tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48137137532876170982024-03-13T02:27:06.191+01:00Mrs Petersson KnitsMrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-850549188397779092011-07-30T10:44:00.009+02:002011-07-30T11:19:04.236+02:00Summer of workshopsThis year it has been a bit of a working holiday. I have been involved in three very different workshops, and I just love spreading the word about crafts!<br /><br />The first was on the 19th of June. There was a large youth festival in town with musicians and artists from all over Sweden. This was the final round of a festival that had toured the country and the best acts had qualified for this final meet. Someone on the organizing committee had gotten the idea to have guerilla knitting as one of the workshops. I somehow volunteered and had one weeks notice to do something. I bought bags of bright yarn, collected needles and made a file of great examples on knit graffiti from the internet. On the big day the room, a nice café, was filled with about 30 teens and I asked if anyone could knit. No. OK, look at these pictures, knitting is cool, let me get you started. And they all went to work. Most had knitted once or twice during the compulsory craft lessons in school, and a couple did crochet or finger knitted long strips. After the class I sewed the knitted pieces together to make a long scarf, but I left it to be used at an event the following day and don't know what has become of it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhps3kxlbPNc4t_W005pigO5D9gyPhDcB-xbjXZiFSFQgs85umbHYQKSNHHYfdUkLO9fAC32LCDMq_Per-baFgFZdF90oS_07Klxi7f9-Bgixvs-v3SZgaRlPdMrFpUggDzXYbvxPvaqPQA/s1600/DSCN1890.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhps3kxlbPNc4t_W005pigO5D9gyPhDcB-xbjXZiFSFQgs85umbHYQKSNHHYfdUkLO9fAC32LCDMq_Per-baFgFZdF90oS_07Klxi7f9-Bgixvs-v3SZgaRlPdMrFpUggDzXYbvxPvaqPQA/s320/DSCN1890.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635067636491680642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcOxGr_a8VTVjvtHYeHGh61q75hUbebo2xgX16ubhF1i-l090Wtahl52OZ1a99A7Yz1D2d8ZezvM7KQQMo5vXeqlq2LLxFN1N6KBveflwvxqmgdD7hjgpbLgQXX8jOLm1cTsZKt0thYoh/s1600/DSCN1891.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcOxGr_a8VTVjvtHYeHGh61q75hUbebo2xgX16ubhF1i-l090Wtahl52OZ1a99A7Yz1D2d8ZezvM7KQQMo5vXeqlq2LLxFN1N6KBveflwvxqmgdD7hjgpbLgQXX8jOLm1cTsZKt0thYoh/s320/DSCN1891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635067795902816610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSq0qSGq0dlVoPRYfFDl0NbwtJrTeGcUBDe50M8WXxjqUUGtxjEFpVJQbk94Rqcpbfi_r3mvpZcSLl85k_cP1ly30KE_3y389vUaClRPaaSeJ2d0vkV7yJc27kWhKUBueSOuKqaSrO2zk/s1600/DSCN1892.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSq0qSGq0dlVoPRYfFDl0NbwtJrTeGcUBDe50M8WXxjqUUGtxjEFpVJQbk94Rqcpbfi_r3mvpZcSLl85k_cP1ly30KE_3y389vUaClRPaaSeJ2d0vkV7yJc27kWhKUBueSOuKqaSrO2zk/s320/DSCN1892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635068025957732802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqbRyD_S-Lk9Rc5hwQ7bS77RKfa_bgc3AbixaJYD3eXLP7cOb0UnBUpFj4mfQG4Jp1Cy8ceIl5h0DAl7iAvq893NndXsdkyBABPciAhw0bEwFdYusSounLENvmKPYwiOkV0A-jMOH4Ilf/s1600/DSCN1894.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqbRyD_S-Lk9Rc5hwQ7bS77RKfa_bgc3AbixaJYD3eXLP7cOb0UnBUpFj4mfQG4Jp1Cy8ceIl5h0DAl7iAvq893NndXsdkyBABPciAhw0bEwFdYusSounLENvmKPYwiOkV0A-jMOH4Ilf/s320/DSCN1894.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635068030364402914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-okz8hW-a0ycpXUbbskK4gfn556nXf05EW82emOTZwFZD2ksHXjprS8Q4ABRp_uk5bnNGAN1GndZCJatpwxn-MFpz1ZvhP_DcfdRORBs1jYwVbdBgBhnfJxuXfkizpxnUbAcOMBUzrOTz/s1600/DSCN1895.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-okz8hW-a0ycpXUbbskK4gfn556nXf05EW82emOTZwFZD2ksHXjprS8Q4ABRp_uk5bnNGAN1GndZCJatpwxn-MFpz1ZvhP_DcfdRORBs1jYwVbdBgBhnfJxuXfkizpxnUbAcOMBUzrOTz/s320/DSCN1895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635068036465412114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The week after this it was time for Midsummer, and I help out at a large celebration at the local outdoor museum. Since 2005 me and one other lady have helped visitors to make flower wreaths to wear as they dance around the maypole and celebrate summer. I spend a few hours in the morning picking wild flowers and birch and blueberry twigs. Then we get a couple of long tables out and supply thread and scissors and help for 3-4 hours. I always start out by making demo wreaths for my own children. This is the on my daughter got this year.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIGXRHkjd9HcuoP_4mVL6nclf0VPsh5uh6_i7bErjN7GMckef6vi1wI0PHxiLBzOjGCztDaCpyMiOJiiHEZlW7E2MNvR5DrK2RhtHv2JLgqxfeSaayu_JmeeIRVGgnUTooIQyZ7foxroK/s1600/DSCN1896.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIGXRHkjd9HcuoP_4mVL6nclf0VPsh5uh6_i7bErjN7GMckef6vi1wI0PHxiLBzOjGCztDaCpyMiOJiiHEZlW7E2MNvR5DrK2RhtHv2JLgqxfeSaayu_JmeeIRVGgnUTooIQyZ7foxroK/s320/DSCN1896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635069910271716882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally last weekend I had to forsake two spinning events because I had promised to host a day of wool at the craft society. I brought samples of different kinds of wool, my yarn and equipment and a pile of woolen shawls. The other lady who worked there brought more knitting and some felted objects. We also showed some tunisian crochet (krokning) and nålbindning. The room was a bit dark, so I photographed my stuff when I got back home instead.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0T5aHDpMJKFn6DA-2YAlFz0c7_2kKQ2dgWt09T1HglCAlt3lb1BV1xLnpeZz3Sw7mXGalHz56cyUJbpDaVzp1QRcyWzRgZR3_sJMou2lPeI7BQ0_7BTmVKpi65G4kNE4ke4pPH6ArWBi/s1600/DSCN1940.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0T5aHDpMJKFn6DA-2YAlFz0c7_2kKQ2dgWt09T1HglCAlt3lb1BV1xLnpeZz3Sw7mXGalHz56cyUJbpDaVzp1QRcyWzRgZR3_sJMou2lPeI7BQ0_7BTmVKpi65G4kNE4ke4pPH6ArWBi/s320/DSCN1940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635071310835999458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmpvjHUlbKSqDq1e661HZgV2_UfseJ9IIj5MSX8dlUdZYBJTm-Puw90Vqzi8AmcMVmkmdMpwMXgPMkB72fkIgtMZUMRm0tPRTYRiCSJ1y1QLN6AE1AZEMuxRESt4hvZYkxDDgAi83b3Z5/s1600/DSCN1941.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmpvjHUlbKSqDq1e661HZgV2_UfseJ9IIj5MSX8dlUdZYBJTm-Puw90Vqzi8AmcMVmkmdMpwMXgPMkB72fkIgtMZUMRm0tPRTYRiCSJ1y1QLN6AE1AZEMuxRESt4hvZYkxDDgAi83b3Z5/s320/DSCN1941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635071316152878818" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnZPQKFGtcGfDNMvPD9irlQzzUqXPXmz0rxdbY55uRJ83bSgzbIudl_HDVxObclbI4YHdlzMZflRm4Vwb_jBEY63rKXh5ymrFmfwvONaauNmTbjMZIUkNtntcFOdNHIqvTVB2nVcx9FG1/s1600/DSCN1943.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnZPQKFGtcGfDNMvPD9irlQzzUqXPXmz0rxdbY55uRJ83bSgzbIudl_HDVxObclbI4YHdlzMZflRm4Vwb_jBEY63rKXh5ymrFmfwvONaauNmTbjMZIUkNtntcFOdNHIqvTVB2nVcx9FG1/s320/DSCN1943.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635071321512851410" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-27930930399410205502011-05-01T16:18:00.009+02:002011-05-01T17:14:11.233+02:00I can do it!It's been a while since my last blog post, for many reasons. On of them is that I have been busy learning new skills, and now I have come out the other end of the tunnel and I can call myself a spinner! Today I made my first three ply yarn. It is also the first time I have worked with raw fleece that I have washed and hand carded. It is also my first effect yarn with added goodies. Finally it is the first yarn I make on a spinning wheel, if I don't count the three samples that I will never be able to use.<br /><br />Let's go back a few steps... In November last year I got my first spinning wheel. It was very old, green and didn't work very well. I then took care of two more old wheels in need of care, but none of them are in order yet. I think that will be a summer project so I can take them apart, clean, grease and straighten them up outdoors. Meanwhile I stumbled across a local girl who had bought a Kromski Prelude last year and decided to sell it again. I got it at a good price and finally had something that worked. I soon realized that my preferences lie towards thin yarns and I fond a dealer, <a href="http://www.dengamlaskolan.se/">Den Gamla Skolan</a>, who had a faster flyer and extra bobbins. She also had the clever idea to use inexpensive raw fleece to fill the parcel up, and that is how I ended up with 600g of very smelly Gotland wool. This is what it looked like after washing:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVOlkmOpI5uWmvuRRt9J1MWNl8cfsMVpNWoQ8OawETaSwDQnR_FH7BYz2zgozSECiejmLifvsMMXOlNiALTisccB8n-v11rIvctIOZUqSiIldzedH1i5pRvH_p-qIYS3j-Kodab9gjIQm/s1600/DSCN1716-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtVOlkmOpI5uWmvuRRt9J1MWNl8cfsMVpNWoQ8OawETaSwDQnR_FH7BYz2zgozSECiejmLifvsMMXOlNiALTisccB8n-v11rIvctIOZUqSiIldzedH1i5pRvH_p-qIYS3j-Kodab9gjIQm/s320/DSCN1716-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601765463496439730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After a couple of days of hand carding and spinning I finally had my three bobbins of thread, but before I could ply it I had to figure out where to place the third bobbin since the Prelude only holds two. I asked MrP for suggestions and he said flower support sticks. I actually found one that was just right and then put it between my knees, and it worked perfectly!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hLxjVR3qUnHV6-rulWYPe33NcQ95ZAAmhwLYdRab7PJ98uiYpIInNe8KSpibTZBAk-YXpCAsf71CFd3ZElSAWehjYtRBXvWStcj54BouslaYj_tgcFFV9AgfXvnQAazJpe_7KqkgCfZm/s1600/DSCN1735-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-hLxjVR3qUnHV6-rulWYPe33NcQ95ZAAmhwLYdRab7PJ98uiYpIInNe8KSpibTZBAk-YXpCAsf71CFd3ZElSAWehjYtRBXvWStcj54BouslaYj_tgcFFV9AgfXvnQAazJpe_7KqkgCfZm/s320/DSCN1735-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601765459583939554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When I got my first, green spinning wheel the owner tried to make me take a lot of other stuff, and I came home with a skein winder that I didn't know anything about. I later learned that it is a 'knäpphärvel' and it is just brilliant. It is supposed to make a snapping sound after a certain number of turns, but mine only has a clock-like hand that turns slowly and I still have to count the number of threads in the skein and them multiply that with the circumference of 1.5 m.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXrB4pTQYusqI6MDzeGpGyYj6TngjToipTsgkACXOu1_gHUOUBMacm0raJk5sHciUCm4MVkEA1TYxEfEuyF41KIesqFfivz817OAlkBLQIZkKlpSrI9uMlTM_kO-ZrAFRYl75zNr9HYyB/s1600/DSCN1740-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMXrB4pTQYusqI6MDzeGpGyYj6TngjToipTsgkACXOu1_gHUOUBMacm0raJk5sHciUCm4MVkEA1TYxEfEuyF41KIesqFfivz817OAlkBLQIZkKlpSrI9uMlTM_kO-ZrAFRYl75zNr9HYyB/s320/DSCN1740-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601765466286087602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Did you see the lamb that just happened to be in the in the background? My son got it at his christening and it is actually a Gotland sheep!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Finally the yarn! I still have some wool left, but so far it is 280g and actually about 280m. I think I have almost 200g for next session. To the wool I have added hand dyed Tencel from <a href="http://www.enuldenaffaere.dk/">Ullaffären</a> (The Wool Business) that I visited last Wednesday. All about that visit can be found in the group <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/longbacken/1638644/1-25#1">Långbacken on Ravelry</a>, so I won't write that here (but the lambs are gorgeous...).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlTRV3uFBkgRCETM9K9kkIqvUVQYoWF61QES32YGLfSuYdUxCB2aH1ioKFM_VVyl6pYCuXzetw9UsZ3AP7hD6fdBlwc6ik66zQvQDLpYiHIRyoxrlpxV7lbGfLg8cX4jZXdL75fpwpVIF/s1600/DSCN1743-2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQlTRV3uFBkgRCETM9K9kkIqvUVQYoWF61QES32YGLfSuYdUxCB2aH1ioKFM_VVyl6pYCuXzetw9UsZ3AP7hD6fdBlwc6ik66zQvQDLpYiHIRyoxrlpxV7lbGfLg8cX4jZXdL75fpwpVIF/s320/DSCN1743-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601765467522328050" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-71169596311115864512010-08-09T10:17:00.007+02:002010-08-09T11:08:49.851+02:00My own spin campLast week Mr P went back to work and I will be at home with the children until school starts. They are quite low in maintenance by now, so I started on a project of my own. After a <a href="http://mrspeterssonknits.