More Cast-On's -

Finally the Kaffe Fasset Cardi that I call "In Petal Haze" since it is knit by two threads of Kid Silk Haze. It is wonderful to knit. But that is the challenge of the Cast On Mania - you do one each day - and most look like a "string" - not much than the pattern and idea - and a lost of stitches casted on. But - finally I woke up to the reality, that I must have something wrong - should not wonderful StickaMera and here SockKlubb continue? Yes, It had already - and I just had not found it. Now I have - and changed the button (see right). Being terrible behind from the start, and having a bad last year, I will attempt a better running now. So the first cast on is called Cranberry biscotti in a slip-stitch pattern - but I am diving in the left-over batch to knit it. It starts with red,blue and white, but I tell you - it will not end like that. It is rather simple and straight forward, and a very relaxing knit. Especially when I allow myself to play with colour. But despite this looking like a "mitten" Cast on (ohh, I have many more in "strings"... so far 6 mitten/glove pairs).. I do have the yummy yarn from San Jose, and Green Planet yarn below - it is Lorna's Lace Shepard Worsted... Love the colours. But - I must admit. I might frog this. It is Patent - but I am not sure this works....I might just have too little yarn for it - so I might go back to my original plan - another Vouge pattern. Well -we will see. I actually found a Malabrigo Lace yarn in the very same colour palett - so I might do a thick-thin thing. Or just a shawl collar to add.
You can hear I am not decided at all. That is why it is in danger. But yummy yarn. No doubt. The final picture is a Vott - a mitten from Norway from the wonderful book "Håndplagg" by Heidi Fossnes. Buy it. It is the most beautiful book I own. Pictures and pattern are just fantastic. They are using Rauma Gammelserie 2-ply yarn on needles 1.25 or 1.5mm. Very thin. And fantastic embroyderi. You can glimpse the original from the book underneath my own "string". I am of course not using the same colour-pallet as the book on the fringe. I actually got so exited about it that I had to cast on another one. Now I just wished I had the skills to embroyder all the nice things on it. But I decided that I first should knit one entire bunch. The fringe I can do, but embroyderi could be rather challenging... Well, If you do not try you never get there. Anyhow - I do feel very stressed. Writing thesis is like doing the long test in school that never ends. But - this knitting keeps me doing somthing else.

Yet another Latvian mitten from Kurzeme and..

I got it bad for these mittens. It seems to be a mitten COM I am doing. This one the colours is inspired by the blanket behind. Yarn again Visjö from Östergötlands Ullspinnery. Love again.... I put the needle on the bottom since it curls, but this is actually the edge where you fold it and sew so you get a nice lace edge. The fun thing with these mittens is - this is still the cuff. The cuff patterns have NOTHING to do with the rest of the mitten - which at least saves some surprise moment for the final show. Getting a sneak peak of a knitting, is like the spoiler - for instance every time they announce the actual content of TV-show "The Big Bang Theory", the seconds before it comes on. I hate that. I want the surprise! Like the Faroese shawl in dark brown could definitely be called a "string". The pattern is Jóhanna. And it will really take some time. Once you finished the shawl, you have to knit it again - the white lining A faroese yarn needs faroese yarn - Snaeldan. The interesting part with this yarn is that it is a mix with Falkland wool. Interesting "Island" exchange. You see what I mean? A dark-brown "blob". To make my point - when writing this I just started on todays Cast on Mania, a mitten inspired by the Inspira "almost" corrugated rib. We will see where it goes. Again the Östergötland Ullspinnery yarn "Mörk Karamell" together with some Visjö. If it fits husband - it is his. Keep knitting!

PS! It is not very difficult to knit with two colours or fair-isle. It is the same as any two colours - you only need to follow the pattern . It is an adventure! And very much rewarding!

Latvian mitten with some Swedish influences...

