Trysil is a town in eastern Norway famous for it’s skiing – both of the downhill and cross country variety. This design is a doubleknit triangular shawl, with traditional Norwegian stars/snowflakes spreading out over the shawl.
There will be a KAL with a cast-on date any time before Nov 30 right here in the Knit & Knag Designs group. The pattern itself will be released on Nov 14, to give people a chance to clear their needles and find some fabulous yarn!!
The Trysil shawl is a double-knit triangular shawl. The pattern allows you to adjust the size of the shawl. It can be knit in any weight yarn from light fingering to DK or even heavier.
The pattern includes detailed instructions on double-knitting. So it is an excellent way to learn a new technique. If you’re already a double-knitting expert, just enjoy the shawl.
Since it is double-knit, the shawl is fully reversible.
Sign up for the KAL here ($6CDN if purchased prior to Nov 30, 2012):
And join the fun in the Knit & Knag Designs group on Ravelry.
I was just down in Manchester, NH, to teach at the Interweave Knitting Lab (Oct 4-7). It was really a wonderful event – all sorts of classes with all sorts of instructors, all concentrated in one hotel/conference centre.
I taught two different classes – Lace Design and Shawl Construction. It was a lot of fun.
In the Shawl Construction class we talked about how to work the increases and decreases in order to shape the canvas of your shawl – a lot of what is covered in my Shaping Shawls book, but we also branded out and talked about how to construct a number of other shapes as well.
In the Lace Design class (which I taught twice), we then talked about how to fill those canvases (shawls) with lovely lace patterns. 
Everyone was hard at work. Some parts were an individual effort, since as a designer, you have to make sure that you understand how the increases and decreases work together, and how it affects the overall shawl. And some parts were done in groups, so that people could feed off each others’ creativity, and also to make it go a bit faster. All in all, I was impressed with the designs and hope to see some of them in the future. 
I also brought a ton of samples to use as examples and teaching props. It’s quite remarkable how many I’ve amassed over the years.
All sorts of colours. All sorts of shapes. All sorts of yarn weights and fibre contents. Together they become a colourful medley of shawls.
It was also great to see so many lovely knitters, designers and instructors. I hope to see some of you this weekend at Rhinebeck. If you’re there, come say hello. I’ll be in the Cooperative Press booth, in Building C.
At the moment I have two projects on the needles. And as it happens they are both using gorgeous Silky 435 yarn from Julie Spins.
On the top of the photo is a shawl in Cerise that I’m working on for a new collection. I’m very excited about it, but can really only share this measly peak at it right now. Soon, though. Soon.
And then near the bottom of the photo is a top that I’m working on. This one is in Polar Night, and I received in a swap ages ago. I really, really like how this yarn knits up. In both cases. Obviously it looks very different on 2.5 mm needles vs. 4.5 mm, but both look amazing.
On a separate note, this box of goodies just arrived on my doorstep today.
Very exciting. So for those of you going to Knitting Lab in NH next weekend, I’ll have lots of copies of the book.
Fall is here, and I’m sure NH will be spectacular with the fall colours. Although there are some gorgeous colours here too.
It’s time for a new KAL – this time it’s called Näcken.
In Scandinavian folklore, Näcken is a male water spirit who played enchanted songs on the violin, luring women and children to drown in lakes or streams. He was the unsurpassed master violinist, and musicians could learn from him.
Playing the violin like Näcken was not without risk, since the musician could become so enthralled by the music that he would be unable to stop playing until he lost his mind. The people listening would become ensorcelled by the tune that they neither could nor wanted to stop dancing. The only way to break the spell would be if someone there severed the violin strings with a knife.
The shawl is a top-down semicircular shawl. It contains stylized lily pads (Näckrosor – Näckens roses in Swedish) near the top which then are surrounded by softly lapping water, spreading in rings.
The KAL will be hosted in the Knit & Knag Designs Group on Ravelry, as usual. The pattern is available for purchase both here, and via the Verdant Gryphon. It is $6.00 until the end of September 2012, when the price will go up to the regular pattern price.
The pattern is also available as part of a kit from the Verdant Gryphon including the pattern and a limited edition, exclusive colourway of Mithril – same as used in the sample. The kits will be released on the VG site on Fri, Aug 31, 10 AM EDT.
