Tari tagged me with this meme which I just couldn't resist to do. A knitting meme in a knitting blog - that's the thing!

What is your all time favorite yarn to knit with?

I don't have only ONE. Rowan has a lot of wonderful yarns. Kidsilk Haze - I'm a big fan. Kid Classic, Yorkshire Tweed Aran, Felted Tweed. Wonderful yarns. Then there is Du store alpakka. I keep returning to their fingering/sport weight yarn - I love the feel and quality of alpaca and all the colors it comes in. And their Baby Alpaca Silk is lovely. And the Noro yarns - so magically beautiful that I even can accept the shedding from some of them (as kochoran...)

Your favorite needles?

That really depends on what yarn I am using. I usecircular needles nearly always. Hardly ever straight ones - only DP when called for. For Noro Silk Garden I love using bamboo needles - truly "natural" knitting! And Addi Turbos are really great for some yarns and sure speed up my knitting - they're perfect for Rowan Kid Classic!

The worst thing you ever knit?

A fair-isle pastel mohair sweater-attempt in the 80s. Fair-isle. Pastel. Mohair. 80s. Explosive combo. It's still an UFO somewhere in the attic. Maybe. It haunted me for years - kept turning up every time we moved. When I come to think about in now - I guess in the end I hid it so well that I don't know where it is anymore. Maybe I gave it away. Hopefully to someone with froggy fingers...

Your most favorite knit pattern? (the most fun to knit)

I think Birch and also the Debbie Bliss scooped neck cardigan (the one on the cover). I so far made 2 of
it - one modified version for my younger daughter which turned out very well, I think:

(too dark today to get a picture without flash, this is not quite fair to the beauty of Noro Silk Garden...)

and one version for me:

That one was my first meeting with Noro Silk Garden and I was in love. So I did not pay attention to my gauge - and it turned out too big. I plan on ripping and reknitting it. That pattern is really great, a fun and quick knit! And I really love this colorway so I absolutely want to turn this into something I actually can wear!

Most valuable knitting technique?

Kitchener stitch/grafting. Theresa has a great tutorial here.

Best knit book or magazine?

Best magazine: Interweave Knits. Best book: the TWO books I found most inspirational this year: Teva Durham: Loop-d-loop and Francoise Tellier-Loumagne: Mailles (english version: Inspirational Stitches). One great collection of patterns: Rowan's Vintage Style.

Your favorite knit-a-long?

I never participated in any but enjoyed lurking around a lot...I guess I am too much multi-project oriented to dare to comit to one KAL.. But I never know...

Your favorite knit blogs?

Look to the left. In the side bar.

Your favorite knitwear designer?

Kim Hargreaves. And the danes. The danes: Marianne Isager, Hanne Falkenberg, Jytte Slente and Lone Bullinger, take a look at one of her designs!:

I don't think I'd ever have the patience to knit this - but I find it lovely and inspirational to look at! Make sure to have a look at this and this too! Then there are two norwegian knitwear designers I have to mention: Mette Møller and Merete Taule. These are ready-to-wear designs - sooo gorgeous!!

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it?!)

My two alpaca shawls - knitted 2 winters ago: 

I use them all the time. They are knitted on 10 mm needles with one strand of bulky alpaca and one strand of sport/fingering weight alpaca. So warm and soft. I also have a green one in stash and mind and almost on the needles...

In progress:

A quite quick and delightful knit, here we are, finished and a little steam-blocked:

The kimono is knitted in one piece. When I had knitted it all up I discovered that the sleeves were rather  short. So I had two options; rip almost 1/3 of the whole kimono or work out some other way to add a bit of length. I went for a bit of length - picked up and knitted 4 cm moss stitch. Not perfect - as I think the original design with the simple sleeves is just the right thing - but it saved me a lot of work...

details:

yarn: baansull merinoull/alpaca, double stranded - used aprox. 120 g, size 1/2 yr.
needles: 3 mm circular
pattern source: interweave knits summer 05
model: baby kimono, designed by Kristin Spurkland
modifications: picked up stitches and knit 4 cm moss stitch for extra sleevelength.

Temptation.  The back is done:

First I was a bit surprised and disappointed when I saw this picture - because the knitting looks so uneaven! Not so IRL! If I may say so. Then I remembered all those uninweaven ends that I shoved in underneath the piece before taking the picture... They sort of made some "waves" here and there. I think it will look OK when I finish it, though! I am really amazed by Kim Hargreaves' pattern. It is so easy to follow, so accurate - and look at that shaping! Even with such a bulky yarn she manages to make the most flattering curves!

