Ravelry Birthday Sale

Thank you for all the lovely birthday greetings, I received yesterday! I had a fantastic day with Michael, my brother and his family – who we have not seen for months!

To continue the celebration I am offering 25% off all my self-published patterns in my Ravelry Store through May 8th with the code: BDAY. Pictured at the top is a detail of the Seneka Skirt/Poncho/Maxi Hood, knitted in the Neighborhood Fiber Co. Organic Studio Worsted, worn by the gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, captured by Eivind Røhne.

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Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020: Kaibara

Finally, the turn has come to the last design photographed at our photoshoot at Mortensrud Church in Oslo, in November. I chose to style the silk pullover Kaibara, knitted in Poppy Red in the luxurious Como Silk from The Handweavers Studio in London with cream coloured silk trousers. The gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is captured by Eivind Røhne upstairs on the gantry. Kaibara is the next pattern to be test knitted in my Ravelry group starting on May 3.

Olivia is wearing size XS with a bust measurement of 82 cm/32.25″ with only 1 cm/0.5″ positive ease. But I have graded Kaibara in sizes XS to 5XL, with bust measurements up to 166 cm/65.25″ and a recommended positive ease of 5-10 cm/2-4″.

Named after Kaibara Ekken the father of botany in Japan is this flowery lace adorned A-line pullover with short sleeves. To allow the lace pattern to shine, the remaining pullover is worked in stockinette stitch. The pullover is knitted in pieces then seamed, for the ultimate fit, in the drapey and lustrous Como Silk from The Handweavers Studio. Kaibara is made to be worn on a perfect summer’s day or at a party.

The Handweavers Studio, Como Silk 4.5nm is made of 100% Silk on a 100 gram spools with 350 meters/382 yards. I ordered the silk by telephoning the shop, that I used to visit when I lived in London. The sample is knitted, by yours truly, in Poppy Red using a 3.25 mm/US 3 needle with a 23 stitches and 34 rows in stockinette stitch gauge measuring 10 cm/4″ square after blocking. That is a loose gauge, as the heavy silk had quite a drop after blocking.

The English and Norwegian Kaibara pattern will be released after test knitting – that begins on the 3rd of May – in the middle of June.

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Thia Pattern Released

The Thia pattern has been released, for quite a while now, in both English and Norwegian, it was first published in the Norwegian book “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt”. The jacket is knitted in the divine Mikkel Rev/Michael the Fox (a nursery rhyme) hand dyed shade in red/orange/pink by Laila Henriksen of Værbitt on Tinde pelt wool yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. All my five designs are made in this yarn, but only Thia is in the hand dyed yarn.

Above and at the bottom are some of the new photos that were taken of the gorgeous Emma Ross with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum back in spring 2019. The pattern is available in English and Norwegian in my Ravelry Store and on LoveCrafts.

My designs; Cian Sweater, Cian Beret and Cian Cowl are on the cover of the English version book with the title “Knit Like a Norwegian”, that also contains Thia and the skirt/poncho Damara. The book was published earlier this month by Trafalgar Square Books. For more information see here: www.trafalgarbooks.com. You can also order it with a free world-wide delivery here: Book Depository.

Thia is a sweet fitted cardigan with a small extra rib above the waist, cables adorning the center framed by double seed stitch. The lower part is all in stockinette stitch to allow the beautiful hand-dyed Mikkel Rev on Tinde pelt wool by Værbitt shine with its colours and depth. Thia ends in a large collar that can be folded down.

Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
Shown in size Medium
Skill level: Experienced

Finished Measurements
Bust (without frontbands 2 cm/0.75”): 84 (90, 96, 106, 116, 126) cm/33 (36, 39.5, 42, 47, 51.5)“
Waist: 76 (82, 88, 98, 108, 118) cm/31 (33.5, 36, 39.5, 44, 48)”
Bottom width: 88 (94, 100, 110, 120, 130) cm/34.75 (37, 39.25, 43.25, 47.25, 51.25)“
Length: 61 (62, 63, 64, 65, 66) cm/24 (24.5, 24.75, 25.25, 25.5, 26)”
Sleeve length: 48 (49, 50, 50, 50, 50) cm/19 (19.25, 19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 19.75)“

Yarn: Værbitt, Mikkel Rev hand-dyed on Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Tinde Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 260 m/284 yds, 100 g);
4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8) skeins; 988 (1118, 1248, 1469, 1690, 1911) m/1080 (1222, 1365, 1607, 1848, 2090) yds.
Order hand-dyed Mikkel Rev on Tinde yarn from laila@varbitt.no.
https://www.varbitt.no
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/ullgarn/norsk-pel…

Alternative Yarns: Berroco, Ultra Alpaca Light (50% alpaca, 50% wool, 50 g, 133 m/144 yds). http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-ultra-alpaca-light
Jamieson’s, Double Knitting (100% wool, 25 g, 75 m/82 yds).
http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double…
Rowan, Tweed (100% wool, 50 g, 118 m/129 yds).
http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/rowan-tweed
Malabrigo, Arroyo, (100% superwash merino, 100 g, 306 m/335 yds).
http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/subyarn.php?id=29
Or another DK/8 ply yarn.

Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 straight needle.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

Notions: 11 buttons (18 mm/28L, 11/16”), stitch markers (removable), cable needle and yarn needle.

Gauge: 21 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
21 sts and 30 rows in Seed rib measures 10 cm/4” square.
21 sts and 30 rows in Double seed st measures 10 cm/4” square.
12 sts Braid measures about 5 cm/2” across.

Notes
The cardigan is worked back and forth. Back and front are made in two parts that are knitted together. The Seed rib on the upper back is not sewn into the side seam.

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Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020: Beyla

Here is the last of the four new designs for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Beyla. The gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with make up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is modelling the set, captured by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in Oslo, back in November. Yarn kits with either an English or a Norwegian pattern are available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

Olivia is wearing size S with a 92 cm/36.25″ finished bust measurement with 9 cm/3.5″ positive ease. Beyla is graded from size XS to 5XL, with measurements of 85 to 153 cm/33.5 to 60″.

Named Beyla, Norse for little bean, well suited for the shape of the cables on this pullover. All over cables play on the front and back, while only three cables play on the sleeve. The purl stitches in the background make the sweater hug you. Beyla is crowned by a standing collar and knitted in Varde a bouncy pelt wool yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The pullover is worked back and forth in separate pieces and seamed with a 18 stitches and 24 rows in stockinette stitch gauge using a 4.5 mm/US 7 needle. The cable pattern continues on the collar which is worked in the round with an interfacing part.

Yarn kits are available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk with either an English or a Norwegian pattern, while the individual pattern will be released at the end of May, after the on-going test knit has been completed, in my Ravelry Store.

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Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020: Eah

The next set of photos that I am going to show you is of Eah worn by Olivia Lindtein, who inspired me to make a hoodie not unlike the one she was wearing on our previous photoshoot, with make-up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, brilliantly captured by Eivind Røhne upstairs on the gantry in Mortensrud Church. Eah looked stunning on Olivia in the hand dyed Walk Collection Merino Sport in Camel (100% Superwash Merino, 100 g, 325 m/355 yds) held together with the KidMohair Lace (70% mohair, 30% silk, 50 g, 420 m/459 yds).

I choose to style the hoodie with cream coloured silk trousers, due to the cream shade of the Walk Collection KidMohair Lace yarn.

Olivia is wearing size Small with a bust & hip measurement of 92 cm/36.25″ with a 9 cm/3.5″ positive ease. Eah has been graded into sizes XS to 5XL with bust measurements from 84 to 160 cm/33 to 63″.

An acronym for each way is this casually fitted cabled hoodie adorned by a herringbone cable on the front, the back and the sleeves. Eah ends in a hood with the cable at the back and an I-cord edge. The pullover is knitted in the divine hand dyed Walk Collection Merino Sportweight yarn held together with the Kid Mohair Lace, in pieces and seamed for the ultimate fit.

The pullover is worked back and forth in separate pieces and seamed. The back extends into the back of the hood, while the front hood is picked up and knitted at the end. 