I find it inspiring to knit interesting pattern. This mitten is from a book on Latvian Mittens (by Uptis), and the pattern 117 is from Kurzeme, Barta. But - not shown yet is the main pattern for this mitten, that is also found on very ancient Swedish patterns, the clover and I guess it is hard to claim it being from one region or the other - when patterns travelled in the old days - and the origins are forgotten. Who was first is an enigma. Anyhow - making the Swedish influence more present - I choose Swedens maybe best woolspinnery (Östergötlands Ullspinnery) (ok - it is side by side with Wåhlstedts, Mojärv and...) with the yarn "Visjö", which has a softness to it. I also choose rather Swedish colours, blue and yellow - but I think the main mitten pattern will be done in the purple background and light blue - to match the hat - that is based on the swedish version. It is rather intriguing to think that this is still only knitting tve cuff of the mitten. I am so glad that the Latvians kept their rich tradition alive, and we can see wonderful patterns like this. So I do a "third" a mitten in one weekend-day - that gives me definitely some calculations on how much work it is to do the mitten. At least the sun was out and shining!... So, I have not yet done more than cast on for the sunday. So decided to do one pattern - I swapped in the last minute. Then casting on for "in the round" sweater - and at the last minute changing my mind to make a cardi. I do use cardi's Anyhow - I cannot decide what I want. But I realized I already have bought great buttons to this cardi - I feel I must. Now - with a brioche (Patent) pattern - will the yarn be enough is the big question. But, I do as I always do. Knit on and hope for the best! It usually works.

Cast On Mania continues!

Only one matching lopi mitten done. But you get it. One days work. Love how the pattern became fishes. They are "loosely" based on the Lopi cardi-pattern. Do you know how I create patterns? I glance - and then I try to remember... And I really do not remember exactly - and - here a very happy accident happend. I love how patterns emerge like this. But I hope I do not fall victim for the "second mitt" - syndrome. It has happened before. And today - I started with a "jacket" in Welsh-compay Colinette yarn - Point Five - and of course I named this jacket "Punkt fem". The colour is Coppar beach- I wish I had some more of it - it will be snug and probably half sleeves. The problem is that I have no idea what to knit for tomorrow. But tomorrow is Friday. Then I can stay up a bit later.

Cast On Mania February 2011 - FO Lopi mössa

Ok - Here we go again! Crazy - I mean REALLY nuts! I will continue with the Cast On Mania in entire February... (those enabling friends in Ravelry). The first Item was quickly casted on: A Lopi mössa! Amazingly enough it could be casted on, knitted and finished in only 2 hours and 30 minutes.. and some time for making the tassel and darning in the yarn-ends. I am very happy with it. Warm and snuggly! But now it is late - and I am ready for bed!

Absolutely nothing interesting to say.

I am just saying. A picture inside in the dark house vs. a picture in the sun "on the roof" is a lot different. Here is Leitmotif in full sunshine. (see more two postings back)...yeah, MUCH better picture. The cables show better, and a black underneath is doing it justice. But - it is a slack brim, so not perfect yarn for this item. We are of course thinking a lot on our dear friends in Australia, especially in Brisbane, where the floods have been real bad. But I hear they are ok. Here we still have to clime the top floor to get a good sunshine. So, a picture from the our aboriginal painting has both a sense of coffe-beans, and the burning hot. No -our kitchen is not ready yet. Still some electricity work postponed for yet again. I am progressing on other sweaters, but for some reason - nothing is done. All are "in progress". Thank you all for the nice comments on the tiles. We love the too! It is just wonderful somehow. Ohh, a kitchen. We bought new pots and pans, and a cookbook - the Julia Child to make ourselves happy.. it is all the "master chefs" versions going on TV. Australian, English professional and US. We cannot stand the Swedish one. I do not know why. Well, otherwise all is well here in the cold country.

