Inspired by an oversized pullover with a large cable panel and a bottom tuck is my new design Jari. I have used a bottom tuck earlier, but this time I combined it with both Double seed stitch band beneath it and a reverse stockinette stitch band above it. The result is Jari where I discovered a perfect cable panel in one of Barbara Walker’s stitch dictionaries, above the tuck with stockinette stitch in the sides as well as on the sleeves. On the back I decided to make only two central cables. The yarn I decided to use for this project is the Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Ask – a combed wool yarn in the lovely shade called Melange Clear Apple Green. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Michael Marveng-Puckett
Behind the Scenes: Photoshoot at Sentralen 2021
Last Friday I had another photoshoot, this time at Sentralen – the former Christiania Bank HQ, now a meeting place for culture and innovation – in Oslo city centre. The oldest of the two buildings date from 1901 and is by architect Henrik Nissen. A fascinating fact about it is that railway tracks were stacked into the walls to keep the robbers from digging their way into the building. But I digress. I was there for the photoshoot of six new designs and four old ones, that needed new photos for different reasons. My initial plan was to rent the Marble Hall, but that proved way too expensive. In the end I rented a meeting room the team could use a base camp and received a permission to photograph in the public spaces at Sentralen. The team booked was photographer Wenche Hoel-Knai, make-up & hair stylist Nina Hjertaas Bull, model Olivia Lindtein and hobby photographer & technician Michael Marveng-Puckett. Above you see us preparing to photograph the first garment the Adeline’s Cardigan, first published in Interweave Knits Winter 2021.
PhotographerEivind Røhne cancelled the day before due to a cold which meant he had to be tested for Covid-19 to be certain. His test was negative, we heard later. First I contacted a photographer Eivind recommended but she was not available, then I rang Wenche Hoel-Knai, who was recommended by former editor Mary-Ann Astrup. Wenche could step in on a short notice, I am pleased to say. Above you see the new jacket & trouser set I have designed in Bendigo Woollen Mills Classic 5 Ply. If you are wondering what I am wearing, I can tell that it is Helka. Below you see me hanging up the clothes in the meeting room I had booked.
I had pre-ordered pizzas for lunch at 1 PM, giving us time to photograph a number of garments before hand, as we started at 9 AM. On my previous visit to Sentralen I had identified three possible backdrops I wanted us to use: The Marble Hallway & Stairs, the concrete staircase with orange railings and The Golden Bar.
Our first venue was The Golden Bar – that did not have a bar, just seating – named after the monumental sculpture called “Growing Gold” made in textiles by Hanne Friis. Inspired by the history of the building and the future cultural building containing values of a different kind. In short not all that glitters is gold. Olivia is wearing the Cable Round Sweater in the photo above. We photographed five of the designs in the bar, using every minute until our lunch break at 1 PM. A delicious lunch later we started again, this time in another room.
The second backdrop was the Marble Hallway and in the end we photographed the remaining five designs in this room choosing different angles. All the four Hillesvåg designs made in the yarn Ask were photographed here, above you see the oversized pullover called Jari.
In the large room next door to this, a film was being made. Hence all the extra plants and furniture were moved around. Michael took most of these photos, above is one of the few I captured of the paparazzi Michael, planning to capture model Olivia in action. For the last two designs we moved down to the bottom staircase. As always it was a day filled with laughter and fun, while working hard to make it all work. Olivia had to stretch her neck, pretending to be a puppet, while keeping her chin low. My team did a wonderful job and I had an amazing day!
Photoshoot at Hvalstrand Bad: Saxi
The next set of photos from our photoshoot that I will share are of the fitted pullover Saxi with a cowl. Brilliant Photographer Eivind Røhne took these photos of the gorgeous model Aksa Mortensen, with make-up & hair by Nina Hjertaas Bull and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, wearing the tweed pullover together with a brown skirt at our photoshoot at at Hvalstrand Bad, back in May. I also brought a matching silk scarf that I wanted Aksa to wear together with Saxi. The high heeled gold shoes were initially bought for styling my Norwegian knitting book back in 2011. The Art Deco cupboard together with a Bar chair – Michael’s clever idea – turned out to be the perfect backdrop for it. Above you see the cowl folded in half and on the inside of the pullover neckband. Nina first folded the silk scarf around Aksa’s head.
