Newly Released Norwegian Patterns

Nora Genser COVERI have just released 4 of my patterns in Norwegian: Nora Sweater/Nora Genser, Tyrol Jacket/Tyrol Jakke, Regal Purple Jacket/Kongelig Lilla Jakke and Lace Ridge Top/Hullkant Topp on Ravelry and on Loveknitting (shortly). All were first published in Norwegian in Familien Håndarbeid, a special edition in March 2014. Beautifully modeled on dancer Francesca Golfetto and brilliantly photographed by Kim Müller. The patterns have been tech edited and test knitted prior to their release on Ravelry, and they all include detailed schematics, video links and charts. The Nora Sweater, available in sizes S to XL, is knitted in BC Garn, Semilla Fino an ecological 4-ply/fingering yarn using 3 mm/US 2.5, can be knitted with puffed sleeves or with set-in sleeves. It is knitted in the round to the armhole, then flat to the end.

A mélange taupe in a delicate fingering weight yarn was chosen for this slightly fitted stylish cable sweater with a shawl collar. I chose a Missoni shaped puffed sleeve for a modern twist but you can chose a set in sleeve option if you prefer. A voluptuous small cable encased by side cables, reverse stocking stitch and double seed stitch was the beginning of this design.

Tyrol Jakke COVERThe Tyrol Jacket, available in sizes S to XXL, is knitted flat in two different dyelots of the stunning hand dyed Tosh DK – a pure merino – using a 4 mm/US 6 needles: Inspired by the mélange soft pink color – not unlike the evening sky – and adorable Tyrol cables with their flower-bud shapes, I have designed an elegantly fitted jacket with a V-neck. The saddle sleeves allow the cables to flow all along the shoulder. A loose scarf with cables sewn into a tube works as a second shawl collar and adds textured volume.

Kongelig Lilla Jakke COVERThe Regal Purple Jacket, available in sizes S to 3XL, is knitted flat in the lovely Hifa Perle using a 3 mm/US 2.5 needles: This vibrant rich purple is regal to me. I choose a lace pattern called Flower Wave, which is half lace and half garter stitch, hence easy to memorize. The Regal Purple Jacket has an A-line shape with added garter stitches in the side for decreasing, short sleeves and a V-neck with a garter stitch then stocking stitch band. It is knitted flat, in a divine 4 ply/fingering cotton called Perle from Hifa, and then sewn together to give stability to the garment. Optional 3/4 length or long sleeves patterns are included in addition to a stripy stocking stitch cowl, knitted in the round and grafted together, to accentuate the lace pattern.

Hullkant Topp COVERThe Lace Ridge Top, available in sizes S to XXL, is knitted in the same Hifa Perle held double using a 4 mm/US 6: A casual, stretchy long sleeveless top in an open lace ridge pattern, with a boat neck and a high twisted rib over the hips. The top is easy to knit in the round. It is worked in a divine mercerized cotton from Hifa, called Perle which is held double to emphasize the structure of the lace pattern. The cable cowl accentuates the design and gives the top a more dressy look.

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Familiens Store Strikkebok

Omslag strikkebokMy Nora Sweater, modeled by stunning dancer Francesca Golfetto and brilliantly photographed by Kim Müller, is on the cover of this Norwegian book – yes, it is named large knitting book for a reason – with more than a 100 patterns from the last 75 years selected by Handicraft Editor Åse Myhrvold Egeland and Exlibris Editor Gunn E. Schmidt from the archives at the Norwegian Magazine Familien, well know for their knitting pages. I am fortunate to have two more patterns in this book: Tyrol Jacket and Regal Purple Jacket were also selected among popular patterns and included in the chapter on Newer Designs. Not all of the patterns have been published previously, and they are gathered in an exciting chapter on Unique Designs. I loved seeing the old front covers and photographs from Familien, see the back cover above, as well as seeing their updated versions knitted in today’s yarn brands. The book contains all kinds of projects including interiors and different kinds of accessories plus both traditional and modern designs. You can have a closer look inside the book here: exlibrismedia. The book is a very popular subscription gift, but also available to buy in bookshops and online: haugenbok.

DSCF1300-EditHere you can see the introduction to my patterns, which were all printed for the first time in the special issue Familien Håndarbeid in March 2014. They have all been tech edited and test knitted before the English patterns were released in my Ravelry Store. My mum is one Familien reader who could not resist this tempting subscription gift…

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Nora Sweater Pattern Released

Nora ENG COVERThanks to my test knitters whom assisted in improving my Nora Sweater Pattern and to my vigilant technical editor Heather Zoppetti of Stitch Sprouts.  The cover pictures are taken by photographer Kim Müller of dancer, Francesca Golfetto. The English pattern has been released in my Ravelry Store with helpful video links, a schematic and charts. Here is the essential pattern info: A mélange taupe in a delicate fingering weight yarn was chosen for this slightly fitted stylish cable sweater with a shawl collar. I chose a Missoni shaped puffed sleeve for a modern twist but you can chose a set in sleeve option if you prefer. A voluptuous small cable encased by side cables, reverse stocking stitch and double seed stitch was the beginning of this design.