The test knit has completed and a narrower hood version has been added to the pattern as an option. The individual Eah pattern in both English and Norwegian is available from my Ravelry Store and will be added to LoveCrafts shortly.

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Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020: Rym & Kyi

The next set of photos I am going to show you from the photoshoot is from the ballet top Rym and the skirt/poncho Kyi, made for Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk. The gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with make up & hair by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is modelling the set, captured by Eivind Røhne at Mortensrud Church in Oslo, back in November. Yarn kits for Rym and Kyi with either an English or a Norwegian pattern are available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The patterns will be released in both English and Norwegian after the test knits have been completed; The Rym test knit begins June 7 and the pattern will be released in the middle of July, while the Kyi test knit begins July 5 and the pattern will be relased in the middle of August.

The samples are in size S, but I have graded both patterns from sizes XS to 5XL. Rym has bust measurements from 84 to 158 cm/33 to 62.25″ with an intended positive ease of  5-7 cm/2-2.75”. Olivia is wearing size S with a 9 cm/3.5” positive ease. Kyi has a waistband width from 72 to 160 cm/28.25 to 63″ with an intended positive ease of 6-12 cm/2.25-4.75″. Olivia, who stands 167 cm/5’6″ tall is wearing size S with a 11 cm/4.25″ positive ease.

Named Rym, Norse for roaring as well as the name of a troll-wife, is this ballet top that is tied together at the waist. An all over rhombus pattern gives the top texture. Rym is knitted in the lovely Vidde lambswool from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk and made to be worn together with the skirt or poncho Kyi.

The Rym top is worked back and forth in separate pieces and seamed. The fronts have an attached I-cord and a purl stitch edging that is worked to the end for the front band. The ties are worked separately at the end and sewn in place at marked positions.

Named Kyi, Norse for shelter, is this asymmetrical skirt with extra side width that are turned into pockets at the waist. The side seams make the pockets fold over. The waistband is knitted double in stockinette stitch at the end and has inserted boot laces for comfort.

Wear it as a poncho instead if you prefer or together with the matching Rym ballet top. The Kyi skirt is knitted in the bouncy Vidde lambswool from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The Kyi skirt is worked back and forth in two pieces and seamed. The two horizontal top pockets are worked at the same as the front, with the lining attached horizontally at the bottom and closed at the top, by working it together with the back using 3-needles and end in an I-cord bind off for a pocket band, see video. The waist band is worked like a hem, with boot laces laid inside it before it is closed.

My sample knitter Grete Jenssen made the parts for these for me, with a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows in stockinette stitch using 4.5 mm/US 7 needle measures 10 cm/4” square after blocking. The Vidde lamullgarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is made of 100% wool (50% pelt wool and 50% lambswool) with 200 meters/220 yards on each 100 gram skein.

Yarn kits are available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk with either an English or a Norwegian pattern, while the individual Rym pattern will be released in the middle of July and the Kyi pattern will be released the middle of August in my Ravelry Store.

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Sculpted Frost Jacket in Vårstrikk 2021

I am delighted to have my Sculpted Frost pattern in the special magazine called “Vårstrikk”/Spring Knits published by Familien and available in selected supermarkets and newsagents in Norway. On the cover of the magazine is the delicate “Sol jakke”/Sun Jacket designed by Trine Lise Høyseth. The magazine has a large number of patterns, mainly for women but also a few for men and children. We are seven individual Norwegian designers that have patterns in this issue.

My Sculpted Frost Jacket is on page 18 to 21. The design is old but the photos shown are the second set taken back in the spring of 2020, at Bøler Church. The gorgeous Olivia Lindtein, with hair & make-up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, is brilliantly photographed by Eivind Røhne.

A beautiful frost flower lace pattern adorns this a-line jacket. The cuffed sleeves only have a central lattice panel, while the frost flowers reign on the body. The coat is framed by a shawl collar in garter stitch divided with a tuck and finished with an I-cord bind off. A vivid lilac color was made by combing the divine mélange lace weight Du Store Alpakka, Dreamline, Soul with the beautiful light fingering comb wool Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Huldra Kamgarn. Together they create a stunning stitch definition as well as a slight halo.