Saxi is knitted in Donegal Yarns, Donegal Tweed (also called Soft Donegal) 3.8/1nm from The Handweavers Studio in London, by yours truly. The pullover is knitted in pieces and seamed, while the cowl is worked in the round, using a 3.25 mm/US 3 needle and a 24 stitches and 34 rows gauge.
Saxi is a fitted cabled pullover that ends in an I-cord crown around the crew neckline. The play of texture begins with the round cable shape mirrored in the honeycomb pattern and continues with purl bands in all the stitch patterns. The squareness of the check pattern offers a contrast to the cable and ends the texture in the side of the pullover. Named Saxi after the Saxon in Norse is this sweater knitted in the Donegal Tweed yarn. A cowl crowns the pullover and can be worn folded as a high collar or as a headband.
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.
Aksa is wearing the sample, in size Small, with a bust circumference of 92 cm/36.25″ with 6 cm/2.25″ positive ease.
The pattern will be available in sizes XS to 5XL, with a bust circumference of 85 to 159 cm/33.5 to 62.5″.
In the photo above you see the cowl standing tall and worn outside the pullover, while below it is worn around the head as a headband or crown if you prefer. The last was another of Michael’s clever ideas! I love how regal it looked and how stunning Aksa appeared in the pullover! I do have the best photoshoot crew!
The test knit will begin on the 23rd of August, as the first of my new designs to be test knitted this Autumn. The English and the Norwegian pattern will be released after the test knit is completed.
New Design: Mella
The third new design made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is a sweater. Mella, Norse for knot, is a straight cabled pullover. A wide central cable panel adorns the center of the body and the sleeves. Boxes of garter stitches interfere with the cables and erase half the cable. The sleeves have garter stitch edging while the front and back fade into a check pattern. The sweater ends in a crew neck decorated with an I-cord. Mella is knitted in the bouncy Sølje pelt wool from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
The sample was skilfully knitted by Grete Jenssen, aka ma9, in size Small in a Dusty Air-blue. In these photos, taken by Michael at the beach in Ørje, you see me wearing beautiful silver rings by Kaja Gjedebo Design and the sample with 4 cm/1.5″ positive ease. I have graded Mella in sizes XS to 5XL with a bust circumference of 85 to 165 cm/33.5 to 65″. The gauge is 24 stitches and 32 rows in stockinette stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square using 3 mm/US 2.5 needle.
The pullover is worked back and forth in separate 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.
The English and Norwegian pattern will be released after test knitting beginning on February 7th, while the yarn kit with either an English or a Norwegian pattern will be launched at the beginning of September. Before then, I will show you how it looked on the gorgeous model Aksa Mortensen from our photoshoot in late May.
Postcard from the Lyngen Alps
Michael and I have been on holiday in Northern Norway for a second time around! We had such a fantastic time last year, hence we decided to travel back to Tromsø. First we stayed two nights with my sample knitter Grete Jenssen & her husband Jan Sverre in Storsteinnes, and then another four nights at the Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromsø.
Unlike last year we had mainly rain and 8 to 12 degrees Celsius/46 to 53 degrees Fahrenheit, so it did not feel like summer at all. Still that did not stop us from travelling to Lyngen North at the Spåkenes peninsula, with a majestic view of the Lyngen Alps. All these wonderful photos are taken by my husband, except the one below.
I had brought thick tights but had to borrow a woollen hat from Grete – photographed above – to wear under my all-weather jacket hood. In Tromsø, I just gave in and bought a pair of leather gloves to keep me warm. A large number of the visiting Southerners could easily be spotted as they were wearing only shorts with t-shirts due to the heat wave in the South of Norway.
Jan Sverre was the designated driver that took us north on the E6 towards Alta, around the Kåfjord– see photo above and below for scale – to Spåkenes Coastal Fort. It was built by the Germans (or Soviet prisoners of war and German prisoners to be precise) in 1941.
The heavy enduring rain made the command bunker look even bleaker, giving us a shudder to the German occupation during WW2. I stood on top of the command bunker capturing both Grete and the view from it.
From the fort we trekked to the Bird Watching Tower, except that the signs stopped and in the end we gave up finding it, as the view was majestic anyway. Check out the ferry in the photo above for scale – click on the photo for a larger version. On the way there we crossed the bog and did however discover nearly ripe Cloudberries; that was a treat! We had a fabulous stay with Grete and Jan Sverre! Thank you so much! We will be back in the future, and you can see last year’s Postcard from Northern Norway here. If you have not been, do add it to your bucket list for the future, when it is safe to travel abroad again! Stay safe and healthy! Regards from Lyngen North in Northern Norway!