FO: Ugglor i Mossen - Owls in the bog.... and tiles

Posing in my "Ugglor i Mossen" or "Owls" as this simple, but genious pattern from Kate Davies is originally called. I gave 8 of my 23 owls eyes, and I am sorry, the picture is really dark, and does not all give the sweater and colour-changes any justice. But it is raining (!) and dark outside - and still 1 meter snow. Not ideal picture weather. The yarn is actually a finish 3-thread wool in the brown-grey blackish is the base in the slow-variation colour Sysky (meaning "autumn") and the Evilla slowly changing is a "pre-yarn" or for-yarn (Förgarn) which is not really a yarn, it is an unspun "wool-rowing" thread. And then the superthin fingering-lace from Evilla wool, which runs like a green with some orange in it - also slowly varigated - is the highlight that makes it all so alive. I think I concluded that having the same buttons would be the pretties, but I dived into my stash, and found what I could - so I could pose in it. After all - I cannot linger - I have 23 more sweaters to knit this year ;-) And this was the first - already behind! Anyhow - Iam proudly standing in front of our home-made tiles in the Kitchen that turned out great. Not it is "only" getting the last electricity appliances in place, and we are done with the Kitchen! We are so exited it is finally happening. But still a building spot! Anyhow - Both husband and I are very proud of our tiles. We are still oooohing and ahhing ourselves when we walk in the kitchen - and really - it was very fortunate that we spent so much effort and time, since now it is not just a kitchen... it feels like artwork.I think it is the small things that really makes our life wonderful. Being happy in the kitchen, finding a new Indian resturant with class (Indian Garden on Söder). And the Amaryllis is blooming. Then it feels so much better - even if my bummer of a cold came back with a vengance.... that is the punishment for celebrating my friends achievements on their PhD. It was Stefans C's turn. Such a positive guy!
Anyhow - we also visited dear mom in Söderbärke. She has such a beautiful house, and it is so cosy. We had such a good time togehter - which is always nice. Well, I have so much going on, but since I do have a bad (?) habit of not staying true to only one project, it takes some time to get done.

Resolutions! 2011 is Wonderful!

It is still snowing - and with the cold - I am still "blowing" my nose. Anyhow - 2011 has welcomed us in a great way. I just "had" to start the Inspira sweater (based on a cowl that is based on a hat that is based on....Yeah you know what I mean).
The pattern does much better in slow changes of colour like Noro.. but in this case - the yarn picked me - really a wonderful "wet" feeling of silk, mohair, alpaca... but mostly silk. I am in love with it already. Summing up the last year was easy. Facing the fact I have now 50 (including this) unfinished sweaters on the needles, and another 20 hats, mittens, and socks waiting to get done have brought me to my senses! The Resolution for this year is very straight forward - and I intend to honour them - it is my life.

1. Finish my PhD. This is the year it is happening. I finally got the entire thing grasped. It sure will be a party to remember!
2. Finish at least 24 sweaters! This in itself will consume most of my knit time.
3. Increase Gym-time to double of this fall: And watch just a bit more what I eat (portion control).

Then there is a "attempt" or "stretch-goal" as we say it at work: Aim for having not more than 30 WIP's at end of the year.
Note - I am STILL contemplating if I will jump on the February Cast On Mania - that means another 28 new things knitted. So. IF I am doing that - I think a reasonable stretch goal is to get below 50 WIP's....

FO & Looking back at 2010 and anticipation for 2011

This past year has been about sweaters. And and absolute rotten picture of the 20th and last cardigan will finish the year. This is Leitmotif (it is actually CABLES between the lace-holes)... and knitted sideways. It is two coloured, since I did ran out of yarn. It is knitted in Merino-fur from Naturally (New Zealand), and bought in Penrith outside Sydney, Australia a few years ago. Merino fur really means merino and POSSUM-fur. A banned animal ("pest") in New Zealand, since it kills the local wildlife, so I do not have a bad conscious. It is one-thread, thick and almost "felted" in its appearance. Well, lets have a last look at 2010 before we turn the back on it! I definitely succeeded with the International Sweater a Month Knit-Along (KAL), and after early finishing of the 12, it was easy to go on! I made it to 20 sweaters and cardigans. Very happy about that. Also finished up some remade knits, fixed pockets, reknitted a Bohus sweater. Only manage to finish 3.5 socks, so I definitely missed out on the great StickaMera KAL. I am actually working hard on the october sock "Nemesis" now.

Otherwise it feels like a rather hard working year. The best thing has been moving organization within work, which has finally left me in a state of calm. Also started to work-out at the gym, nothing major, but just enough to regain some strength.

The most fun in the knitting has been the Ravelry group "Village of the Overcommitted" that lured me into a Cast On Mania (COM). Not only once, but twice. It started in the summer with casting on 10 objects as a training camp. In October it went crazy - and I did cast on 31 new sweaters. I mean - totally creative fun. I really got exited about it. I am still knitting on this long list. It is still great fun. And I am already starting to get my mind adjust to the fact that in February - it is COM time again. I thought not to joing, but I could easily start another 10 sweaters, so a list is forming. Anyhow 2010 has been the year where I do feel I master fair-isle (mult-coloured patterns - using 2 or more threads at the same time). I have no problem knitting and cutting anymore, so that is a good thing, since I have casted on a whole lot of new fair-isles. think 2011 will still be the year of finishing all I started.

