INSPIRATION -

18 Jul, 202218 Jul, 2022

A KNITTED VEST FOR TRAINING

Did you know that wool is a very suitable material for garments for activity? And that a knitted garment in wool has good breathability? The vest below is made for training and has got the name Aktiv which is Norwegian for active. There are three features in particular that were in focus in the process of design.

First, the vest has plenty of room for movement, even if the fit is tight. That is because knitted fabric gives nice elasticity.

Secondly, a breathable material is needed when exercising. Wool has that quality and therefore helps to protect the body against both changes in temperature and moisture levels when training. You can read more about the wool’s excellent qualities at Woolmarks site.

Third, the vest had to be light weighted. So, it is knitted with rather thick needles to this type of yarn to keep the weight down, and to make an insulating air layer especially regarding activity on colder days. The light weight also makes it easy to roll up and put in a pocket or backpack.

The knitted vest Aktiv made for training.

To see more designs from Aud B, visit the online shop at audb.no. And for more inspiration, stay tuned to this blog and check it out.

01 Feb, 202229 Apr, 2022

DO YOU PREFER SEAMLESS KNITTING?

Seamless sweaters, from left Jakt, Femgangen and Sport.

There are different reasons to choose seamless knitting. And likewise, there are benefits if you sew.

If you want to make a garment with minimal lumps and bumps around the attachment points, seamless is a good choice. The same goes if you want to avoid steeking.

The need of steeking is one of three main reasons to sew during the assembly of a knitted garment. One is to close small gaps, such as between the sleeves and the body. Another is that the garment is knitted flat, in several parts, which are to be put together. And the third reason is that the fabric must be steeked, to make an opening mid front or somewhere else where it is needed. As mentioned, all three methods will leave tiny lumps along the seam.

If you prefer seamless knitting, I would like to show you one of my seamless designs. It’s a vest for children, and it’s called Lun. That is the Norwegian word for something warm though not too hot.

The vest is knitted bottom up and flat. The ribbing is made only with knit stitches and purls and looks the same from the wrong side as the right side. Instead of sleeves, one will cast on stitches to make an opening for the arms. Then the shoulders are shaped by doing decreases.

To see more designs from Aud B, visit the online shop at audb.no. And for more inspiration, stay tuned to this blog and check it out.

29 Mar, 202121 Apr, 2021

KNIT A SWEATER FOR A HUNTER?

A friend, who also is a hunter, suggested that Aud B should make a knit design inspired from outdoor life. And so she did. The design is a sweater called Jakt, which is Norwegian for the English word Hunt. In other words, a sweater for a hunter.

The sweater has got colours from the nature. Both the forest and the water is represented. And it is also easy to recognize the tracks of a couple of animals. Even a glimpse of fishing line is on the sweater.

A hunter or an angler needs clothes where there is plenty of room for movement. To use a rifle or a fishing rod, the clothes must not be too tight, espesially over the shoulders. This sweater has enough positive ease to feel comfortable when moving. And the knitted fabric gives nice elasticity.

For outdoor life it is also important to have garments that keep you warm enough. Then the garment’s insulating ability is important. One of the most suitable materials for this is wool. It retains heat even if the garment has become wet. Stagnant air is the secret behind all insulation, and wool has plenty of air. It actually protects against both heat and cold. Of course, the sweater Jakt had to be made of wool, and so it is.

To protect the shoulders even more, the colourwork has been placed there. That will make an extra layer of air, because it is used two threads at the same time. This is a very light and comfortable garment to wear.

So, why not knit a sweater for a hunter?

To see more designs from Aud B, visit the online shop at audb.no. And for more inspiration, stay tuned to this blog and check it out.

23 Sep, 202013 Nov, 2020

KNIT ANOTHER SIZE BY SWITCHING KNITTING NEEDLES

If you have a pattern in a different size than you want to knit, then you should consider to use another yarn which goes to a different needle size. To make a smaller version you then will have to choose a thinner yarn, and the opposite if you want a larger size of the finished project.

When you have chosen yarn, check out the recommended gauge for it. Then you can use it to find which of the sizes in the pattern that will give the wished circumference. If, for example, the recommended gauge is 22 stitches per 10 cm, and you want the finished garment to have a circumference of 100 cm, then you will have to do a minor calculation. First find how many stitches there is per cm; 22 sts / 10 cm = 2,2 sts. Then multiply it with the circumference; 100 cm * 2,2 sts = 220 sts. Compare your answer with the stated number of stitches the different sizes in the pattern. Now you are able to choose the size that comes closest to desired result.