The 3 larger sizes have been given a garter st panel on either side of the Frost Flowers, feel free to change this to st st if you prefer. 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 jacket is knitted with a gauge of 20 stitches and 28 rows in stockinette stitch using both yarns held together measures 10 cm/4” square blocked. If you prefer to work the jacket with a solid strand choose a double knit or a worsted yarn with a good meterage/yardage.

The pattern is available in sizes XS to 2XL, with a bust measurement of 84 to 126 cm/33 to 49.5″ in English and Norwegian on both Ravelry and LoveCrafts.

If you live in Norway, you can also order the Vårstrikk magazine by sending a SMS with Vår21 to 2205.

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Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020: Hetta

I have been looking forward to showing you the photos of the beautiful Olivia Lindtein, with make up & hair and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, wearing my new Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk design Hetta, captured by Eivind Røhne. I chose to style Hetta and the three other designs with a strap-less machine knitted long dress with a zipper at the back and ankleboots by Monica Stålvang. Hetta was photographed at the back of the church hall in Mortensrud Church in Oslo, back in November. Yarn kits with either an English or a Norwegian pattern are available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.

The pattern will be released in both English and Norwegian after the on-going test knit has been completed at the end of April.

Named Hetta, Norse for hood, is this oversized cozy pullover with a kangaroo pocket. An embossed leaf stitch adorns the hoodie, which begins in a broken rib. The stitch pattern continues on both parts of the hood which are knitted together at the top and seamed at the back, then attached around the neckline. The pocket is knitted onto the front at the end. Hetta is knitted in the stunning pelt and lambswool yarn mix from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, called Vidde.

The sample is size S, but I have graded the Hetta pattern from sizes XS to 5XL, with bust measurements from 129 to 186 cm/50.75 to 73.25″ with an intended ease: + 46-56 cm/18-22”. Olivia is wearing it with + 53 cm/20.75”of ease.

The pullover is worked back and forth from the bottom and up in pieces and then seamed. A circular needle is used to accommodate the large stitch number. The stitches for the beginning and end of front pocket are held on waste yarn. The pocket is knitted onto the front at the end. The hood is worked in two separate parts and joined with a 3-needle bind off, then seamed at the back and along neckline with a front overlap.

My sample knitter Airin Hansen knitted this for me with a gauge of 18 stitches and 24 rows in st st using 4.5 mm/US 7 needle measures 10 cm/4” square after blocking. The Vidde lamullgarn by Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk is made of 100% wool (50% pelt wool and 50% lambswool) with 200 meters/220 yards on each 100 gram skein.

Yarn kits are available from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk with either an English or a Norwegian pattern, while the individual Hetta pattern will be released at the end of April in my Ravelry Store.

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Photoshoot at Mortensrud Church November 2020: Japanese Vest

I decided to photograph the Japanese Vest again, it was first photographed for my Norwegian knitting book “To rett, en vrang. Designstrikk” published by Cappelen Damm back in 2012, by Kim Müller. I decided to style the vest over a black machine knitted dress. Model Olivia Lindtein looked stunning in the vest! Her hair & make-up is by Sissel Fylling, the jewellery is borrowed from Kaja Gjedebo Design and brilliant photographer Eivind Røhne captured it all!

The pattern has been revised and I have added three more sizes to it. My technical editor Barbara Khouri has made a very smart chart and a schematic as well as editing the pattern for me. The pattern will be released in my Ravelry Store next week in both English and Norwegian. It will also be added to LoveCrafts.

A vest inspired by Japan, with only one large armhole, to drape, fold and fasten as you please with a shawl pin or two. You can also use the Japanese Vest as a scarf if you like. The all over reversible dropped stitch pattern is by Lynne Barr. The vest is knitted in one piece, in the beautiful Huldra kamgarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, with double hem bands all around.

I knitted the vest is knitted using 3 mm/US 2.5 needles with a 28 stitches and 36 rows in stockinette stitch measuring 10 cm/4″ square. Olivia is wearing the smallest size.