2010: Best-list

Best sweater: Lime-green "white-peony" sweater!

Best yarnshopping: Without a doubt, my San Jose trip. Green-Planet yarn, Yarn Dogs among others. And I am still in love with Lorna's Lace and Noro.

Best shopping - knit-related: Knit-Pro needle-kits from Liten Karin (former Maria's garn).

Best stash-busting: Reworking 5 boxes into COM-sweaters to "PIG's" Projects in (grocery) bags! I can really see progress!

Best pattern: Impossible to choose, Hidahl? Or Debbie Bliss - Laurie? Or maybe Cloud 9 - Ysolda Teague? Oh dear..I love so many!

Best Knit-book: I must say New England Knits is ok, but I found the Stephanie Japel's "Fitted knits" to contain many great sweaters...but of course - nothing compares to Poetry of Stitches (Hisdahl) and any Starmore book.

Best Knitting Magazine: Interweave Knits and Vouge (Designer) Knitting are the two top knits. Unfortunately Knitscene is seldom available here. I can only say I am so dissappointed in "The Knitter" from UK - it looks glossy, but fails to produce enough and great patterns - and most are already copies. I am also decided not to buy Yarn Forward, the XRX "The Knitter", and many new rather poor and very overprized knit-magazines. I realize with IK and VK and some spare Knitscene or Knit-simple, I got it all. I would rather have the Japanese Ondori knit-magazine ;-)

Best Knit location: I think Redang in Malaysia top's everything. Knitting the FLS in cotton in the beach will be a memory for antoher decade. That was heaven!

Merry Christmas 2010

In candlelight trying to take a picture from the christmas tree, the traditional straw goat, and all the presents underneath from my kitchen, tells the secret that this picture is already one day old, since tradition in Sweden is to exchange the gifts on Christmas evening the 24th. (Hint, that is why Santa can get around the world with all the gifts ;-) I think we all got happy with our wonderful gifts. I think my new skates will having me exercise on the ice in the future. It is still a lot of snow and cold, but getting a bit warmer. Soon it is time to bring forth all the knits and relax in front of the fire. I wish you all a wonderful Christmas wherever you are. Many warm wolly thoughts to all of you!

Another FO! Laurie is done!

The wonderful Laurie from Louisa Harding "Summer Classics" pattern book is done. And yes - it is a summer T, with a lace edge in wonderful super soft silk and wool blend! The yarn bought in San Jose - Green Planet yarn - on a recent visit, as well as the pattern. I love it, soft and yummy, with a snug fit. I admit, it looks a bit tilted, but I guess I was really "thowing it on" and we had some really quick picture taking in the cold. Brr - It is veyr cold. And I feel as undity as the normal "just woken up - sleeping much too late" on Sunday. And it is a SUN- day! I have not seen the sun for awhile, so it is nice to get a glimpse. Otherwise weekend is all about making tiles, and cleaning. The normal weekend work. Btw, we LOVE our house to - even if sometimes it just feels overwhelming with all the work, renovations and things to fix. But I guess we are still happy being the "care-takers" of the lovely gem. Have a good weekend to you too and hugs - and thank again for all nice comments.

Stonecircles and "Ugglor i mossen"

