The people who did the matching for Secret Pal round 7 really did a great job! My spoiler is an alpaca guru!!! Last week a very soft shipment arrived at my doorstep. I hope the picture at least gives a hint about how great these lucious fibers are:

Can you believe that - she spun this gorgeous yarn! It's 200 meters of the softest, most delicious lace weight cria-alpaca yarn you can imagine. She suggested a little lace scarf and that is exactely what I am going to make from it. The fleeces are from different kind of alpacas, - the light and dark browns from cria (if I got it right, pal..?) and the white one from suri-alpaca. The stuff is so soft that you can hardly feel it is there - almost like touching air - and I am even not kidding. My fiber-heart is in love!

And I saved the very tempting dark chocolate just for the picture - It will be gone very soon now, mmmmmm....

Thank you, thank you, thank you, dear secret pal!!!!

Here they are - my first two socks! - trying to comfort each other while waiting for a mate:

The jaywalker to the left was such a rewarding knit and excellent for a first try! The pattern is really great, easy to follow and gives you instructions on each and every stitch. No frustration, only jay, joy!

The other one I spotted in a little treasure of a book I found in the local library, "Gotländsk Sticksöm", old patterns from Gotland, one of the islands off the swedish southeast coast. The pattern I used is originally for children's socks:

I used thin alpaca - and the result is an extremely warm, comfortable and soft sock - maybe not very practical and durable - but perfect for lazy-cozy activities - like sleeping zzzzzzzz..

or tip-toeing for the camera....

 I will need to reknit the toe because the whole foot became a tiny bit too short and the toe too narrow -  I was too eager to finish!

And I have casted on the second blue jaywalker, so it seems I might even be capeable of making a pair!

My first sock is done. Or more correct: my first sock which is likely to get a partner is done. I am absolutely totally addicted. After only one sock. I find myself flying through cyberspace haunting sock yarns. Trying to find the ultimate one. Something will arrive in my mailbox hopefully next one or two weeks.

Of course first try had to be the Jaywalker. What else. The very first try was with the Mystical Creation yarn:

Well. It doesn't look too bad. I think. But it feels too firm, too thick, too heavy. I wonder if this yarn wouldn't do much better as slippers. Crocheted slippers. Oh. Yet another obsession lurking around the corner...Yes, I really need that. So, good bye, mystical jaywalker, thanks for joining me on my way to sock paradise.

Next try. Very lokal sock yarn form Gjestal Spinneri, the Silja Superwash sock yarn:

Thank you. I like you, allthough you give me the superwash-feel. I love the colorway - and I think it knits up nicely and feels so much softer and cozier than the first try. I finished this one. Yes I did! I will hopefully knit the partner very soon and give them to a friend as a very belated christmas gift.

I started the second sock. Not this one's partner. But that is as far as I am going. After finishing this no. 2 (key words: old gotlandic pattern, lace, alpaca, mmmmmm, my coolpix took a trip abroad, so pictures later) - I will for sure knit the second blue one!

And after that I will.... and... and....

Finished! Only two hours before I had to be all dressed up I weaved in the last thread. Before I say anything else: I hereby declare that this was my last time EVER doing deadline-knitting. I am getting too old for this. Knitting is supposed to be fun, to be relaxing - and to be very honest this was not! I realize that the joy of knitting, for me is just as much the process of making something - as enjoying the finished object. The process of finding a project, the yarn (thank you B.! for directing me to this shrug and for suggesting the perfect yarn substitute!) - the process of looking foreward to casting on, the actual casting on and seeing how the knitted fabric turns out.... This should be done at an apropriate pace - a pace that allows the enjoyment - this is what knitting is about!

Yes. Having said all that - I also must say that I really like the finished object. (And the party was great!):

details:

yarn: Baby Silk (20 % silk, 80 % alpaca) from Du store alpakka. Aprox. 6 1/2 skeins, 50 g each.

needles: Addi turbos, circulars; 3,5 and 4 mm.

beads: Güttermann small size black glass beads. 240 beads.

pattern source: Debbie Bliss' cathay book.

The Baby Silk was a perfect substitute - it knits up to a lovely, smooth, firm but yet soft, drapey and a little bit shiney fabric. I also have some DB cathay to make me a more summery version - and believe it or not - I think I will enjoy that! - in a bit slower manner...The cathay, I believe, will be a bit more firm knitted up.

And guess what! - there are no beads in the body ribbing! If I had a whole extra week and two tons more of patience than I posess - I might have done it - but to thread on more than 1000 beads and knit them - no way!  So that leaves me with the 120 on each cuff:

The shrug (and I) also have a back:

I have problems standing still. Hence the blurr. Problems standing still with itching fingers. It's official: I'm knitting socks. (Duck and cover).

Speed-knitting going on. I am going to finish the shrug before tomorrow evening! Good news are I pinned/quick-seamed the so-far finished parts together - and I am very close to believe that it will fit perfectly! Phew! Exposing myself to being harmed by poking needles I had to try it on:

Isn't this just a beautiful picture showing all the lovely details of this shrug? Hahaha. But it fits! - and the length is perfect! (remember - ribbing coming up!)