To knit the design Hjemover in another size

Here is an example where the children’s sweater Hjemover is turned in to a jacket in female size M. To transform the size 8 YO to a fitted size M both yarn and needle were changed. This jacket is made with DK weight yarn and a 4 mm needle instead of fingering weight yarn and a 3 mm needle. Also the length of both the body and the sleeves are adjusted to reach the desired length.

A nice result, or what? And besides this pattern gives a really good opportunity to use up leftover yarn.

To see more designs from Aud B, visit the online shop at audb.no. And for more inspiration, stay tuned to this blog and check it out.

18 Aug, 202025 Mar, 2023

A SPEAR, BLUE SKY AND THE SWEATER SPYDEBERG

There is a small village called Spydeberg, in the southern part of Norway. The village symbol is a spear, which refers to “spyd” in the name. It is placed in the park where this photo is taken, a spear against the blue sky. One does not know the exact reason for the name, but Spydeberg is the original name of the rectory, which is located on a hill with several protruding points. It may be these that are compared to spearheads.

However, this symbol is the inspiration for the sweater Spydeberg. The shape of the spear is very suitable for a knitted yoke. And the dark, rusty brown spear towards the blue sky is just beautiful! So, the sweater had to be blue, and the spears brown. The background for the spears is white, to make the contrast outstanding.

A spear and blue sky and are the inspiration for the sweater Spydeberg.

To see more designs from Aud B, visit the online shop at audb.no. And for more inspiration, stay tuned to this blog and check it out.

27 Apr, 202025 May, 2021

COLOURS – FROM A PLACE YOU LOVE

Colours in the winter landscape in the northern part of Norway.

Which colours reminds you about a place you love? Is it one special colour, or is it many? And why do you love that place?

If you put together the answers to those questions, you will probably have a favourite colour palette.

The palette for the sweater Hjemover contains some of the colours in the winter landscape a place in the northern part of Norway, where Aud B grew up. A place she loves. The English word for Hjemover is homewards.

To put the colours you love, together in a sweater

In the sweater Hjemover, the white represents the snow. White is used as the main colour because it is easy to combine with other colours.

The contrast colours are alternating, but the grey and the green are more used than the other colours. They are both calm colours, which helps to stabilize the expression, and reminds about the winter green trees in north, and the stones.

The sky in north changes a lot from day to day and all day through. Sometimes the brightest blue, and sometimes greyer. The sun is low in the winter and paints the sky in all kinds of pastel colours, especially in frosty weather. The yellow is an example of that.

Sweater Hjemover, with colours from a place Aud B loves

To see more designs from Aud B, visit the online shop at audb.no. And for more inspiration, stay tuned to this blog and check it out.

29 Jan, 202025 May, 2021

HEADBAND – EASY TO MAKE AND A QUICK KNIT

This is a quick knit project that is easy to make. You will be able to complete it in no time, and it gives you a good opportunity to use scrap yarn. And besides, who does not need a new headband now and then? This one is worked in the round and can easily be adjusted to desired measurements.

A quick knit

To make a headband like this you need sports weight yarn, approximately 50 grams and 100 metres, and a 4 mm needle.

Cast on 88 stitches and work ribbing K2 P2 for 15 cm. Bind off and weave in ends. That is all! Your new headband is finished.

To adjust the size of the headband

Adjust the width by adding or subtracting stitches. The number of stitches must be divisible with four, which means that you will have to add or subtract 4 stitches at a time, to the number stated in the paragraph over. To adjust the length, you will have to knit shorter or longer than stated. Both adjustments will affect how much yarn you will need.

To see more designs from Aud B, visit the online shop at audb.no. And for more inspiration, stay tuned to this blog and check it out.

13 Nov, 201925 May, 2021

HOW TO USE YARN WITH DIFFERENT DYE LOTS

Same yarn colour, but different dye lots?

Why not make it a part of the garments look?

On a sweater for example. Figure out if there is enough yarn of same dye lot to knit two sleeves of it. And if not, you might want to place it as a stripe on the yoke or the body. Or maybe you want to make something smaller?

Here is a tip for a hat. This hat is knitted with two different blue colours, one grey, and for the white part it is used three different dye lots.

The darkest colours are in bottom of the hat, and the lightest colours on top. So, the white yarn was sorted by which one was brighter. One can hardly see that they are different, and that was the point this time.

All the colours are knitted to the end of the thread and used up. Because of that the switching of colours will start on different places on the hat and make a softer impression of the shifts. Easy and fun.

To see more designs from Aud B, visit the online shop at audb.no. And for more inspiration, stay tuned to this blog and check it out.