New Design: Keila
Keila is my new dress design made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk in their bouncy Sølje pelt wool yarn. My initial plan was an all over Honeycomb pattern with a wide skirt that could be turned into a balloon dress or a minidress/tunic with a Henley neck. The skirt and the band part are worked in the round in two different Honeycomb patterns, while the dress is divided into parts at the armhole. Skilled sample knitter Grete Jenssen, aka ma9 on Ravelry, knitted this for me in size Small in light turquoise. Michael photographed me at the outdoor theatre seating at the lock in Ørje.
Above you see the dress worn as a balloon dress after I have insert long boot laces into the hem and tied it together. The dress is knitted using a 3.5 mm/US 4 needle with a 24 stitches and 32 rounds gauge in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square.
The dress is worked in the round up to armhole, then back and forth to the end. The hem is worked with 2 sets of circular needles held parallel when casting on, so that the hem can be closed by knitting it together. The skirt is worked straight, then decreased into the ray of honey pattern for the band before you increase for the honeycomb pattern and the bust. The Henley neck divides the front into two parts after the armhole.
Keila is Norse for straight, just as the skirt part of this honeycomb dress is. Elongated honeycomb covers the skirt, while ray of honey makes the high waistband, both are worked in the round. The pattern flow continues with a body in honeycomb including armhole stitches in stockinette stitch. Keila is worked flat from the armhole and ends in a Henley neck. Only the center of the sleeve has a honeycomb panel.
I have graded the dress from size XS to 5XL with a bust circumference of 86 to 158 cm/33.75 to 62.25″, while the skirt width is 144 to 199 cm/56.75 to 78.25″. The dress length can be adjusted in length by removing or adding repeats of the Elongated Honeycomb pattern.
Here you see me tying the boot laces at the bottom of the dress. One of the behind the scenes photos that Michael took.
Yarn kits with English or Norwegian pattern will be available early in September from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, while the single pattern will be released after test knitting set to begin 15th of November in my Ravelry group. Long before that I will show you how stunning it looked on model Aksa Mortensen, photographed by Eivind Røhne at Hvalstrand Bad at the end of May.
Behind the Scenes: Photoshoot at Hvalstrand Bad 2021
What a difference a day makes; we went from what felt like a green winter to a hot summer over night. Hence I did not dress for a party at the Polar Base Camp, instead I should really have brought my bikini to cool down in the summer heat or worn a cocktail dress to fit in with the wedding that took place on the beach while we where at Hvalstrand Bad in Asker (about 20 minutes west of Oslo) on last Friday (28th of May). But since I was there for our photoshoot I needed to wear something a bit more practical and opted for a pair of summer trouser with my Maith shrug on top in addition to two more jackets (making sure I would not freeze – fat chance!).
At the top you see Hair and Make up Stylist Nina Hjertaas Bull is covering for the sun on Aksa’s hair and you can spot her standing high up in the diving tower. You can barely spot model Aksa Mortensen standing at the bottom of the stairs. Photographer Eivind Røhne is adjusting the reflector, while Michael had to hold it in place as soon as we started. Above you see us trying out different spots at the diving tower. Michael has taken a number of these photos, but not all of them, as I was able to capture a few too.
This is the second time we are photographing at Hvalstrand Bad, as we were there back in 2014 with the then editor Mary Ann Astrup of the magazine Made by Me in charge. This time I wanted us to photograph the diving tower – as it was pouring down the last time. It was not a lot easier this time with a blue sky without any clouds for a bit of shadow. Hence we only photographed one garment outside and went inside instead. Above you can see Aksa wearing another of the four new designs for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
Just as last time we wanted to use the Art Deco wall painting inside. Photographer Eivind Røhne remembered it well. Above you see us preparing to photograph the last three garments after a lovely lunch. Aksa is wearing one of my new designs, an a-line pullover called Varun. I had also booked modell Olivia Lindtein, but unfortunately she had to go into a waiting quarantine (a friend of hers had been exposed to an infected person, hence she had to wait for the result – it was negative).
We had a total of nine garments to photograph this time; 7 new ones and 2 old ones. Above is the old Mistale worn by Aksa and I am holding onto the cowl plus a silk scarf for hear to wear on her head.