Sizes: S (M, L, XL)

Finished measurements:                                                                                                     Bust:          90 (94, 99, 104) cm/35.5 (37, 39, 41)”                                                                             Waist:        78 (82, 87, 92) cm/30.75 (32.25, 34.25, 36.25)”                                                       Hip:           90 (94, 99, 104) cm/35.5 (37, 39, 41)”                                                                       Length:     56.5 (57.5, 58.5, 59.5) cm/22.25 (22,75, 23, 23.5)”                                               Sleeve length:  46cm/18”

Yarn: BC Garn Semilla Fino in sh ox103 (100% certified ecological wool, 240m/262yds, 50 g): 7 (8, 9, 10) balls; 1560 (1800, 2040, 2280) m/ 1706 (1969, 2231, 2493) yds. BCgarn.

Alternative yarns: Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift (100% wool, 105 m/115 yds, 25 g) Jamiesonsofshetland.                                                                                                                  Rauma, Røros Lamullsgarn (100% lambswool, 250 m/273 yds, 50 g) Raumaull.                 Or a similar 4ply/Fingering yarn.

Needles 3 mm/US 2.5 (80 cm/32″) circular needle, 3 mm/US 2.5 (100 cm/40″) circular needle and 3.5 mm/US 4 DPNs or needle to match gauge.

Notions: Cable needle, 2 stitch markers, yarn needle and scrap yarn for running yarn markers.

Gauge 28 sts and 38 rows in reverse stocking stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. 26 sts and 38 rows in double seed pattern measures 10 cm/4″ square. 40 sts in cable panel on sleeve measures 12 cm/4.75″ wide.

Notes: Sleeves and body are worked in the round until armhole and then are worked back and forth. The large cable on front is changed to small cable with rev st st and dbl seed st before neck shaping. The small cable on the sleeves is the centre of the large cable on the body. The I-cord cast off tightens the collar, so if you prefer to it to lie flatter, bind off in pattern instead. Chose if you want to work a puff sleeve or a set-in sleeve.

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Nora Sweater Knitted by Yelena Malcolm Dasher

IMG_4297_medium2I was delighted that Yelena Malcolm Dasher wanted to take part in yet another of my test knits, since all her project photos are equally stunning. Just take a look at these photos as well as her project page on Ravelry, where she is ymalcolm. Yelena wanted a rustic yarn for her Nora Sweater, and discovered the Masgot Fine a natural colored French wool by Polo & Co, see their yarn shop at Etsy. She describes the yarn as “a delight – very rustic, but sturdy and not too hard on the hands.” Using a 3.25 mm/US 3, Yelena made size S and chose the set-in sleeve option instead of the puffed sleeve option the sample has, see my blogpost: Photo Shoot Pics Part Four Nora Sweater. The only modification she did was to knit the sleeves top down, instead of bottom-up as described. The pattern was revised during the test knitting, thanks to test knitter Tanja Boukal, aka Tanja7301, who reported that the shawl neck pulled the sweater outwards and suggested narrowing the shoulders together with fewer short rows on the collar, which was done with the help from my tech editor Heather Zoppetti of Stitch Sprouts. I love Yelena’s notes: “Another incredible design from Linda. I love knitting her designs because they are challenging and inventive and I always seem to learn something new or combine techniques in a new way and this pattern was no different”. Here are only two of the brilliant photos of her Distaff, named after the tool used in spinning. I love how Yelena styled her Nora Sweater, and share her love of shoes, as you probably know by now. Do read her blog called Le Pull Juste/The Right Sweater, here: lepulljuste. Thank you so much Yelena!

IMG_4286_medium2The Norwegian pattern was printed in the special issue of Familiens Strikkebok published in March, while the English pattern is nearly ready for my Ravelry Store.

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Familien Håndarbeid

Familien HåndarbeidI am delighted to have four of my latest patterns published in the Norwegian special issue magazine called Håndarbeid/Handicraft by Familien/The Family. I designed two of them last summer; Regal Purple Jacket and Lace Ridge Top both with a cowl to complement the design, both knitted in the beautiful Perle/Pearl mercerized cotton yarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, see ull.no. The Tyrol Jacket, here on the cover, was initially sent as design submission to Twist Collective but only made it as far as their short list, while the Nora Sweater was hibernating until last autumn’s photo shoot, and I was not certain whether they would be accepted by Familien. I believe Kim Müller’s brilliant photos of the stunning dancer Francesca Golfetto modeling the garments made the offer hard to resist, and I was thrilled when the editor wanted to use the photos of all four designs in a separate issue. Two of the designs; Regal Purple Jacket and Tyrol Jacket are available in English to download. The remaining two will be available after test knitting in my Ravelry group, do join if you would like to.

