måndag 9 september 2013

Back where I belong

A very nice door.

Ugh. I am so tired right now, and I'm not done for the day yet. Still some reading to do... The reason for my hightened studying burden (?) is through that door in the picture above. That was where my first class back with History of Textiles was a couple of days ago, and I'm still a bit nostalgic about it even though I have tons to do and it puts a very definite limit on my knitting time.
It really feels great to be back, it feels like home.

I have managed to do some knitting though. One of the green Blackrose socks  is done, and I have just about started the other one. In this speed they will be ready when I will be wanting to use them, since it's still amazingly warm outside and not even ice cold me want to wear socks.
And I got some more bobbin lace bobbins from mom, so I should be able to make some really cool bobbin lace whenever I got time for it! Hopefully before I retire...

Hi. I need attention. All you attention. All the time.
Just a cat, then I need to study some more before bed...

 

torsdag 5 september 2013

Too much money? Need a non-alerogenic pet? I got a solution.

Picture borrowed from MisterFinch's shop on Ebay. I own nothing!

Oh, this really gives me serious cravings. MisterFinch is so talented! My favourite is possibly the moths, but it's really hard to decide... I love how textiles with patterns and textures that normally wouldn't end up on animals fit in rather nicely, and makes it all comes to life. You almost expect this moth to fly away if you swat you hand, don't you? Don't mind the flowery woven wings...

In other news, I have started my monster semester. Currently, I am so happy I got some of the old UFO:s done before because I'm studying until my eyes bleed. No, I'm not. But it feels that way. It'll problably take some time to get used to...
Not that this stopped me start up a new sweater, a red and black striped one that I am already (I have knitted about 10 cm) really confident I am going to look smashing in. I will get back to you about that one, and belive me I will because I'm kinda winging this one so it will be some bumps in the road to come...

tisdag 3 september 2013

Parliament Square



Ok, so here it is. When I started to make it I really, really had the goal to make write every single tiny step of the process down. And then something happend, I don't know what. When I actually decided to put it up here I had to decipher some scrawny notes on different pieces of paper in ink that had had somekind of a Titanic- accident, and then try to figure out what kind of changes I made after writing it down. I felt like CSI, except no one died. 
I hope this is readable, and knitable and wearable. 
I fell in love with the yarn, and it reminded me of this song by Stina Nordenstam. This means there are a Suggested music  to this pattern. Now, this link is a remix of the song made by The Knife and is just awesome. 
The rather weird stitches in the pattern repeat is apperantly called a daisy stitch (tnkx!). I didn't know, I tried to make a star stitch from the right side. But it turned out it's pretty much the same. If you have problems with it, I suggest you watch a youtube-video, it will make it that much easier. 
Happy Knitting!


Parliament Square

Needles: DPN size 4mm
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Andes 1 skein (Note: The amount of yarn is just about enough. If you want to make the mitts any longer, you will need more yarn.)
You will also need: Stitch markers, holding needles, grafting needles

Pattern repeat: (Will be knit over a total of 11 sts, between markers. You will start the pettern rep on Row 4, so there you will start with patt rep A, and on Row 5 you will go on to patt rep B and so on... )

A- Knit
B- Into the next 3 sts at once (knit 1, and without pulling the 3 sts from the left needle, make 1 yarn over, knit another one into the 3 stitches. Now pull the 3 sts of the left needle) K1, make another (K1, yo, K1) into the next 3 at once, K1, (K1, yo, K1) into the next 3 sts at once.
C- Knit
D- K1, (K1, yo, K1) into the next 3 sts at once, K1, (K1, yo, K1) into the next 3 sts at once, K1

CO 40 sts

Row 1: Knit and join to a circle
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: Right mitt: Knit 13, PM, Begin pattern repeat, PM, Knit 16
Left mitt: Knit 16, PM, Begin pattern repeat, PM, Knit 13

Now continue as in Row 4, but keep working the patt rep until you have made 5 total pattern repeats (A-D).

Continue patt rep as before but now start with thumb gusset.

Thumb gusset:

Right Mitt: Knit 13, knit pattern rep, K4, PM, M1R, K1, M1L, PM, K to end of row
Left Mitt: Knit 11, PM, M1R, K1, M1L, PM, Knit 4, Continue pattern as before

Next row, knit as usual, with exception for pattern repeat.

Next row:
Right Mitt: Knit 13, knit pattern rep, K4, PM, M1R, K2, M1L, PM, K to end of row
Left Mitt: Knit 11, PM, M1R, K2, M1L, PM, Knit 4, Continue pattern as before
Continue to add sts as above every other row until you have 17 sts between the markers. Stop adding stitches.
Continue until you have made 10 pattern repeats in total from the beginning.

