New Design: Rebine

Just as promised here is the skirt Rebine, designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, knitted in  the Tinde pelt wool yarn, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle by the skilled sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka quiltefeen! One of my patrons, Tamar aka tamari.joy on Instagram, suggested I design a pencil skirt and I loved that idea. Hence Rebine was designed before I made Jendine to go with it, so you would have a set option if you so desire. I wanted it to sit properly and be as flattering as possible, so I shaped it for both the hip and the waist. The pattern stitch I selected was a cable rib. Instead of inserting an elastic for the waist, I chose a high waist and made belt loops that are inserted into the seam in the side.

Rebine, an old Norwegian name, is a pencil skirt with an all over elegant cable pattern ending in a high waist. The skirt is shaped for the hip and the waist. Belt loops, inserted in each side seam, hold the skirt in place. Rebine is knitted in Tinde pelt wool by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. Below you see the skirt worn with Ovedine, knitted in the thinner Sølje Pelsull, hand dyed by Værbitt in two colours: Drageegg and Lillebror.

The Tinde Pelsull is made of 100% pelt wool with 260 meters/284 yards on each 100 gram skein. The sample is knitted in Lys Marine 2125 and requires only 3 skeins in the two smallest sizes. Rebine is knitted with a 21 stitches and 30 rows in Stockinette stitch gauge measuring 10 cm/4″ square.

In these photos taken by Michael in Barcelona last November, I am wearing size Small with a 92 cm/36.25″ hip measurement. I have graded the skirt in sizes XS to 3XL with hip measurements from 86 to 132 cm/33.75 to 52″. Due to the cable rib pattern, the skirt is very elastic.

The skirt is worked in pieces from the bottom and up. Make two belt straps to insert in the side seam. If you want to adjust the length of the skirt, remove up to 8 cm/3.25″ or add an extra length before shaping the hip.

The test knit of Jendine begins on the 16th of March and it is followed by a test knit for Rebine on the 6th of April, both in my Ravelry group. Yarn kits for both designs will be available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. I look forward to showing you how this set looked on my model Olivia Lindtein!

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Andor Pattern in Japanese

  A dream has come true, I can offer a pattern of mine translated into Japanese. Actually, Andor is the first of three patterns translated, it was designed for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and knitted in their divine Tinde Pelsull/Pelt wool. This Japanese story began two years ago, when I met Nancy Marchant for the first time at the airport in Vienna, where we met up to attend the Vienna Wool & Design Festival. Nancy had just been to Japan to meet with her publisher and translator of her last book: Leafy Brioche. Her translator is Tomoko Nishimura, and now she is also my translator. Tomoku also translates patterns for Marianne & Helga Isager and interprets for Arne & Carlos whenever they tour Japan. So I am in the very best company!

Tomoku went to the Edinburgh Yarn Festival last year and the first knitter she met was no other than my sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry. The world can seem awfully small at times. Above you see them both inside the EYF. Tomoku is wearing a pullover that her mother made for her a long time ago, since she is no longer around, Tomoku thought it was nice to wear it at EYF. Kristin is wearing a very popular traditional Norwegian sweater called Marius knitted in Drops Baby Merino and a Mad Blood Shawl by Mary-Anne Mace, aka The Lace Eater knitted in The Plucky Knitter Single, with an awful lot of beads attached. Thank you Kristin for the photo, and Tomoku for the translation!

We did several rounds of proof reading and tested out different fonts before Tomoku gave the all clear signal. So here it is the Japanese introduction to my pattern:

両サイドの肩の幅広い部分に装飾性の高いケー ブル模様をあしらった流行りのオーバーサイズ ポンチョです。中央のメリヤス編みからはハイネックの襟が続きます。またサイドバンドはボ タンで閉じることもできます。全体を2つのパ ーツに分けて編み、肩下がりと襟ぐりを編みます。Andor は北欧で鷲を意味する言葉であり、このポンチョはその翼長を彷彿させます。

And here is the text in English: 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 side bands 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.

Andor is also available in Norwegian, you can download all three languages from my Ravelry store.

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New Design: Vaga

I am delighted to show you another new design. Vaga, 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 neckband with its twisted rib ending. The pullover is slightly shaped for the the waist and knitted in the gorgeous The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted. I choose this yarn – which I used for the first time in my Eira Pullover for knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 – in the colour Yew Tree as part of my payment for the designs I made for The Fibre Company last autumn: Beckside and Dash Falls. Yes, it is an addictive yarn and I have another new design as well in this. So while I was knitting Ogma, sample knitter Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry & Instagram, brilliantly knitted this to my utter satisfaction.

