Changes and progress

Ok, it has been some time since I posted. When I came back, the format in Blogger changed. Really irritating, but that is the consequence of being on a "free" site. You have no voice. You just have to adapt. Anyhow, I am adapting very much on all fronts of my life. Maybe that is why I have been away. Visited Montreal in Canada for a week with work work work. And basically sleeping all through easter vacation. I am a bit exhausted. Two jobs in two different locations takes a toll on me. But I do knit, and knit slowly in this stress. Here is the current progress, the cardigan "Maggie", where I soon hope I will reach "finished". But you know, one more sleeve, then a brim than the zipper, assembly etc - that can easily take me two weeks now, when it did take me two days before. I just do not have the energy. You get it, right? Be patient.

FO: En Sårk För Mej (A boy for me)

The yarn is called "Sårk" which in Gotland means Boy! It is of course the wonderfully loose spun Fardhem yarn from Gotland, and bought at the spinnery, that is the origin of this cardican. It is all design from my head - and I have just made it a simple ragland/lopi decrease yoke to keep the pattern. Had to have pockets. I bit longer than planned, and a bit tighter than planned, but somehow it worked out, ok! Very soft and very warm.
What is not ok is that it has snowed, and is freezing again. What happend to spring? April weather! Finally some days rest on the Easter holiday. How wonderful! Happy easter to you too!

FO Riddari - My Knight!

Isn't he lovely! My Knight in shining armour - my Riddari (or Riddare as we say in Swedish). Finally a perfect fit. The darker "spots" are just the shadows, since I spent the entire Sunday finishing it, it is a bit late... Spring has arrived. But it is still rather cold outside - the daylight is back. This is a classic Lopi-sweater - in Lett-Lopi from Istex. And the white is 2-strands of Plötulopi. Very 100% wool. Very rewarding to knit. Not as soft as Plötulopi, using needles 3.5 mm (and 4). I am satisfied. I feel like my knitting is progressing. The birds are singing. The best time of the year. The entire summer in front of you!

FO Karamellvantar - and it is spring!

Snowdrops, Galantus... and I am getting ready for the winter mittens. It is not going quick, but I am slowly getting my speed up. Unfortunately, now the spring is here, and I am slowly going to want to be outside, which means less knitting time. And It is sunday. I should be resting. Ok I have been resting in front of "The Wire" (buy the box, and see your self from the start - HBO... really smart). Now, it is time to do the homework (studies never end...) The mitten is from left-over yarn - Östergötlands Ullspinneri. Two colours. And honestly - I am a bit iffy of the mix.. but one have to challenge the eyes occasionally, and this is a definitely maybe ;-)

FO: Eternity Cardigan

Finally, this very labour intesive cardigan "Eternity Cardigan" is finished. It was started 10 years ago on long communiting to Sundsvall, when we had to clear out his house, after he died. And finally finished today, where I sew in the last buttons that I have made (in Raku technique). The yarn is hand coloured swedish one-thread (lace) from Färgkraft, in two colorschemes: Lime and "Trollskog" (Goblin forest ;-)As you can tell, it varies a bit. The knitting technique is called "Brioche" or två-färgs patent in Swedish, which basically requires you to knit every row twice. Since it is lace yarn on 2 mm needles, one row on the body takes 2 times 20 minutes. You can probably figure out that there are a few 100rds of ours on this one. The advantage with this technique is that it is reversible, so, as you might spot on the picture - I have it reversed on the second picture. I relize that next time it would be better to do this for a sweater, and not a cardigan (or have double rows of buttons), but ok, I sort of like the lime side a bit better. Here the sunshine has come back - as we have - from a week of sunshine in Krabi, Thailand. Very relaxing. But both dearest and me got the flu, so we are actually stuck inside, knitting and watching "The Wire" - which we both got very hooked on. And of course, I am knitting away. I have been knitting a lot - but, I feel all my knits are very time-consuming and demanding. Not much get finished. But this is the month to turn this around. Sorry for being away for February, but I started my second job at Karlstad University. So, now I get much more to fill my time with - and a bit less knitting. Anyhow, I am feeling better in many ways than I have in a long time (ok, except for the runny nose and soar throat). Spring in front of us, and fun research. Feels like this will be a great year! Maybe a little more time in the garden, maybe a little more energy to exercise (oh yes, despite appearancies, I do go to the gym!) and hopefully a lovely summer. I feel so fortunate. Life is good on a sunny sunday afternoon. Now, I will drink my caffe latte, and go back to the second series of The Wire. (We watched the first yesterday and friday... I am just saying.. It has a vibe to it). Take care out there, ok?