Next row: Knit as usual until first marker, drop it. Move all sts between the markers to a holding needle and drop the next marker. Make 1 sts in the gap between. Knit on as usual.

Knit on as ususal until you have made 12 pattern repeats in total from the beginning.

Knit 1 Row.
Purl 1 Row.
Knit 1 Row.
Cast off, not too tight.

The thumb:
Move the stitches from the holding needle to three DPN:s. Pick up 1 sts in the gap so that you have 18 sts in total. Join, and knit 4 rows.
Purl 1 row.
Knit 1 row.
Cast off, not too tight.

söndag 1 september 2013

Red and white (and music!)


 So I made some mitts. And then I made another pair just for the sake of it, you know how it is. I fell for this wonderful yard by Debbie Bliss called Andes, witch is soft as clouds (or at least what I expect clouds to feel like) and comes in a really fiery red and a soft white(among other colors). I just had to make some mitts. As it happens, one skein is just enough for a pair if you don't want then too long.
I made up the pattern myself and have it written down somewhere, it's a sort of star stitch border in the middle but nothing more complicated than that. If someone really want if, tell me and I publish it, but otherwise I think there are so many patterns out there already.
See how I am pretending to put it on while gazing out in the distance? Very artsy...

This is a very beautiful play with fabrics, and a very beautiful piece of music. I really love the mix of the two elements, and of course the fact that the photography is great doesn't hurt. The Frogman labeled me a great nerd when the first thing I noticed about it was the amazing way they had used different textures in the video. Well, duuuh.....

torsdag 29 augusti 2013

Beloved Monster


Will the autumn come soon so I can use this?  Dragonfly Wings is the name of the shawl I picked the lace edge from. Very neat and easy to make. I tell you, this shawl and I- it's a epic love story that will last for eons.
I can be the next Batman instead of Afflek...

A very serious note on flying, living and stop being scared of monsters


Ok. It's like this.

I spent the last couple of weeks thinking hard about flying, and about my life and about the blog. Were I want it to go (fly), what I want to do with the tool that it is and why I do what I do. Lot's of questions, not a lot of straight answers. There was some thoughts about quitting the blog, or at least taking a prolonged hiatus. But I ended up somewhere else entierly, thoughtwise.

One very good thing that I learnt the past year and am still trying to grasp the full meaning of is the concept of "Because I want to". It's not always reason enough, but sometimes. And currently in my life, more often then I seems to think.
One straight answer I got was when I asked myself the question if I really did want to continue the blog. A hard, determinded NO popped up in my head. Ok, I asked the very determined "NO", why do I want to continue. The answer was simple. Sort of. "Because I want to". Oh well.

Tomorrow is a big day, a day I have been working towards for a very long time. I'm going back to the University again, to study History of Textiles- my true passion in life. I'm stoked and feel like a small girl on her first day in school (the Frogman offered to walk me there and hold my hand on the way).

Why? Because I want to. This is what I want to do. I have no idea where it will take me, but I have spent so much time in my life being scared of doing anything. It's a feeling of daring to fly, not knowing what will happen.

What has that to do with the blog? And why do you write in English? Well... I think I need a restart. And I think the blog needs a restart. This is something I have been thinking for a very long time but haven't had the guts to do. And since I mostly read blogs in the English language anyway it felt quite natural for me to write in English. I hope you don't mind. And I hope I don't weird you out too much.
xoxo


måndag 19 augusti 2013

Hårdblockning, tråkkofta och augusttomte


Äntligen klar! Det är ett monster av oanade proportioner... Jag hade faktiskt inte trott att den var så stor. Det kan vara svårt att avgöra storleken på en sjal när man stickar från mitten och utåt eftersom den hela tiden är ihopknövlad. Och den här är rejäl.
Vi kommer att vara bästa vänner i höst, sjalen och jag. Men först måste den blockas- jättehårt.

Jag gick direkt på nästa projekt, en 30-talskofta med bara ärmarna kvar. En och en halv ärm kvar om man ska vara petig och jag tänker nog det för det sniglar verkligen fram. Det ser ganska ojämt ut nu, men det kommer att fixa sig efter lite blockning.

Storstäda har jag också gjort. Det har visat sig att Grodmannen (min Combo) tydligen har nån släkttradition av att inneha minst hundratusen tomtar runt juletid. Detta leder till att man sen hittar tomtar resten av året eftersom det kan ta ett tag att jaga rätt på alla. Jag hittade en nu vid städningen och fångade den i en kaffekokare, för säkerhets skull...