Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Sirona

Posted on July 7, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Sirona, was another pullover that looked magnificent on Emma Ross at Villa Malla in late May. Photographer Eivind Røhne made sure we did not have any women in bikinis’ in the background and captured all these brilliant shots. Yes, I did struggle to minimise the number of chosen photographs. Sissel Fylling made sure Em’s hair & makeup was up to scratch and suggested a number of poses to Em. The statement jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design and the boots are by Monica Stålvang. Sirona is Celtic for Star Goddess, the name for this fitted pullover with an intricate central cable surrounded with smaller cables and seed stitch. The round neckline needed a crown and was given an I-cord bind off decoration. Sirona is knitted in pieces in the divine The Fibre Co. Cumbria.

I knitted this sample in the St. Bees Beach colourway of The Fibre Co. Cumbria using 3.5 mm/US 4 and 4 mm/US 6 needles with a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. The yarn is made of 60% Merino wool, 30% Brown Masham wool, 10% Mohair, with 218 meters/238 yards on each 100 gram skein.

Yes, Cumbria has become one of my staple yarns. This is the third pullover I have designed in this yarn. Vaga was the previous one and the first one was Eira Pullover made for knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017. Eira Pullover has been returned from Interweave to me and will be photographed again in my next photoshoot.

Sirona is worked back and forth in pieces and seamed. The neckband is worked in the round. Stitches are picked up and knitted from the first round of the neckband for the I-cord bind off decoration. Em is wearing size S, but I have graded the pullover from sizes XS to 2XL with a bust & hip circumference of 86 to 126 cm/33.75 to 49.5″. Waist circumference from 76 to 116 cm/30 to 41.75″.

The Norwegian pattern will be published in a special magazine by Familien released in August, while the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning 6th of August before its release.

I did wonder whether I should use the brown ski pants or the navy blue silk trousers together with Sirona, but opted for the silk trousers in the end since it is a fitted pullover. Next in this series from the photoshoot is the vest Var made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

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Ardra Pattern Released

Posted on July 4, 2018 by Linda Marveng

The test knit of Ardra has been completed and you can see a number of lovely versions on the Ravelry pattern page. Thank you to all my test knitters who corrected and improved the pattern. Ardra was made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the divine Sølje Peltwool. I choose the shade Cognac, since I knew how well it would match gorgeous modell Emma Ross’ hair. Photographer Eivind Røhne captured this shot of Em, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, at Bøler Church, last autumn.

Round knot cables run along the body of this a-line pullover with a slightly longer back. Only one cable adorns each sleeve. The body is worked in the round and ends in a round neck with an I-cord bind-off. A false seam on the sides make the fit better. Ardra is Celtic and means noble.

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

Finished Measurements
Bust: 84 (90, 96, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (35.5, 37.75, 41.75, 45.75, 49.5)“
Bottom width: 98 (104, 110, 120, 130, 140) cm/38.5 (41, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25, 55)”
Length back: 75.5 cm/29.75”
Length front: 69.5 cm/27.25”
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 50, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 20, 20)“

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Sølje Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 350 m/383 yds, 100 g). The sample is knitted in Cognac 2103; 3.5 (4, 4, 4.5, 5, 5.5) skeins;
1215 (1295, 1375, 1509, 1643, 1777) m/1328 (1416, 1503, 1650, 1796, 1943) yds.
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/ullgarn/norsk-pel…

Yarn alternatives: Cascade 220 Sport (100% wool, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.cascadeyarns.com/cascade-Cascade220Sport.htm
Tosh Sock (100% wool, 100 g, 361 m/394 yds).
http://madelinetosh.com/tosh-sock/
Berroco Cosma (60% alpaca, 30% wool, 10% silk, 50 g, 150 m/164 yds).
http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-cosma
Or another Sport/5 ply or Fingering 4/ply yarn.

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 circular needle (80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”).
3 mm/US 2.5 DPNs for sleeves.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: Stitch markers (removable), cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 32 rows in st st, after blocking measures 10 cm/4” square.
48-sts Ardra Cable Body measures 13 cm/5” across.

Notes: The body is knitted in the round with short rows for a longer curved hem at the back up to the armhole. Then it is worked back and forth in Back and Front. The sleeves are knitted in the round up to the armhole.