Commuting with knitting: Karamellvante and Riddari

Sharing a ride to work, I am lucky enough to sit on the side and knit. To the right is now a sweater started.. possible to the driver.. called "Riddari" - which suits well. I have now a long body of just plain stitches in the round, where I can still knit in the dark, chat the driver and look out so I do not get car-sick. A perfect "motorway" knitting, at least until I reach the yoke. Then there is one of the mittens (we need them as you can tell) that is named after the yarn, Karamell, (which is the variegated yarn from Östergötlands ullspinnery). Magically enough, also intended for the driver. This I knitted when train-commuting. Small and light - but still there are lights on the train. Even if I have lost several needles of the dpn on the train, I still like doing this type of knitting. Small enough to squeeze in. Just one more mitten to go. Otherwise, this is the first sun out today for "months" and we got at least some minutes before going back to research. The shadows are still long, but definitely on the way back to the light!

Cut and sew - salvage 3 month work

There is wide and wide... I did XL men's size. But wise from years of knitting Rowan patterns, I know this would be narrow - and end up like a normal Large for men. I am very lucky. I knit almost always at gauge. I mean. If I just pick the recommended needles - I always end up exactly the gauge. You could call me a "normal" knitter. I never swatch because of this. Horror and chock: No wonder I have spent months on this pattern. I did it circular instead of back and forth (crazy English knitters ;-))But this old Kaffe Fassett pattern had no gague measurements for a swatch. So, I just did as usual... And the trial knitter (since Kaffe rarely knits his own patterns more than once) they must have been some supertight knitter. I ended up with 40 cm to wide. Nope, not kidding. I knew it sort of half way, but then played with the thought to felt it. A dead give-away would have been that I managed 2 mostly 3 rows before bed-time... so on row 167 (of the 207 required) for the body according to pattern.. I said ENOUGH! I must salvage this knit. And I am not doing another row. Luckily hubby had handed over his favourite sweater for fixing (elbow tear), so I measured based on it, and - yepp - I could easily fit it into the body as is. And get the sleeves in as well (heck 20 cm wide sleeves just needs a "dimond", right?) Measurements and a scissor... Here we go. (Of course taking curage in the american blueberry and pecan panncakes, hubby made us for breakfast)... The most scary thing I have done for a long time. Cut up a knit. Deep breath!
For awhile there, I thought I would get the sleeves out too (and no knit), but that was a bit much to ask. I of course now regret cutting into both sides. I could easily have just got one sleeve, and knitted on - by only using one side to cut it up. Well, I did measure and thought about it for some time, and it actually looked like it would work. I guess it must have stretched from the weight or something, since you can see on the picture BELOW (sleeves) that I actually have about 5-8 cm difference in the cut. Weird. It was really good measured. But I guess this is not my strength. Anyhow, the pictures are as follows. The first cut of the double folded (that is why pattern seems weird). Having paper under avoids cutting the floatations on the other side. Once cut up, it is basically zig-zag and sew sides together (see second picture). And the third is my "start" for the sleeves. Now, it is actually the side-seam (of the body pattern) that does not match. But I realize that I need to do "another" knit for this. Tight sleeves are NOT popular. Of course I am hopelessly stuck on "should I make these the "back" of the sleeve or the front? Or should I have a seam running in the middle (shoulder down)? That will sure look weird. Not to mention the horror of finding the pattern match. As nerdy as I am, I am always up for a challenge. Only thing is, that I for a moment thought I would be able to finish the sweater today. But still, it is MUCH less work than it would have been, if I had continued with the pattern. So, I think I did the cardinal mistake though, I think I forgot to give ease for the seems. And horror... If it is too tight now, I must actually cut it again, and provide side-seems. Poor Hubby. I thought this would be done by Christmas..... last year. Oh no.. It is definitely MUCH work in doing stranded. But I somehow LOVE the idea. It WILL be great. Not as perfect as I would like, but great. Stay positive. That was 2012 mission. Work hard and stay positive. By the way - it finally snowed. That is nice!

Angora-dreamings 2012

It is true: The Doctor is dreaming dreams of angora bunnies and soft fluffy clouds. I wish so much for this year. So - why not start with a quick-knit. Basically the little T-top is done in a few days commuting to work and to dear Wermland. Dreams come true. Good times are coming, and I am engaging myself to new demanding and interesting work. Just makings of having the angora dreams. Beatles complete and Pink Floyd complete is filling the air-space. A lovely Sunday. This little sweater is an Anny Blatt supreme angora yarn bought at a trip to France (Arles) as a souvenier yarn. I am happy with the model I invented, and the wide collar makes it almost vintage feel. Of course I found some old pearl buttons to complete the look. No, it is not much snow,its cold: -5 Celcius.