Michael has photographed me at the beach in Ørje on a beautiful but cold spring day, just after the ice had melted from the lake, Rødenessjøen. I am wearing size S, and I have graded the sweater from size XS to 2XL, with a bust & hip measurement of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″ and a waist measurement of  78 to 120 cm/30.75 to 47.25″. Vaga is knitted using 4 mm/US 6 needle with a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows measuring 10 cm/4″ square in pieces and seamed together.  The Fibre Co. Cumbria Worsted is made of 60% Merino wool, 30% masham wool and 10% mohair with 218 meters/238 yards per 100 gram skein.The herringbone cable on the center of the body and the swing cables are both found in Norah Gaughan’s inspiring Knitted Cable Sourcebook. The English pattern will be released after test knitting beginning in July in my Ravelry group, while the Norwegian pattern will be printed in the magazine Familien. But before that, the pullover will be photographed worn by model Emma Ross at our photoshoot on Tuesday 29th of May at Villa Malla.

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Photoshoot at Bøler Church: Airic

I loved seeing Airic on Emma Ross, and how stylish she made it look. Make up & Hair Stylist Sissel Fylling made sure her stunning hair looked immaculate and set off the grey background at Bøler Kirke/Church. Eivind Røhne brilliantly captured the moment while Michael was making sure the lights were switched off. The statement silver jewellery is by Kaja Gjedebo Design. Airic – 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 and is a Scottish lambswool with a magical twist.

Em has changed into sculptural shoes by Camilla Skovgaard and a black tube top for this second sequence of photos taken by the spacious entrance to the church hall. Airic is knitted in the soft Di Gilpin’s  Lalland Lambswool made of 100% Scottish lambswool and comes in 50 grams balls with 175 meters/191 yards. Airic was knitted by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram, using a 3.75 mm/US 5 needle and with a 24 stitches & 30 rows in stocking stitch to 10 cm/4″ square gauge.

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.

Emma is wearing size S, but it will become available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 86 to 128 cm/33.75 to 50.5″ with the collar overlapped.  In these photos the collar is just folded down. As you might see it has the same silhouette as the Rørbye Cardigan recently published in knit.wear Fall/Winter 2017 knitted in Dale Garn Eco Wool. These magnificent rib braids are also found in Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. I chose to add garter stitches to the sides to this one and knitted the last stitch on the Lower Body instead of making an I-cord edge.

Both the Norwegian and the English pattern will be released in April, after the test knitting is finished. It begins 26th February in my Ravelry group. In addition to meeting Di Gilpin in Vienna last year, I also met Emma Boyles of The Little Grey Sheep. So next out among these professional photos is Melva, knitted in British Stein Fine Wool 4ply hand-dyed by Emma herself.

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New Design: Ardra

Why not start the new year with a new design, I thought. So here it is: Ardra. Yes, it is another design for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk to be launched at the Oslo Design Fair in late January, knitted in the lovely Sølje Pelsull with the same cables as my Donia: 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.

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. The colour is called Cognac and Sølje Pelsull is made of 100% pelt wool with 350 meters/383 yards on each 100 gram skein. The pullover is beautiful knitted, using 3 mm/US 2.5 and a 24 stitches and 32 rows gauge, by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram, since I was busy working on another new design.

My husband photographed me at the outdoor stage next to Ørje Brug, today a museum called Haldenvassdragets Kanalmuseum on a very windy day in October. I am wearing size S but the pattern will be available in sizes XS to 2XL with bust circumferences from 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″.

The cables are from Norah Gaughan’s brilliant Knitted Cable Sourcebook, and appear smaller due to the thinner yarn than on the poncho Donia. The English pattern for Ardra will be test knitted in my Ravelry group beginning on 23rd of April before it is released in mid June. But before that I will show you how it looked on the gorgeous model Emma Ross with hair & makeup by Sissel Fylling and captured by photographer Eivind Røhne.