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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Vaga

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Vaga, knitted in the sea green, Yew Tree shade of The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted, looked magnificent on modell Emma Ross, at our photoshoot at Villa Malla. As usual Sissel Fylling had to cut her hair, so it would look immaculate, before styling it and then doing Em’s make up. We did not raise an eyelid, since this is the norm, now. Em is also wearing statement silver jewellery I borrowed from designer Kaja Gjedebo. Photographer Eivind Røhne captured these magic moments on a sweltering day in May. I choose to style Vaga with a pair of brown ski looking pants and boots from Monica Stålvang in a very similar green tone.Named after the Celtic Goddess of the River Wye is this pullover with cables that runs over the body and sleeves. A saddle shoulder allows the swing cable to continue to the neck with its twisted rib ending. The pullover is slightly shaped for the waist and knitted in the gorgeous The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted.

Cumbria Worsted is made of 60% Merino wool, 30% brown Masham Wool and 10% Mohair, with 218 meters/238 yards on each 100 gram skeins. Vaga is knitted using 4 mm/US 6 needle and with a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch per 10 cm/4″ square. It was sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on both Ravelry and Instagram, that made this in size S for me. Kristin knitted the pieces, while I crochet them together and knitted the neckband.

Vaga is scheduled for test knitting in my Ravelry group beginning on 9th July, before the English pattern will be released. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in a special magazine from Familien called Strikk, available in August.

The pattern has been graded from size XS to 2XL with a bust circumference from 84 cm to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″. Next design out in the photoshoot series is Sirona.

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Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Ogma Pullover

Posted on June 27, 2018 by Linda Marveng

It is showtime. Well, that is how it feels like to me, revealing all the amazing photos Eivind Røhne took of gorgeous modell Emma Ross at Villa Malla at the end of May. Her hair and make up was styled by Sissel Fylling and her jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Here you see Em wearing Ogma – an a-line pullover. The fantastic hand dyed colours in The Blue Brick, Escarpment DK yarn, looked stunning on Em. I chose to style the a-line raglan sweater with wide navy silk trouser. As always I had difficulties picking photos and ended up with ten photos, due to the two extra cowls.

We actually photographed Ogma last in the sweltering heat, just above the small beach at Villa Malla. The summer light was very bright so Eivind made sure Em was in the shadow made by one of his reflectors. Eivind did fetch his sand bags, so none of us had to hold onto his reflectors, I am pleased to say.Named after the Celtic goddess who rules over inspiration and spells is this a-line raglan pullover, which began as a fade project but ended on the wild side. The Blue Brick’s divine Escarpment DK in four handpainted colors was my epiphany. From darkness to lightness and with sleeves knitted in Succulent, a pale green with a grey tinge. A regal cable adorns the center body, surrounded by garter stitch and ends in a square front neck. To crown the pullover, make a small cabled cowl and a larger garter stitch cowl.

Em is wearing size S, but I have graded it in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust measurement of 80 to 124 cm/31.5 to 48.75″. I knitted this sample using 4 mm/US 6 needle and a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch to 10 cm/4″ square. This pullover is knitted in 4 colours and my initial plan was to make a fade. I had only seen the divine colours online and realised that it would be more colour blocking than fading. The pullover is currently being test knitted in my Ravelry group, both in a solid colour and in different fades. I am so excited to see the progress of these projects.

I have added the fade/colour block progression in the pattern and added both rows of cable as well as centimeters/inches worked. The pattern will also include details of The Blue Brick, Escarpment DK yarn which is made of 100% superwash merino in skeins of 105 g with 267 meters/260 yards. The colours used in the sample are: COL1: Cobblestone. COL2: Bauline. COL3: Winter Grass/Muddy Husky and COL4: Succulent.

The colours were different from what I had in mind, so I decided to use Succulent – a pale green with a grey tinge (read: and not the opposite way around) – on the sleeves. But I do know from the test knit that the sleeves look great in a fade. Both the English and the Norwegian pattern will be released after the test knit is completed on Ravelry.

I wanted to make a cowl or two to join the colours at the top, so in the end I made one cabled cowl which I preferred to wear folded and one large garter stitch cowl that can be worn twice around the neck. The Cable Cowl is worked back and forth using a 4 mm/US 6 needle and is 57.5 cm/22.75″ wide and 20 cm/7.75″ high.

The Garter Stitch Cowl is worked in the round with the same needle has a 80 cm/31.5″ bottom circumference, 70 cm/27.5″ top circumference and is 25 cm/9.75″ high.

With one small and one large cowl they can be worn one over the other, essential during the spring and fall in Norway. But far from necessary in nearly 30 degrees celsius at Villa Malla. So Em was happy to change out of wool sweaters into her own summer clothing. We ended the day having champagne on our back terrace. That was the perfect celebration of a wonderful photoshoot and day!

