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Tuesday, December 06, 2005
FO no 12, 2005, alpaca shawl

I finally got the last fringes on. It's not easy to get good photos these days with little daylight. The bulky-alpaca green is really more intense, but this is the best I got:



details:
yarn: 1 strand of fingering weight garnstudio's alpaca, dark olive, approx. 3 1/2 skeins, 50 g each, including the fringes, and 1 strand of 1-ply bulky alpaca (discontinued) from Du store alpakka, approx. 3 skeins, 50 g each. (60 m pr. skein)
needles: 10 mm circular
pattern source: Du store alpakka

 

Posted at 08:31 pm by karen
Comments (6)  

New one!

Lots of things I like in the new issue. I want these! Right away! Just need to finish 20 other projects first. As if.

Posted at 06:47 pm by karen
Comments (4)  

Sunday, December 04, 2005
Purple time

 A knitter's twist to advent:


Two candles will be lit later today. I might remove the yarn first. If I can bring myself to stop looking at it.
I was very lucky to be able to go to a beautiful city this last week. Among many other events I was able to visit this shop. Two rather small but tall rooms packed with Rowan yarns from floor to ceiling!  I was in yarn heaven! And a very nice lady selling them. I should have had an extra suitcase. I restrained myself to only buy yarn for this, which I have been wanting to knit for a long time. For those not familiar with the scandinavian yarn-market I must explain that just walking into a store full of Rowan goodies is only possible a very few places in this part of the world...

And then there was this:



This was from a different shop where they had this incredibly soft wool - Visjö - yarn. The colors are so vibrant and the yarn is as soft and non-scratchy as cotton! Unbelievable! I only got me one skein so I was happy to learn from their web-site that they sell yarn on-line... I'm thinking hats, gloves or maybe cla....

I just can't take my eyes off of you......

swedish, british treasures...sigh....

Posted at 02:24 pm by karen
Comments (8)  

Monday, November 28, 2005
FO no. 11, 2005, alpaca beret

I have "some" alpaca yarn in my stash... And one girl who needed a new hat. She even wanted me to knit one! Give me a knitting mom who could resist that! I have knitting needles and I have one Sarah Dallas knitting book. So here we have one alpaca beret - finished the other day:



details:
yarn: 50 g of red thin alpaca from du store alpakka and a little bit of bright green
needles: 2,5 mm circ. for ribbing, 3 mm circ. for the rest
pattern source: sarah dallas; "knitting"
She is actually wearing it every day now!:


And there is more. New knitting.
I knew last winter when I knit two clapotis-es that these were not my last ones... I didn't realize how empty my knittinglife was without a clapotis on my needles before I split some yarn (garnstudio's cotton viscose, yes I split it lengthwise to get one thin strand to knit together with - well - yes of course - yet again the alpaca..) - and was ready to start Clapotis III:

Shhh - don't tell her, this is going to be a christmas present for my mom:...



No, she doesn't read my blog!


 

Posted at 09:37 pm by karen
Comments (7)  

Friday, November 25, 2005
A little here, a little there...

Once i took a personality test that showed that I was great on multi-tasking. Well. I don't know. I guess I am really great on getting all excited and starting new projects. Especially knitting projects. And some of the time I am somewhat great on finishing them. Or almost finishing them. Like the intended green alpaca-shawl I mentioned a couple of posts ago. It's almost done, meaning half-fringed. But has now been hanging for a week by the entrance door just to remind me of the little something I need to do in order to file it as a FO - or better - start using it! That was sort of the reason for knitting it! Here it's hanging in it's half-fringed glory, on the balcony to get some day-light. For the photographing:



I also finished this little wrist-warmer, alpaca, 2,5 mm needles, took me forever...:



My older daughter picked the yarn, the beads and the pattern. They are for her. She really wanted a pair of wrist warmers. But trying this one on she proclaims: TOO SCRATCHY!! I should have known. She is a true princess on the pea. But she loves it and says she wants to use it as a bag for her mobile phone! Yess! That means I don't have to make another one and I guess it therefore also qualifies as one more FO! If I get around to seam one of the ends...

And on we go; The somewhat sad status of the frog-exposed Splendour:



Good news is that I feel the motivation for picking this one up again is slowly growing!

Just a little here and a little there, knitting and finishing... Christmas is 4 weeks and 2 days away. There are a few gifts I have started....To be continued.


 

Posted at 12:32 pm by karen
Comments (3)  

Wednesday, November 16, 2005
FO no. 10, 2005, Temptation


One big brown bulky knit is done! A fun, quick and very rewarding knit - such a great and shapey design:

 

(It IS really sunny today -after days with extreme rainstorm!)
I am indeed very pleased with how it turned out - and I love the details - the buttons - the little KH-tag - the edgings..and the extremely soft wool!

details:
yarn: Rowan's Big Wool, shade 023 "Camouflage"
needles: 10 mm (for the sleeve-ribbing and the waist) and 12 mm, circular
pattern source: This kit!
and the designer: Thank you,

- for making such great designs!

I'm ready to go!:



Woohoo - into the sun! - for as long as it lasts...

 

Posted at 03:01 pm by karen
Comments (16)  

Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Knitting Meme

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...

 

Posted at 10:23 pm by karen
Comments (7)  

Thursday, November 03, 2005
FO no. 9 2005, baby kimono

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.

 

Posted at 07:46 pm by karen
Comments (8)  

Saturday, October 29, 2005
Temptation sleeve island in sight!

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!!


 

Posted at 08:42 pm by karen
Comments (6)  

Friday, October 28, 2005
absolutely not knitting related whatsoever...


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..

Posted at 01:29 pm by karen
Comments (2)  

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