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New Design: Aki

Here is the second of the four designs I have made in collaboration with Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The Norwegian yarn kits will be launched at Oslo Design Fair at Lillestrøm 30. August to 2. September. Aki is an a-line pullover with a cable I discovered in Norah Gaughan’s Knitted Cable Sourcebook. Yes, it is the sourcebook, in my opinion. Here is my introduction to the pattern: Round cables, reminiscent of antic coins hence the name Aki; Eskimo for value, adorn this a-line pullover with vents at the bottom. The pullover is crowned with a double collar with cables and garter stitches. The body is worked in two parts, while the sleeves are knitted in the round, all parts with garter stitch in the sides. Aki is knitted in a soft heather pink in the luscious Sølje from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

Michael photographed me by the rock next to Rødenessjøen, a short walking distance from our house in Ørje, and we just missed the rain this time. I am pulling the sleeve down, without pulling too much of a face. A reminder why it is so essential for me to have a professional model. It gives me a large number of excellent photos to choose from instead of merely finding a few that are acceptable.

The pullover is beautifully knitted in Sølje by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram, at an impressive speed just in time for me to make the collar, just before the professional photoshoot. Sølje is a pelt yarn that comes in 100 gram skeins with 350 meters/383 yards and has a gauge of 24 stitches and 32 rows using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needle to 10 cm/4″ square. I am wearing size Small but it will be available in sizes XS to 2XL with a bust circumference of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″. The front and back are worked back and forth, while the sleeves are worked in the round. The rib on the body is not seamed at the bottom to create vents. The double collar is picked up and knitted in the round, allowing the cables to continue. The interfacing part of the collar is knitted in stockinette stitch.

The Norwegian pattern will only be available in the yarn kits to be launched in early September. While the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group, it is scheduled to start 2nd of October and will be released approximately 6 weeks later. Do join us. In the meantime you can look forward to seeing this worn by gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger as well as more new designs. Stay tuned, enjoy the summer and keep knitting!

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New Design: Wa

My collaboration with Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk that started last autumn continues and I was delighted when they asked me to make four new designs for yarn kits to be launched at Oslo Design Fair at Lillestrøm 30. August to 2. September. The result is one shawl, one poncho, one pullover and one jacket, each with character of its own. First out is Wa:  A shawl turned into a vest with a back piece, named Wa; Eskimo for ”here it is”. A large Celtic Cable adorns the center with Round cables on each side and small framing cables, on both parts; the shawl and the back piece which is sewn onto main piece at the end. Wear it as a vest, a wrap or a generous shawl around your neck.

I know the wet-look is not best suited to show off knitwear, but what do you do when the rain pours down day out and day in. I am wearing Wa as a vest, photographed by my husband in our front garden in mid May. In these top photos I am just using my hands to hold it close.

Wa is knitted in the luscious Norwegian pelt wool yarn called Tinde Pelsull from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in the divine shade called Lime 2107. Yes, it is not the first time I have used that colour, it is an addictive shade. I used it in my sweater Mistale. Each 100 gram skein has 260 meters/284 yards and is made of 100% pelt wool. The sample is beautifully knitted by Kristin Nygård, aka Quiltefeen on Ravelry and Instagram, using a 3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle due to the number of stitches. Kristin suggested a change to the edges from garter stitch to rib, and it was an improvement. Thank you, Kristin!

Above you see the shawl worn crossed at the front and pinned together using a shawl pin. Yes, our grass did appear close to a shade of lime green for a short while and seemed to grow several centimeters each time we looked at it. I am happy to report that the rain did take a break on our photoshoot day, we were blessed with warm sunshine. And the weather has improved since but is still very unpredictable, like most Norwegian summers are. The pattern is in one size with the shawl measuring: 50 cm/19.75″ wide and 156 cm/61.5″ long, and the back piece measuring 60 cm/23.5″ wide and 40 cm/15.75″ long. You can adjust the width by removing or adding cable repeats and/or adjust the number of side stitches in rib.

Here you see it worn as a generous shawl. If you study this photo closely you can probably also see the rain has started to drip from my hair.  So it was a good thing that it was the last of the photos taken at home. The Norwegian pattern will only be available in the yarn kits to be launched in early September. While the English pattern will be test knitted in my Ravelry group, it is scheduled to start 4th of September and will be released approximately 6 weeks later. Do join us. In the meantime you can look forward to seeing this worn by gorgeous model Alexandria Eissinger (for a sneak peek check out the funny video photographer Eivind Røhne made on Instagram) as well as more new designs. Stay tuned and keep knitting!

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