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Airic Pattern Released

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I have recently released the Airic pattern. The cardigan has been test knitted and the pattern improved, thanks to my test knitters. You can see some of the lovely versions on the Ravelry pattern page. Airic was brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne at Bøler Kirke/Church last autumn. Emma Ross, with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is wearing the sample knitted in size S. The Norwegian pattern will be printed in the magazine Familien at a later date, while the English pattern is available at Ravelry and on Loveknitting. Here is my introduction to the pattern!

In a contemporary style with provocative visual lines – created by the sideways knitted cable panel to make a waterfall bottom – is this long cardigan. The body is all in stockinette stitch to offset the cables. Even the sleeve has a cable panel knitted sideways as a cuff. Airic is Celtic for agreeable, just as this long cardigan will cover you up. It is knitted in the divine Di Gilpin’s Lalland Lambswool a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

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

Finished measurements:
Bust (with collar overlapped): 86 (92, 98, 108, 118, 128) cm/33.75 (36.25, 38.5, 42.5, 46.5, 50.5)“
Bottom width (incl waterfall Width): 111 (117, 123, 133, 143, 153) cm/43.75 (46, 48.5, 52.25, 56.25, 60.25)”
Length Back: 75 (76, 77, 78, 79, 80) cm/29.5 (30, 30.25, 30.75, 31, 31.5)“
Sleeve Length: 49 (50, 50, 51, 51, 52) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 20, 20, 20.50)”

Yarn: Di Gilpin, Lalland (100% Scottish lambswool, 50 g, 175 m/191 yds): Sample is knitted in Silver Birch: 13 (14, 15, 17, 19, 20) skeins;
2210 (2380, 2570, 2880, 3190, 3490) m/2416 (2602, 2810, 3149, 3488, 3816) yds.
Sample is knitted in size S and modelled with 5 cm/2” ease (with collar overlapped).
https://digilpin.com/collections/yarn

Needles: 3.75 mm/US 5 circular needle (100 cm/40”, 80 cm/32” and 40 cm/16”).

Notions: Markers, cable needle, stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 24 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
42-sts Rib Braid panel measures 13 cm/5” across.
18-sts Rib Braid measures 5 cm/2” across.

Notes: The cable panel on the lower body is worked sideways, then the upper body is picked up and knitted along the long side of lower body and worked from the bottom and up. The upper body is worked back and forth in one piece with false seams from the pick up on the lower body to the underarm, then the upper fronts and back are worked separately. The outer 20 cm/7.75” on each side of the lower body will be attached to the collar. The cuff is worked sideways, while the remaining sleeve is worked back and forth from the cuff with garter stitch in each side. The collar is worked back and forth in two parts with an interfacing, beginning with a RS row across cable and a WS row across interfacing. The parts are joined with a 3-needle bind off and attached along opening and outer side of lower body.

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Behind the Scenes: 2nd Photoshoot at Villa Malla

Posted on June 2, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Villa Malla located by the Oslofjord is a real gem, with its beach and jetty. So I decided to have yet another photoshoot here. It feels like a holiday destination, despite the fact that you can not stay over, only have a meal, drinks or ice creams. We had heavy rain in the evening before, but it stopped by the time we picked up modell Emma Ross arriving after midnight from Manchester, UK in Oslo at the central train station. It was overcast with grey clouds when we left for Villa Malla early Tuesday morning. I had planned for the recent heath and summer temperatures we have had here in Ørje at around 26 to 30 Celsius/78 to 86 Fahrenheit – so we began photographing the long dress I have designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Hair & Makeup Stylist Sissel Fylling wore a skirt for once and was cold until the skies cleared and the heath came back. Em did get a haircut, but none of us where surprised by this anymore, as I cannot recall Sissel not offering to do so. Above you see us in action on the beach, photographer Eivind Røhne is on his way to collect his sand bags so I do not have to hold onto his large reflectors while Em is ready, wearing an old design from my knitting book: Merino omslagsvest/Merino Wrap Vest. Michael captured this wonderful in action photo of us.

Eivind and I walked around at Villa Malla to find the best backgrounds after I had organised the rail with the ten garments to photograph, while Sissel was working on Em’s hair and face. We choose two angles at the beach and the top of the staircase at the upper terrace. As you can see in the photo above, there were several families on the beach and in the water by the time we got down there. Em made several videos while she was visiting, and you can see them all at Instagram, so make sure you follow em450.

