Happy Easter

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...

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.





























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.

The socks are a beautiful design from the book Sock innovation 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.

All about my girl

In 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.

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 Lopi 28 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.















Next up are a couple of socks that she picked the yarn for. The pattern is a modified version of Serpentine socks from Socks from the Toe Up 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.















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 The Organic Cotton Collection 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.

Three little projects

Three 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 Vortical. 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.















Still in progress are two winter goodies for me. To the left you can see Knotty 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. Garntrollet 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.

This and that

After the sweater race earlier this summer I've made a few small things that only took a couple of days. First up are the Pomatomus socks, July in Sockklubben. This is probably the first yarn I actually bought for the club, one that is interesting without hiding the lace etc. that these socks always have (Opal Fantasie 1914). I didn't like the patten at first, and spent a week trying to knit them without the yarnovers, but finally got tired of ripping and reknitting and made them according to the instructions. I even got hold of 2.75 mm dpns a while ago so I could use the right size needles. They are a bit big, and I should probably have used 2.5 mm for a better fit, but who says I have to keep them. They are modelled by Mr P who had taken this modelling position on the sofa, all I had to do was put on the socks. He has inherited my cold that kept me away from this weeks knitting café, now I've missed three weeks in a row...















Last weekend I was at a birthday party for a friend in my folk music group. Since I wasn't sure if we were getting her anything from the group, I made her a couple of wrist warmers just in case. They are good to have if you play the fiddle outdoors, like we often do. The yarn is Sandnes Lanett in charcoal grey, leftovers from when I made piles of baby clothes from their lovely patterns. The pattern is Berta from the booklet Muddar from Sticka!, and had I followed the written instructions the would have looked very diffrent form the picture, I had to make several changes to get the lace edge right. I think the first one took five times as long to make as the second. ( Really nice party by the way, thanks K.!)















Finally my knitting for the Olympics. I didn't register for any KAL, because I wasn't sure how much time I would have, but I cast on just in time for the opening cermony and it looks like it will be finished on schedule. It is a shawl by Jane Sowerby, but not from her book on Victorian lace, but a variation on the Spider's web pattern for Knitter's magazine. There will be another variation free on their website, but last time I checked it wasn't published yet. In the picture you can see the half hexagon center, but the edge is what makes it special and I will be getting back to that now. Finished this part to the men's tennis double final, where Sweden got the silver.

Red seduction

Finally my summer vacation has started. Has been working hard this week to get everything finished at work with a cold on its way. When I got home on Friday I slept for twelve hours, but woke up to find this behind a curtain, where it should have rested quietly until Christmas.















I'm not sure what I'm doing right, but I've had this amaryllis for four years and it usually gives me two stalks with 6-10 flowers each every winter. This year I've treated it worse than usual by forgetting to give it new soil, and this is the result.

However this is not why I named this post red seduction. In between extra naps yesterday I completed the Sockklubben sock for May, which was Seduction Socks by Ann Budd in red Opal Bambu. They are a bit small, but improved with blocking. The pattern is nice, but not that special. The best part is the yarn, which is really great; soft, durable and beautiful. I will be looking for more!















Finishing the socks I should have turned to Unwrapped, which is in its finishing stages, but my brain capacity wasn't good enough. Instead I made a few more rows on Cheshire Cat Stole, which was a better choice for this yarn than the Laminaria I tried earlier but decided to frog.















Now I'm just waiting for my brain to start working better again. Slept another nine hours tonight, but my sinus infection isn't gone yet and tomorrow MrP has to go to work so I'll be home alone with the kids. I hope it gets better by then, and that I can finally get my new top done.

Slippery and colourful

The April pattern in Sockklubben, Slippery Socks from Knitty, has been completed. The yarn is Opal Hundertwasser in colour 1434 Wartende Häuser. It is a fun pattern to knit and very easy to follow through all the braids and details. Since this was the most "manly" pattern so far I made them for my husband, who fortunately uses the same sock size as me, and all the patterns so far, a women's medium. I'm still waiting for patterns in other sizes for children and other family members, because my sock drawer is filling up quickly.















Next up are Seduction Socks from Interweave. I've started knitting them in Opal Bambu, but I'm not sure it will show off the braids very well since it is doesn't have the right volume. I'll make a few more rows before I decide if I carry on or start over.

Spring clearing part two

I've behaved this week and only started one new sock, but finished a few things. It feels good, but my thoughts keep wandering off to new things all the time. I will try to resist them a bit longer, because the state of my room is really improving.

First thing off the needles this week is a top by designer Solveig Hisdal from the book Poetry in Stitches (Sv. Dikt i maskor). I've used the original yarn, for once, which is Hifa Luxor in 100% cotton. It required just over 300g. The rest of my 400g will probably be combined with some leftovers from Regnbågen and become a matching top for a 2yo. This is for you H. , hope you like it and that I got the size right this time!