To the left is my progress on the Stone-Circles. It is a Kaffe Fassett pattern. But sometimes I thought a better name would be bubbles in water - or "carbonated" because it looks like bubbles with the blue backdrop - But then - thinking again, of course it is stone-circles. Now - this is hugely "Gestalt"-therapuetic. Not only are each un-finished business like a stone in the "backpack" of life you carry around, It does have the weight of a stone, and leaving many unfishined is a big back-pack. Now there is where the circle comes in. Finishing the unfished business is really closing the the circle of the Gestalt. You finish it up! It is done, gone. The weight is off your shoulders so to speak. And left is the stone - now ready to sink to the bottom of the ocean of finishined business. THAT is what Kaffe must have ment. A wonderful thoughtful fair-isle. Since none of the "stone-circles" are the same. And it is super slow knit - it takes a lot of presistence and concentration. So, plenty of time to go through any unfinished business. (If you did not know - these are typical thoughts of a knitter). Second is the famous knit pattern "Owls" that I of course call "Ugglor i mossen" i.e. Owls in the bog (I think?) I think it is really nice and see the difference in colour with and without flash, but the fact is - it is three different yarns, that all are changing colours all by themselves. I really thought a lot about how to make the owls "dissappear" in the forest. Well, I have not started on them yet, but this is really my relaxation between the stone-circles. I love them both. First is of course for my dearest in Christmas (I hope it is this christmas) present... Or january present or something... And Owls are on thicker needles to rest the hands. It is Finish 3-thread wool in brown-grey-black from "Svalan" called Syksy (höst/fall) and then there is a green orange, lace-one-thread Estonian yarn, and finally the pre-yarn (unspun) one "thread" from UlloMera (but definitely from Estonia- it is Evilla). That is where the blue and purple is mixed with green. And these three play togheter in the dance of the woods. It is a bit snug fit, but I am hoping I also will be a snugger fit if I keep myself in the gym - and stop doing wonderful christmas cakes. Life is good! And this will be a hard working week! But - Still happy about my accepted research paper.... Well, cannot write anymore - Got to watch my new favourite TV-show. Big Bang Theory on channel 5! Suits the nerd in me. I mean - Just the "entrace question" - Kirk of Pickard? Well, if you cannot answer that - you are "too old"! Hugs!

Off-Topic (OT): Snow and winter at the house.....

OK - the way to walk to the door - the old "kitchen entrance on the back. This is when you realize it is a "soutterrain" house, from 1909. I promised my friends to put a picture up of my little heaven, and except the upper balkony (one can see the balcony floor as wood on the upper level, above the mid-level) is not ready yet. Still a lot of painting to do. We just had it and are waiting for the kitchen. The house looks pretty big from the drive-way - and yes, it is not small. A renovators dream, when we got it, and still a lot to do. We are very happy getting the roof painted this year. It is also a wonderful garden. When it is this snowy - The light is much better. Note that this pictures (all of them) are taken mid day. But it is on the darkest time of the year. And even if the garden picture is almost directly south, the sun does not really have the strength to be over the ridge of the very little hill. This is what swedish people refer to as "the blue hour". The shadows are not black, but blue! We are still making tiles, but have a hopeful promise that both the stone counter top (sorry - not bench-top) will be done - and all tiles and electricity before christmas. I love that. .We are running the installed dishwasher all the time - to fill up the packed kitchen - so it has almost felt like christmas - when finding stuff that has been "gone" for 3 years. I mean we did pack the kitchen down 3 years ago (or was it 4? I dear not think about it). We just HAD to put the curtains up in the kitchen and carry in the new kitchen sofa in place - and place my dear brother Johan Mauritzson's fantastic painting of horses - that I always loved in prime position. Yes - we are still painting the last trimmings, but it feels more hopeful than ever - of a Real Christmas this year. PS. You can really tell I am totally stalling on my knitting projects. They have been progressing (four are very active) and I hope I will get one done this week. It is intresting though, that the knitting that has progressed fastest is the one I commute to work in. That says something. It has been a lot of very slow traffic. It is wonderful!

Fixing times and new stuff!

After a long time in the yarnroom waiting for a misplaced pocket move - this lovely Lopi finally got the pocket in the right place - and being a good girl sewing on a band inside the collar to make it more sturdy and softer. I love Lopi when it is cold, but it is just slightly on the scratchy side for the neck... Now it will be used as a regular garment. I even (!!!) started to needle on the zipper on St Brigid, but it feels scary.. So I will see if I make it in the near future... It is amazing. It has been done for a year (all knitting) and a zipper keeps me from using it. Well, lets say my skills are in knitting ;-) We are still making tiles. And it is very time consuming. Therefore no new sweater finished. I am progressing on the following loveliness - The wonderful Laurie - a fab summer pattern - with a silk-wool yarn that is luxurious - and one of the souvenier yarns bought from my latest trip to San Jose. I tell you - they do have better weather there! Here it is really gloomy - but the colour of Laurie still gets me into the "blue hour".. or blue mood! it is grey with splots of silver and turqoize blueish. Yum! It is the main knitting in the commuting car. For the train commuting to Västerås - it is the Nemesis socks on the go! I am way behind the SockKlubb, but I love the patterns, so I am trying to keep doing at least a few. It is the wonderful Lorna's Lace's yummy sock yarn. And funny - I was of course in more than one yarnshop in US, and still I accidently ??? bought 2 sets of sock yarn in the same colour. And I tell you - Lorna's Lace sockyarn has a million colours. I must love this combination. Finally on the needles are Leitfmotif (Sofa-knit) - but you get no picture, since I hope I can show it of finished next time and I am doing the Kaffe Fassett Stone Circles for hubby in yarnroom. That will be a great Christmas present.

