November - rain and flu

I have absolutely nothing important to say today.
I have hoped I would show off St Brigid, but Im still knitting... collar, and extra braid on the sleeve - and it is so heavy and a bit BIG... thinking the really horrible words "light felting".... Otherwise I have had a week in London - and all I got was a flu (and some wonderful conversations with fellow researchers). I got a TWIG (my wonderful cherry-tree) in my eye, that after an agonising day with me being in much pain and half blind, I small piece dropped out. So now Im just stuggling with all the pain of a flu. I dear not test me for swine-flue, but Im happy that I got the shot just a week before, sooo....Otherwise Im moving back into the bedroom that is now fixed. And Hubby! have realized that a room full of yarn will result in a room full of sweaters. THAT will be a problem....

More Pink Baby Ida...

It is small hearts as buttons. The last of my Pink yarn - as well as October is going to an end. This is the last of this batch of Baby stuff for my cousins little girl. Now - quick to the post office and sending it and all the other stuff (see 2 posts below). It has been silent here. But I seen you apprechiate my FO (the cardi)...thanks. I'm so much
looking forward to the current knit A true masterpiece cable - Alice Starmore's wonderful St Brigid. Two sleeves finished, and the back, so now Im knitting on the front panel. It will be a cardi, I think with zipper, but I might swap to clasps.... Anyhow, so this was the wonderful artistic picture my dear brother sent me. It is me knitting the camisole (the blue/lime one). So cool. As my brother says, drawing people I know is the hardest - since he projects himself so much into it. I love it. I think he captured just that serene bliss I get when I knit something I really love. I get so focused - I loose my self and I find myself. Thas is what great knitting does. I think it might be more than a weeks knit, but I'm loving it. Unfortunately, my research hunts me a bit over the weekend, so Im still very busy.

OT: Guggenheim Bilbao - and RAIN!

Bilbao in Spain is something special. The museum is an architectual piece. But the exhibition... well, Im brought up with "house models" from dad and mom (architects/ ditto), so F.Lloyd-Wright was cool, but not enough! The small (very small) collection of real art (painings and sculptures - was almost less pieces than I have in my home collection). As you know - my dear brother is an artist - wonderful paintings and sculptures, so. If Guggenheim was filled with my brothers art - the place would glow. So throw up some millions, and Im sure he can make those empty dead walls to vibrate and also the fab - but so empty - spaces, to vibrate. Why are people so "dead"? I really think a dark room with a poorly recorded video and some noice is just a waste of my time. And - I payed for it? It is really cheating people instead of inspire them. No yarn hunt report as planned. It was so rainy, and I admit. I was so not in the mood to hunt for yarn when the time was scarce... Anyhow, My fab brother gave me a wonderful piece for my birthday. Me knitting. I have to frame it! Thank you!

Pink- October! Cancer awareness! FO- Baby kit for Ida!

Amazing how fast baby knits are. Celebrating my dear cousins baby - Ida Hermanna (oh yeah, a real knitting name - but she is from Gotland, so....) All design by me. Ida's mom wants pink, she begged for pink. And I also thought that pink is perfect - it is October - (breast)Cancer awareness month. So of course the little baby girl Ida should have it. Now - this little Malabrigo dress is very wide (for the dipers) and has adjustable straps (to grow in), and because I have no idea how small an infant is. But I thought this out. You turn it around, and you button it - and you adjust the little band around the waist, and you have some baby panties. I do not know if dresses just end up in the face ;-) So this second picture is the same thing, but buttoned differently. Of course you also need the cardi/jacket to wrap around. The one button have a strap that is long, so you can use it until the sleeves are too tight. To this Malabrigo (two colours of pink) ensemble, you also have socks. I almost "laughed" doing them. They were so tiny - but super elastic. Very easy home-made pattern, 2k, 2p and than every fourth row, you move the entire patter one stitch forward (and for other sock, backward), but still keeping 2k and 2p. And did not take long to do. So cute... Of course a baby needs both the helmet - a super fun and easy pattern (I think I blogged about it long time ago). I love it, and the two strings made a great swirl.... It poses on some ceramics and a flashlight, but boy is it tiny. Again, knitting back and forth - it is super elastic. Finally the last hat, is something warmer. It has a brim, but soft and cosy. I actually through it looks girly cool. Also some ease, but probably not as elastic... but hats are fast. Now I used up 2 Malabrigo hanks, and are jumping for the left-over from the helmet - Rowan Cotton-Milk (!) Im hoping it is enough for a tiny top to have under the dress. Well, my plan is to get this in the mail soon, but wipping that togheter was really fun. Took me the weekend, but wnen the mojo is there, and it is completed that fast, nothing stops you. Well, my cousin said - I am the only one she knows who knit, so I hope I will fill them with love. And the baby needs to be warm and protected. Malabrigo is super.