Modelling my "Autumn hat no. 2" was not a problem. No 1 was fast given away at my dissertation, but at least I had yarn to a second one. They are rather similar. Honestly, I cannot understand why anyone want to buy a hat - when it takes 1 hour to make one. The yarn in this one is from Vancouver, handdyed. Well. Anything with silk and wool makes me tickle. 2012 feels like an interesting year. I decided I will follow my christmas book from Thich That Nahn's sayings - in moderation of course, since that is also what he suggests. Other dreams is to make a dent in my yarn-room. 24 sweaters are in the plan, and some hats, socks, scarfs of course. We will see. It is still a dream! But the caress of the fluffy bunny angora yarn, sure make this a very sensual year. Love and caress. Why not? Make the world a better place.

The magic year of 2011!

Where to start the reflection of this fantastic magical year of 2011? I reached two milestones of my life. Getting my PhD and turning 50! It is still a surprise that I managed to to anything else to be honest, but I did sacrifice my summer vacation - and I do feel that now. I finally got some spinning done - not much - but the sunshine reminds me of my short breaks to catch some sunshine between hours in front of the computer. I did learn Navajo ply - which was exiting! The Inspira sweater - based on a cowl based on a hat - in the wonderful Artyarns - knitted in corrugated rib - with "relaxing rows" inbetween - was a very long knit - but with a beautiful result - My Inspira Sweater - which was one of the 12 sweaters I managed to knit this year. Otherwise I think my big contribution have been mittens. This pair as many - are given away. Magic years are giving years. And I do appreachiate all the hard work and support I have recieved. So this year is full of memories! I think my favourite sweater (in a tie with Inspira) must be Choclate crossing. It came to life commuting to work - and the yarn is soft and yummy. Even if it pills a lot. Most pleasure has been knitting the intricate mittens with "scandinavian/baltic" patterns. I just love picking my own favourite colours - and they are relatively fast done. Best knit 2011? The wonderful mittens or the scrumptius sweaters? I cannot tell. It is hard to tell if a tricky fair-ilse in honest yarn (that does not pill) can compete with the caress of the softest there is... Highlights are for sure KnitNation in London and meeting knitting friends - and my PhD "event".. ohh come to think of it - it has been such a magic year. I am truely blessed. One could of course discuss my WIP/UFO pile that maxed out on 100 - now to 82 - but I have knitted 30 items this year. It is rather great! Ok - you actually have to browse the blog to find all of my knits - that is the trick - it is nice to have the history. It is a bit sad when it disappears. I have slowed down a bit though in my posting. Maybe because the last months I have been knitting really time-consuming knits. But - I guess that is how it goes, sometimes one must slow down to speed up. Ohh I watch all my pictures and think about the lovely time to come. The light. The spring. The year of the Dragon.. Getting my 82 below 42? That would be a goal! Many more sweaters and blogging. So wonderful! I hope I can knit some more. At least I will commute more and longer. That is so exiting! Take care out there and hope you have a wonderful magical year of 2011 as I did!

FO: St Brigid finally got its zipper!

It is wonderful - the St Brigid, from the knitting master - Alice Starmore. I reworked it as a cardigan, and put a zipper in, a great idea, since it more a "jacket" in this thick yarn - bought on a great trip with Sticka to the Dala-Floda Spinnery - Vålbergs! And the yarn is also Vålbergs - very much dyed of the old master. As you can see - with some interesting colour-changes. Ok - I am seriously thinking of knitting this again some day. In thinner yarn, and as a sweater. It has actually been ready since November about two years ago (rather embarassing to tell)... but it just took me the best so long to get the zipper in place... But - I am happy I did!
Perfect for the first snow fall, and to snuggle up in!
Time to get ready for the holidays! Hopefully filled with lots of knitting!

Finally an FO: Panda-striped Vest

It is not the best knit I have done. It is souvenier yarn from Shanghai - and the "quick-knit vest" was started 2007 - turned out to be one of those UFO's. But this UFO is landed and not an FO. So I renamed it to Panda-striped Vest. The colours are the brown (extinct?) Panda, and very improvised. But the new "phone" pocket is bigger - to fit the new Android ;-) I am thinking I am glad I do not have an IPAD - then I need the entire front to be a pouch - like a Kanguroo... LOL... Anyhow, I must confess I have been a bit "off computers"... for awhile - at least on my free time, but in fact - I have really had a working frenzie - to catch up with everything that has lagged beind. Anyhow, I was in wonderful Madrid last week. Visited three yarnshops.. and yes, I got some wonderful cashmere. But I need to fix photo's right??? Tell you more later!
Hugs out there... It is cold! Really cold and windy.