I got started on the left front. It is actually almost done now, hence the reference to sleeve island - because I will make the first sleeve next. The front was a fun knit - but not mindless at all - there is some shaping and row-counting going on all the time. So I really need a little break and do a sleeve which looks like a much more relaxing knit. Here are the first rows of the left front:

I love both the knitting and the look of this picot edging:

Everyone should have a real bulky knit every now and then! With the speed of this yarn and the fat needles I think I'll have myself a new cardi by the end of next week!!

It's friday. Time to laugh. This helped me:

This conversation that really took place on the emergency channel outside the spanish coast in october 1997 is hilarious in itself. I first read it in german, then found a spanish version.

Then using a free web-translator, these two english versions really cracked me up:

VERSION 1 - translated from spanish to english:

REAL CONVERSATION ENGRAVING OF THE FREQUENCY OF MARITIME EMERGENCY CHANNEL 106, IN THE COAST OF FINISTERRA (GALICIA), BETWEEN SPANIARDS AND American, IN OCTOBER, 16 OF 1997

Spanish: (noise of fund) ....  It speaks the TO-853, please, they deviate their course fifteen south degrees to avoid to collide us..  They approach direct toward us, distance 25 nautical miles. 

American: (noise of fund) ...  We recommend that they deviate their course fifteen north degrees to avoid collision. 

Spanish: Negative.  We repeat, they deviate their course fifteen south degrees to avoid collision. 

American: (another American voice) Al speaks the Captain of a ship of the United States of America.  We insist, they deviate you their course fifteen north degrees to avoid collision. 

Spanish: it do Not we consider feasible neither convenient, we suggest them that they deviate their course fifteen south degrees to avoid to collide us. 

American: (very hot) THE CAPTAIN SPEAKS THEM RICHARD JAMES HOWARD, AL COMMAND OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS LINCOLN, OF THE NAVY OF THE E.E.U.U., THE SECOND LARGER SHIP OF WAR OF THE American FLEET.  TWO BATTLESHIPS they ESCORT US, SIX DESTROYERS, FIVE CRUISERS, FOUR SUBMARINES AND NUMEROUS EMBARKATIONS OF SUPPORT.  We DIRECT US TOWARD WATER OF THE PERSIAN GULF TO PREPARE MILITARY MANEUVERS BEFORE AN EVENTUAL OFFENSIVE OF IRAQ.  THEM do NOT I SUGGEST..  I ORDER THEM THAT they DEVIATE THEIR COURSE FIFTEEN NORTH DEGREES! !!!!  OTHERWISE we WILL SEE US OBLIGED TO TAKE THE MEASURES THAT BE NECESSARY TO GUARANTEE THE SECURITY OF THIS SHIP AND OF THE FORCE OF THIS COALITION.  You.  They BELONG TO AN ALLIED COUNTRY, MEMBER OF THE NATO AND OF THIS COALITION..  PLEASE, they OBEY IMMEDIATELY AND be REMOVED OF OUR ROAD! !!!! 

Spanish: Juan speaks Them Manuel Rooms Alcántara.  We are two people.  They escort us our dog, our food, two beers and a canario that now this sleeping.  We have the support of Chain Dial of The Coruña and the channel 106 of maritime emergency.  Us we direct to no side since we speak firm from land, we are in the lighthouse TO-853 Finisterra, of the coast of Galicia.  We do not have the idea in which placed we are in the ranking of Spanish lighthouses.  They can take the measures that consider opportune and the desire give him to guarantee the security of his ship, that is going to do host against the rocks, for which we insist again and we suggest him that the best, but healthy and more recommendable is that we deviate his course fifteen south degrees for avoid colisiónarnos. ....!!!! 

American: Well, it received, thanks. 

VERSION 2 - the web-translator's german - english translation - or at least translation-attempt:

Honest radio saying

A HONEST radio saying, THAT BETWEEN GALIZIERN AND north Americans IS TAKEN PLACE HAS THIS - RECEIVED OF THE FREQUENCY OF THE SPANISH MARITIME need call, CANAL 106, AT THE GALIZISCHEN COAST "COSTA DE FINISTERRA" - ON THE 16 OCTOBER 1997 (this radio saying really took place and became first in March 2005 of the Spanish military authorities the publication released)

Galizier:

(Sound in the background) ......  Here A853 to them speaks change, please it its course around 15 degrees to
south around a collision to vermeiden..... 

They go directly on us to, distance 25 nautical Meilen....... 

American:

(Sound in the Hintergrund)......Wir advise to avoid them to change its course around 15 degrees to north around a collision. 

Galizier:

Negative answer.  We repeat: they change to avoid its course around 15 degrees to south around a collision. 

American:

(Another American voice) here the captain of a ship of the navy speaks the United States of America to them.  We persist on that: they change its course around 15 degrees to north immediately in order to avoid a collision. 

