Designer Spotlight - Mirva Scivola

Designer Spotlight - Mirva Scivola

Mirva of @rustic_house_knits on Instagram is a Finn living in Italy, and she learned to knit in school, like most of us Finns. She has always enjoyed creating her own designs rather than following existing patterns. She really got into the craft in 2020, and started test knitting for others, and from there she branched into designing herself.

The fit of garments and accessories is very important to Mirva, and she wants her designs to have interesting details. She draws inspiration from her surroundings in Italy: the sights, the sounds, the flavors, and each pattern has a story behind it. 

Grano hat is a simple hat hat design that allows the yarn used to take the spotlight. What's basic and earthy? Wheat! The Italian kitchen is nothing without wheat. Just think about the pasta, pizza and white bread. The basics of everyday life in Italy. This hat is knit with fingering weight yarn.

Pesco socks is a pair of short lacy socks inspired by the emergence of spring. The wind gets mild and the birds start to sing, the days get longer and the sun starts to warm you, the trees wake up. The peach tree is starts blooming before the leaf buds come out. These socks are knit with fingering weight yarn.

Caffè napoletano shawl is an asymmetrical triangular shawl inspired by the coffee in Naples. The Neapolitans claim that they have the best coffee in the world, and who am I to disagree? Boiling hot, short and strong, served in tiny cups, it’s a shot of that energy for which Naples is known. Scroll down for more details about this fabulous design. 

Acacia socks are lacy socks inspired by the beautiful acacia trees around Mirva’s house. She had heard of acacia, and knew furniture was made from it, but hadn't actually seen one, She has learned that the beautiful shade-giving trees around her house that are full of hanging bunches of white flowers in spring are, in fact, acacias. Which then inspired this pattern. These socks are knit with fingering weight yarn.

The Caffè napoletano shawl begins with a soothing garter stitch section where the increases and shawl shaping are made, and ends with beautiful lace that is shaped with short rows. The edges stay neat with an i-cord. This is possibly the only type of i-cord that a Cordsmith isn't hugely helpful, as only one stitch is created at the end of each row. 

Tukuwool Sock is a sport weight yarn which is a 80/20 blend of Finnsheep wool and biodegradable polyamide, and dyed in Finland. The Manna and Lungo colors are perfect for this design.

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