The vest is seamless and worked in one piece with one large armhole. A circular needle is used to accommodate the large number of stitches. The side double band hem is picked up and worked at the end with 2 circular needles held parallel. If you prefer, add for instance 3 stitches in garter stitch in each end instead, or skip the side double band.

I look forward to showing you more of the photos from the photoshoot! I am so thrilled with these new photos of the Japanese Vest. Thank you to my wonderful team!

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Cian Sweater Pattern Released

The Cian Sweater, with the cowl, pattern has been released in both English and Norwegian, it was first published in the Norwegian book “Norsk Strikkedesign. Strikk din favoritt”. Both the sweater and the cowl are knitted in the divine Tinde pelt wool yarn from Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, just like the other four designs. Above and at the bottom are some of the new photos that were taken of the gorgeous Kaja Kvernbakken with hair & make up by Sissel Fylling and jewellery by Kaja Gjedebo Design, by Eivind Røhne at the Oslofjord Museum back in spring 2019. The pattern is available in English and Norwegian in my Ravelry Stores and on LoveCrafts.

The Cian Sweater and Cian Beret is on the cover of the English version book with the title “Knit Like a Norwegian” which will be published in March by Trafalgar Square Books. The cover photo is taken by Eivind Røhne of beautiful model Emma Ross. For more information see here: www.trafalgarbooks.com. Available for pre-order with free world-wide delivery here: Book Depository.

Named Cian after the Irish God who rules over love magic, is this long A-line pullover. Three central Moss cables, framed by double seed stitch, adorn the center of the body which ends in a vent. Cian is crowned with an I-cord decoration around its crew neck. Wear the matching Cian Cowl as a loose collar. The sweater is knit in pieces from bottom up while the cowl sideways, both in the divine Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Tinde pelsull.

Sizes Sweater: XS (S, M, L, XL, 2XL)
Shown in size Medium
Cowl: One size
Skill level: Experienced

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: 72 (72, 74, 74, 76, 76) cm/28.25 (28.25, 28.75, 28.75, 30, 30)“
Sleeve length: 49 (50, 50, 50, 50, 50) cm/19.25 (19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 19.75, 19.75)”
Cowl: Width: 60 cm/23.5” and height: 17.5 cm/7”

Yarn: Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk, Tinde Pelsull (100% pelt wool, 260 m/284 yds, 100 g). The samples are knitted in Natural Grey;
Sweater: 4 (5, 5, 6, 7, 8) skeins; 1040 (1144, 1248, 1456, 1664, 1872) m/1137 (1251, 1365, 1592, 1820, 2047) yds.
Cowl: 1 skein: 130 m/142 yds.
https://www.ull.no/produktkategori/garn/ullgarn/norsk-pel…

Alternative Yarns: Berroco, Ultra Alpaca Light (50% alpaca, 50% wool, 50 g, 133 m/144 yds). http://www.berroco.com/yarns/berroco-ultra-alpaca-light
Jamieson’s, Double Knitting (100% wool, 25 g, 75 m/82 yds).
http://www.jamiesonsofshetland.co.uk/spindrift-and-double…
Rowan, Tweed (100% wool, 50 g, 118 m/129 yds).
http://www.knitrowan.com/yarns/rowan-tweed
Malabrigo, Arroyo, (100% superwash merino, 100 g, 306 m/335 yds).
https://malabrigoyarn.com/yarns/arroyo
Or another DK/8 ply yarn.

Needles: 3.5 mm/US 4 straight needle.
3.5 mm/US 4 circular needle (60 cm/24”) for neckband.
Adjust needle size as needed to match gauge.

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

Gauge: 21 sts and 30 rows in st st measures 10 cm/4” square.
16-sts Moss cable measures 7 cm/2.75” across (at widest point).

Notes: The sweater is worked in pieces and seamed. The rib on the body is not seamed at the bottom to create vents. The cowl is worked sideways, so the cast off and bind off are joined together at the end. Adjust the width by adding purl stitches in between the cable repeats or by removing a cable repeat.

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