OT- Ceramic Tile making to our Kitchen!

I am not talking about knitting today. My "other" hobby is ceramics. I perfer throwing on the wheel, but when I got great companionship in the cellar by dearest husband, we took on the challenge. This first picture shows the bisquewear, meaning in front in the piles are the the tiles that have been fired once. Behind, with a slighter grayer teint is dry clay, ready and waiting for the same fireing process. But the oven is still full, and very hot. I have been waiting all day for the temprature to go down - if you open the oven too soon, the glaze might crack in thread-thin cracks. And we do not want that right?! So below are two pictures taken with and without flash of the first glaze- trial. We got so exited about it, and you can see the gray (which really is the same - just different light) in the back on the wood. It shows more clearly in the flash picture... But we think this will be beautiful in our new and wonderful kitchen. Unfortunately we had yet another set-back with the benchtops, but hope we get them in time now, so we do get a kitchen before christmas. We are getting so tired of this situation. So - honestly, there is not much knitting going on. I thought I was done with a scarf, but spotted a mistake half way through - so I am now frogging it back. Well - this is life. One step forward, one back... I hope it will be three steps forward next time.

FO Aleita Shell and A-line A-type Cardi for Mom!

First I show off the Aleita Shell. I love this, it was so fun to knit and see the colours work - of course it is wonderful Noro Silk garden light. I added sleeves to the original pattern, To my surprise I can tell that I have lost some weight, and can go down in size. it should be a slim fit - and look - it is NOT! That makes me very happy. I am also glad I succeed in making the separate fronts and sleeves similar. It is not always easy with this yarn. Anhow - It will be well used. Secondly I have knitted a sweater for dear mother. I try to make it with a lot of ease, so I have a lot of short rows, and a typical A-line for my wonderfully energized A-type mom. The back has a (swe. sprund) Cut? also to make it a bit with ease, and also elastisity - since the ribbing on the side makes it good. Also it is definitely a bit longer and elastic. Should fit her perfectly. I hope it is The yarn is also Noro - but Noro Kabuto. Sure an expensivhe yarn. 96 swedish kronors for 1 hank - and it is 14. I sure hope she appreachiates it. It has cashmere and silk in it. Soft and warm, Just as I love it. I did this very loosley based on the Hisdahls Cardigan, but I definitely made it "my own", trying to use colours to slim the style, make it easy. The only dissappointment is that I would have loved one more hank to make the sleeves longer. But I guess I can call it fashion! Almost all knitting pattern have 3/4 sleeves now. But at the end of the day, this is a cardi - it has something underneath so. The collar looks uneven, but I guess it is just me throwing it on a bit sloppy. Still jet-lagged from the trip. And it is nice to be home!

Statistics from Silicon Valley! 20539 meters Done

Sorry for not blogging - I am fine. Right now I am at a hotel room in California ;-)
You can check in anytime of year (but I hope I can leave ;-) now - in contrast to the famous song. So again - beg for forgiveness of the lack of fancy pictures. .. Many more next time!

OK! I actually made a tally of this year: I think I have reported earlier 8879 meters knitted (?).

And I have now counted the projects from there, and I have knitted 11660 meters more in 94 balls/hanks. Meaning my new tally is the best ever and so far:
20539 meters !

So more than 2 swedish mil - or 20 km! I must inform that a lot of this is NOT knitted this year, and since it has been WIP times, I am guesstimating that at least 1/3 of it is knitted earlier than 2010... but nevertheless.. it has been a productive year - and the year is not over.

I can also inform that it takes me about one hour to knit approx 40 (-50) meters - which makes it about 500 hours of knitting. Which is an average of 2 hours a day - a tally that seems a bit low(?) but I guess there is more work than just knitting with a sweater. And there are days when almost no knitting is done.