FO-Poetry of Stitches Camisole made to Cardigan

The smile is as large as I'm happy. Finally, this project is finished. First it was a camisole, a top with no sleeves, from Poetry of Stitches (Dikt i maskor) by Solveig Hisdahl (the genius designer behind Oleana). The yarn was a wonderful 50% Silk and 50% merino blend from Solveig Gustafssons "Solsilke" colour-shop (the women behind the renesannce of Bohus). Buttons very tin from Oslo Husfliden. A really fun knit, where I used only 2 balls for doing the body. Then I realized I had plenty more, so I knitted wide shoulderstraps. And then turned page, and looked at the sleeves from the very similar cardigan. Now, if you study the patterns, they are very differently constructed. Also, I put a lot of ease and extra rows to fit my hmm "too-many-hotel-breakfast's-belly". But the top got really wide. This means I had to add an entire section and making a collar (that is what took such a long time. But Im enthusiastic with the result. So, stealing the sleeves from the cardigan without compensating (these were NOT inset - as the cardigan pattern), was not a perfect move, but it turned out ok anyhow. A slight hang on the shoulders, and you can hardly see the extra inset from the straps. It is warm, it has a weird silvery, greyish, yellow with some greenish (very mild) colour in it. And soft. Just a "tiny" bit too short, and maybe I could have skipped those two extra insets in the back (and made them smaller in the front)... Im not J-Lo, even if I swing pretty good. Anyhow the "sideways" pattern is a delight. And using this yarn was also a hit. I still have half a ball left, I COULD frog the crochet edge, and add on a few rows, but Im more thinking of something matching... the phone-holder, Ipod-case.. hmm. A headband? well. we will see. Sweden is now rainy at day, frosts at night, and all turned chilly and wet in an instant. This sweater also completes my 12th sweater in the Ravelry Sweater KAL. Take care out there!

Bohus kit yeah ! - And some progress...

A wonderful packet of Bohus "Scilla" a long time on my list of wanted Bohus... Yummy. I think I deserved it as a birthday present to myself ;-) to listen to the great IPod from Hubby.. Ok, I also bought some more Bohus goodies, but that is between Santa and me... Otherwise I'm in a big fight how to finish the collar of my camisole, that is transformed into a cardigan ;-) WITH a collar. Assembly of the sleeves and some crochet. Should not be more that 10 hours of work...Next weekend. This was all window painting, and finding lamps and switches for the house in renovation. But - I have already gotten the freezing weather at the doorstep - so this wonderful sweater is on the needles. St Bridgit from A. Starmores "Aran Knitting", with Vålbergs yarn. Beautiful colourvariations. Just like the leafs on the trees.. Yes, this is sleeve one.... second sleeve and the front, and much "tricks" in assembly, zipper?? and yeah.. but a progress in love....It is all knitters cable dream, surprisingly great for both thin and thick (like this) yarn. Im in love. But I guess my 14 hour workday does not give room for my usual 4 hour knitting. And yes, I really want to finish my camisole gone cardigan.. It is my 12th sweater this year. Anyhow, Im always solousy forgetting to thank you fall out there for your kind comments to this blog. So really, thank you Dear Mary and Dear Carrie for your nice comments on the cotton camisole. Remeber... I get older, but I am not too old for comments ;-)

Camisole finished! Iraklio - Heraklion yarnshop!