_DSC1390The heading “Flott med fletter” translates to “Gorgeous with Cables”. The Madeline Tosh dk yarn,  the Tyrol Jacket is knitted in, is not easily available in Norway but can be ordered online or replaced by e.g Sandnes Garn, Merinoull or Garnstudio Drops Merino Extra Fine. The BC Garn Semilla Fino 4 ply/fingering yarn the Nora Sweater is knitted in, can be replaced by Rauma, Røros Lamullgarn.

_DSC1393

One of my favorite summer yarns is the mercerized 4-ply/fingering cotton Perle/Pearl from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, which comes in 62 gorgeous colors on 200 g cones, see ull.no. I used it in Mørk fiolett/Dark violet in the Regal Purple Jacket and Røsslyng/Heather held double in the Lace Ridge Top. As a matter of fact I would like to knit the cable cowl in a large selection of marvelous colors for the summer!

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Photo Shoot Pics – Part Four: Nora Sweater

Francesca, Marveng PucketI am ever so pleased with the photos Kim Müller took of Francesca Golfetto wearing the Nora Sweater. The outfit was planned carefully since I desperately wanted to include the science-fiction sculptural shoes by Camilla Skovgaard, which were bought on sale for the photo shoot of my book to match the taupe coloured yarn in Jacket in Cross (see sneak-peak-1) and this yarn, BC Garn Semilla Fino, see garn.dk. So was the light and bare background necessary to focus all the attention on the cables, as well as Francesca’s elegance. A mélange taupe in a delicate fingering weight yarn was chosen for this slightly fitted stylish cable sweater with a shawl collar. I chose a Missoni shaped puffed sleeve for a modern twist but you can chose a set in sleeve option if you prefer. A voluptuous small cable encased by side cables, reverse stocking stitch and double seed stitch was the beginning of this design. The test knit of the English pattern has just started in my Ravelry group, please join us if you like. I am happy to announce that Familien will publish the Norwegian pattern, with the top two of these photos, in their “Vårens Strikkebok”.

Francesca, Marveng PucketThe English pattern will be published in my Ravelry store after completed test knitting, here are the pattern details, in case you want to take part in the test knitting, or are interested in the pattern:

Size: S (M, L, XL)

Finished measurements                                                                                                    Bust:         90 (94, 99, 104) cm/35.5 (37, 39, 41)”                                                                      Waist:       78 (82, 87, 92) cm/30.75 (32.25, 34.25, 36.25)”                                                         Hip:           90 (94, 99, 104) cm/35.5 (37, 39, 41)”                                                                     Length:     56.5 (57.5, 58.5, 59.5) cm/22.25 (22,75, 23, 23.5)”                                               Sleeve length:  46cm/18”

Yarn: BC Garn Semilla Fino in sh ox103 (100% certified ecological wool, 240m/262yds, 50 g): 7 (8, 9, 10) balls; 1560 (1800, 2040, 2280) m/ 1706 (1969, 2231, 2493) yds, bcgarn.

Francesca, Marveng PucketAlternative yarns                                                                                                          Jamieson’s Shetland Spindrift (100% wool, 105 m/115 yds, 25 g) jamiesonsofshetland.  Rauma, Røros Lamullsgarn (100% lambswool, 250 m/273 yds, 50 g) raumaull. Or a similar 4ply/Fingering yarn.

Needles: 3 mm/US 2.5 (80 cm/32″) circular needle and 3.5 mm/US 4 DPNs or needle to match gauge.

Notions: Cable needle, 2 stitch markers, yarn needle and scrap yarn for running yarn markers.

Gauge: 28 sts and 38 rows in reverse stocking stitch measures 10 cm/4″ square. 26 sts and 38 rows in double seed pattern measures 10 cm/4″ square. 40 sts in cable panel on sleeve measures 12 cm/4.75″ wide.

Notes: Sleeves and body are worked in the round until armhole and then are worked back and forth. The large cable on front is changed to small cable with rev st st and dbl seed st before neck shaping. The small cable on the sleeves is the centre of the large cable on the body. The I-cord cast off tightens the collar, so if you prefer to it to lie flatter, bind off in pattern instead. Chose if you want to work a puff sleeve or a set-in sleeve.

Francesca, Marveng Pucket

I have not made a knitting review of 2013, nor made too many new year resolutions, but I am working on a list of my most essential discoveries of 2013 which I will share next.

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