I should now start to keep stats for how much winding, preparation, assembly, buttons etc take. I count it as "knitting time", and the above measurement is going through yarn.... Of course - when you knit fair-isle - you consume much more yarn, so that should probably be separated and measured too.

But it is interesting, right? Last years tally was 13 000 (approximate from memory) meters, so I have already definitely been knitting much more this year. Or more fair-ilse ;-)

I have two more finished sweaters just waiting for a a day in the sun! So do not abandon me dear readers. Have patience.

Finished: Cropped Lovikka Cardigan

The frost killed some of my geranium (Swe. Pelargonier), and all the leafs turned to yellow on the trees, and are dropping fast. The frost really froze bad tonight, and I heard the first snow is getting closer. Then it is perfect with the designer duo "Lutz and Patmos" design for a warm winter cardigan. Very much texture, and rather dressy... Yarn is Lovikka yarn (which in this case must have been spun loosely by Gotland fleece - not the normarl felted Lovikka feeling....) Anyhow, I cannot swear what brand, but it is bought at "Boden" in Värmland. Also a very quick knit - and one of the items I started in the Cast on Mania. It does not have buttons (but maybe should have?) so I put a shawl-pin to hold it together. This is my 16 sweater this year to the left - and I am almost done with the next one (for mom!). Of course I have set goals. First it was 12 - now it is 24 before years end, and maybe - dream number (stretch) is doing 30!
Otherwise the sailboat is up on land and packed for winter. We set a new record in fixing it this year. That feels good! Have a nice week!

FO: Fa Fa Fa Socks and Camisole for Mom!

The wonderful Fa Fa Fa socks are done. Beautiful coloured yarn, soft and yummy and a great pattern! I already love these. The yarn is handdyed in Ottowa, Canada by Turtletoes - and the colour is called "Ocean Witch". And as you can see - it is fall here. But the boat is unmasted and ready for getting into winter protection.Kitchen is finished painted (almost, some small things to do). I also been a good girl finishing mom's camisole. A bit late for this season - since it is getting colder every day. The yarn is from Greece (the main lighter thicker cotton, but it ran out, so I had to find something from stash that could do for straps and edging. Really happy with the perl-patterned buttons. I just hope it fits ok. The origin of the camisole is the same as I knitted twice before - Solveigh Hisdahl. One of my favourites summer quick-knits.

FO: Fitted Mini-cardi and Stripy July

Not much needed to finish this (but some yarn). The original pattern is from Stephaine Japel's book "Fitted Knits", and is called the mini-cardi. I did make it a bit longer, by adding 3 hanks of Rowan Bigwool in blue, to the Hjertegarn Yabba alpaca in green. A little cabling.. and to my surprise, my own made buttons worked fine (I can tell by the picture I might need to tighten the buttonholes a bit though - and block it.) Very warm, soft and cosy knit. This is such a "week-end knit" - I mean it cannot have taken more than 16 hours maximum to do. (I have been knitting an hour here and there....)...Now when the Cast On Mania (COM) is over and I have dived in to finish as much of what I have started as possible. Finishing the "Stripy July" sweater, was fast - a home made top-down simple sweater to throw over the shoulders in the heat. I definitely ran out of yarn, and it needs a nice brim,. One can see the edges curls pretty bad.... but - I can see it on thrown casually over the bikinitop on a hot summer day. Now - If I find more cotton tape yarn, I will definitely make a brim at all edges, and make it more "neat".. but I think it works anyway? At least it is finished for the moment. Now, what happened with the COM? Well, the last 4 days was really not much to talk about... 4 new strings - 4 new cardi's. I have been stressed over a research paper, so I have no good photos really....most looks like this, the Lett-lopi: Riddari. The rest is a Bohus kit Cardi: Scilla, another Norsk Strikkedesign pattern "Kort genser i blått" that I renamed "Being Blue", and of course - since October is the breast cancer awareness month - I casted on a "Pink Fluff" top... I guess you will see them in progress or finished (ha!) BTW, thank you for all your nice comments! It is always nice to have an audience that follows our adventures. And thank you for all the nice greetings on my birthday! I cannot believe I am getting older. I feel training is really making younger (with lapses of feeling very old and hurt in every muscle).
Now- time for the last finishing lap (or two) on my research paper - and some more painting on the house!