It is amazingly sunny and warm for september. So posing in this wonderful camisole, pattern from Poetry of Stitches (book) by Solveig Hisdahl. The main yarn (2 huge balls = 760m) is Ciak from Madriafil (very much a sale-yarn from Rome 2004). I just made it around. So, some sale "Garnstudio "Safran" in lime became the sholderstraps and edge. I had a ball finding buttons, that are little "fish". Suits well! The wonderful fingering cotton yarn was so nice to knit, as well as the model. I modified the shortrow waist-shaping and added to my size, since the pattern is only Small and Medium. Maybe it is on the long side, but it flatters the apple-belly. Im glad it is done, and I have counted, the edge takes about 5 hours to crochet. Below is the yarnshop in Heraklion (Iraklio) in Crete. And since I'm a member of Knitmap, I have of course added it. I must advertise Knitmap. It has a lot of stores all over the world. You get address and much more, wherever you are. Stockholm is now competing with Portland with most yarnshops. Fun! On that same note I shed a tear for every closed yarnshop near by. Sad that the wonderful Warp & Weft in Hägersten is closing its store and going on-line. Not the same thing. Well, If I have the "inofficial record" of visited yarnshops around the world, my husband is a good second. Well, today we have cleaned up in the garden. 4 buckets of apples, 2 buckets of pears. And a wheelbarrow filled with bad apples. Well, the 6 apple trees and 3 pear trees are still full of fruit, so I suspect that more work is waiting. Time to make some good yummy apple-cakes. Ehh, if anyone out there read Greek, tell me what the sign really says!

Crete - Such a wonderful vacation!

Im knitting on the beach of Rhetmyno in Crete! The Camisole took some days, but was worth it! Unfortunately the yarn was not enough, and I have to dive into the stash and find some complementary colour for the shoulderbands and edge..but I can add another 760m to my count...
Ahh, a great vacation - and also a big family event, my dear mom's 75th birthday, my aunt Viola, and my brother and of course my dearest and me. What an event! Swimming at Elafonissi, and walking through Heraklion and Knossos. Oh yes, we did swim. It was just fab. And the dear ladies also hit the wonderful salt sea. What a relief from the chaotic dusty home and all stressed work. The sounds of the waves are sure the best healing there is. Oh, yes, we visited a yarnshop (picture in "other camera") and mom got inspired to buy yarn to knit a similar one. So, when the plane was delayed (3 hours late- we were home 6.30 in the morning!!!!) the ladies gave me this fab picture! Are they not sweet? Anyhow, the wonderful yarn (that I got the honour to finish) was a bit too long, so Im going to frog it and reknit it. Now - third time, the camisole is almost automatic., but coming home to "ohh it is fab weather - almost 19 degrees celius" feels freezing. Time for the warmer knits, and cotton in the bin (ok, I'll finish the camisole...).

FO Aachen Bliss & Sailing knit-progress

FO - The wonderful Debbie Bliss Alpacka-Silk yarn, bought at a yarn-sale at Nysta, has now been completed (finally!)
It became a true Garngamen knit, with improvised lace and cabels. A tiny bit tight, but Im happy with the collar, and the sleeve finishing. Warm, and soft. ahhh wonderful August, in early spring. This dear Aachen Bliss (named after being started on a trip to Aachen), was finished a few days ago, and I'm now knitting away on my eleventh sweater for this year. I sure look concentrated, but that is just the consequence after a tough sailing race. It was a wonderful weekend, where the garngamen sailboat (and of course me as a "the capten" our dear "Alice"- team won the sailing race ;-) This earns us great bragging rights amongst the fellow co-workers! So on the way home, stopping at Nu'hs Thai (a great one at Hornstull), I dropped in at Stickat & Virkat, who had new yarn (Frö) handpainted from Finland (wool), and also the wonderful thick cotton from Blue Sky... But, no, I did not want any yarn, but we discussed that the dark boat needed self glowing needles, and I thought that was a great idea! But she had self-gloving crochet-hooks (I do not like the straight needles), so I got a set of them instead great for the long flights.

8574 meter - and it is only August!