Above you see both Nina and me in action. Aksa is wearing another of my old designs, this time the Syrin Shrug from my book. As always we had a lot of fun and also had to help the ice cream delivery man to find the delivery entrance downstairs. Eivind did tell him that we would be happy to eat some of it, if he wanted just to deliver it to us. He chose to deliver it downstairs instead. We also spotted a wedding outside on the beach in addition to several school classes coming to relax.
It was a treat in these Corona days to have lunch together at the restaurant – we had it all to ourselves – as we had rented the space for the day. Just before lunch we had two visitors: designer Tove Fevang and photographer Geir Arnesen, who recommended Aksa to me. Michael and I were lucky to stay with them after the photoshoot so we did not have to drive the long way back to Ørje. It was a great way to end the perfect photoshoot day!
Postcard from Northern Norway
I have been to Northern Norway for the first time ever! Michael and I have spent four nights with my sample knitter Grete Jenssen & her husband Jan Sverre in Storsteinnes and three nights at Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromsø. We decided early in July to travel north and to meet Grete for the first time in real life. Grete and I have been in touch since 2012, when she found me on Facebook. It did not take long until I felt like I had know her for ages! Above you see the view of Tromsø from the Cable Car going up to the mountain ledge Storsteinen (421 m above sea level). The weather was surprisingly warm and summery with 24 degrees Celsius/75 degrees Fahrenheit for being so far north – a two hour flight from Oslo. Michael and I did not walk down, but there were plenty of people who did. The 1250 steps are built by sherpas and some of the stones had their names inscribed, see below.
We had a magnificent view of the cable car and the Arctic Cathedral, in the centre of the photo below, from our room at the Scandic Ishavshotel to the right.
Grete had researched what to do while we were staying with them and we happily agreed to hike to the Blåisvannet/Blue Lake in Lyngen on Friday and to visit Senja on Saturday. On our first day, it was raining heavily so we went for a short drive to see some rock carvings nearby. The rain stopped and we had a lovely walk.
Jan Sverre drove us for about two hours to the carpark about 4 kilometers from the Blue Lake and we quickly realised that we were far from alone. A number of Finnish families had driven across the border and prepared for the easy trek. The last part of the walk up to the lake involves climbing over large stones and scree. The blue colour is due to the high content of silt particles in the meltwater from the Lenangsbreen glacier.
Here you see a number of people on their way up to the lake and with shadow on the glacier at the top.
Senja is the second largest island in Norway and spectacular! We stopped at a Norwegian Scenic Route point with a view that took my breath away! Jan Sverre is photographing the view. You can read more the Norwegian Scenic Route at Senja here: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no.
The view the other direction give you an idea of the scale and ruggedness of these mountains facing the Atlantic coast.
Senja has amazing beaches but very cold water. We spotted a few children in the water but only one brave adult.
Here is Michael sitting at the smooth rock surface at Tungeneset with that view to the Okshornan/Ox horn cliffs. I should specify that all these photos are taken by me and not Michael.
The easy access to the rock surface from another Norwegian Scenic Route viewpoint. Do notice the rugged mountains and the people photographed to add scale.
The Midnight Sun from the beach in front of Grete’s house, taken 15 minutes past midnight. The brightly light nights made it difficult to sleep, but they were amazing. One more post from Northern Norway is coming, this time including some knits! We had a fabulous week in the north, and want to come back to see more! If you have not been, do add it to your bucket list for the future, when it is safe to travel abroad again! Stay safe and healthy! Regards from Northern Norway!
Behind the Scenes: Photoshoot at Bøler Church May 2020
Last Friday, I had a photoshoot at Bøler Church in Oslo with my brilliant team: Photographer Eivind Røhne, Model Olivia Lindtein, Hair & Make-up Artist Sissel Fylling, Jewellery Designer Kaja Gjedebo and Michael. It was a beautiful day that started out quite cool. Bøler Church in Oslo wished us welcome even during the Corona virus, as long as we used only the rooms we were allocated and made sure to clean all surfaces afterwards. We were met by the manager and the priest Dag Auli, who remembered us from last time we photographed in the church back in October 2017. He wanted to know how many garments we were photographing and where we had photographed since last time. The plan was to photograph seven new designs; four for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk plus Leylak; Skyla and Milana, and four old designs; Ravna – see above – Sculpted Frost, Aran Cuffs and Folded Cardigan. In the photo above you see Eivind securing the sun screen with sand bags and Sissel holding it while texting on her mobile.