Shh! Do not tell....

I am working on Viola's shawl (swe. halsduk) that she wished for her birthday. She said it must be "rust" colour - and I think I did a rather good choice - finding this lovely baby-alpaca yarn from the Blue Mountains (Laura) in Australia. At least that was I was lead to believe until I realize that they import their yarn as everyone else - it said so on the label. Well, I have been improvising, but sort of got stuck on this pattern. So, some regularity now. Still a bit to go, but still time to get there. Otherwise, it is indoor pictures, since it gets dark at 16.00 and then daylight on a weekend means raking leafs and picking apples.... and then it is dark. But I do feel good! Take care now!

I am back! FO; Supervisor hat and socks & more yarn

So my dear supervisor (who is a marathon runner/cross-country skier) has a sore overstrained foot. I knitted one sock urgently for my Dr Garngamen graduation party to heal. Here is number two. Great Lovikka yarn has great healing potential ;-) The real gift was the hat - made up with left-overs from my Bohus Forest Darkness - and some real wonderful cashmere/angora/fine merino blend.
It suited him great! At least it was super soft in luxury yarn. Ohh it feels good! Finally my PhD. How great to research. I am back here again. I have worked on gifts -and the "fall-hat" (to one person in the examination committee) is already wrapped in a package, so no picture (!). Sad...ah, well, I have to knit another one....Anyhow, I am now digging into the gift section - for all the people who have suppoerted me. So first and foremost is a sweater for hubby on its way. Long overdue. at least 200 hours to knit.. Which of course takes a few weeks even if you are at it. Well, I guess all my knits take "forever" right now... well... talking about gifts.. - I also got wonderful gifts - not to mention, Spamalot (theater), Spa-treatments (yiha), Lots of wonderful Choclates (yummy) and books, glasses and beautiful flowers and champange ;-) Thank you all! And thank you too for this wonderful handdyed wool-yarn. I have absolutely no idea what to do - but this mix could be a good start for exotic mittens and socks!
Outside is actually late fall. Grey, damp. Definitely been frost - since all leafs are giving up in a last colour galore. And I am pruning trees, and picking fruit and... you know... lot of stuff has not been done for months....The only complaint I have is that the health serviced missed I had lyme-disease (for more than half a year)... that explains a lot of my fatigue..,,But I am recovering now. So, be patient with me. I will soon get all things going here... Blog - come alive! Sunday posting - I am back! Feels good. Now starts the rest of my life.

OT- FO: Nailing my PhD Thesis

I admit! I have been busy doing other stuff than Knitting! I finished my 400+page PhD Thesis, that is now Nailed in good cermony. It is like any other FO - but not really - since I still have the actual defence and dissertation still left to do. But I am happy it is printed in its final version! I have been glued to the computer (and thesis) day and night for some time now (which explains the lack of any knitted items!)
Defence: 21 October at 13.00. Do not expect much knitting until then. Hopefully I will be back in my "normal" one knitting/blogging a week speed then! If I am not like a pile of yarn! Wish me luck!

FO: Silk Swings Again

Silk swings again! The intention was a "swing jacket". But not enough yarn to make it really swing. Also - the "again" is of course a hint that this is "recycled silk". Not really recycled yarn but recycled cloth/sari's. I love the thought of it. And I had fun inventing the pattern myself. Even added my own buttons. The lower-edge is filled with small glass-beads - but they totally drown in this -what a waste of effort. I am most proud of the little "phone-pocket" that is well hidden in the "pattern". Ok - I will loose my extra bulk - and THEN it will be a swing-jacket! Just some more weeks tied to the computer! Then my new life will start ;-) Just wish the cold would leave. It was really "dark falling fast" when taking these pictures, so I hope you get the idea.... And yes, a wash/press will make them sohoho much better. But fun. And Finished! (I am not going to talk about the wonderful Szeged, and the horrible Budapest-Lizt security at the airport - who took my 3.25 needles.. so no progress on the "former sweater"). New things ahead. Soon this web-side will be more alive ;-)