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-summer.html">feeble attempt </a><a href="http://mrspeterssonknits.blogspot.com/2008/08/family-summer.html">two years ago</a> it was time do do something about my desire to spin. There was a <a href="http://http//mrspeterssonknits.blogspot.com/2008/07/knitting-among-friends.html"></a><a href="http://mrspeterssonknits.blogspot.com/2008/07/knitting-among-friends.html">bag of beginners material</a> in the wardrobe since last time waiting to be spun. Working a couple of hours every day for a week it has now become yarn:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsfXRomm43PKcgJzakeE25vIqFIplavytvkSoaVMgvXv3-JHsRXZp1VWjqNT2JWDtVL6m4qJlIAshjrHhbdt0-8UjUDD1p39WUGkjkleydvM1-AJEqARCcDyEIjn0g503SsIINdhidAf2/s1600/DSCN1531-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsfXRomm43PKcgJzakeE25vIqFIplavytvkSoaVMgvXv3-JHsRXZp1VWjqNT2JWDtVL6m4qJlIAshjrHhbdt0-8UjUDD1p39WUGkjkleydvM1-AJEqARCcDyEIjn0g503SsIINdhidAf2/s320/DSCN1531-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503324261354615810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The skeins were spun in the order that they lie in the box, from left to right. No1 is 50g of grey Gotland wool, also known as pälsull. This was easy to work with, but the yarn is a bit stiff. No2 is 100g of brown BFL (Blue faced Leicester). The BFL was soft and bouncy, but harder to control. No3 is 25g of black merino, which was soft and nice to spin but practising chain plying (Navajo) I overplied it. I am thinking of removing some of the twist. No4 finally is 25g of pencil roving in various shades of blue. This was fun to work with and the chain plying worked better this time.<br /><br />However, this was just the warm up. For the second week of my spin camp there is 1.400g of alpaca waiting for me! Last time I caught the spinning bug I was at a fair showing my knitting and sharing the room with an <a href="http://www.alpackorna.se/">alpaca breeder</a>. On June 4th this year I gave her a call and asked if she had any wool for me. It turned out that she had sheared her little herd of ten animals before summer and she had three bags of wool left; brown, white and mixed. I bought the mixed bag and it came from the lovely Minita Miniy who was grazing in the paddock waiting for her new foal that was born the following week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhTaCxnBPcdYdo4H7wZRZno9KHGdCTQl25JqhwhyphenhyphenfwBuEUlQ9mqyNoqLaaYlTyPHBPj8cLGdOAb3WbSTN3TdefBy8xPlAhQ0D8jZUJwkaNQ44nNLQTwt0K0LOcUIo_sIm0AVY7pWl17Wz/s1600/DSCN1532-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhTaCxnBPcdYdo4H7wZRZno9KHGdCTQl25JqhwhyphenhyphenfwBuEUlQ9mqyNoqLaaYlTyPHBPj8cLGdOAb3WbSTN3TdefBy8xPlAhQ0D8jZUJwkaNQ44nNLQTwt0K0LOcUIo_sIm0AVY7pWl17Wz/s320/DSCN1532-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503324266979791122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I hope I can do this wool justice, but this time I have to practice some carding as well. My goal is to make myself a cardigan and get some speed and productivity in my spinning. Wish me luck!Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-91677455446801151542010-07-26T11:14:00.005+02:002010-07-26T11:48:25.662+02:00Dying at the SymposiumOne of the themes for the classes at the symposium was colour and dying your own yarn was part ot that theme. The most interesting technique was perhaps the use of mushrooms, but the group was full when I registered. Here is a picture of their results:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E0IqBrfpaIreaOi-9G06VN_ES6iBjkUZYDbCAlXaJ-gj5KfeNc3K4nwEortkL01yycXAddoSdD3rPUopp8hZh9RsttN8RkwvEhTlRzsjC_X4lORJs3wMVEVm6hiIlT_JeV5IYRgrGLLr/s1600/DSCN1421-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1E0IqBrfpaIreaOi-9G06VN_ES6iBjkUZYDbCAlXaJ-gj5KfeNc3K4nwEortkL01yycXAddoSdD3rPUopp8hZh9RsttN8RkwvEhTlRzsjC_X4lORJs3wMVEVm6hiIlT_JeV5IYRgrGLLr/s320/DSCN1421-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498144138104798418" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Since I had never done any dying before and new challenges draw me in I chose two other dying classes, both using acidic dyes. This means there are very few chemicals involved besides the pigment and vinegar. On Monday afternoon we heated water in large pots and made solid colours. The recipes where a bit tricky, but at the end of the day I think I knew the mathematical system. I had to do a lot of calculations because I wanted my heather pink to have different shades so I could make a gradual change across a sweater.<br /><br />On the last day I went back to the dying, but this time we painted the skeins by hand and set the colours in the microwave oven. This was more fun, but the results were perhaps harder to control for us beginners. I didn't really have a plan, but I wanted the yarns to look good when knitted and not only on the skeins. Therefore I used soft colour changes and for two of the skeins I made very short sections while the last was half and half in pale red and blue.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WGhcImxp_2eYXiWLyWiBhptoIaLNWtVVBx3pY6F_nQm_u7zP4cgiRH0f27v4a1hHnd6Ha9eo1-PCsSYs2KdSTieqHewoRvhYRfo2lHTXKQtMBDv_jovfpctYF_KL0sU7GZQkLGe2qzRo/s1600/DSCN1501-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WGhcImxp_2eYXiWLyWiBhptoIaLNWtVVBx3pY6F_nQm_u7zP4cgiRH0f27v4a1hHnd6Ha9eo1-PCsSYs2KdSTieqHewoRvhYRfo2lHTXKQtMBDv_jovfpctYF_KL0sU7GZQkLGe2qzRo/s320/DSCN1501-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498144142393143842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The green and pink became my homecoming presents for the children. During the past week we have been travelling a bit and their new hats fitted nicely in a small knitting bag. We are going to decorate them later, probably with applications...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M4xrEPtShnAnO4qMDCaCkzaC9OllGeKUpYnQen_iAWb996CPhl1WaUN_spUZUE3K4mhnlmNnPtbcD9kneUZhh2LVNHHs_p_5nrfoDLAMin1ZeAx42wEPRrdoXQhWAFvC2iNwe0mijR8O/s1600/DSCN1529-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M4xrEPtShnAnO4qMDCaCkzaC9OllGeKUpYnQen_iAWb996CPhl1WaUN_spUZUE3K4mhnlmNnPtbcD9kneUZhh2LVNHHs_p_5nrfoDLAMin1ZeAx42wEPRrdoXQhWAFvC2iNwe0mijR8O/s320/DSCN1529-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498144144666783314" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-43379910205933412542010-07-13T11:58:00.008+02:002010-07-13T12:47:47.402+02:00Nordiskt Sticksymposium 2010 - WednesdayLast week was so amazing that I had to rest for a couple of days to be able to process it and start writing. It was spent with 140 knitters in Härnösand at the 11th Nordic Knitting Symposium and I'm sure we are all bursting with impressions, inspiration, patterns , yarns and new skills. I will divide my recollections in themes and start with the hot and busy excursion to northern Hälsingland last Wednesday. That was also the first day when I remembered to bring the camera, because I slept at home and not at the school.<br /><br />The first stop was at the <a href="http://www.holma.se/">Holma-Helsingland</a> linen mill in Forsa. Since there were so many of us we were divided into groups and I started out in the workroom of a conservationist working with wall paintings and old wallpaper. The painted walls are very special in this region and we saw some on location later in the day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpIi_BYUQ5Xre4Jmcy9Xk7ntyPFSK6-HAzvaddjWgGcaoKn8Y2DkpacFo_2L3MLofaj25czhfP9vm8xJcDFuGG9KNfy8yUDWtXsXPyHohmbnvLA5wKuPVhN1hEFPQ0LPlwBqCVeH_xwAx/s1600/DSCN1413-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpIi_BYUQ5Xre4Jmcy9Xk7ntyPFSK6-HAzvaddjWgGcaoKn8Y2DkpacFo_2L3MLofaj25czhfP9vm8xJcDFuGG9KNfy8yUDWtXsXPyHohmbnvLA5wKuPVhN1hEFPQ0LPlwBqCVeH_xwAx/s320/DSCN1413-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493329345775642706" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next I joined a tour of the mill guided by the owner herself. She took us through the steps of processing the yarn. Almost all the yarn is spun on the continent, but here it is dyed on cones as showed on the first picture. Then it is plied into the required thicknesses. The only yarn that is spun here at the moment is their only woolen yarn Lovikka, a heavy 1-ply used for traditional mittens from northern Sweden, which is skeined in the third picture. After the tour it was time to squeeze into the shop and grab some yarn...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuGGQbnhKbxePeChWkfdE5tGm7LvIG_y9WgqmdM4SWpuYCl0RsWkNkElhePR66aCgVFcPxinmsgZMM1R6SxDZH4GGkCU9CJzXykLg711Uq_7fhvGRcw0eBy3KA9r-a_YHYO7PWQEyLD6o/s1600/DSCN1414-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuGGQbnhKbxePeChWkfdE5tGm7LvIG_y9WgqmdM4SWpuYCl0RsWkNkElhePR66aCgVFcPxinmsgZMM1R6SxDZH4GGkCU9CJzXykLg711Uq_7fhvGRcw0eBy3KA9r-a_YHYO7PWQEyLD6o/s320/DSCN1414-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493329352872992002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBR4Bl14lj5GR9bFYuK5mychV-hAsy5hwS9BDsK2nWWhBDVwn2xLJ4BsIiu-KTaQPvltKjLDmCB-5dC38yDOjBu7KcpntGe-J5AZA5vbs9fwmuNbgmPWp3hLjwhq_xwzeX-SzAAjfhDIA/s1600/DSCN1416-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgBR4Bl14lj5GR9bFYuK5mychV-hAsy5hwS9BDsK2nWWhBDVwn2xLJ4BsIiu-KTaQPvltKjLDmCB-5dC38yDOjBu7KcpntGe-J5AZA5vbs9fwmuNbgmPWp3hLjwhq_xwzeX-SzAAjfhDIA/s320/DSCN1416-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493329384557070466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP81ljLms4nUhTh0_wH9QOTRgxg0HKmxj67ctMbFnHAwzAZxr2mkXGtn_F8Ty8ktQmvoH_Oh_wSRhC3Ty6QsiGR8Tb4LLLZOzJ6sVcXrRXosiLVyBHnMXQ5rVE2ZEWNUY8Yj60_8f82GMU/s1600/DSCN1415-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP81ljLms4nUhTh0_wH9QOTRgxg0HKmxj67ctMbFnHAwzAZxr2mkXGtn_F8Ty8ktQmvoH_Oh_wSRhC3Ty6QsiGR8Tb4LLLZOzJ6sVcXrRXosiLVyBHnMXQ5rVE2ZEWNUY8Yj60_8f82GMU/s320/DSCN1415-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493329381754004306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After this stop the group was divided in two and sent to look at local museums with traditional houses in <a href="http://www.forsahembygdsforening.se/">Forsa</a> and <a href="http://www.forngarden.se/">Delsbo</a>. These pictures show the 300-400-year-old wooden farmhouses in Delsbo and a group of tired travellers stealing a few minutes to knit in the shade.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p8gjdSmU93w3CgSW855j7ykGjf944sfaN-UX949qPYGlJHWm3zkuSf9S_a6T-uWpvVTkebqdYMtuoZNgW5_A43gtvakokUPN8vwWyfDMeG_omPgEMBeonCxfVryMTcMqgPfXyGTugoQz/s1600/DSCN1417-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p8gjdSmU93w3CgSW855j7ykGjf944sfaN-UX949qPYGlJHWm3zkuSf9S_a6T-uWpvVTkebqdYMtuoZNgW5_A43gtvakokUPN8vwWyfDMeG_omPgEMBeonCxfVryMTcMqgPfXyGTugoQz/s320/DSCN1417-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493329394518149586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL3fV3dsdY5vafwMRNKUSkTnMwca6or7cdkZ7xCD2juGL7Hr7ALsWweiMGSzb8TASpxkCUyKJzEG3dvUB8zVINlLBBe-RIY4EsUZbS08o39KKeQkcdEGeyZiLeo2OFodgBci03il-TKCo/s1600/DSCN1420-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihL3fV3dsdY5vafwMRNKUSkTnMwca6or7cdkZ7xCD2juGL7Hr7ALsWweiMGSzb8TASpxkCUyKJzEG3dvUB8zVINlLBBe-RIY4EsUZbS08o39KKeQkcdEGeyZiLeo2OFodgBci03il-TKCo/s320/DSCN1420-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493335334451766066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The next stop was at Forsa folkhögskola, where Håkan Liby lectured on the traditional costumes of the region. Last but not least we went to <a href="http://www.mellanfjarden.se/">Mellanfjärden</a> by the coast where we had a selection of local fish dishes for dinner overlooking an old fishing village turned turist paradise.<br /><br />The main knitting themes during the day were linen yarns and traditional sweaters, but they deserve their own posts because they were also an important part of the classes and lecures throughout the symposium.Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-31046841853685450362010-04-26T15:02:00.006+02:002010-04-26T15:35:35.757+02:00Knitting feverToday I have been home alone with a stubborn cold. Somehow it is not so bad being ill when you can knit, and today it was actually quite nice. Just days before that volcano erupted I ordered a few things from overseas, and today the first item finally arrived.<a href="http://prjonaperlur.midjan.is/"> </a><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://prjonaperlur.midjan.is/">Prjónaperlur</a> </span>is a book about all the facets of the current knitting fever in Iceland. Women of, literally, all ages present their own patterns and there are classics next to crazy and childish. The patterns are a bit too easy for my taste, but there are a few gems. I just finished reading the presentations and thoughts between the patterns and it warmed my heart almost as much as my own fever. Being half Icelandic I like those moments when I feel part of that community and the book really sucked me in. It will soon be published in English and there is a part two in the making, so if you have an interest in the culture of knitting or a love of Icelandic wool I can recommend it. It is small but has a soul.