I have knitted 8574 meters (approximate 9378 yards) this year to this date, and this is still counting the Plötulopi (förgarn) held in three, as ONE thread. This means I knit more than the kilometer a month. I must say, the "Sweater a Month" KAL has me in its grip, and the Lopi (or rather Plöulopi) is one of the reasons for this. I have knitted three sweaters in this lovely yarn THIS year. I'm proud, that did feel like a lot. And there is some fun statistics to do around that. For instance most of my sweaters are more than 1000 m /1 km each. So I got the formula! Some more weeks of summer knits, and soon it will be time for these lovelys again. Thanks to my friend Halla, my last "Im just going to complement my current ongoing knits..." during this spring, instead ended up with two large "Ica-bag's" of these lovelys. (yeah, it filled my large Ikea plastic container and some... Im already planning two wonderful hotties. I would love to go to Island and visit the real deal. How much have you knitted this year? Give me a number!

Progress and Ughs!

It is like art, is it not? The Paper yarn knitted with three different cotton yarns, two from Huskroken, and Filatura di Crosa Millefine (brown). A true free form top is being created. It is just so fun, but the yarn ends up a mess - so half the knitting time is to untangle it. Next will go into a very small bag, held tight. I hope that will work better.

So, 1/3 done. The second progress is this weird looking piece. Im so soon showing it off an FO - the Aachen Bliss sweater... and this is the collar, that will close the gap in the front, and be a great tight sweater, with a bitof lace and cables. So, expet collar, Im elongating it, since I realized the yarn is not enough for a hoodie as previously planned. But, im still thinking I should add a pocket. for the inhalator. Finally, I must show you this find from the warderobe. I do not thing it was THAT long ago I wipped it togheter, but it is really an Ugly thing. In very Estonian colours.. but, Im thinking a lot if I should DO someting to make it more useable. Or just transform it into a dishcloth... nah..But I sure had a laugh when I saw it. I guess the colours sounded better in my head. But a west or top it is. Just needs some short sleeves and something to make it wearable- maybe a bit change on the fashion? LOL! well now the bedroom and the dressing room is cleaned out including our three major wardrobes. Soon the renovation begins - the house is 100 years old this year.

Temporary setback..

I could celebrate, the Solveig Hisdahl Camisole from Poetry of Stitches, was a fun knit (you saw a glimpse from some places it ws done....but honestly, it is wrong, wrong, so wrong (Quote Perry Cox, Scrubs). I was so smart in this side by side project, and added a few rows here and there, because unfortunately, as many fashion geniouses, she believes the largest size is Medium in this pattern. So, all cup cake bakers like me sob. But, hey how hard can it be? Then - when almost around, I realized this wonderful hand-dyed yarn from solsilke (wool and thussa-silk) was still plenty around. I had to make sleeves. Not a problem. The genious Hisdahl just have you turn the page, for "almost the same pattern" with sleeves. Well, you realize that you have not knitted the NECK as you should, and you do not want to frog. So, Im make the shoulderbands just a little wider (to compensate for that extra ease. And of course, I realize that the camisole is surprisingly short... Well, gauge.. Sigh....so I make the shouldbands just a little longer. It is still short, and unpropotional. Ok, now comes the worst bit. It is TOO WIDE! no, not in the waist, That is where it is perfect, but being short and the mid front and back is "hanging" when I wear it. So, I think -pull a thread through, so it does not ease, as garter do. Of course ,I have already crochet the little edge all around, which took an entire evening, so of course, ripping it out to make a closer neck will now really hurt. I know it will need to be done, when the I just let go, since now it will really be too chilly. Now, I have started to work on the sleeves. I hope they fit. I have a creepy feeling they will be too small.... Hmm, lots of compensation work here. But lovely soft it is. So, what thas a yarnie/knitter like me do? Grasp a quick and rewarding project awaiting for this failure to sinks in (no, just a summers worth of knitting...hey, who am I to complain?) So, I think my Ice-cream top needed a Panty to go along with the rest of the yarn (yeah, a LOT of small ends) Basically a few evenings knit. Follow pattern, largest size, slavishly, and when I try it on, it does not even cover my lovely behind. Oh dear, what a disappointment. More re-work. I can rip/frog out the waist-band (that fits) and continue on the back, sigh.. Im sure this happens to all knitters - who do not swatch...! but Im sure many do not tell about them on their blog ;-) Well, I can only tell you, who actually READs all this a great advise. Run to the store and pick up the latest number of the swedish magazine "Hemslöjden". It is filled with knitting treasures from the swedish heritage, and a lot of my guru Britt-Marie Christoffersson! So what do I do? Lusts again, and of course pick up yet another needle (I do have many) and pick up some sale cotton from stash, to make the new and correctly fantastic camisole in a better version. Now, when I know how the pattern is REALLY going to be. I plan it for my Greek week vacation with the larger family. Yarn colour is is how I see the mediterian sea in my mind. Even if it is all Italian yarn cottone... well, let it rest and back to sleeves.