Next is a really sad UFO that finally became a cardigan. I started this over two years ago, but it wasn't my cup of tea. The yarn is Tilda by Svarta Fåret in 50/50 cotton and acrylic, and it is nice and soft for kids. The size is 4-6 years, not too demanding. The pattern is also OK. It is based on the old fishermen´s sweaters from Gotland and I love traditional patterns most of the time. The most common version of this pattern is in natural white with red and blue stripes and knitted in 2/2 rib. It became famous in the sixties when Pippi Longstocking wore it in the films that were shot in Gotland, hence the name "Pippitröja". I think this colourway is more practical though. The problem I had with this design was this: it is knit in five parts using ten balls of blue with added borders and numerous stripes=an infinite number it ends to fasten. I hated that part and put it off for over a year after the knitting was done. Fortunately my daughter is really small and her comment when she tried it on was:"I like it, but the sleeves are a bit too long". She was four when I cast on and now she is six.















By the way I'm quite happy with the buttons. The top looks classy with mother-of-pearl and the cardigan has little folded newspaper boats on each button.

Next, my only new project this week (so far, there are a few hours left...). I've cast on for the April socks in Sockklubben, Slippery Socks from Knitty. The pictures showed a very bright yarn, so I decided to use Opal Hundertwasser. I like the look, a bit like Argyle diamonds.















Finally, a look at clue 2 of Mystic Light. There were no new elements this week, so it was rather quick even if you have to look at the chart all the time.

Creamy wool and silk

The socks for Februari are done! Like last month's socks for the KAL Sockklubben these where made two at the same time on Magic Loop. I'm hooked! They where quite similar in design, a nice basic model with a lace pattern, but the look is more robust this time. The heel also has an added reinforcement with lifted and twisted stitches (like my grandmother did on a pair of socks for me in the same colour once...). I followed the pattern, but added eight
stitches to make them in large. The yarn is Opal uni in cream/beige.















And here is the finished result, modelled by my mother. Now I hope the next pattern will be something new, maybe with more room for colours or for kids/men...















While on the subject of presents for my mother, here is another story. While I was learning to knit in my teens many of my sweaters were too large for me and ended up on her. I thought I had moved past this, but this Christmas I did it again. This sweater is the finished Irish Moss by Nancy Bush that I wrote about during the fall. The knitting went fast and easy and I thought I had gotten the size right for my sister-in-law, who is a medium. Then I tried to block it according to the rulebook, but that was a huge mistake. The yarn, Silke Tweed from Garnstudio, wasn't supposed to be soaked and it greeeeew. After sewing the last seems I tried it on and it was about two sizes too big for me. Another unexpected gift for my mother. The sister-in-law is getting well compensated with a top from the book Poetry in Stitches. So far I have made one front side, but I will start over again after writing this because I knitted it too tight...

Major events week

This has been a very exciting week in my life as a knitter. It started last Tuesday when a local TV-show invited my knitting club as guests for a 25 minute program. I'm only sitting in the background, but it was still fun to see how it was all done. Those who were interviewed did a great job, as well as our speed knitter who had to knit the opponent's design. Check it out here.

The next day I got an e-mail from a big publishing company. They asked if I wanted to review a book for them if they sent me a free copy. How could I refuse? The review will appear around the date when the book is due to be released. It's a book I could have bought anyway and my expectations are high, but more about that next month. I´m a commercial blogger!

Yes, I have knitted a little too. I needed something I couldn't mess up and that would look good on TV, so I started on a little blanket. I still had to rip the TV part, but now it is growing fast. As I wrote last week I tried entrelac and a few other ideas, but it didn't look good. Finally I resorted to a pattern that I had already tried and that I had seen in this yarn. It is actually a scarf, but I'm making five sections 20X100 cm and knitting them all in one piece. If my math is right I won't have to break the yarn at all and I will need about 1.5 km of thread.
















Tonight I also cast on for the new pattern at Sockklubben, but so far it is just the same rib as last month so I can't say much about it yet. This time I am going to make it large enough for my mother so I added 8 stitches. Hope it will work.

January socks done

Here they are, my first pair of socks on Magic Loop. The pattern is Monkey from Knitty and they turned out almost as I expected. I thought they were going to be bigger and longer, so I could give them to my mother but they fit me just fine. I don't really need them, so we'll see were they end up. The pattern is relaxing to knit and the Magic Loop might get a few more chances...














Vi tar det på svenska också till alla Sockklubbor: Här är mina Monkey stickade samtidigt på en lång rundsticka. Det gick lätt och tekniken gav mersmak. Garnet är Opal petticoat och lite väl randigt, men det blev rätt bra ändå, och ett nystan mindre i lagret. De blev dock mindre är jag hade trott, så jag får hitta en ny mottagare...

News from the holidays

Every time I go to see my in-laws I decide not to bring a knitting, then I have to go and buy something to keep my hands busy. This time I got some Garnstudio Fabel in dark red and some 2.5 dpns. Then I made a drawing of my hand and cast on for a pair of gloves, and now all the ends have been sewn in.