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ynb4UDyoc2mh5sU2mOu_Am94VFE9zr0qJoVGJNe_Vyo6MRlIERUPzPXgc-IFqrKdcLv7qPI9wmLxjAUOKS8sXHCC_4a9r2TTQxhfjndRQb7HOnYRZ-JFw-O8T26aWidLSf2i1xAyjNR/s1600/DSCN1343-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7ynb4UDyoc2mh5sU2mOu_Am94VFE9zr0qJoVGJNe_Vyo6MRlIERUPzPXgc-IFqrKdcLv7qPI9wmLxjAUOKS8sXHCC_4a9r2TTQxhfjndRQb7HOnYRZ-JFw-O8T26aWidLSf2i1xAyjNR/s320/DSCN1343-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464437471436266626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Before the post arrived I finished the first project from the huge stash of Icelandic Einband (1-ply) that I brought home last October. It is the fabulous <span style="font-style: italic;">Faux Russian Stole</span> from the book <span style="font-style: italic;">A Gathering of Lace</span>. The yarn only lasted 180 of the 185 cm needed so the last centimetres are slightly paler, but it is like one of the mottoes from <span style="font-style: italic;">Prjónaperlur</span> says: "There has to be a mistake in each project, because then you can see that it is handmade". This is especially true if the result is as amazing as this. This is lace in garter stitch, which I had never made before, and it is actually easier than it looks but requires a lot of patience. Most of it was made during the Christmas holiday, but the problem with the yarn made me wait with the finishing until I had convinced myself how to deal with it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNMNoDM2guFHVMSNAiufI3UzGPGuMGW2io_8J6IxKdAwaKBF0JBRaJ82c7WhRsdN7ruoOCqGGtfIJiftNwAmgxSRzTEDUmfSccmaVMSMFRsDOFdMvstYByal6AOadNqrE3esu2WWUO1Ch/s1600/DSCN1341-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBNMNoDM2guFHVMSNAiufI3UzGPGuMGW2io_8J6IxKdAwaKBF0JBRaJ82c7WhRsdN7ruoOCqGGtfIJiftNwAmgxSRzTEDUmfSccmaVMSMFRsDOFdMvstYByal6AOadNqrE3esu2WWUO1Ch/s320/DSCN1341-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464437480198633522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And a detail...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILe0gTDq4FCtHm5E-2PXBvqhB19qIhOYIJlZg8C3mdCZWNYynyzUidnRpock_c_RgBxfposCMNiMz_JslkXsAYS6jnR9iz5QIiB9n4PTjIzb7k3JZchDxQ4deglxFVty4xZm61Nhzr2Zu/s1600/DSCN1342-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILe0gTDq4FCtHm5E-2PXBvqhB19qIhOYIJlZg8C3mdCZWNYynyzUidnRpock_c_RgBxfposCMNiMz_JslkXsAYS6jnR9iz5QIiB9n4PTjIzb7k3JZchDxQ4deglxFVty4xZm61Nhzr2Zu/s320/DSCN1342-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464437473192670306" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-38163015551560973392010-04-05T09:31:00.005+02:002010-04-05T14:39:02.092+02:00SweetsLast summer I found that I had three shawls named after drinks and this Easter I seem to be into sweets. The first yarn is named Dubbelnogat and it is a tasty, shiny silk. The yarn is from a small collection of hand dyed silk from Färgkraft, where they usually dye lovely, thin woolen yarns in unexpected colourways. I spotted this yarn last summer at Cina's garn and hinted to Mr P that if no one else had bought it by Christmas I wouldn't mind taking care of it. I got two 400m skeins to wrap myself in and after a lot of dreaming about the result it is finally on its way. It is interesting to see what happens to the mix of colours when you start working with a yarn that is hand dyed, so I took pictures of the process from skein to swatch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYuVOF5A2D6hFmR0x-C4157HhMw1_5l24uFV2x3Iitui6zpLs6qcwoo-x9qpcjW_vjypIIuaYAsfJ6U0oFNJ9zIQqQLbRfTMZQMHbvNfH0JCz8iKXVWiaqbRbJlyRiUSKL7Fh932wVgJt/s1600/DSCN1306-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYuVOF5A2D6hFmR0x-C4157HhMw1_5l24uFV2x3Iitui6zpLs6qcwoo-x9qpcjW_vjypIIuaYAsfJ6U0oFNJ9zIQqQLbRfTMZQMHbvNfH0JCz8iKXVWiaqbRbJlyRiUSKL7Fh932wVgJt/s320/DSCN1306-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456555513922266578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-HHZF8ALdsFOdD6R5EgzIQpPdwllzuJBe5vkvVKzNanVPRlnSHMouCbBQGPS2DiDDk124pi_tRmadlo95R9cIMgu0-o0mtyGHmuS5AP98xBLm-87i5EXgnxakQBFEplmTKXbAI4W5QJx/s1600/DSCN1307-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-HHZF8ALdsFOdD6R5EgzIQpPdwllzuJBe5vkvVKzNanVPRlnSHMouCbBQGPS2DiDDk124pi_tRmadlo95R9cIMgu0-o0mtyGHmuS5AP98xBLm-87i5EXgnxakQBFEplmTKXbAI4W5QJx/s320/DSCN1307-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456555511241740690" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78gZnKmaBakYsHkGOPem9DWYwOn8CW_6z8EAjbTulPfkZ4VrKf17paLpKB0rQ9IjmEFyuHDzvUhhijyR5FyhcI6MW5zZocAl9KDZOPGe7MRhuEOXbghlIhwTHuHUeEi4RhtCqMI1Atm1c/s1600/DSCN1309-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78gZnKmaBakYsHkGOPem9DWYwOn8CW_6z8EAjbTulPfkZ4VrKf17paLpKB0rQ9IjmEFyuHDzvUhhijyR5FyhcI6MW5zZocAl9KDZOPGe7MRhuEOXbghlIhwTHuHUeEi4RhtCqMI1Atm1c/s320/DSCN1309-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456555506159141410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The yarn is actually very shiny in silver, gold and bronze but the pictures were too bright for the screen. The pattern is Tuscany by Amy R. Singer from her book <span style="font-style: italic;">No Sheep for You</span>. This pattern is made for silk and suits the drape of the yarn and the pattern works with the colours. The first swatch is on 4mm needles (right) but it was too loose and 3,5mm (left) works much better, I will just have to add som extra repeats at the end.<br /><br />Another sweet project is the Madli's Shawl by Nancy Bush from <span style="font-style: italic;">Knitted Lace of Estonia</span>. This yarn is Nef Lace from Fyberspates in Toffee Chocolate. I made most of this on my trip to Iceland last year. Short wooden needles worked well on the plane. The yarn is extremely soft and the pattern isn't very well defined so I am not quite sure if I will follow this through to the end<br /><br /><a style="font-style: italic;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMl3ViyuKfEEgMkANyzpvqStgolmD2ayZ9ZXsiZ0QBcpk3RwLl20Jy-jRg2Ax5Q89mmKLubGsSNNct0BHOlTySV-MltWdy3aI9ZSIEdo4PGoCFQpUM-eFQdC1g4meE5PDMdMOF49K0rq_q/s1600/DSCN1317-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMl3ViyuKfEEgMkANyzpvqStgolmD2ayZ9ZXsiZ0QBcpk3RwLl20Jy-jRg2Ax5Q89mmKLubGsSNNct0BHOlTySV-MltWdy3aI9ZSIEdo4PGoCFQpUM-eFQdC1g4meE5PDMdMOF49K0rq_q/s320/DSCN1317-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456555524508390642" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-2877180700266214632010-04-04T10:14:00.009+02:002010-04-05T14:39:57.495+02:00Happy Easter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULUFcJ_1Msd95cALWAKkorstnIa4LxBr-UyiHnB8XFFW4_TxKMeruj9vR5KskSvPpzx2bYws5fsbAlyLSJXKhnynLwF5iTXBgXm1_OsSs5x9PgD8jWk3Lnj0Kp2uUlQpSIxvkkQtJxZ5I/s1600/DSCN1310-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULUFcJ_1Msd95cALWAKkorstnIa4LxBr-UyiHnB8XFFW4_TxKMeruj9vR5KskSvPpzx2bYws5fsbAlyLSJXKhnynLwF5iTXBgXm1_OsSs5x9PgD8jWk3Lnj0Kp2uUlQpSIxvkkQtJxZ5I/s320/DSCN1310-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456193024050956370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This is how we decorate for Easter. The children have filled the plant with coloured feathers, crocheted ornaments from my grand-mother and and new things they have made in school. I put som twigs in a vase in the kitchen like you are supposed to, but they still have no leaves so this is more fun. We use the same plant as a Christmas tree with lights and everything...<br /><br />We also have a basket of large paper eggs filled with candy, but one of the eggs was also a bit untraditional this year. Two relatives celebrated their birthdays recently so instead of donating money to the postal system we exchange gifts when we meet for the holidays. The egg contained a set with a small bag a top for a four-year-old and socks for her mother.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHh6BhfGOJ06bFgrEOU71PmaWJPWRkyEOXCeeaNL3QszOF91UlJ-B4Bip71vaUMtBO4c2XT8AHqt8Ihobei4Hi0zWksdBuhimAGqqobocWyAiQ4zxhyphenhyphenFcl0qwTo0W-a4Ks7R2-5o3PA0GT/s1600/DSCN1312-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHh6BhfGOJ06bFgrEOU71PmaWJPWRkyEOXCeeaNL3QszOF91UlJ-B4Bip71vaUMtBO4c2XT8AHqt8Ihobei4Hi0zWksdBuhimAGqqobocWyAiQ4zxhyphenhyphenFcl0qwTo0W-a4Ks7R2-5o3PA0GT/s320/DSCN1312-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456195789833900386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLHTK33yYKkMeFLhZvhVVixNgh94YIse8UmMt-eyqSFaAxhoiTzM6OfFZvKfD49odFIENp1C46euLq3M100nFl9ETRBHTzN7DNSG4ljAmouJSFv0Go_65BJDA8uFs9YplSxaYBkOaZOxK/s1600/DSCN1315-2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLHTK33yYKkMeFLhZvhVVixNgh94YIse8UmMt-eyqSFaAxhoiTzM6OfFZvKfD49odFIENp1C46euLq3M100nFl9ETRBHTzN7DNSG4ljAmouJSFv0Go_65BJDA8uFs9YplSxaYBkOaZOxK/s320/DSCN1315-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456193015827422066" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The orange set is from a DMC crochet kit for beginners. A friend of mine sold the kits in her yarn store, but this one remained unsold. I thought about buying it for my daughter and ended up getting it for free. I didn't start making it until my daugther was too big, so it went to her cousin instead. There is some yarn left, so I will probably make another bag so they can match their outfits. The yarn is called Senso and is of great quality, as you would expect from DMC.<br /><br />The socks are a beautiful design from the book <span style="font-style: italic;">Sock innovation</span> by Cookie A. called Wanida. It is one of those great patterns that look simple but is quite intricate when you take a closer look. The stripes become more subtle when they are stretched out on the foot but they are also lined with borders of lacey holes. The yarn is Austerman Step, which is usually too stripey for patterned socks but this purple and blue (132) is calmer.Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-37354735821915314932009-12-19T17:02:00.007+01:002009-12-19T18:12:28.094+01:00All about my girlIn my last post I wrote about who inspired and full of energy I felt. A short time after that I slipped and fell badly. After that I could hardly sit for two weeks and lets just say that one part of my body has suffered a permanent dent. Knitting came to a halt, but now I'm back in the game again.<br /><br />Some projects at this time of year have to wait another week to be revealed here, but I will ad them to Ravelry where my family can't see them. Instead I will focus on some stuff that my daughter has gotten this year. Starting with the most recent project: she got an icelandic dress for her birthday two weeks ago. The pattern is really cute (Teikn from<span style="font-style: italic;"> Lopi 28</span> by Ístex), but what won me over was the yarn. Létt-Lopi colour 1408 is a bright and happy pink and when I saw it on the shelf there was no way to resist it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYHVtCf6I2VMJMgo4CrN2kRH6TSbbiKqh9ZIva21dxCKxDNvkduKzlofPyruRlTW602r6YAGVZzwJD1qy76WHwoCsiH4vLEwmbLGeRO97e4MJGVduh67_Xcy5EkCZ6u_u7LO4wmQcl_wq/s1600-h/DSCN1253-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYHVtCf6I2VMJMgo4CrN2kRH6TSbbiKqh9ZIva21dxCKxDNvkduKzlofPyruRlTW602r6YAGVZzwJD1qy76WHwoCsiH4vLEwmbLGeRO97e4MJGVduh67_Xcy5EkCZ6u_u7LO4wmQcl_wq/s320/DSCN1253-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416984652566299522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next up are a couple of socks that she picked the yarn for. The pattern is a modified version of Serpentine socks from <span style="font-style: italic;">Socks from the Toe Up</span> by Wendy Johnson. In the book they are made from a thicker yarn and the pattern repeat has more rows, but I made them for a 7-year-old and scaled it down and used Regia sock yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUt9ZBYa7uxHj6SUTo421vh2QnE0ep2KNwC1EbCYcwNJ1n15xsuvFDGaVry4exlsL-nXqjU6zqmT0QAOMWVCps9giHeLmQnnXQcP0i1LM-Kcxqwi6Hj52TvSQUlnuYiUQVmopX8EKB2ij/s1600-h/DSCN1256-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqUt9ZBYa7uxHj6SUTo421vh2QnE0ep2KNwC1EbCYcwNJ1n15xsuvFDGaVry4exlsL-nXqjU6zqmT0QAOMWVCps9giHeLmQnnXQcP0i1LM-Kcxqwi6Hj52TvSQUlnuYiUQVmopX8EKB2ij/s320/DSCN1256-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416984658741133394" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last here, but knitted first, is this sweater that she wore on the last day of school in June. The yarn is Rowan Damask in the colour Lava. The design is from Rowan´s <span style="font-style: italic;">The Organic Cotton Collection</span> and its name is Cherry Pie, which suits the colour very well. This was truly a last minute effort. I literally ran to the school to put on the sweater over her white lace dress only minutes before the program started. What caused the problem was my firm crochet, which made the edges to small and the sewing a nightmare. After redoing it a couple of times I finally got it together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYHtb4Gjs5fjMg5odABYtCsFIhsb0nKeX5Qd30TVeGxxKV23GEDquzsKsEDYfhgEgvZRXe71N7ictb3XcCunY6Z2L8TWVnxzQmD3auCy6Ff1Z_AM6u1lZ08yG1_2YII7_Unlz4KoKSl0x/s1600-h/DSCN1005-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivYHtb4Gjs5fjMg5odABYtCsFIhsb0nKeX5Qd30TVeGxxKV23GEDquzsKsEDYfhgEgvZRXe71N7ictb3XcCunY6Z2L8TWVnxzQmD3auCy6Ff1Z_AM6u1lZ08yG1_2YII7_Unlz4KoKSl0x/s320/DSCN1005-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416984650139560802" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-52642705327375059912009-10-29T13:54:00.003+01:002009-10-29T14:25:03.222+01:00Positive thinkingDark evenings, grey weather and too much to do... Time for some positive thinking inspired by dear <a href="http://mariasstickochlas.blogspot.com/">Maria</a>, who has given me a prize.