Galizier:

We look at recommend change this as neither as doable yet required, we its course around 15 degrees towards the south to them to avoid around
a collision. 

American:

(Befehlerischer sound strongly excited) HERE THE CAPTAIN SPEAKS US RICHARD JAMES HOWARD, COMMANDER OF THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER "USS LINCOLN" ABOUT THE NAVY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THE SECOND LARGEST WARSHIP OF THE NORTH AMERICAN FLEET, ESCORT TWO tank cruisers, SIX DESTROYERS, FIVE cross ships, FOUR
U-BOATS AND MEHERE SHIPS THAT US ALWAYS SUPPORTING ABILITY.  WE ARE IN course direction PERSIAN GULF in order TO PREPARE THERE A military maneuver AND TO CARRY OUT WITH REGARD TO AN OFFENSVE OF THE IRAQ ALSO.  I RATE YOU NOT ....  I COMMANDS YOU YOUR COURSE AROUND 15 DEGREES TO NORTH TO ÄNDERN!!!!!  YOU
SHOULD NOT FORCED YOURSELF ON THAT STOPS SO SEEING WE US TO INITIATE THE NECESSARY STEPS, THAT ARE NECESSARY AROUND THE SECURITY OF THIS AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND ALSO THAT OF THIS MILITARY dispute power TO GUARANTEEING.  YOU ARE MEMBER OF AN ALLIERTEN COUNTRY, MEMBER NATO AND THEREFORE THIS MILITARY
STREITMACHT..... 

FAVOR OBEYING YOU IMMEDIATELY AND GOING YOU US END THE WEG!!!!!!!! 

Galizier:

Here Juan Manuel Salas Alcántara speaks.  We are two persons.  Our dog, our meal, two beers led us and a man of the Kanaren who just sleeps.  We have the support of the transmitters Cadena Dial of la
Coruna and canal 106 as need call maritime.  We go nowhere there because we speak with them of the mainland out of.  We are in the lighthouse A-853 Finisterra at the coast of Galizien.  We have no faintest premonition which place take in we in the Ranking of the Spanish lighthouse.  And can the steps initiate, that it essential hold, around the security its aircraft
carrier to guarantee, especially since it immediately against the coasts rock Galiziens smash becomes, and for this reason must we on that persist and would want it them once again at the heart put,
the it the best, that healthiest and the smartest for it and its people is, namely its course around 15 To change south around a collision to avoid ...... 

For the short version, go to  (!):

 http://www.ihimlen.dk/sjovefilm/index.php?ax=out&id=131

MORE KNITTING COMING UP SOON..

My two current big projects - the Marianne Isager Ribbluse and the Kim Hargreaves Splendour are somewhat "on hold" for  the time being. The reason being that we have a gift season ahead - and I want to knit some gifts! In my opinion this justifies casting on for yet new projects... In fact I have also completed something - or almost completed...the Sursa shawl is done with exception of the ruffle which is due any day now...

Here is some lovely, soft yarn for the first gift project, for a newborn:



It's really the softest blend of alpaca/merino (50/50 %) that I have ever touched - so delicate and fingering weight, manufactured by Bånsull. I have used it double stranded making this little kimono from the Interweave Knits, summer -05 issue:



And guess what? -I have already finished it! It just needs a little steamblocking and I'll have a picture up very soon!

Do I love alpaca? No doubt. For a little, pink-loving lady I know, I think I will make something from this:

The question is: is this pink enough? The little lady's Mom better let me know ;)
It's the baby alpaca/silk blend (80/20 %) from Du store alpakka.

I also have to confess that I couldn't resist casting on Temptation which arrived in the mail last week. The Big wool is so wonderful and this is for sure a quick knit!
Pictures very soon!

This absolutely wonderful book came home with me:

"Mailles - les mouvements du fil" - "Stitches - the passage of yarn" by Francoise Tellier-Loumagne. It's also available in english with a slightly different look, right here. This is no pattern book with finished garments but rather a poetic description of different surfaces, structures, colors and textures created by the movement of yarn. The photographs are astonishingly beautiful and inspirational - this is a book I will return to again and again to find enjoyment and peace for my eyes!

After having spent a while at La Droguerie the first day with out buying anything, I returned to pick up 400 g (1000 meters) of this rayon/linen blend, I didn't get it out of my mind after having seen this book:

I don't know yet what to make from it but there should be enough for a sweater or a cardi. Sometime. Next spring/summer I guess!

Talking aboult surfaces, take a look at this beautiful fasade:

It's L'Institut du Monde Arabe, this is the place to explore arab culture, history, art. A whole different world to me. Each of these windows consisits of mechanical devices, run by a computer to open and close the openings to let in the perfect amount of light. Truly fascinating.