They are very easy to make because they are made in double knitting. I made them with the right side out, but according to Annemor Sundbö's book where I found the idea they are even easier to make inside out. For instructions on double knitting see my Patterns and techniques section.
This is how they were made:
1. Three rounds of garter knit on two dpns.
2. Join in the round and knit a wavy pattern, decreases only on last pattern row.
3. Lay the piece double and start double knitting on two dpns across the palm.
4. Knit in a separate thread over 1/3 of stitches for thumb, then go back and knit the stitches with the regular yarn and continue to the fingers.
5. Use 1/4 of stitches for the little finger. Double knit to the right length and then knit two stitches together at each turn until 4 stitches remain. Pull yarn through.
6. For the other fingers use 1/4 of the stitches for each finger but also pick up a couple of stitches on the side of the last finger knitted.
7. Pull out the thread at the thumb, pick up the stitches and one extra at each side. Knit as fingers.

There have also been a few additions to my stash lately. These are two favourites:














Garnstudio Silke Alpaca, 5 white and 7 red balls. Mr P gave me these and he chose them carefully and all by himself. I think it would be cheating to get more, so I'm planning a vest or a cardigan with short sleeves. There are a few good ideas in the summer collection at Garnstudio, but all the patterns aren't out yet so I'll wait a bit to make a decision.

Then I heard that Garnkorgen had recieved a big box of odd coluors from Cherry Tree Hill and went for a look. There were two skeins of each colour and these got to go home with me. They are two versions of "water" and they will either be used for baby gifts for a couple of new cousins we are expecting this spring, or they will become socks in Sockklubben.














Sockklubben at Stickamera started this January and will present a new pattern every month. The first one is Monkey from Knitty. I saw that Eva i Halmstad hade made hers on Magic Loop, and decided to practise that a bit more. The pattern is easy and after about an inch I stopped being nervous. Now they are almost done! The yarn is Opal Petticoat and a bit to striped for the pattern, but I have to use what I aldready have sometimes.

Socialist socks

As you might have seen I did a lot of knitting this Christmas. I really wanted to make these socks for my father as well, but there wasn't enough time so I gave him the ball of yarn and a promise to knit socks for him. This also gave me the opportunity to measure his size before starting.














Today they were finished just in time for his visit here. The model is very basic, but it has to be with a yarn like this. I knew I had to buy this Opal colour when I saw the name of it. It is based on a painting by the German painter Hundertwasser called Die Strasse zum Sozialismus (The Road to Socialism). Fun to knit for an old right-wing politician :-)
P.S. Note the lovely sheep he is resting his feet on. It was a present for my son at his christening.

Double knitting and wierd socks

The instructions for double knitting are know available in English. If you know of any other methods, patterns or finished projects in this technique, please let me know! I'm sure there is a lot more to learn and see out there.

If you liked the assymetrical feeling of my version of Magknit's Rainbow socks, check out these. Sorted my sock yarns last week, and I think there are enough leftovers for quite a few versions.

Finished Rainbow Socks

We got some snow last night, and it hasn't quite melted away even though the sun is shining today. Here is a sunny picture of the completed socks. Number one is at the bottom and number two is at the top, shown from the front. The turning points aren't quite even, but they look better when the socks get on the feet and stretch out a little.

I have been home a lot this week, because of a cold, but when I missed the weekly knitting café I had to dive into my knitting baskets. I fond a lot of UFO:s, some I had almost forgotten. One motivation to start blogging was to be able to record my finished projects, so I am not allowing myself to write about old UFO:s until they are finished. Better get back to knitting...

It's all in a days work

Today I have been a bit ill. Enough to avoid cleaning the house, but not enough to stop me from knitting.
















Since several members of my knitting club have bought the same colour of Kaffe Fasset's Regia I was so happy when I found this special and perfect pattern for it.The entire sock is knitted in short rows, except the cuff and toe. I think it really gives it more of a "landscape" feel than straight stripes. The pattern is called Rainbow Socks and can be found at Magknits , October 2007.

Tomorrow I hope I will be feeling better so I can go to Garnkorgen and spend the afternoon knitting the second sock and practise resisting the temptation to buy too much yarn. Maybe I need more needles...

Family portrait

Last winter I went a bit sock crazy, and now there is a new addition. Let me show you a few examples.








On the left is Mr P. in toe-up-socks by Barbro. The yarn is the leftovers from his Aran sweater, that you will see soon. On these socks the toe and heel are made in the same way, with short rows, so by measuring the toe section it is easy to know when it is time to start the heel.

Next you see the latest project. These are Ann Budd's toe-up-socks from Interweave summer 2007. The toe is clever, but a bit bulky in the smallest size. Maybe I will try making a larger version. The short row heel is really neat, and I will probably use Budd's technique next time I use Barbro's pattern. The yarns in these and the ones to the right are all from Opal. The purple is from a test collection, the pale green is from the Rainforest line and the brown is Opal smoke.

The Rainforest caterpillar socks are made from the same pattern as Mr P's, but only have rib at the top. With this pair I learned to twist the knit stitches and bind off by sewing. Both methods worked really well, especially the bind off because it isn't tight at all.

Finally you see my own feet. They are dressed in Broken Cable Rib socks, also by Ann Budd for Interweave. They look really good, but the cables make the leg a bit tight and I'm afraid I will tear something when I put them on.