FO- Swimmingpool Lace Yoke top ala Malay

Same top, with and without sleeves. The original pattern to the right from Knit 1. Angela Hahn pattern. But I did both add a lace border on the bottom, and then added sleeves with an added leaf lace border. I love this pattern. Fun and fast knit. And yes, it has the same colour as the swimmingpool and sea. I just "had" to change the name! Thank you Milly for noticing. Colour matching is fun, and this teal is very summer colour for me. It was a great cotton yarn, Euroflax, a sale find from another trip to Rome 2004.... This is all knitted on my recent trip to Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur and the wonderful Langkawi (also picture right), where we are at the pool-bar, taking a cold beer and some great satay sticks (no, was it not the "health" sandwich with a Mango fruit juice something?" hmmm.... This country knows its food! It was just fab, which means I really had to suck my belly in in the FO pic. Still a bit jet-lagged, I cannot decide if Im just going to knit the I-cord around the neck with or without beads, or at all. I still have a ball of yarn (200g) so Im contemplating to knit one of the following: A bra (to wear underneath) and a small underpants to match... OR which I really would like to, but have this gut feeling it is not enough yarn: some "hotpants". Maybe with a lace leg ending just above the knees ;-) But again, If I just had one more ball! Anyhow, it is very comfortable, just some more situps ;-)

Pulau Dayang Bunting, Lace Yoke Top, Langkawi and K.L.

You would think this was the pool, even if the resemblance of the colour is great. No - here we swimmed with the sharks and like an aquarium.. so many beautiful colourful fish. Giant and small Scalare, Sharks, Barramundi (almost 2 meters), and wonderful clownfish, black spikey sea Urchins.. I can only say WOW! A life-time experience in a day. And yes, where but in Malaysia! A wonderful land - food and great service. Im a fan! We are of course doing the Coral snorkelling swim outside Langkawi Island, where we have had a great week! I mean, the beach is from the sun chair! where I knit! What do I knit? Well OF course! The Lace Yoke Top from the Knit1 is the perfect cotton knit. I found an old cotton yarn in stash from Rome, Italy called "EuroFlax" 560 meters in one ball... knit on babe, and yes, I think ONE ball ;-) is the entire top in the picture... OK, picture taken on the boat, so not the best Quality! Ohhh ,I have so much to tell you! What a fantastic vacation! There is no words for this! I mean First we went to Kuala Lumpur (for those who do not know what KL stands for.. but you expect people to know LA and NY doya? Just kiddin! I guess some rest, a good massage (the only thing Swedish so far) and a record number of swims in the luxurious pool, and the Hot-tub warm sea. I mean, it is so hot in the sea that it DOES NOT COOL YOU OFF! The pool is just slightly colder...., but also close to 28 or 30... but after a few days, you think anything below 25 degrees is chilly... I'm burned having missed some spots of my sunfactor 30...Well, Great food, great service. Wonderful singing birds! And great company! What else do you need? I guess I should tell you about the two yarnshops in KL. Both of them located (just around from Times square bldng), called Sungai Wang Plaza had TWO: I just love Jet Sun, where I found a great fellow knitter chatting away, and many many great knitting books (no, I do not shop yarn anymore.... LOL), and yes they do have SILK yarn, but I was good, I almost need a diploma for being so good. And Lily's Handicraft also have yarn especially I spotted Zara yarns, but restrained myself. Thinking I might come back to KL sooner rather than later. Instead I freaked out on beads (the glass beeds) where the biggest bag went for nothing.. I mean, arrgh, that was so cheap, and Im so mad I did not bring less with me (so I would have room in bags!) Husband will of course carry nicely ;-) Cotton is so great on summer burnt legs. Do I recommend Malaysia? Yepp definitely! What are you waiting for? It is a long plane trip but yes, You can always KNIT!