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-yNVtt7nuFeeuH81UitLLMVmm1XaQHVUAK-TYN3-9gSFl3MWkwy_JaEXZCZx7PyE3zIXZBKrGlJSrB7j89mgdT1J5kfkB4Heo0p_1qHhWM0p-wgtOVdpDmJpSH4HJ8c0UhgKxJcIoE3-/s1600-h/utm%C3%A4rkelse+fr%C3%A5n+Carina.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-yNVtt7nuFeeuH81UitLLMVmm1XaQHVUAK-TYN3-9gSFl3MWkwy_JaEXZCZx7PyE3zIXZBKrGlJSrB7j89mgdT1J5kfkB4Heo0p_1qHhWM0p-wgtOVdpDmJpSH4HJ8c0UhgKxJcIoE3-/s200/utm%C3%A4rkelse+fr%C3%A5n+Carina.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398005429612616034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />She asked me to list ten things about myself, and I will list ten things that are good in my life right now:<br />1. My husband turned 40 last week, and his vest is almost done. Hope to post pics this weekend.<br />2. My son was 5 the same day, and he is so wonderful. The confidence they have at that age.<br />3. My daughter who is the perfect person to knit for, style concious, grateful and very small!<br />4. I actually like the garden when it is getting to rest, the last phase in the changes over the year with great, earthy colours.<br />5. The yarn stash is in excellent shape, and I feel quite content to draw my knitting inspiration from it for a while.<br />6. Apart from the vest there are a number of projects that are close to finishing, and since we plan to redecorate my study as soon as I get through the piles of stuff in there I am well motivated to do something about my UFOs.<br />7. I have a job that gives me energy and I look forward to getting there every morning.<br />8. I can't believe how lucky I am to be surrounded my so many wonderful people; friends, colleagues and relatives.<br />9. I am preparing a knitting café about new techniques for cabling on november 19th, and there is just so much we could do but we only have two hours.<br />10. In a few weeks MrP and I celebrate that it has been ten years since our first date. Amazingly enough I just won a lottery and got a dinner for two at the restaurant where we had our wedding dinner.<br /><br />I think this just boosted my energy, so back to that pile of UFOs!Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-19776823028115889122009-10-12T19:59:00.005+02:002009-10-12T22:58:47.279+02:00Icelandic shoppingUnder a bed in my house there are two big boxes. One is filled with knitted items like shawls, vests and sweaters. The other holds lopi and létt-lopi and some lace yarn. I also have some hand made yarn and buttons from <a href="http://www.ull.is/">Ullarselid</a> as well an embroidery kit and some of their products made from rabbit wool. So what do I really need to buy? Anything I don't have of course!<br /><br />There has been some great pattern books coming out in Iceland since my last visit in 2003. Védis Jónsdóttir is a designer who has envigorated the traditional woolen sweaters with a line of booklets from <a href="http://www.istex.is/">Istex</a>, the leading yarn company. I'm especially glad to get a hold of her patterns for garments in lace yarn, einband. Another favourite is the new book on mittens <span style="font-style: italic;">Hlýjar hendur</span> that is currently the third best selling book, all categories included, in the largest chain if Icelandic book stores.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzJpj0sVydRSlr97BiDV0O54Vb3ybL7tYlmQL0pVzMoxKrn8abE5NM8Z1FqLJFDnQdrvYYpEXSSek5HzSIQo8bNmdEtYJy3mzA1sbhG7creBnUe5qY8wssyOOnnGZOOz_7_MnV1eaD3Sj/s1600-h/DSCN1151-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwzJpj0sVydRSlr97BiDV0O54Vb3ybL7tYlmQL0pVzMoxKrn8abE5NM8Z1FqLJFDnQdrvYYpEXSSek5HzSIQo8bNmdEtYJy3mzA1sbhG7creBnUe5qY8wssyOOnnGZOOz_7_MnV1eaD3Sj/s320/DSCN1151-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391774998733693314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />When it comes to buying yarn there is a limit to what a suitcase can hold. To get the most out of the trip I decided to focus on einband, the lace yarn. I got all the natural wool colours and a few balls each of white, brown and natural black. The large skeins at the back are dyed with herbs in a beautiful, dark green. I also wanted som red, which I found at the <a href="http://is.alafoss.is/">Álafoss </a>store where we made a quick stop. There I also couldn't resist getting some unspun, green yarn that will look great with the natural brown in my stash. My brothers got some blankets, and somehow managed to get them into their small bags for the trip home. I had of course planned ahead and brought a half empty, big suitcase.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCPCb8ZbstOtW2jAa1SB0pekKuWYBgGebHzqH2Jf0V50Y-3xsKuq82C455FXs8_6H91V-iF6ops0ompSwq6Ud6TUAJoKQ_kpzK7wBe3oYaCqzC5YIq_sgpKmvBAT3wEBvjrK1yS7wVlF6/s1600-h/DSCN1152-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCPCb8ZbstOtW2jAa1SB0pekKuWYBgGebHzqH2Jf0V50Y-3xsKuq82C455FXs8_6H91V-iF6ops0ompSwq6Ud6TUAJoKQ_kpzK7wBe3oYaCqzC5YIq_sgpKmvBAT3wEBvjrK1yS7wVlF6/s320/DSCN1152-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391774986742728514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfNof5o85SW7HCiVbfKDO8TtzUjBP6h3JIhBbRLAX8BtazPCG1e2uHBHajB46SgxD1wEzfCLzupExauRHVl4dS1HaS0RUzRJ7jyCyCYvU2amtdvnfYm41aksv6UKDCUDhrI11WA5HYSRO/s1600-h/DSCN1154-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbfNof5o85SW7HCiVbfKDO8TtzUjBP6h3JIhBbRLAX8BtazPCG1e2uHBHajB46SgxD1wEzfCLzupExauRHVl4dS1HaS0RUzRJ7jyCyCYvU2amtdvnfYm41aksv6UKDCUDhrI11WA5HYSRO/s320/DSCN1154-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391774990551351170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />After reading all my new books I got an idea for a Christmas present and got some more yarn at a supermarket, but that has to remain a secret...Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-15005020364118455992009-10-11T14:15:00.006+02:002009-10-12T15:05:03.219+02:00Icelandic woolI went to Iceland last week, and although I was there on other business I managed to squeeze in some wool. My cousin owns some 170 sheep and the week before they had been brought down from the mountains were they graze freely during the summer. The farmers still go out on horseback for several days to collect them, but they use airplanes to locate the sheep. Then the sheep are brought to a place where they are held in a circular enclosement and then separated into smaller pens, one for each farm, as seen in the picture. These days they don't have to herd them the last kilometres to the farm, but load them on trailers. After the sheep have been brought home the lambs are slaughtered before the remaining sheep are put in a barn for the winter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA6CCNmAEzZbEKvbrmYdnAX46UaKxSE8WMC5oDCbd4gcTkW9sqyxgkR_sdL9QyrCLm_hE8mAolkI3g9Qpi7HNDoYXO43pNVa_O-mvjKpdnnvTKDh4K2zOdccP4JojY4bMxhstbjCYneCU/s1600-h/DSCN1140-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHA6CCNmAEzZbEKvbrmYdnAX46UaKxSE8WMC5oDCbd4gcTkW9sqyxgkR_sdL9QyrCLm_hE8mAolkI3g9Qpi7HNDoYXO43pNVa_O-mvjKpdnnvTKDh4K2zOdccP4JojY4bMxhstbjCYneCU/s320/DSCN1140-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391355734278585186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Later that day we went to a local shop where people with an interest in crafts in the western parts of Iceland sell a selection of high quality products. It is called <a href="http://www.ull.is/">Ullarselid</a> and was started in 1992 on the grounds of the university of agriculture at Hvanneyri. The products are mostly made from wool, but there are also buttons made from bone and horn, stones and other souvenirs. The following three pictures show some of their hand spun or herb dyed yarn, sweaters designed for the hand spun yarn and their special take on the traditional Icelandic sweaters with a patterned yoke.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHezXis1oCEjbLl1QPaJ3cdc6Vua7qfFxLylxWCobgQF1lWAqU0slRN4OkjWxglDpx_fOEjPhqeFDi7HxBgcydOvbjjMC6bAPSHNFuurp-iUyuZY84U5_sowDJb8b5LgCOg8yw4Qo1wX3/s1600-h/DSCN1143-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHezXis1oCEjbLl1QPaJ3cdc6Vua7qfFxLylxWCobgQF1lWAqU0slRN4OkjWxglDpx_fOEjPhqeFDi7HxBgcydOvbjjMC6bAPSHNFuurp-iUyuZY84U5_sowDJb8b5LgCOg8yw4Qo1wX3/s320/DSCN1143-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391355736050808850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREn8-N8-jjNyTGRVc5_IFrsvWesQGxvUnc8s2Ty1A8oPpPDBANi6yEwZhWwU6T1ekYtI1mMaXT6n9HdEwKPlN38HejrtDruMvj7RyjA3rhBO2EU-hVm7FGpzIpZqpHOeZnIFjaH_FXmJH/s1600-h/DSCN1144-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREn8-N8-jjNyTGRVc5_IFrsvWesQGxvUnc8s2Ty1A8oPpPDBANi6yEwZhWwU6T1ekYtI1mMaXT6n9HdEwKPlN38HejrtDruMvj7RyjA3rhBO2EU-hVm7FGpzIpZqpHOeZnIFjaH_FXmJH/s320/DSCN1144-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391355739744138546" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAjA5dsXkE2eSsB8bT8ZV1fDiiOtJtcTJY8mopT507RSyKeNSrxEyH0vZ388Zj_2_WBf7B6kQ1jxA_aoiBsr6hMDDtCqk5hPZ4VQOogSNTa0UYeFwJSJs1vEjWMzgQXUJWpOFVePIy3Rj/s1600-h/DSCN1145-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAjA5dsXkE2eSsB8bT8ZV1fDiiOtJtcTJY8mopT507RSyKeNSrxEyH0vZ388Zj_2_WBf7B6kQ1jxA_aoiBsr6hMDDtCqk5hPZ4VQOogSNTa0UYeFwJSJs1vEjWMzgQXUJWpOFVePIy3Rj/s320/DSCN1145-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391355751787700738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I made my not so interested brothers come along, and here is what they bought: socks, mittens, a hat and some felted soles. Not as expensive as the larger items but still great quality and perfect gifts to bring home. What I bought? You will see in the next post...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_83P1Qi0FfKnxcmkRq5sXuw-uznimjr4m0CrUF1gySHl1pChYQncCFhrGwt8qG4vHGzPuzsBRknwHJc6a6Howl0t2YQw7EhHIyrw6-5hyWiENZm2tx9FKKAU_4yfiqHLyayMycaFtjt0/s1600-h/DSCN1149-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_83P1Qi0FfKnxcmkRq5sXuw-uznimjr4m0CrUF1gySHl1pChYQncCFhrGwt8qG4vHGzPuzsBRknwHJc6a6Howl0t2YQw7EhHIyrw6-5hyWiENZm2tx9FKKAU_4yfiqHLyayMycaFtjt0/s320/DSCN1149-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391355754928844546" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-72986590823326095112009-08-12T12:51:00.005+02:002009-08-12T13:22:45.691+02:00Modern laceAs you might have guessed by now I've made a few shawls this summer. I blocked six last week and here are the final three.<br /><br />First up is one that I started to have a nice looking lace project when I represented knitting at a craft exhibition in May. I started out using Morjärv 2-ply, which was far too bulky. Soon after I started on Madli's scarf from <span style="font-style: italic;">Knitted Lace of Estonia </span>in Pälsull by Östergötlands ullspinneri, but the lace lacked definition.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOgsMSJx25YGYvhhZKf1eTHoi4nwIkPY1h4Heo4wUoc6FEWkXqlKzmj2UVkrfS-G-VLka4jDi3cxiUaUqOXAuPjCD2N6FCsgGvkDCMkeylQYkqoQU6GoqrfZQyarZOHKl39cpG-7j98oS/s1600-h/DSCN1116-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpOgsMSJx25YGYvhhZKf1eTHoi4nwIkPY1h4Heo4wUoc6FEWkXqlKzmj2UVkrfS-G-VLka4jDi3cxiUaUqOXAuPjCD2N6FCsgGvkDCMkeylQYkqoQU6GoqrfZQyarZOHKl39cpG-7j98oS/s320/DSCN1116-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369030270735979794" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Combining the pattern from the shawl to the left with the yarn on the right worked much better. The pattern is <a href="http://lankakomero.blogspot.com/search?label=KAL">Vernal Equinox</a> by Lankakomero. It is a laced up version of the Elizabeth Zimmerman Pi shawl (the number of stitches is dubbled at certain intervals). After a while there are just too many stitches and it was a bit of a struggle to finish it when the top measured 170 cm. I didn't pin out the lace properly because by then I couldn't be bothered, but it still looks OK.