Four new designs are for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, and above you see Em wearing Var knitted in the lovely Tinde together with jewellery from Kaja Gjedebo Design. I am making sure the shoulder seams are where they should be. I loved seeing all my designs on the gorgeous Em. We photographed these in the same position as last time and with the same background that looked more like Santorini in Greece than the Oslofjord near Drøbak in Norway. Both Eivind and Michael made sure there were several sail boats as well as one police boat in the background as we started to photograph the garments.

I finished the last garment the day before the photoshoot, but had a few hectic days waiting for packages sent with Next Day delivery in Norway. It only works if they are sent between addresses in the southern part of Norway, I have discovered. Luckily, the other three new designs were ready: Vaga, Ogma – see above – and Sirona. In addition we photographed the Tau scarf made for the Vienna Wool & Design Festival Magazine: Wool 2 Go vol 01 and Free Falling Pullover which has been returned from the US after being published in Interweave Knits Fall 2017. After photographing 5,5 garment – I decided that we needed some more photos of the Merino Omslagsvest – we had a delicious buffet lunch in the shadow on the terrace at Villa Malla. The divine hand dyed colours of The Blue Brick, Escarpment DK in Ogma was perfect on Em, as you can see in the photo above. It was the last of the garments to be photographed and the end of the photoshoot, I thought. But Eivind had other plans and made a couple of short videos, where Sissel had to act as a wind machine in one of them. Yes, we had fun as we always do on these photoshoots. Now, I am looking forward to seeing Eivind’s brilliant photos and then sharing those. So stay tuned for more.

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Ena Pattern Released

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Orange Storm is the name of this divine shade in Acadia, a luxurious yarn mixture made of merino wool, alpaca and with silk noil from The Fibre Co. I was smitten and had to order it. Ena is the jacket I designed with the yarn, using some beautiful cables from Norah Gaughan’s brilliant Knitted Cable Sourcebook, and with bespoke buttons from Siri Berrefjord. Model Emma Ross with her flaming red hair made it look even more stunning through Eivind Røhne’s camera lens. With a little help from Sissel Fylling, who did her makeup & hair. As well as a gorgeous statement ring by Kaja Gjedebo Design. The pattern has now been test knitted in my Ravelry group, with some wonderful results. The English pattern is available on Ravelry and on Loveknitting, while the Norwegian pattern will be published in the magazine Familien at a later date.

Ena is Celtic for fiery. As you need to be passionate about cables to make this jacket. The woven cables lean towards the left and the right hence the spine has been accentuated with a twisted stitch at the center back and along front opening. Ribbing in the sides make the jacket appear casually fitted. The collar in rib can be worn open or closed and folded over. Ena is knitted in the rustic Acadia with silk noil from The Fibre Company.

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

Finished measurements:
Bust: 84 (92, 100, 108, 116, 124) cm/33 (36.25, 39.25, 42.5, 45.75, 48.75)“
Length: 73 (74, 75, 76, 77, 78) cm/28.75 (29.25, 29.5, 30, 30.25, 30.75)”
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 51, 51, 51, 51) cm/19.25 (19.75, 20, 20, 20, 20)“

Yarn: The Fibre Company, Acadia (60% merino wool, 20% alpaca, 20% silk, 50 g, 133 m/145 yds).
Sample is knitted in Orange Storm:
13 (14, 15, 16, 17, 18) skeins; 1621 (1755, 1889, 2023, 2156, 2289) m/1772 (1919, 2065, 2212, 2357, 2503) yds.
http://www.thefibreco.com/product/acadia/

Needles:
4 mm/US 6 circular needle (80 cm/32”) or straight needles.
3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (80 cm/32”) for buttonband.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 12 buttons (18 mm/0.7”). Bespoke buttons on sample are made by Siri Berrefjord, siri@fredenshavn.no see http://epla.no/shops/sirisskattkammer/, cable needle, 8 Stitch markers, 4 stitch holders and yarn needle.

Gauge: 21 sts and 30 rows in st st using 4 mm/US 6 measures 10 cm/4” square.
30-sts Left/Right Weave using 4 mm/US 6 measures 8 cm/3.25” across.

Notes: The jacket is made in pieces and seamed. The collar is picked up and knitted before the buttonband. The last buttonhole is on collar before fold over.

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Easter & Wa KAL

Posted on March 28, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Easter is here with sunshine and warmer temperatures at least during the day. We still have close to -10 degrees Celsius/14 Fahrenheit at night. Michael and I will be staying at home. I have plenty of knitting to do as well as less enjoyable jobs as translations and formatting to do. Above is a image Michael has made: God Påske means Happy Easter. He calls our house the British Embassy because Michael still is a British citizen as well as a Norwegian one (read: dual citizenship). As for our address here in Ørje, I have discovered it is so much easier to say we live in Tore’s old house than giving the street address. Apparently, everybody here in town knows Tore. So Michael is the Englishman that has bought Tore’s house. That is Ørje in a nutshell.

