepted and will be published in the 2015 Fall issue.

Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Tag Archives: Familien Strikk