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhOaZpQYLJsQDivfxu8wYw7UTw6JdkJAa1uGSE5fkt-WbKxeIZxDWdqkGC8TZNKXqhrxwhi7gWWFeMlnor0oM96aZk_npcnd_Z_InUmMMCg_HBXHzySpc7vGOH5z4cRbZ-bujeCRANEuB/s1600-h/DSCN1117-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxhOaZpQYLJsQDivfxu8wYw7UTw6JdkJAa1uGSE5fkt-WbKxeIZxDWdqkGC8TZNKXqhrxwhi7gWWFeMlnor0oM96aZk_npcnd_Z_InUmMMCg_HBXHzySpc7vGOH5z4cRbZ-bujeCRANEuB/s320/DSCN1117-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369030273172828674" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The next shawl was much more fun. I might even make it again since I was a bit cheap and only bought one skein of Noro Kureyon sock in colour 95 and it is more like a scarf than a shawl. I usually don't like the finish of entrelac patterns, but here it is perfect for the pattern and the rustic character of this yarn only makes it better. The pattern is called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dianna">Dianna </a>and can be downloaded for free on Ravelry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKgJde2Cx1c9xHKX2WvtUWIOyPeqClgiZV7zex-5hcHA4wARkXKp8_-yVHq75KSjaUaJK-OTM_tMuDhG9qX4JePWAY2Ds-CL2ycRco88mhmkS3CH97v52g925m9abrB8MJEd-0DJSkJyr/s1600-h/DSCN1118-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKgJde2Cx1c9xHKX2WvtUWIOyPeqClgiZV7zex-5hcHA4wARkXKp8_-yVHq75KSjaUaJK-OTM_tMuDhG9qX4JePWAY2Ds-CL2ycRco88mhmkS3CH97v52g925m9abrB8MJEd-0DJSkJyr/s320/DSCN1118-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369030282131807250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My final project from the blocking session isn't lace but a very clever garter stitch scarf that was mostly knitted in the car. I made a <a href="http://mrspeterssonknits.blogspot.com/2007/09/my-favourite-yarn.html">similar scarf</a> in stockinette a few years ago and it is so practical. This version is called <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/norwayneedles/2963651011">Baktus</a>. The yarn is Hjerte sock 4 and the colours behaved quite well with just enough pooling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGHi1S572tmdx283Q5DXq8XY47biS3HAWFUDqxNP9ObVjfWWG4WpW8-JsEHwp4KfyPsZqmtqPhUT5IdmFADnJ2cFhZ_h-wlId_dod8SJPpMrjlS7K5tH8b_HDbQDlVwklgYeM0sPmmElR/s1600-h/DSCN1119-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGHi1S572tmdx283Q5DXq8XY47biS3HAWFUDqxNP9ObVjfWWG4WpW8-JsEHwp4KfyPsZqmtqPhUT5IdmFADnJ2cFhZ_h-wlId_dod8SJPpMrjlS7K5tH8b_HDbQDlVwklgYeM0sPmmElR/s320/DSCN1119-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369035811949517602" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-18054529015565548512009-08-11T14:38:00.006+02:002009-08-11T15:03:05.055+02:00Icelandic lace againI blocked a few shawls last week and two of them are from <span style="font-style: italic;">Thríhyrnur og langsjöl</span>, my Icelandic lace book. The first one is my second attempt at Thríhyrna, the cover design. The <a href="http://mrspeterssonknits.blogspot.com/2007/10/icelandic-lace.html">first version</a> was too tight and small. This time it is too loose and airy, we'll see if I give it a third try some day. The yarn is red Pälsull by Östergötlands ullspinneri and needles 4mm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw7VXrsXK05QH4No8I3jEEDQ1WBEaSMgSo7wEopcpjJE7pOjyz9CiKNLphyZM3IWgaDaiMZJ1r3xGQLXadMbRD53UN64KfrfR73hmv6D4ECnJeDoiVFMY8T6-6Ioj7GDddtLZR9oyX237/s1600-h/DSCN1115-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOw7VXrsXK05QH4No8I3jEEDQ1WBEaSMgSo7wEopcpjJE7pOjyz9CiKNLphyZM3IWgaDaiMZJ1r3xGQLXadMbRD53UN64KfrfR73hmv6D4ECnJeDoiVFMY8T6-6Ioj7GDddtLZR9oyX237/s320/DSCN1115-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368686246413346210" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The second shawl was truly all about the process. I bought three balls of the sock yarn Raggi mini by Järbo at the supermarket. With each ball I tried a different pattern. Two were then frogged and only the third was finished. The patterns I didn't choose in the end were Lily of the Valley Scarf from <span style="font-style: italic;">Knitted Lace of Estonia</span>, because the pattern didn't show well and it was too bulky, and <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/KSPATTripple.php">Ripple from Knitty</a>, a great design but the edging didn't work in this yarn.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QWUJeTZDPEi8vgKOTZst5S_VX4U0Kj4zD5-JuOaGr057M3l44aNMikKV_H7_no6VoMbC3tT6-vae8ymQ8mtQJJxHBBb_efrVrGWGwTjklSdAbsG1z-d1T62mP1fmHnZiowf_YxUSyy7l/s1600-h/DSCN0967-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QWUJeTZDPEi8vgKOTZst5S_VX4U0Kj4zD5-JuOaGr057M3l44aNMikKV_H7_no6VoMbC3tT6-vae8ymQ8mtQJJxHBBb_efrVrGWGwTjklSdAbsG1z-d1T62mP1fmHnZiowf_YxUSyy7l/s200/DSCN0967-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368686607306177250" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ozM2MXz8vtuJwz7om6i-dvzDoPqsBbZ6DhCRJsyM_QJvP08XLYtS9LojXn0qOmL66c0ch71Z-hvh_epDPcaLLFmbkinthUZntDMDmiW9RiM8YHts70cb3znFS036IHqtRZWVbFJoK7fU/s1600-h/DSCN0968-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ozM2MXz8vtuJwz7om6i-dvzDoPqsBbZ6DhCRJsyM_QJvP08XLYtS9LojXn0qOmL66c0ch71Z-hvh_epDPcaLLFmbkinthUZntDMDmiW9RiM8YHts70cb3znFS036IHqtRZWVbFJoK7fU/s200/DSCN0968-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368686606133504610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The one I chose to finish is Langsjalid Bárur (waves). It is big, soft and the stripes become great waves and are much easier to knit than using 6 colours like the original.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EoULbzU2jfYFBcs7MVqMEMPRmSqdOTpyspKPGvvszeu5Q4_EWlrP4eGMD4ZfNjJiUXEcdf2eTBb_W5t3nozueJoUfS-MOWRH1rRZTnvPSpTXLbGosChyU5GKEX0qx5OaAYJZ8rOitDJX/s1600-h/DSCN1114-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EoULbzU2jfYFBcs7MVqMEMPRmSqdOTpyspKPGvvszeu5Q4_EWlrP4eGMD4ZfNjJiUXEcdf2eTBb_W5t3nozueJoUfS-MOWRH1rRZTnvPSpTXLbGosChyU5GKEX0qx5OaAYJZ8rOitDJX/s320/DSCN1114-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368686249705780018" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-89246772237753684132009-08-10T13:51:00.005+02:002009-08-10T14:24:18.567+02:00Estonian laceThis blog was started two years ago when I last visited Tallinn, Estonia. Therefore it is quite fitting that I relaunch after half a year of neglect with another visit to Tallinn. A couple of weeks ago my family and some of our relatives went on a four night cruise on the Baltic Sea. One of the stops was Tallinn and of course we did some knitting related shopping. This is what my kids fell for:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIa_YZZ_-337PVeujgdDeiO3WdD2ge-73JeEaBEGoDcPUyLPzRgb3FfcRVsm9mv1ATHyIWKaS9_iRwwI9mKIL-OSiGcU3YtcxQhudouSMsA2rYLWzox2C3ywoKCxGCyRQnVliIqLcu2Ty/s1600-h/DSCN1031-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIa_YZZ_-337PVeujgdDeiO3WdD2ge-73JeEaBEGoDcPUyLPzRgb3FfcRVsm9mv1ATHyIWKaS9_iRwwI9mKIL-OSiGcU3YtcxQhudouSMsA2rYLWzox2C3ywoKCxGCyRQnVliIqLcu2Ty/s320/DSCN1031-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368303726396165698" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Personally I prefer patterns and yarn, and this time I found a really good selection of books but no yarn that had my name on it. Since my last expedition to the book stores of Estonia several new titles on various traditional crafts had been published. One stood out from the rest and it is one of the best knitting books I have ever seen, even though I can't read the language. (The key to the charts is also given in English.) That is high praise from someone who has collected knitting books for 20 years. The book is <span style="font-style: italic;">Haapsalu sall </span>and it is a collection of lace patterns used for making the superb Haapsalu shawls. These shawls were hand knitted in the seaside resort of Haapsalu where the elite of the Russian empire spent their holidays 100 years ago. The patterns are still very much alive and the shawls are still used as gifts to foreign dignitaries visiting Estonia. Regular turists to Tallinn, like me, will have a hard time finding any but now we can make our own.<br /><br />I have started out with a sampler with some of my favourite patterns. The yarn is regular Estonian 2-ply that I bought on my last visit. The patterns should be made from much finer yarn, but this is what I had at hand. The shawl was just improvised until I ran out of yarn and then the second edging, which I had knitted earlier, was grafted on. I will post more detailed pictures on Ravelry.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwRNd9DPVSPbpJLfFfkOJEDqbYuTTyVAEBGvzIBdzDATqwpJ04tvBe8CYD2GTQAYH0b6O13x-hE6187SLgqlXfk7xDzt-NQl6KAmxdCm6j2a7Cr_6BKNYIKL2DSXLJ_Ol1BJ1ncW2H6uG/s1600-h/DSCN1113-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwRNd9DPVSPbpJLfFfkOJEDqbYuTTyVAEBGvzIBdzDATqwpJ04tvBe8CYD2GTQAYH0b6O13x-hE6187SLgqlXfk7xDzt-NQl6KAmxdCm6j2a7Cr_6BKNYIKL2DSXLJ_Ol1BJ1ncW2H6uG/s320/DSCN1113-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368303727209627778" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-13632681609073298612009-02-10T18:24:00.004+01:002009-02-10T18:38:47.206+01:00Snow!We have had snow since November, but this weekend we got an extra foot of it. Right now it looks like a postcard outside with fresh snow and the days getting long enough to last until we get home in the afternoon. Nice to be able to take pictures outside on a weekday!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXAB5CunKLqhc0RPkow2-Gs-ogYBxI-gwd2lKx-5wAz56yU5uGiSAEk0CtoMuplbyeGFJGTtOQsca9Jy0Qi1xCBMwadRfXrDWaIxhiuFgTJBk6oojCox4a6DvuYhzTZEdG-PuGhyphenhyphenSYJHD/s1600-h/DSCN0948-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXAB5CunKLqhc0RPkow2-Gs-ogYBxI-gwd2lKx-5wAz56yU5uGiSAEk0CtoMuplbyeGFJGTtOQsca9Jy0Qi1xCBMwadRfXrDWaIxhiuFgTJBk6oojCox4a6DvuYhzTZEdG-PuGhyphenhyphenSYJHD/s320/DSCN0948-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301223499165441154" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />To the left the 4-y-o in his <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.helloyarn.com/wecallthempirates.htm">We Call Them Pirates</a> </span>hat. The yarn is merino that I got in Estonia last summer. I sewed his name onto the inside of the linig, and he is so proud of the hat that takes it of to show that detail to people. To the right is the 7-y-o in her new Kari/Ola mittens. The pattern comes from a Norwegian book by Lillill Thuve. The yarn is Garnstudio Karisma. I made a pair in Dale Heilo when she was two, and she loved them, but this pair has not been accepted yet.Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-67056694726136404322009-02-09T09:01:00.003+01:002009-02-09T09:38:59.830+01:00All for meDon't get me wrong, I love being generous and practical and knitting for my family. Lately I have been stressed out and knitting for relaxation, and then I find that gorgeous things for me work best.<br /><br />During the holidays I was obsessed with Vivian Höxbro's Abstract Stole. Now it has been finished as well. The original has squares of 6-7cm, but mine were 8.5cm before felting and 8cm after. This means that since I made the entire length of the pattern but only five out of nine rows it is very long. The other modification I made was to leave tabs along the lower edge only, instead of the original random pattern. The ends are knitted into the following row as you go along, so there was little finishing. I felted it by washing it in the mashine accompanied with a pair of jeans. I would have liked it to felt more, but since the colours felted very differently I decided to leave it as it is. The pink felted best, but the yellow and orange hardly felted at all. That is the risk with herbal dyes I guess. Thanks mum for the yarn, and for modelling!