An Easter egg can be so many things, and I know that a knitter’s one is usually not filled with sweets but with yarns & patterns. Nice with an Easter egg that is not fattening and comes in lovely colours, wrote one Instagram user hoping to win a gift voucher from a yarn store. In her Easter egg was my Wa shawl pattern for the upcoming knit-along (read: KAL) beginning 2. April. That was such a brilliant idea that I decided to offer to help her fill her Easter egg with an extra free pattern of her choice from my Ravelry store. Join us for the Wa KAL in the Never Enough Lace group or the Arcade Vest KAL in the A Place to KAL My Own (read: KALMYO) group, both on Ravelry.

I wish you all a Happy Easter and hope you will receive an Easter Egg, regardless whether you have to fill it yourself or not.

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Apiri Collection E-book

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Linda Marveng

Apiri Collection is my third E-book, made after I received several requests for gathering these four patterns on Ravelry. First out is the English version, the Norwegian version will be added shortly. Apiri is a collection of knitting designs made in collaboration with Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in their gorgeous pelt wool yarns called Tinde and Sølje. The names of the garments are inspired by the Eskimo-Aleut languages. Apiri means ”to ask” and seamed perfect since two of the designs are garments that can be worn in different ways and hence change their character and silhouette completely. On the cover is the Wa shawl, which means ”here it is” as it can be transformed into a vest or a wrap. The divine lime colour, and casual elegance that model Alexandria Eissinger wears the shawl made it the cover shoot.The collection has four designs; the poncho Iglu, the shawl Wa, the cardigan Suli and the pullover Aki. Iglu is oversized and available in one size, just like Wa, while the more fitted garments; Suli and Aki are available in six sizes.

The Ingierstrand Bad Restaurant, on the outskirts of Oslo is a functionalistic building with a view of the Bunnefjord. It is an icon in Norwegian modern architectural history and a popular place to celebrate weddings. As a background we choose the diving tower on the nearby beach and the quay, where the ferry from Oslo used to dock. Photographer Eivind Røhne was chosen to capture the brilliant moments of model Alexandria Eissinger, with hair & make up by Jens J. Wiker, as well as statement jewelry by Kaja Gjedebo Design.

I wish to thank this amazing team for their co-operation, as well as tchnical editor Corrina Ferguson, sample knitters; Airin Hansen & Kristin Nygård, my test knitters – for improving the patterns – and last but not least, my husband, whose support and technical aid I could not have done without.

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Familien Strikk March 2018

Posted on March 17, 2018 by Linda Marveng

I am delighted to have two designs in the latest special magazine called Familien Strikk, a Norwegian magazine. The magazine has an incredible 124 designs for women, men, children, babies and the house. Both my designs have been published earlier, Brewster Cardigan in the webzine Wool Studio 2016, by the editors of knit.wear and Bowery Tunic in knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017 issue.

Here is my first page, introducing the Brewster Cardigan with photos taken by Eivind Røhne of the gorgeous model Emma Ross with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Brewster Cardigan is knitted in the soft Valley Yarns, Northfield using a 4 mm/US 6 needle and is available in sizes XS to 2XL. The English pattern is available in the Wool Studio 2016 webzine but also as a single download from my Ravelry store.

Here is the second page with the Bowery Tunic. Both garments where photographed at Bøler Church in Oslo. The Bowery Tunic is knitted in the divine hand dyed Madeline Tosh DK using 4 mm/US 6 needles and available in sizes XS to 2XL. The English pattern is available in the knit.wear Spring/Summer 2017 issue and will be available in my Ravelry store soon. The Familien Strikk magazine is available at selected news agents and super markets. If you are in Norway you can also order it by SMS just write “Strikk18” in addition to your name & address to 2205 or buy a digital version for iPad, see www.klikk.no. If you live abroad you can order the Norwegian special magazine by e-mailing kari.bachke@egmont.com and then transfer payment into their bank account.

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Linda Marveng

Knit wear designer and author

Tag Archives: Kaja Gjedebo Design

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Sirona

Ardra Pattern Released

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Vaga

Photoshoot at Villa Malla: Ogma Pullover

Airic Pattern Released

Behind the Scenes: 2nd Photoshoot at Villa Malla

Ena Pattern Released

Easter & Wa KAL

Apiri Collection E-book

Familien Strikk March 2018