What people are saying about Ancient Egypt in Lace and Color:
Anna has done it again, now presenting us with a remarkable collection of shawls inspired by ancient Egypt. Anna’s first book of shawls was all about the math but this time she dives into history and lore connecting it most cleverly to the beautiful patterns and colors in her designs. Anna continues to write exceptionally clear and thought out patterns making them accessible for even newbies but still very interesting for the seasoned lace knitter
—Ragga Eiriksdottir, Knitting Iceland, knittingiceland.is
Anna Dalvi’s Ancient Egypt In Lace And Color is full of gorgeous, intriguing patterns that convey the mystery of ancient Egypt through form, texture and hue. Each piece is beautifully planned, intricately worked, and carries Dalvi’s signature style– clear, precise lines and understated elegance. Every pattern is created to be engaging for the experienced lace knitter, yet Anna’s unique writing style makes these patterns accessible for a novice. The only problem will be deciding which project to cast on first!
–Sarah Eyre, Cephalopod Yarns, cephalopodyarns.com
I want 5 minutes in Anna Dalvi’s brain. Anna tells us stories with her stitches, every design as complex and rich as the mythology that inspired them, yet so clearly and simply written that we can step in without trepidation and knit those legends. Truly a book of dream shawls.
–Kim McBrien, indigodragonfly, indigodragonfly.ca
Dalvi’s book shows that her first collection was no flash in the pan;
another tour de force in shawls from one of today’s most exciting lace
designers.
–Jaala Spiro, Knitcircus, knitcircus.com
I’m amazed at the good reception of Ancient Egypt in Lace and Color on Ravelry. Out of the top 20 patterns that are “hot right now”, NINE are from my new book!
Thanks everyone!
The ebook is shipping now and can be purchased through Cooperative Press, or straight on Ravelry.
The Olympics are underway, and so is my Ravellenics knitting project. I’m knitting a pair of Fringe Socks by Stephannie Tallent from her book California Revival Knits.
I’ve knit most of one leg of the first sock, and I really like it. Fair Isle was actually my first love when it comes to knitting, even though I haven’t knit Fair Isle for a while now – I guess I got a bit distracted by lace. And double knitting. And cables. But it’s really a lot of fun. In fact, it’s so much fun that I’m plotting and scheming for a new Fair Isle pattern….. although there are a few other patterns I need to release first. Anyhow, back to the socks. I think they are turning out beautifully.
The main colour is a dark, forest green, and the contrast colour a kind of cream that looks almost like a natural, undyed wool.
These socks are really neat. The socks are inspired by the amazing tile carpet in the Adamson House – tiles mimicking a Persian Carpet. And now socks mimicking those tiles. The fringe is really neat, and knit in coloured cables. Very nicely done, Stephannie!
Today I am sure I will finish the fringe and turn the heel of the socks.
I’m hoping to take part of the 2012 Ravellenics games this year – knitting something that’s a bit different for me. After some pattern browsing, I settled on the Fringe Socks by Stephannie Tallent. I hardly ever knit socks, fair isle, coloured cables, or even other people’s patterns anymore, so this should be fun.
So far, I’ve acquired the yarn (Regia in forest green and beige) and read through the pattern. Cast-on will hopefully happen tomorrow, If I can get someone to bring me my sock needles to the cottage. I have high hopes that DH can bring them from home tomorrow. In the meantime, I have a few other projects to keep me busy at my little cabin by the lake.
One of the really nifty things with TNNA is that we get to see and try new products. Ok, I realize square needles aren’t band new on the market, but they are new to me. So I was very excited to find that I had a brand new set of Knitter’s Pride cubics in my gift bag from Marly’s Designer Dinner. And they just happened to be size 3.75 mm (US 5), which is one of my go-to sizes for lace.
They are very nice to work with, the join is smooth and the cable nice and flexible, and a good point, suitable for lace. I like them a lot. Although honestly I can’t say that they are particularly different to work with compared to round needles. Perhaps if I were in the habit of gripping my needles very hard, it might be easier on my fingers, but I’m not. Still, very nice needles – lovely to work with. I’m glad I got the chance to try them.
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