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV26gdIefLxC4B0ApyAOQN49WvERsj7vgSyRpNda3mXuPfUVYb-1-NcU0n2yJSfY7inhrHKt4kacyJg_mEv_PZZkKSXibndCnfygEFccrQHQ8euTZlPW2ph3cCo2ixFx7mJv816IbjQDby/s1600-h/DSCN0917-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV26gdIefLxC4B0ApyAOQN49WvERsj7vgSyRpNda3mXuPfUVYb-1-NcU0n2yJSfY7inhrHKt4kacyJg_mEv_PZZkKSXibndCnfygEFccrQHQ8euTZlPW2ph3cCo2ixFx7mJv816IbjQDby/s320/DSCN0917-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300707603937803506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I admit that the I have not yet worn the stole myself. It is a bit demanding. The next shawl has been worn for a few days, and I was even stopped by a stranger at the bus stop who liked it. First she wanted to know were I had bought it (knitted it last week...) then she asked for the pattern (Icelandic lace book...) but I could give her the name of the yarn shop (Garnkorgen). I have also promised to translate the pattern for a colleague who has already "copied" the other two scarves I have used this winter. The pattern is called Hyrna Herborgar and I made a smaller version in pale pink before Christmas. This time I used Kauni yarn and 4.5mm needles for a more practical version. I love the way the stripes turned out, I only knew that I wanted the dark purple at the center, but then the purple returned just in time for the edge pattern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH0w1sDjRu9A_cPSTU7zJh8Fr6bEKKzdMCFFm6Nbin7s0UZITf7v3v0-eb3g2FR4SoU9bfr9TIQ48Xr4wjbL94kJ1yD8MKg6wZ8QXLR-iasI7HKGBMCzbCBX9GlzJMm7g5RngWQBqIEFV/s1600-h/DSCN0923-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifH0w1sDjRu9A_cPSTU7zJh8Fr6bEKKzdMCFFm6Nbin7s0UZITf7v3v0-eb3g2FR4SoU9bfr9TIQ48Xr4wjbL94kJ1yD8MKg6wZ8QXLR-iasI7HKGBMCzbCBX9GlzJMm7g5RngWQBqIEFV/s320/DSCN0923-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300707601632351954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally my new pair of Knotty gloves. Knitting these on a long circular needle only took a few nights. They look and feel great, and the purple goes well with my new shawl. The yarn is Ranco multi by Auracania, and it is new favourite. It is not only soft and beautiful, but also seems durable and I have half the skein left.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1-OGyu-Yk1VP1kK0FODcyMnuFGXi4Kowl2nkdWsspUhLYffFx3u9ViEhLZ5-m8_twlA40TpzLtfWBlQJNOCusRpDOJQ3f7-0reA67c3DLyOETAI5rlRZZewPnsnNydm22O5F1XccIibo/s1600-h/DSCN0922-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB1-OGyu-Yk1VP1kK0FODcyMnuFGXi4Kowl2nkdWsspUhLYffFx3u9ViEhLZ5-m8_twlA40TpzLtfWBlQJNOCusRpDOJQ3f7-0reA67c3DLyOETAI5rlRZZewPnsnNydm22O5F1XccIibo/s320/DSCN0922-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300707603416739394" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-42846532738000267132009-01-13T16:09:00.003+01:002009-01-13T16:35:14.046+01:00Three little projectsThree big projects await blocking, so of course I leave them and work on three small ones instead. First up is one that is finished, and does not need blocking. The last sock of the month of Sockklubben 2008 is off the needles and will be used by my daughter next time she goes skating. The pattern is for an adult, but I subtracted 25% from all numbers and they are just right for a 17 cm foot. They have a twist, in two different directions, and that is why the pattern is called <a href="http://www.knotions.com/issues/winter_2008/patterns/vortical/directions.aspx">Vortical</a>. The yarn is Tofutsies, a slippery but shiny mix of wool, soysilk, cotton and chitin. The colour is a bit too mixed up for the pattern, but it has the same colours as the original model. I thought about making childrens versions of all the ladies pattern in the club last spring, but this is the first time I got around to it. I will try to do this again, because the kids need more socks than me now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oadH5jVdopmWmgHyy6NP130xaXNCwnlc0p21m2YdnhZ4pZPnOzdgF0UjN8UKB1m_m6122fOc2fxfeRIlZPtDJ-SN7ANieWFrnD2SdxyoWu5SmJ64UvOVMVckOQzRUG249oLr0KM-4ly6/s1600-h/DSCN0914-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9oadH5jVdopmWmgHyy6NP130xaXNCwnlc0p21m2YdnhZ4pZPnOzdgF0UjN8UKB1m_m6122fOc2fxfeRIlZPtDJ-SN7ANieWFrnD2SdxyoWu5SmJ64UvOVMVckOQzRUG249oLr0KM-4ly6/s320/DSCN0914-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290796268717713362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Still in progress are two winter goodies for me. To the left you can see <a href="http://larisknit.wordpress.com/instructionspatterns/knotty-gloves/">Knotty</a> gloves in lovely sunset colours in Auracania Ranco. They are a really quick knit on a long circular needle, and I hope I can wear them next week. To the right is a new try at Hyrna Herborgar in a heavier yarn. <a href="http://www.garntrollet.se/?p=867">Garntrollet</a> had the same idea, without me knowing about it until I had decided to make this. Hers is not the same colour as mine, but I hope I will get the same size and look.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2pw8LmuxsbLP0b4KkXm6ksx_yoLKuCf55JLwpMM2cpnh4NPScl8iHMkaQHXDuYLVUcyOo0gal-KTUBRN7E5XIuW9yRP0zmaBxUZq4jVU0mdzKYz8EcI_hrSTLmHLoDgYbjj9VIbG-oYH/s1600-h/DSCN0915-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY2pw8LmuxsbLP0b4KkXm6ksx_yoLKuCf55JLwpMM2cpnh4NPScl8iHMkaQHXDuYLVUcyOo0gal-KTUBRN7E5XIuW9yRP0zmaBxUZq4jVU0mdzKYz8EcI_hrSTLmHLoDgYbjj9VIbG-oYH/s320/DSCN0915-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290796270667132082" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-68582863990032797792009-01-04T18:34:00.005+01:002009-01-04T19:34:21.461+01:00Höxbro and yarnThis knitting addiction is getting worse every day now. This holiday I have knitted what feels like half a blanket, but still the stash is growing...<br /><br />The blanket is actually a stole, but the yarn is so much thicker than the original Shetland type yarn that it is getting really big. I do not think I will have enough yarn to make the whole width though, and after a spin in the washer to shrink it I will probably have a large scarf. The pattern is from <span style="font-style: italic;">Knit to be square </span>by <a href="http://www.viv.dk/">Vivian Höxbro</a> and it is the reason I got the book. The yarn was bought by my parents a few years ago from a local artisan who had dyed it using herbs, and a lot of them were in the yarn. You know how some woolen yarn has a lot of grass and stuff in it, well multiply that by 20 and you have some idea what my kitchen loooked like after making these balls. It is also rather coarse, but this project is still highly addictive and I have stuck to it most of the holidays.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivowfNO9a9A8DmLroiJm6Q8tbR2YsibiBVgLXxRcpHUGJWvqoypRVyrfTHo6KK2VY53_hjWoZkX8AIR4BCc53mz_BZUJY3Cwc9jE42Ko0OKSrRn3psVv_r89zIG7Uc_liTBByPYJ75-B3u/s1600-h/DSCN0907-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivowfNO9a9A8DmLroiJm6Q8tbR2YsibiBVgLXxRcpHUGJWvqoypRVyrfTHo6KK2VY53_hjWoZkX8AIR4BCc53mz_BZUJY3Cwc9jE42Ko0OKSrRn3psVv_r89zIG7Uc_liTBByPYJ75-B3u/s320/DSCN0907-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287494577186539458" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I first came across Vivian Höxbro, who is Danish, when she taught a class at the Nordic Knitting Symposium in Härnösand in 2002. I had not chosen her class, but I bought some booklets and a kit and tried the techniques from her then new book <span style="font-style: italic;">Domino Knitting</span> when I got home. The kit has not been completed, but now I feel like giving it another try. It is a children's jacket called Lakridskonfekt (Licorice AllSorts) and I made half the back panel before deciding that it required too much concentration.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY41c-zL8e7HrMll7yMeKTTPFXKd4WzufXHgp0hJ5Wb6KGJjF7rmUOxqHWQFrJKxgrkiZk5CLdJwSokrweD4zGJ0e5HFoFbSMYUgzCnHAB3SQGSv6VkBbJuwghw25p64sOkCJbaNUTCvWS/s1600-h/DSCN0910-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY41c-zL8e7HrMll7yMeKTTPFXKd4WzufXHgp0hJ5Wb6KGJjF7rmUOxqHWQFrJKxgrkiZk5CLdJwSokrweD4zGJ0e5HFoFbSMYUgzCnHAB3SQGSv6VkBbJuwghw25p64sOkCJbaNUTCvWS/s320/DSCN0910-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287494580905459874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Vivian has also published <span style="font-style: italic;">Shadow Knitting</span>, and I gave that a go earlier this autumn since it is based on one of the Japanese techniques that I taught in October. I had some idea that I was going to wear this vest it during the course, but it was not done in time and now it awaits new inspiration. It is knitted in stripes, but the texture makes part of the stripes pop out and form another pattern.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0HIZtVR2XAD_m3k4NYbXPkdrVEFPZSMT8FKDLr1GnQMtenoQBNiTMr9SoADuPXuHeQPafLIvpljLTza0O9YU2iIBmzGnF0FDWHaFd5zObvNIdzytZhxTZMUiZ98yoOo8atC3n-P127e4/s1600-h/DSCN0909-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0HIZtVR2XAD_m3k4NYbXPkdrVEFPZSMT8FKDLr1GnQMtenoQBNiTMr9SoADuPXuHeQPafLIvpljLTza0O9YU2iIBmzGnF0FDWHaFd5zObvNIdzytZhxTZMUiZ98yoOo8atC3n-P127e4/s320/DSCN0909-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287494577806216882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Even though I knit a lot, I plan even more and the stash is growing. Here is most of the yarn from the past month, which has been a little exceptional.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59bYAgkZlw-GLSK24zIg_KE9849cfcnMN6SvhWlbRAGt6-5YDyoBtCgGtQZQ_-a9ndOUYPLbmXOXn4qST85lbkVjjyutMRaclhQBs9PqxAMXA94RD57IyExYCYObtJW0jJlnQcEbukEhr/s1600-h/DSCN0912-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59bYAgkZlw-GLSK24zIg_KE9849cfcnMN6SvhWlbRAGt6-5YDyoBtCgGtQZQ_-a9ndOUYPLbmXOXn4qST85lbkVjjyutMRaclhQBs9PqxAMXA94RD57IyExYCYObtJW0jJlnQcEbukEhr/s320/DSCN0912-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287494584892541714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />First I was waiting around for my family and ended up in Hemslöjden in Härnösand. I restrained myself and only got some material for Sockklubben 2009 (bottom left). The next weekend I rushed through a Christmas market and found some amazing, natural wool from <a href="http://www.kristiansgard.se/">Kristians gård</a> in Delsbo (top left). For a few years I have been on the lookout for cotton that grows in various shades of green and brown, and now I have found a <a href="http://www.strik.dk/"></a>Pakucho yarn from <a href="http://www.strik.dk/">Strik</a> in Denmark that has a few retailers in Sweden and bought some sample skeins. I think I will get more (bottom center). The purple ball will become a larger Hyrna Herborgar shawl for me (top center). Finally my visit to <a href="http://www.garnkorgen.se/">Garnkorgen</a> yesterday also resulted in a lot of lovely red Ranco from Auracania. One skein is variegated and will become gloves and the solid red will become a sweater for me. I was planning to concentrate on practical clothes for me this year, and not buy as much yarn candy...<a href="http://www.garnkorgen.se/"><br /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-29893532959492364902008-12-22T14:02:00.003+01:002008-12-22T15:12:02.131+01:00Blog lifeI confess, I've not been a very social blogger, or knitter, lately. This autumn has been too hectic and it has been hard to find the time and energy. I've worked and studied more than full time while taking care of my family and having an infection that has taken far too much energy. It is good to know that someone is thinking of you at times like these, so I'll try to be a little social now.<br /><br />I've gotten two blog awards that really warmed my heart. I hope you excuse me if I don't pass them on, but I'm not that good at keeping track of blogs these days, and a lot of the people I do know have already recieved them.<br /><br />The first one is from my new knitting friend <a href="http://funnyknit.blogspot.com/">Nata</a>, who joined the local knitting café group this summer. You are an inspirational and fearless knitter!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXLfUjOxWpZL-bmS1joLKqRfjCmckAlxhQTVOJILnWhFOi10ePF6Ry3sxJG34U90asGWN3hbPyildkwXfRTBzKyOpzySlEvMub92dUOqVtgu0Y1B7DtH_yKaMeyw97lj44SiKUiiUXJlY/s1600-h/Blog+award.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXLfUjOxWpZL-bmS1joLKqRfjCmckAlxhQTVOJILnWhFOi10ePF6Ry3sxJG34U90asGWN3hbPyildkwXfRTBzKyOpzySlEvMub92dUOqVtgu0Y1B7DtH_yKaMeyw97lj44SiKUiiUXJlY/s320/Blog+award.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282599221255880962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The second blog award was actually given to me a while ago, but I wasn't writing much then. It's from <a href="http://knittedgems.com/">Knitted Gems</a>, who writes an amazing blog about many creative interests. I'm honored to be on your list of reading.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBw1S0S_ixc7Z-PhSj6X8U6_ZsOT3RDyYHJAnRjo-9yZr2sXIsA_yCK24SqSiGZbTnSQt9sCOVjVr5sCwpnp6JdPZBiRRxxk6u27_T7lo8FKSQdAV26W69XOAH7_RoboGhm9XPnyieJ0oJ/s1600-h/brilliantaward_BLOG_AWARD_Avatar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 197px; height: 122px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBw1S0S_ixc7Z-PhSj6X8U6_ZsOT3RDyYHJAnRjo-9yZr2sXIsA_yCK24SqSiGZbTnSQt9sCOVjVr5sCwpnp6JdPZBiRRxxk6u27_T7lo8FKSQdAV26W69XOAH7_RoboGhm9XPnyieJ0oJ/s320/brilliantaward_BLOG_AWARD_Avatar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282599213510828930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally <a href="http://mariasstickochlas.blogspot.com/">Maria</a>, who both knits and plays folk music with me but hasn't seen me much lately, has sent me some questions. I will answer them from the knitting pespective...