Above is a photo I took in the morning when Michael and I were walking around the church looking for backdrops. You can spot me in the window taking the photo. We used this corner for two of the new designs: Skyla and Milana.
Here we are testing out my Monies statement jewellery, while waiting for Kaja, and Sissel is adjusting Olivia’s pony tail. The bracelet looked way too heavy on her slim wrist, in fact so heavy that it looked like the weight would topple her, Sissel joked. Olivia is wearing Skyla, knitted in Dye Dye Done, Pure Sport while I am wearing my Regal Purple Jacket. I loved seeing my new designs worn by Olivia, as she gave them new life.
I also wanted to share this photo Michael took inside the church hall showing the divine light. The church hall is just inside the window in the two photos above. Bøler Kirke is a community church by HBA Arkitekter completed in 2011. See more photos here: www.bygg.no.
Michael took this photo of us while we were preparing to photograph the Folded Cardigan. Kaja is carrying a tray with the jewellery we had selected for the design. It was convenient that Kaja, who lives at Bøler, could join us on the photoshoot, as it meant I did not have to travel in to Oslo merely to visit her and borrow the jewellery, this time. After photographing this, we had lunch. I was relieved to find that Eckers was open and that they could deliver lunch with juices and smoothies to us. As planned it was delivered at 11 o’clock in good time for our lunch. After lunch we only had three more Hillesvåg designs to photograph. Below you see us planning the first of those; Caravay in Tinde pelt wool.
Michael has made a behind the scenes video including drone footage, which is available for all my patrons, only on Patreon. So if you are interested in learning more about my life as a designer and want to support me, choose your level based on the rewards – such as monthly newsletter, sneak peeks of new designs, Hillesvåg yarn discount, pattern discount, free monthly pattern and monthly video – here: www.patreon.com/lindamarveng.
We had a wonderful day and enjoyed being able to chat face-to-face again. It was yet another magnificent photoshoot! Thanks to my brilliant team! I look forward to showing you the new designs – I still need to finish off those patterns – as well as selecting from Eivind’s photos!
Behind the Scenes: Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church
On Monday, I had a photoshoot at Mortensrud Church in Oslo. Yes, it was the day with heavy snow in Oslo (read: it felt like a whiteout) where the traffic was at a standstill. Only the make-up & hair stylist Erica Poppe, recommended by Jens J. Wiker since both he and Sissel Fylling where busy on other jobs, made it on time arriving by the tube. The gorgeous model Olivia Lindtein, hired on Saturday due to a cancellation, joined Erica shortly afterwards. While the photographer Eivind Røhne, Michael and I came last and one hour late. Anyway, we made it in time and managed to photograph all the ten garments I had brought. No, they are not all new designs; only six are new, three are returned from the UK (Ataraxia in two colours) and the US (Euler Cardigan) plus one old design (Harding Cardigan). Above you can glimpse one of the new pullovers that has a matching pencil skirt made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
If you are Norwegian reading this and recognise Olivia’s surname, I can tell you that her mother is Tove Lindtein and that her Norwegian knitting book “Lindteinstrikk med stil” has recently been published by Cappelen Damm. Olivia and her sister Louise are models in the book and they feature on the cover of the book together with Tove. So I had seen a number of photos of Olivia before I sent the request via Tove. Olivia looked divine in my designs and I loved seeing them coming alive on her!
Michael and I were married in Mortensrud Church back in 2003 and we have been there for concerts as well as for my father’s burial in 2005. My mother still lives in the area and had planned to visit us during the photoshoot, but due to the heavy snow she stayed at home.
After I had placed all the designs and clothing on the clothes rail, Eivind and I walked around in the church to discover possible backgrounds. Further above you see us testing one, we did not use in the end. As we found several better than that, while Erica was preparing Olivia’s hair and then her make-up. I was wearing my Brewster Cardigan, in case you were wondering. Despite the delay, we took time to sit down for lunch, I had ordered catering from Eckers with juices and smoothies to keep us going, and we finished as we had planned at 3.30 PM, just as the daylight started to go away.
Michael made a behind the scenes video which will be available for all my patrons on Patreon only, after he has edited it and we are back from Barcelona Knits. So if you are interested in learning more about my life as a designer and want to support me, choose your level based on the rewards here: www.patreon.com/lindamarveng.
We had a wonderful day and it was a magnificent photoshoot! Thanks to my brilliant team! I look forward to showing you the new designs – I still need to finish off those patterns – as well as selecting from Eivind’s photos!