Designer Spotlight - Mirva Scivola
Mirva of @rustic_house_knits
Mirva is a Finn living in Italy, and while she learned to knit in school, she really got into the craft in 2020. She 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.
Cicoria Top
Nduja Top
Nduja top is a sleeveless top that is knitted seamlessly top-down. 'Nduja is is a spicy, spreadable pork sausage from the Calabria region of Italy, and the top's design features the leaves and fruits of the chili pepper plant that gives 'nduja its signature fire. The top has one lacy side and one stockinette side and a reversible shape. This means you can do one of each and then wear whichever side you feel like on any give day, or you can do just stockinette, or lace on both sides.
This top is written for fingering-weight yarn. Lankava Sulo is a versatile yarn for many projects, including this one. There are 23 solid colors to choose from, and Saffron or Chili would be a great match to this pattern.
Grano Hat
Grano hat is a simple hat inspired by wheat, which is found in the basics of everyday life in Italy: pasta, pizza, white bread - it's everywhere. The hat is knit bottom up and the brim length can be adjusted to accommodate the amount of yarn you have. The decreases are integrated into the lace pattern so they don't detract from its beauty.
This pattern is also for fingering-weight yarn, and Lankava Sulo is of course my choice for it. Colors like Sand, Curry, or Cinnamon would go wonderfully with the theme of the design.
Pino d'oro Shawl
Pino d’oro Shawl is a crescent shaped shawl inspired by the costal pines of Italy. The pines there aren't towering giants like the ones found further north, but they have a signature umbrella-like shape. This shawl starts from a garter tab cast on, and is knitted out from the center. It has lace inspired by pine cones alternating with stretches of garter stitch.
Another great pattern to use Lankava Sulo on, since it is written for fingering-weight yarn. Rain, Cinnamon, and Curry would give you colors similar to the ones in the sample. With 23 options to choose from, there are dozens of combinations you can create.
Yarn for Cicoria Top
The Cicorio pattern is written for sport-weight yarn, and while Mirva used cotton for hers, I think this would also be a beautiful top in merino wool. Grab some Lankava Helli before it's all gone. It's on sale! Any one of the colors would look beautiful in this project.