<br /><br /><strong>What are your 8 favourite TV programs?</strong><br />I prefer knitting in front of:<br /><br />* All day sports events, like the Olympics or skiing<br />* A good film that I've seen before<br />* Whatever the kids watch on a Sunday morning<br />* House, because I can mostly listen to the dialogue<br />* Saturday Night Live, keeps me up for late night knitting<br />* Anything MrP likes, for the company<br />* Documentaries, so I can learn and knit<br />* News, like radio on TV<br /><br /><strong>8 things I did yesterday</strong><br /><br />* Almost finished knitting my daughters dress<br />* Knitted a few rows on my Sockklubben december sock<br />* Found a red, knitted doily among the Christmas textiles<br />* Looked through my new book of Japanese patterns again<br />* Spent too much time on Ravelry<br />* Got the laundry done so I can use the room for blocking<br />* Wore handknitted socks all day<br />* Bought a new bookcase so I can free some space for more knitting books<br /><br /><strong>8 things I am looking forward to</strong><br />* Opening all my presents with yarn in them :-)<br />* Making a sweater from Pakucho colour growing cotton<br />* Visiting Kristians Gård in Delsbo, and get more of their wool<br />* Finishing my last sock in this years Sockklubben<br />* Seeing my daughter in her new, knitted dress<br />* Making more clothes for myself next year<br />* Making a blanket from my mothers yarn dyed with herbs<br />* Going to the knitting café much more next year<br /><br /><strong>8 favourite restaurants</strong><br />Only go to knitting cafés or take the kids for hamburgers these days...<br /><br /><strong>8 things on my list of wishes</strong><br />* More Addi circulars, I want them in all sizes<br />* A set of carding-brushes<br />* An Icelandic, upright spinning wheel<br />* A week to finish all UFO:s<br />* A bigger living room so I can invite all you great knitting friends over<br />* That the two shawls I sent in the mail arrive safely<br />* That I get more students for my knitting class this spring<br />* That my stash doesn't grow but shrink next year<br /><br /><strong>8 people I challenge</strong><br />I will skip this one for the reasons listed earlier.<br /><br />Back to last minute knitting!Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com92tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-54879960677839324492008-12-14T19:15:00.004+01:002008-12-14T19:51:27.158+01:00Hat parade<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkCAk2-Hf32-85lB3Kfy1-hL8whBHTbnDS9GKNUoiTY1qG86TlLT3L70QDQnihCLwaogsCDnptKB9z4h5ZpRJopGYWGrebWoLXx8_xieWNG726yiG82Kf672LRyB073yopGDlSp8M30m-/s1600-h/DSCN0859-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYkCAk2-Hf32-85lB3Kfy1-hL8whBHTbnDS9GKNUoiTY1qG86TlLT3L70QDQnihCLwaogsCDnptKB9z4h5ZpRJopGYWGrebWoLXx8_xieWNG726yiG82Kf672LRyB073yopGDlSp8M30m-/s320/DSCN0859-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279711903420202290" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />With a view like this from the kitchen window, it's easy to get inspired for winter knitting. I love using those single skeins of luxurious yarns for hats, and here are a few examples.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcofO0J5w-uGD95EHa2v23KuNuLZAxuldQ3okmLEnadLFqR6sHj8VDN9XKJkYfJlIysCDPpwlY6B4dqmmWPgAZ2UZT_6EhD4anEyahh9m-Dc9IEFYUz7Rfs1Jeeg71sfYUjLf1AdCfMkpb/s1600-h/DSCN0867-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcofO0J5w-uGD95EHa2v23KuNuLZAxuldQ3okmLEnadLFqR6sHj8VDN9XKJkYfJlIysCDPpwlY6B4dqmmWPgAZ2UZT_6EhD4anEyahh9m-Dc9IEFYUz7Rfs1Jeeg71sfYUjLf1AdCfMkpb/s320/DSCN0867-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279711903036979522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This was so much fun I couldn't put it down, it took three evenings. Short rows and cables in the "wrong" direction makes it look wierd, but the pattern is easy to follow. It comes from Knitty winter 2007 and is called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bloody-stupid-johnson"><span style="font-style: italic;">Bloody Stupid Johnson</span></a>, named after a character in a fantasy book. The yarn is Manos Silk Blend, and it is so good it is almost unreal - soft and a joy to knit. I made one modification, a Japanese cast on for 2x2 rib that is a lot like a tubular cast on and very comfortable. The hat is a little small in height, but it hasn't been blocked yet. Looking forward to using it, and making a scarf to go with it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy62tXK9kc1-7hpMHNDV5g5h6LhF2addJJX4O0l6DTocqMf9zErFwImBrcdaQDcCavNgrV0qm4_lR9YHLBokVyJUhyJxugnWBzlJWPnutQBPGPAzwKTFHy_cIz5NrmCT50Hlay4O0UrYh/s1600-h/DSCN0873-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy62tXK9kc1-7hpMHNDV5g5h6LhF2addJJX4O0l6DTocqMf9zErFwImBrcdaQDcCavNgrV0qm4_lR9YHLBokVyJUhyJxugnWBzlJWPnutQBPGPAzwKTFHy_cIz5NrmCT50Hlay4O0UrYh/s320/DSCN0873-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279711892153805826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This hat is about a month old, and great for tucking in my wet hair after swimming. The pattern is called <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frances-3">Frances</a> and comes from The Inside Loop. I used larger needles since I couldn't find the right size and couldn't wait getting started, but the edge is firm and holds it in place because I used both colours from the start. The Fair Isle pattern is cleverly designed using Rowan Tapestry with built in colour changes on a background of Felted Tweed. It was hard to pick a colourway, because they all looked beautiful, but I got some help in the end and like the result.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZrQVEZaX_iQ23GzemzBZIPoKeQR0AufJrPBzCQK7vI1VqgTHC78H_GVBxdNjsQrCZKivNuFUm3LeOp0F487Yxs4VLN0Kto-GIjC3-KQn07lGMEtkDmlUZHzs7Iq7XUWKqSCNeR-LdOvq/s1600-h/DSCN0870-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZrQVEZaX_iQ23GzemzBZIPoKeQR0AufJrPBzCQK7vI1VqgTHC78H_GVBxdNjsQrCZKivNuFUm3LeOp0F487Yxs4VLN0Kto-GIjC3-KQn07lGMEtkDmlUZHzs7Iq7XUWKqSCNeR-LdOvq/s320/DSCN0870-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279711859788481426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A few years ago I ordered four skeins from <a href="http://www.virtualyarns.com/scripts/products.asp">Virtual Yarns</a>, Alice Starmore's online store. They also became a hat, but here the contrast wasn't enough to show off the pattern <span style="font-style: italic;">Stjärnmönstrad mössa</span> by Anita Gunnars.<br /><br />I wouldn't mind getting more of all these yarns in the future. I feel like I have gotten to know them, and I have hats for half the days of the week...<br /><br />I have also finished the third of my shawls from the <a href="http://mrspeterssonknits.blogspot.com/2008/11/lace-and-drinks.html">previous post</a>. It is just as wonderful as I thought it would be, but a bit too small for my taste. I will make a good X-mas present for someone, while I plan what yarn I could use to make a larger version for myself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt-q8H4jCAxToYO6s_wPJstZXZdwpMZl87ZMNCyqGfoCNkH35LZ7DlDd7KnFQwYuuQNB4FrqxHMfWJ7vpXwXC8lMVDyoXWN4TsgYhBQ_ux_DfC-0kjrvEoTvIALSt24se2bp_mocgxDtk/s1600-h/DSCN0860-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt-q8H4jCAxToYO6s_wPJstZXZdwpMZl87ZMNCyqGfoCNkH35LZ7DlDd7KnFQwYuuQNB4FrqxHMfWJ7vpXwXC8lMVDyoXWN4TsgYhBQ_ux_DfC-0kjrvEoTvIALSt24se2bp_mocgxDtk/s320/DSCN0860-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279711850650551330" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-22891243983210487572008-11-04T14:06:00.005+01:002008-11-04T14:51:40.339+01:00Lace and drinksNo, I don't recommend drinking and knitting, especially not lace. When I was preparing to write this post I discovered that all the lace shawls I'm working on have colours named after drinks. The first two are finished, and this is how yummy they looked before blocking:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjUpsJe-u_5b6wn78zcFqmIyDjpD6SsAE5uYnCXrm3PF-2VLqZX6n_UJ9cFH3cHl9_U4zGofJszvHJ01HUfs96vDyEVkWLwLzx_CQZUvr-Yc8qW89uSPHRXt1Jh1P05pETJJAeDs9V9_v/s1600-h/DSCN0817-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjUpsJe-u_5b6wn78zcFqmIyDjpD6SsAE5uYnCXrm3PF-2VLqZX6n_UJ9cFH3cHl9_U4zGofJszvHJ01HUfs96vDyEVkWLwLzx_CQZUvr-Yc8qW89uSPHRXt1Jh1P05pETJJAeDs9V9_v/s320/DSCN0817-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264788546937073650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Let's start with the green one. It is designed by Jane Sowerby and it is a variation on a pattern from her book <span style="font-style: italic;">Victorian Lace</span>. This version appeared in <span style="font-style: italic;">Knitter's Magazine</span> summer 2008. A free version will be on their website, but it isn't up yet. The original is knitted in Zazu by Twisted Sisters in a colour called Blue Curacao, but I'm more familiar with the green version of the drink so I made it in a nameless green lacewool from Fyberspates that is hereby named Green Curacao. As you can see it is very thin and transparent, but the yarn feels strong and when I wrap it around my neck it is warm enough. I like the shawl and it was fun to make, but there is one problem. I knitted it during the Olympics, from opening until the closing cermony. Then it got stuck because the ruffle meant there were 1925 (!) stitches to bind off, and with added picots there were 2053 actual stitches. Then a thread had to be sewn through all the picots for blocking... I don't think I will make more ruffles for a while.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBWrSeBNPEdSFMMBfyXd-_2SNzjIADJshgD8lbtJakcaezrGDiaxFKAw3eO52SydzUis_7FRqNz2KsfMuDuTQ8DJCM09rfLQ_-oqoMRbsk8HG5NpM3Rq_IqabtqeX0KI7r2PpCyXSY2Qz/s1600-h/DSCN0828-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBWrSeBNPEdSFMMBfyXd-_2SNzjIADJshgD8lbtJakcaezrGDiaxFKAw3eO52SydzUis_7FRqNz2KsfMuDuTQ8DJCM09rfLQ_-oqoMRbsk8HG5NpM3Rq_IqabtqeX0KI7r2PpCyXSY2Qz/s320/DSCN0828-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264788558413569730" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The next drink is Sangria, which tastes very good on a warm Spanish night. Red wine with slices of oranges is also a fiery colourway so I thought it was just right for Icarus from <span style="font-style: italic;">Interweave Knits</span>. The yarn is Suri Blue from Fleece Artist and it turned out to be more pink and less red than what it looked like on the skein, but it is still beautiful and so soft. This was all quick and easy and since this will be a Christmas present I might make one for me as well. I used larger needles, 4mm, and the shawl measures over 2m across the top, which made it almost to big for the bed I use for blocking.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyzHv1sQ-ySp4lkpUIARN-z53yq1AGa8U_SfCcbSZ1JmeT1jLRdI2dLaGlOtjnUgrXE3EBUytVTKnFqeDvrF4WlPrNM3tqkWWXnwVn4-9kxMPDDDZs0-OZHW7ohrI5HWg-W_SL4L22q23/s1600-h/DSCN0824-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyzHv1sQ-ySp4lkpUIARN-z53yq1AGa8U_SfCcbSZ1JmeT1jLRdI2dLaGlOtjnUgrXE3EBUytVTKnFqeDvrF4WlPrNM3tqkWWXnwVn4-9kxMPDDDZs0-OZHW7ohrI5HWg-W_SL4L22q23/s320/DSCN0824-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264788560011206306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Last night I cast on for my third drink. This is Rosé by Färgkraft, a soft pink dyed on a light grey yarn. When I bought it I thought it would be an Icarus, but when it came home it wanted to be Hyrna Herborgar from<span style="font-style: italic;"> Thrihyrnur og langsjöl</span> instead. I've loved this pattern since I got it in 1991, but I had a bit of a problem with the table cloth look of the pattern and it was hard to find a yarn that could counteract that. I think this will be just right, and it will look great with my coat. The skulls in the background is my table cloth in the kitchen, left from my son's Halloween/birthday party last week. I hadn't planned the picture, but it is sort of right with the pink and the lace.