To put it mildly; Paris has a lot to offer.
For everyone:

Have a great day! ;)

Paris was a bit misty this time, at least the first couple of days. Have a real close look:

Yes, that is the Eiffel tower a little  to the right in the horizon - view from the top of the Centre Pompidou. We (my best friend and fellow-fiber-freak and I) spent alsmost a whole day there going to the different exhibitions. A new way of displaying more contemporary artwork by grouping them into themes instead of by artists (the Big Bang exhibition) was very interresting. Impressing, really. And if you want to explore the thrilling and humorous world of dada-ism, this is the place. And lots, lots more. Only the building itself is so worth seeing.

And here is another venue absolutely worth visiting while in Paris. (At least if you have the slightest interrest in fibers, ribbons, beads, and all imaginable related items.... ;) ):

And buttons. Everything. We spent a long time just looking and playing mind-games of what wonderful creations could emerge from all these delicious ingredients. But to even try to purchase anything in here is a whole different story. You have to stand in line. You would be absolutely better off being fluent in french, which I am not, but it helps knowing a few words, especially being able to count in french and to give the desired amount of grams or meters in french. After having told the right Madame what you want, she will get it from downstairs - or somewhere (at least the yarn), bring it up, weigh it and direct you to another Madame who actually stands in a cage! She will receive your payment. And finally hand the yarn over to you. And if you thought this was a long journey towards a happy new purchase; -  you ain't seen nothin' yet!

Because in order to get the ultimate yarn-purchasing experience  -  you need to take a trip to Le Bon Marché. Oh la la.
This is a true parisian departement store. So luxurious, so expencive, so interresting just to watch the whole scene. No - I did not buy a new wardrobe there. I got me 3 skeins of yarn. Toodidoo!
The yarn departement is on the top floor. It has a wide range of brands, Rowan, Noro, Phildar, Anny Blatt, Bouton d'or, and even 2 skeins of Colinette, my friend bought the entire stock (of Colinette, that is ;)). The yarn was so neatly and wonderfully displayed - in black shelves and with flattering spotlights above. (Black shelves - I must remember that  when I open my own yarn store...) I think it must have been all the spots that made it so hot in there... But it was delightful just to walk along the shelves, look, fondle and dream...

I found myself some cashmere. I really wanted it - just a few grams to make me a little scarf. 3 skeins, 25 grams each. So I stand in line. And stand in line. All those spots. Really hot. After a long time I get to talk to the Madame. I tell her what I want. She writes it down and asks me politely to wait. And she is gone. For a while. Comes back with the yarn and I am relieved - finally I can get out into the fresh air! So hot in there. But no. Then she writes down on another piece of paper the amount of yarn and the price. Directs me politely to the cashier. Over I go. Another line. I stand in line, I pay for my yarn and then I have to go back to Madame again and show her my receit. Fortunately she was available at that point - otherwise it would be another line before finally being able to pick up my yarn.
Here they are - those hard-to-get and lovely bundles of fiber (actually I got 2 of the brown one..):

And using the Debbie Bliss pattern from Scarf Style, with my own twist to the stripes,  I have casted on my luxurious bon-marché-scarf:



So soft, my very, very first cashmere project. I have to touch it all the time, I really can't believe the softness and warmth of this fiber! A true oh-la-la experience!

I have a couple of other pictures from Paris to show, a little more yarn and a building I found so impressive. But that'll have to wait until tomorrow or one of the days...

Finally - here are some pictures of the mohair wrap...I have sort of been busy lately, there are a lot of pictures waiting to be posted. Keywords: Paris. Yarn.

But today - here she is - the wrap/shawl/cardi which I am very pleased with, so light and soft:

details:

yarn: alessandra super kid seta (70 % mohair / 30 % silk - very similar to rowan KSH) 25 g pr. skein, used a little bit more than 4 skeins. shade: 368, dark olive
needles: 5 mm addi turbos, circular
pattern source: Design Strik by Jytte Slente
model: mohair wrap

More posts. More pictueres. More yarn. Paris. Very. Soon.

But my blogging is a bit slow these days...The main reason being no new FOs to show, and the reason for that is a lot of other things to do - BUT this afternoon I will finish the Jytte Slente wrap so she'll be so lucky to go with me. To where? To there. The yellow spot in the middle.Tomorrow morning I'm on my way! Can't wait!  Next posts are garuanteed to have photos of what I've been up to!

I heard him this morning. Through the heavy rain. The little nasty green creature. "Ripit ripit ripit". I tried to fight. I measured and measured. The first sleeve. The gauge. Too tight. Measured stitches. Measured rows. Too tight. I never knit too tight. Never. But it's too tight. Splendour. No no no. Ripit ripit ripit. The frog won. But Splendour will rise again. Just taking a break. Ripit ripit ripit.