And beads, oooooh:

and the whole thing (exept one sleeve,hardly noticable) aaaaah:

Sleeve no. 2 is on the needles, in a couple of cm I start the top shaping... then there is seaming and the lining with onethousand beads to do. Now that I found out it (most probably) fits I for sure need to finish the darn thing. FAST! To be continued.

Remember my ramblings over the Marianne Isager Ribbebluse?! if not, here it is. I couldn't find any picture of it on the Internet - and believe me -I searched! Until today! - I see that Pinnsvindesign is now selling it as a kit! Here is a long-searched- for picture!! It is knitted from the neck down and I am right around the point where I must devide the stitches for body and sleeves. I need to put them all on spare threads of yarn and fit it on because otherwise it's impossible to know how big/small it is! I am also a bit worried about the neck-line getting too loose, but maybe a single ch. crochet edging would cure that... Pictures later...

Shrug update: 1. sleeve is only a few rows from done, then I have to make the second one (of course, duh..!) and the finishing and body ribbing. Will I make it,will I make it? Of course also pictures later.

I am no sock knitter. Thought I'd never be. But there are "some" bloggers out there constantly showing too nice socks. I want to knit socks. There I said it. I have loads of yarn, maybe not special-designed only for socks - but still - loads! Thin alpaca could make lovely socks - maybe not so durable - but at least great for bed and show-off! Hah! I have alpaca. But also some multicoloured wool - as two of these monster-skeins: (the LL lion and lamb is there for reference only - they will not turn into socks...):

It's sport/worsted weight, though, so not as thin as I would like - but maybe great for a first try. (I have to say that I did knit two or three socks in my life - but no pairs.... ) Oh yes, what kind of yarn? - it is 1/2 pound of 100 % wool from Mystical Creation yarns.

But really. Do I need yet another project? Of course I do.

Only three weeks ago I was up in the middle of the night knitting like crazy in order to get the Clapotis for my mom done before Cristmas. I think I mentioned that a couple of times already, yes...;) Anyhow - I promised myself that never again in history would I be knitting with a deadline!

OK. This is the reason I don't have new years resolutions, usually. There will always be something coming up that even forces me or convinces me or is tempting me (of course the last one rarely happens...) to break them. As also happened to this promise to myself. No deadline. Hah. The thing is that I am going to a party next weekend. I have a dress:

It told me it needs a shrug to go along. A black one. Bare arms, bare necessity. So I'm having a situation here. Starting tonight I have to finish two sleeves and the body lining of the shrug - in one week. Yes, no kidding. I already did the back and the two fronts. Yes - of course I must reveal which shrug. This beauty. (The one on the cover). I'm using this yarn:

It's 20 % silk and 80 % alpaca - and should provide the warmth I need at this time of the year. Gauge-wise it seems to be ok - but I am not quite sure because every time I measure it seems to be a little bit different...Here is the back in progress:

I think I might also use some beads - black ones in the ribbing - or what do you think? No matter what I do - I need to hurry! - and I need to hope very hard that it fits!!

 Midnight shot no.1, FO no. 13, 2005, Clapotis:

(taken after hours of frantic knitting, christmas gift for my mom. (knitting towards a deadline. never again. i said. right now i'm doing it again. stay tuned, more knitting soon, tari, your guess was absolutely correct and also I'll get around to the meme one of the days..;)))

details:

yarn: 1 strand of alpakka, (shade 7238) and 1 split strand of cotton viscose, (shade 10, I believe - some sort of forest green)

needles: 5 mm addi turbo circular

pattern source: yes, this one!

On we go to more midnight shots:

Midnight shot no. 2: HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I:

Midnight shot no. 3, HAPPY NEW YEAR II:

A very happy new year to everyone who peeks into my little space on the web!

(I took the photos right after midnight in this beautiful town where I do not live but am lucky to visit often!)

 -inbetween christmas and new year - filled with good food, wine, candles and - of course - a little knitting. Here is a riddle: "Splendid thread moving again but not towards it's assumed destined form. Fall provided pattern with a slight (obvious!) greek touch." 100 points to those who guess what I frogged and what is now on my needles... There will of course be pictures in a couple of days or so...

Eloise's back grew a little:

The knitting with this blossom yarn is a bit strenous because I really must pay attention and tighten each stitch well in order to keep the right tension. The yarn is very "bumpy" and if a bump blocks the tightening, the tension gets way too lose. But when I only pay attention it turns out great, I love the fabric it makes!

A week or so before christmas I got a mail  from our local library saying that I could come and pick up a book I put in a request for two or three months ago! I had almost forgotten about the whole thing - so I was surprised and happy finally being able to hold and open this knitting treasure:

I have to return it in a couple of weeks but now I know for sure that this book is on top of my knit-book-wish-list! So many great patterns - and more than that - explanations and beautiful photos showing different techniques that could be used making own designs. I think what I love the most about MI's designs is the way she combines different stitches to create uniqe textures. Like this:

 this and this and...

It's so quiet now. The children are sleeping and extremely ready for tomorrow - 24th - christmas eve, which is the celebration day in Norway. Clapotis was sent off yesterday . and believe it or not my mom received it today! I knit until 1.30 am the other night and thought I wouldn't get it on it's way in time.... I have some really bad midnight flash photos to show. Later. Now it is quiet, it's christmas and time to say:

GOD JUL - MERRY CHRISTMAS!