Cotton and PAPER yarn

Yes, Paper yarn is really in! I got the Noro Ganpi Abaka paper yarn, mostly for the colours, but the feel in a garment was not off in the store. When it is really hot, that is almost a linnen feel. Sturdy as any yarn, but knitting on 6mm needles, it becomes a bit to peekabo, so starting with the top part, I mixed it with the Eco-friendly Cotton from Huskroken in just the matching colour. And after a few rows, the paper yarn looks like a mess. But definitely a weird, but great feel to it. And, excellent with the cotton mix. Must find more cotton! Not that I lack cotton, my stash is weirdly full, but not in THAT wonderful blue colour. Decisions, should I mix with existing cotton, or go on a chase? No, not decided. But it is again too hot for any other (I mean WOOL) knitting. And the summer is at its prime. The cherries are great - dark and sweet, and the washingmachine seems to have troubles. C9, is its remark. I do like bugs ;-) the software kind (if I can do something about it!) but not this one, and definitely not last night when I chased a huge night butterfly out (I dear not say MOTH!) out of the yarn-room. That thing could have devaoured the entire cashmere stash by the size of it..... Ahhh, it is so knitting time. What to do with the Patagonia Nature cotton? Sunkist? Or a top? I love summer!

Mother, Roses and Bunny Holders

So here is the wonderful Alchemy Silk Purse in a wonderful stingy lime, with a black satin ribbon. Yepp, the Blouse Bunny Holders. The yellow band is temporary, and used for the shoulderstraps as a measure, still not done. And - it is hard to make a great fit with it, so I have done some alterations as usual, but this has triggered a new knitting craze in me. I have so much great silk. It is slow here. The summer reminds me it is short and wonderful, and research is still going on full time. And life goes on Mom is here, we are going to a funeral tomorrow. Our dear uncle, Knut passed away. So my summer roses, the moss-rose Henri Martin suits well in days of sadness. Just imagine your life-partner for more than 50 is years is gone. Poor Viola. Well, between showers, and clouds the sun shows is warm face, and the helicopters ar buzzing together with the bumblebees, after all - 1200 meters (less than an english mile) from here the first EEC-top meet will take place, with all European leaders. They should relax in my garden instead, take a knit and a caffe latte. PS. No, the machine-knitting is "resting" for space at the moment dear April. But not forgotten. And dear Sue, finally the package is on its way, sorry for delay. Well, we are preparing for great adventures... The blog will be a bit slow in the summer. But much more to come. Many of my UFO's are getting closer to FO's. Hang in there! And enjoy the great summer. It is short, but wonderful.

Stora Nassa

Knitting at "Stora Nassa", (or "big schnase - big nose, swe "stora näsan") is a well known adventure for sailers in the Stockholm archepelago in the outer area. With wonderful weather this weekend we found this calm place, which I of course used to knit. Ahh, you do not see the progress of the camisole? And my happy face? Ok, have a closer look! That smile can only come after a calm and wonderful summerday - with many dips in the cold sea. Honestly, this is in the top sailing with our dear "Alice"... Sohoho nice.... It was extra hard to be back to work. But I hope the weather stays on another weekend...My thinking around this knit is - easy.... too easy, perfect for a fried brain, but almost on the "boring side". It is time for a more complicated knit again... Many UFO's that measure up to that in the pile! So, should I go for a cardigan, or a camisole with shorter sleeves and short pants? As you see, I have long sleeves even in the evening heat (sensitive to the sun!) and with "bingowings". Im at least trying to do something about it.... but age you know....and time! We will see..Well, have a great summer you out there! And as we say in Sweden, - ja, that was a great summer day!