In progress: Årsringar and The Melon

Life has never been more hectic than now. And everything feels "In progress"... my thesis, the new and wonderful blue cashmere "Årsringar" and the wonderful melon that came from just pushing some left-over seeds in a pot. Never have I been so behind, never have a date been so set. This is the moment when you say - it will be another summer, it will be time to fix this and that later, and I MUST not defend my thesis in a favourite home-made sweater. Somehow I am also feeling a bit "blue"... I have never felt so old, that the end is near of life, universe and everything. No wonder I am procrastinating. I wish I just could slow things down a bit. The fall - so my veggies can grow, the hours of the day - so I have time for everything. But really, one must just see it as it is. Life has its cycles, and cease the day. I just want to say. take a deep breath - rejoice for what we have, and dream of the day, where our own grown melon can ripe and become a tasty moment before the frost, the thesis is in print, and Årsringar is proudly worn on this blog. Yes, yes - I was out sailing last week - a wonderful break with friends. We set a new record for a small boat in the gusty wind - we were surfing along with the winds on 8 knots... Which is almost above the possible limit for our 26.24 feet (8 meter) little sailboat. Time to go and harvest the one corn cob that seems finished (compared to the others!)

FO Hatifnatt and IMACOM

Training and the finishline for my Thesis. So much work, so little time. And I am training. Today almost an hour! I am hurting in every muscle, but that is what

to be expected. It is crazy. It is called IMACOM. For a long time I tried to make it "Ignore" month of August Cast On Mania. But I succumbed and it became the real Inofficial COM. I started with a hat - Hattifnatt to start. Took just a few hours to knit, but the tassel was a week of procrastination. Do not believe I do not knit, I knit - therefore I am... But all is almost there. And I also did a frogleg (ha.. could not resist that!!) I mean - I frogged (ripped back the yarn) of a leg on the shorts I am knitting. And then my dear Scotish friend inspired me to really go for it - Dahlia. This is the lace-panel on the back - great is it not? Yarn - Cashba from Handmaiden. Lush - scrumptious yarn. Merino, cashmere and yeah Nylon.... but spongy and great definition. It is a sock yarn, but I hope it will work for this project. Also started something more, but again torn inbetween "finishing" and starting new. Ignore or Inspired... Hard to tell! But still going stronger!

FO Yummy Shawl Collar Cardigan

It fits for the pouring rain finally hit our dry garden. This is the Yummy Shawl Collar Cardigan, from Vouge Knitting or "Designer Knits" as the European version is called (which is stupid if you ask me!) - any how, very fashionable, very snug and comfortable cardigan. I am so pleased with (almost) everything. My added pockets, my elongated sleeves and body and the colour. What I am a bit upset about is that this wonderful yarn - Lorna's Laces is superwash. But the colour was unresistable - "Amy's Vintage Office" which was made for especially for Amy - the editor of Knitty. Knitty is a web-magazine - full of free patterns.

Otherwise it is the usual busy times here. Time is running out on thesis work... stressful... but I had to get an energy boost by sailing (where most of this was knitted). Ahh 19 C in the water and just wonderful...

Wonderful KnitNation in London and FO: Leyfi-Löv

The wonderful limescarf over the fleece was a gift (as one of the books) of the wonderful knittingfriends from the world of Ravelry. London (and KnitNation) was in summary great! Knitting, yarnsales, books and long walks and meeting dear friends! In any case I have been working pretty hard on the thesis - almost there.... and then knitting and training so little time for anything.
But managed to finish Leyfi - Löf, leaf - that I started in February with the nick-name "I want spring NOW"... in July that is so wrong. But nevertheless, today the winds are shaking the cherry trees....and I need to water the plants.... of course posing ;-) I actually hold 4 yarns together, alpaca, silk, and Mimi from Warp&Weft in yellow, and another silk thread with bobbles handdyed by Ann - Anntorps Väv. Warm. Wonderful lacey. Well life goes on for us, but it is just horrid what happened in Norway. Poor kids! We should just be happy with every day on this earth! Love, Peace and Understanding to the world.

Tour de Fleece. Day 3 - Navajo/Andean plying..

So day three. New fleece. This is plain swedish (estonian?) wool from UlloMera. It is again spun on my spindle, and for the first time a did the "bracelet" thing - navajoe 2-ply or as some call it "andean plying". Very smart indeed. The fleece-has two colours, but I have done nothing really. I know I should soak it and hang to dry in the hank, but instead I just made it directly to the hank. So - an entire days worth. I would knit this in 5 ok, 10 minutes.... so much yarn needed. But I still have a lot as you can see. I am not really happy with final result, but that is life. Practice makes it better. We have all been beginners, right?