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9HfG-Z3jd8tMDkSAdjTXGshfjPuvIM4GgpjY3bdr8J1zirb6IHXS2XYxsbmOLUJwD1fa-ZiZKo-_FpTSVfGOfKEf4IyRwbxe91L54HIE0sceQnIanxofNclX2MyqJUkQ8kOZmtAGYi7y/s1600-h/DSCN0825-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji9HfG-Z3jd8tMDkSAdjTXGshfjPuvIM4GgpjY3bdr8J1zirb6IHXS2XYxsbmOLUJwD1fa-ZiZKo-_FpTSVfGOfKEf4IyRwbxe91L54HIE0sceQnIanxofNclX2MyqJUkQ8kOZmtAGYi7y/s320/DSCN0825-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264788564177526018" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-76438981514525942432008-10-13T08:32:00.003+02:002008-10-13T09:08:54.315+02:00Japanese knittingWhat a weekend! I've been teaching Japanese knitting techniques for three days. It is the first time I've done this professionally, I've only hosted free evening seminars before and never about this subject. Now that I've worked through the material and tried it out I can't wait to get a chance to do it again. I only had four students, but they were all hard working and enthusiastic and they kept me busy. I hope they are as pleased with themselves as I am with their work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig54TQ2G9OIvfupDVa9Vo2qovWW3t8BbJUQicCpLZF1HGJS_7Aj4bMElXJP2fl4QHkht3akz69M_V7Ef9J9tBUuos7HhoXE1LHvn5nvOZd2dhE3wIjNpN9GUhCmG4sFVDD7qKEP2wN0bTD/s1600-h/DSCN0773-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig54TQ2G9OIvfupDVa9Vo2qovWW3t8BbJUQicCpLZF1HGJS_7Aj4bMElXJP2fl4QHkht3akz69M_V7Ef9J9tBUuos7HhoXE1LHvn5nvOZd2dhE3wIjNpN9GUhCmG4sFVDD7qKEP2wN0bTD/s320/DSCN0773-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256522836530081570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So what is Japanese knitting? The story behind this goes back to the eighties when Mieko Yano from Japan started giving classes in her new homeland, Sweden. She spread the innovative and modern way of knitting that has been developed in Japan, were there is little tradition and much creativity on the subject. She also taught new instructors who spread the techniques all over the country. Unfortunately she died after a few years, and the eighties knitting boom came to an end soon after. Now when knitting is growing in popularity a new generation is starting to show an interest in all aspects of knitting, and Japanese knitting books are becoming available again. A few months ago I heard that Medborgarskolan was looking for a new teacher. Since I learned the basics a few years ago and was eager to learn more, I vounteered to do it.<br /><br />I looked through the material I had, and went to see a former teacher who worked on this in the eighties. She had a lot of material, samples and advice and lent me some books. I picked out the sections that felt most useful and interesting to me and created my own plan and material. The first half of my course is about basic techniques, like casting on and binding off, finishing and reading charts. The second part is more about decorative patterns and new ways of knitting. In the next picture you can see some of my samples, such as double knitting, pleats, illusion patterns, mosaic patterns and short rows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ36mXoUCXB2T2sUh4HYKVNqBy5v9L3lu_GOQABf6yKwqmpc9uIhGFZ1eRYGiHHJRjG-Q5j9NHLt9pU_MnSTTu8JoWinGxKv0B41hE4byr0CZuep6dDAVM8KBiRqUJhJMcp5PvvOiQkM8-/s1600-h/DSCN0774-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ36mXoUCXB2T2sUh4HYKVNqBy5v9L3lu_GOQABf6yKwqmpc9uIhGFZ1eRYGiHHJRjG-Q5j9NHLt9pU_MnSTTu8JoWinGxKv0B41hE4byr0CZuep6dDAVM8KBiRqUJhJMcp5PvvOiQkM8-/s320/DSCN0774-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256522843204576594" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally I want to thank Mr P, who has been very supportive and provided me with the perfect soundtrack for the weekend. He gave me "The Knitter" by Cheri Knight, a collection of rock ballads with a great cover and a song all about knitting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUochjdiXmCCehnjZmDsgLjIOYKVA_a6nnC5te4ejP5X7Lw2v7PzG5W4XvNNWQaWkMUKfQQr1EdCrTgDRhBKfbn3t8iQbz8L-iJgJnXGIU6mahcS-93FKqwCiub7qgHLFKLorLcYifYWO/s1600-h/DSCN0775-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRUochjdiXmCCehnjZmDsgLjIOYKVA_a6nnC5te4ejP5X7Lw2v7PzG5W4XvNNWQaWkMUKfQQr1EdCrTgDRhBKfbn3t8iQbz8L-iJgJnXGIU6mahcS-93FKqwCiub7qgHLFKLorLcYifYWO/s320/DSCN0775-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256522845977917970" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-73422133643229015372008-09-26T08:49:00.004+02:002008-09-26T11:42:37.837+02:00Knits for the kids<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>This summer I thought about my reasons for knitting, and realized that I should think more about the result and less about the process and make things that someone would need, want and use. I'm still very much a process knitter, and I have to find the work interesting, but I have tried to be more practical. One top priority is to involve my children more. I made a pile of baby garments for them, but they were big and could hardly use them. Since then I have made very little for them, because it felt like a waste of time. Now they have shown some interest in what I'm doing and I've tried to listen to their ideas.<br /><br />Some time in July my daughter asked why I didn't knit for her. She has strong opinions, so I told her to make me a drawing of what she had in mind. She came back a few minutes later with a picture of a dress with long sleeves. I immediately thought about the pattern Sand Dollar from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Children's Collection </span>by Alice & Jade Starmore and showed it to her, and she approved. A few days later we went to the LYS to pick a yarn that was light and cool and not too expensive, and most importantly very red. We chose Blend/Tendens by Hjertegarn in cotton and acrylic. The deadline for this project is her birthday in December, so I havn't worked that much on it yet but it is small and quick to knit even if the pattern is extensive.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRWnyliVOtSCYlBWUTBD-XHmSXRo70JKMlJYJvef_uDXcop-ZYp7v0EZJghrDw4jdBPAm262JOZFy2SRviiEPsJncC4_xkABn_C8Gtxpo7frncpnWK7-nJWyiQeykZOpZMfWfymt9t00t/s1600-h/DSCN0769-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRWnyliVOtSCYlBWUTBD-XHmSXRo70JKMlJYJvef_uDXcop-ZYp7v0EZJghrDw4jdBPAm262JOZFy2SRviiEPsJncC4_xkABn_C8Gtxpo7frncpnWK7-nJWyiQeykZOpZMfWfymt9t00t/s320/DSCN0769-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250218911033120578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />A couple of weeks ago I came across a <a href="http://muro73.googlepages.com/patternsinenglish">Spiderman blanket</a> made by <a href="http://brinn.typepad.com/brinn/2008/09/intrasslad.html">Liisa</a>. I had seen the pattern before, but I hadn't realized just how big and beautiful it was. When my son saw the picture he was spellbound and asked me to make one for him, so now I'm knitting as fast as I can without letting him see it. I hope to have it finished for his fourth birthday in three weeks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrr2chle8DrD3nXSlX8NfEXNt8MsHoQY59OiMaQeGfPfm0730QRfp4RrNZMM2dNxTgwqFWdky8feCZILfzaPLkjOsARJm3ceL15Fj0DwcCTOGjreTnolAZc8HlMxzuFg4EQB0c11FERe0/s1600-h/DSCN0771-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidrr2chle8DrD3nXSlX8NfEXNt8MsHoQY59OiMaQeGfPfm0730QRfp4RrNZMM2dNxTgwqFWdky8feCZILfzaPLkjOsARJm3ceL15Fj0DwcCTOGjreTnolAZc8HlMxzuFg4EQB0c11FERe0/s320/DSCN0771-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250218911410481090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally the best news of all. My 6-y-o daughter knits! Maybe it is because she gets hot chocolate at the knitting café and not at home, but I don't care. I gave her some cotton to start with, but it split and was hard to work with. Then we went shopping for something funnier and more suitable, and got some printed, heavy sock yarn for a scarf. Her brother wanted a ball too, for when he learned to knit. I said that might be a while but then his sister offered to make a scarf for him too. I volunteered to make his scarf, otherwise it might take a few years, and he got his favourite colour as well. I knitted half of his scarf in the car last weekend, but my daughter made slow progress and needed some more encouragement. This week I got her some domino needles that made it easier to knit with small hands<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60kd4Tq144fKQGoJG2YhrZElEm6ktEMLUaXvSh5sZ5l9ZVP3pKfEMb3y5rGR206nmeQplskTKD_5huOjAmB2TvbIVf7S9yGPO0EKm2DWu5oIgBzWLiiygkCrwGO0YjlQ6QyZ_flEDGiIG/s1600-h/DSCN0772-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60kd4Tq144fKQGoJG2YhrZElEm6ktEMLUaXvSh5sZ5l9ZVP3pKfEMb3y5rGR206nmeQplskTKD_5huOjAmB2TvbIVf7S9yGPO0EKm2DWu5oIgBzWLiiygkCrwGO0YjlQ6QyZ_flEDGiIG/s320/DSCN0772-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250218909606223234" border="0" /></a>Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4813713753287617098.post-74131386151025558462008-09-15T17:47:00.004+02:002008-09-16T14:54:13.652+02:00Brown and blocksThere has been so much going on in my life this past month that I havn't had the time or energy to blog, but I have been knitting! And shopping! There is so much to write about that I will save some for later, but these are some of my favourite knitting events since last time.<br /><br />I'm back on track with <a href="http://www.stickamera.se/sockklubb_rummet.php">Sockklubben</a>, having finished the September socks. This is my favourite pattern and yarn so far, so I'm really happy about the result. When I tried them on for the first time they stayed on all evening and I even slept in them. The pattern is <a href="http://www.knotions.com/issues/fall_2008/patterns/oak_leaf/directions.aspx">Oak Leaf from Knotions</a>, the great new free pattern magazine. It is a bit tricky to get all the twists right, and I had to knit the first leg twice to get it right, but it isn't really difficult. The yarn is the wonderful Regia Silk, a lovely quality but not really my palette of colours except this one. I used 2.5 dpns and the size is the largest, but not very long.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvON4iUMuNIbOHqeoiYsG5Vr2LiHDoYMyIbP9pE4AoetKOFM-SBnPUAy3aMYjXfDAWmsjFwJZWlSfcEVSniBnTDufxdBFIk1qNTAVwUCdrSc_luBezjgaInv6aGDR20_fLA_l3yKbbQ3Y/s1600-h/DSCN0763-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvON4iUMuNIbOHqeoiYsG5Vr2LiHDoYMyIbP9pE4AoetKOFM-SBnPUAy3aMYjXfDAWmsjFwJZWlSfcEVSniBnTDufxdBFIk1qNTAVwUCdrSc_luBezjgaInv6aGDR20_fLA_l3yKbbQ3Y/s320/DSCN0763-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246278007662601298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I bought this yarn, as well as the beautiful Färgkraft skeins in the next picture, at the "new" shop in town. <a href="http://www.cina.blog-city.com/">Cina</a> has taken over an old shop here in Sundsvall and redecorated and renewed it in many ways (great pics <a href="http://mariasstickochlas.blogspot.com/2008/08/cinas-garn.html">here</a>). Great job Cina and good luck! The Färgkraft line is the most noticable addition to the stock so far, and I think every knitter I know in town has bought some. I recently made a shawl in this quality, but this time I have something else in mind... The colours have poetic names, and mine are Bärnsten (Amber) and Choklad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE2KrlBLNFz1YH5c7-L6Tj2QgiwOgrki6nAjDXfPOReX2JOK_I6v9_SJytalQUyK4-I342dd4cmVDFP1ZUtoiFklW8lwg0PfYpC03M2Hx0nAG_f21deMRlkW1hsJKWVvk78q1AyWAalkv/s1600-h/DSCN0761-2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicE2KrlBLNFz1YH5c7-L6Tj2QgiwOgrki6nAjDXfPOReX2JOK_I6v9_SJytalQUyK4-I342dd4cmVDFP1ZUtoiFklW8lwg0PfYpC03M2Hx0nAG_f21deMRlkW1hsJKWVvk78q1AyWAalkv/s320/DSCN0761-2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246278012814370242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Finally a few words about a great new book. Despite new issues of Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits, knitty.com and knotions.com I had to buy some new books. I got <span style="font-style: italic;">Folk Hats</span>, which was mostly wierd, <span style="font-style: italic;">No Sheep For You</span>, both educational and great patterns, but the book you can glimpse in the picture above is my number one inspiration so far this autumn. Danish Vivian Höxbro has taken here special Domino technique a few steps further in<span style="font-style: italic;"> Knit to be Square</span>. I bought it because I knew her spectacular <a href="http://www.viv.dk/CollectionUs/Abstract.htm">Abstract Stole</a> would be in it, but a few other ideas look very tempting as well. I have just cast on for a vest from her previous book <span style="font-style: italic;">Shadow Knitting</span>, but that is another story.Mrs Peterssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13180529177803059842noreply@blogger.com1