FO- Ice Cream Blouse Bunny Holders

Finished! Pattern: Citrus Top Yoke, yarn Debbie Bliss Pure Silk. Colours chosen from Ice-cream memories.... Pistage, strawberry, Vanilla and dark Choclate (ok it black!) which were the only ice-cream flavours when I grew up. Making this was really a challenge. Not only can you see how I have added an extra layer both on the top and on the sides of the cup. It does sag in the back and the underbrim should have been a bit tighter under the bunnies to get a better "hold", but all in all - it is wearable in the secluded garden of my home ;-) And the sunshine is out, so why not get the white flesh some vitamine D. Im already thinking how to improve the back, and do some shorts... maybe put in a metal bar.. hmm. A fun and fast project. Ahh Summertime! Blouse Bunnies is of course said in Scrubs by the Doc... well, if you get it you get it.

YARN and some summertime...

In Vienna I got these two small little cuddly Lana Grossa Merino Print, where only one posed with my sulfur yellow tree-peony.. Thinking socks... or??? just felt so good. And then the three Noro Ganpi (or is it Ganbi?)
tape, that will make an entire top... It is just wonderfully weird and beautiful. Knit with paper. I wonder if it is washable? But one of those whimsical projects. Ps... The Sacher cake I got as a present was YUMMY!
I also realized that pulling weeds makes my hands a bit sore - which impacts my knitting. But Im in a garden heaven. Roses are fab!

Yarnhunting In Sofia and some in Vienna

Sofia, Bulgaria. A country which is a cross between Tallin and Rome, well, it is different, unreadable letters for me, making the yarnhunting a bit difficult. In 30 degrees heat (celcius), I did mangage to follow the lead of Ravelry hints - and by accident - the dear lady knitting in my tutorial (the real reason for going to Sofia). Plethe. To Knit. The only question I was asked form the "tech guys" was: What does "knit" mean... I said Plethe.... (of course that is the ONLY word I know in Bulgarian, but nevertheless, the coincedence created a gasp!)So, here is the shop. to the left. A small little place. The inside can be seen. All yarn carefully wrapped in plastic. I mean, no dust or bleaching on it, and no sogging.... so fresh in that respect. But, oh dear what a yarn snob I have become. There is really no words say. The worst in my book. Acrylics, nylon, microfibre and fake fur... ok, I could spot some cotton in there, but colours was the last put off. Im so NOT in sync with the local fashion in Sofia. The sort of young girl was ok, but, no, I could not even find one ball of souvenier yarn, that is how "put off" I got. It was for sure not the money. It was cheap. So thinking of my stash at home, Im going NO NO NO... took a picture and backed out. Poor Sofia knitters. There was another shop, not far from there. But I was one street off, so I had to go back day after - and that was closed for lunch then. So, no, honestly. I know the two shops in Bulgaria, and that did not tickle me at all. But again, I can say nothing about the supernice and friendly Bulgarians. The legal Taxi's (OK) are cheap and great, but there a lot of very expensive "mob" -cabs, so be careful what you step into. Since these cheap and legal cab get so little, I really tip well. That is so much more comforting, than getting ripped. Well, a short flight to Vienna, I realized I had not checked Ravelry or knit-map, and relied on my memory to find the way to Neubau gasse and FE Wolle und Mode. This shop I remembered were filled with goodies, last time, where I definitely got some Lana Grossa yarn. Now, I was panting in the heat, and could not even touch the wool, cashmere but glazed on the cotton...But ended up with some really strange hanks of Noro (?) Ganbi tape - which is basically paper yarn. Really weird. I guess it was the colour that seduced me. Ok, I got some merino throw in for a pair of socks. But really... that was all I had time for, so when later spending time on the free Vienna airport internet, I realized that there definitely are both new and great yarnshops in Vienna. Well, a bit of flight screw-up, worked in my favor going directly home, instead of passing Copenhagen, so Im happy! Only the luggage has still not arrived - so pics of the result of the yarnhunt will come later. Happy midsummer. There is now a short break when it is not raining here, so Im in the garden ;-)