Spinning Merino!

This is 100g merino that I spun myself. The two hanks on the right (especially the one in the middle) are a bit "unbalanced" in the Twining.To much spin, and too little twine. The one on the left is balanced. Every hank is an improvement. And this last hank felt like an step change! It is so soft and really great. Now, what to do with this? I'm thinking starting with the sleeves to my "spinning sweater" below. But they would do a great market-mitten, i.e. half-mitten without fingers, but not just "Swe: muddar" =wrist-warmers. It is too thick for a shawl, but ok for a more cosy winter snugging "Swe: halsduk" (hmm that cannot be shawl too? Shawl are triangular, and neck-thingi is long and reqtangular). Well, it wouldn't hurt to comment as my NY friend says.It is soo nice to have comments. BTW. I'm recovering from cold spell. Getting better, but not well.

Slightly better! Hope! There is hope! Spinning again!

I have a headache. My cold is hiding in the sinus, and my caugh is bad. Burning nose, but throat is not hurting, so it is better. I can swallow. Another way to say I'm better is I got hope. I did feel terribly sorry for myself, but when I realize It is passing. I definitely do not want to be a victim of the "poor me"-syndrome. No, Just a cold, but great that someone cares. I think that is the solution of most problems. Caring. Instead I care of the wool. This fantastic merinotop from Kartehuset in Denmerk, was great. Last time I spun merino it just became a big blob. (actually, that is visible in the last picture - find the "blob of white"). But, the net is great. You can learn about everything there. Why not share your findings more? I perfer being generous. I will share my experiences.
Someone told me to spray the top with water and oil (coconut is best, but I used olive which also is ok - any veggy oil or lanoline) Dampen it makes the fibers more chewinggum-like when you spin . The other (rather obvious trick) which I didn't figure out is that already prepared and carded top, ready to use should be divided to very thin strands! "Prepared". How easy was that then! I used to take a piece instead of a strand. Huge difference. Interesting to see the top with and without a flash isn't it? But I'm just doing a little bit. No it is resting time in the sofa again. And I do have piled my work infront of me.The real one. Spinning makes you heal faster! Takes my mind of a head filled up to explosion. I think it is interesting - to spinn yarn and knit it immediately. In this very white part, you can - if you look carefully - see the difference between spinning directly from the sheep, or do some carding before. The carded is on the right, and much more even. Last picture is one of those - patches - cardigan.The long is left fron, and it goes around the back. I will be adding on. Interesting exercise in exposing your spinning and knitting.
The bluish grey below the white (and the white) is the latest spun. As I say, I do experiment with spinning thickness, occassionally trying both to make even, and really uneven yarn. I also follow the fleece a lot. But I need more spinning and knitting.
But it is fun. Real fun. And I It will be fun to see where this is going. It was supposed to be heavy cardigan.
Im thinking about having it more dark, but - again. It seems to be the fleece decision. Im going to try my Islandic "candy-bag" that Hallas mother got me from Island. It is 1 kilo of ready fleece looking like English candy. You know, licorice and pink and blues... But that even looks dry, so that will definitely need planning. And I'm an impulsive lady. Better? Absolutely!

Oh no! Not a bad cold!

So, that weekend scare was just the start. Now I have suffered through the day with an aching throat (Dearest hubby gave me soothing choclate ice-cream and pistachio when I came home). How was your day? I did get to bed last nite at 2.30 (actually 12.00) but felt weird, went to my yarn room and knitted until I "fainted". Woke up at 3, 4 and quarter to five (just before the clock). Snuck out, prepared breakfast, noticed my throat was bad. Real bad. bike, sub, . Waiting too long and bought three (!) knitting magz! (Vouge Knit simple - too simple but a good article on resizing, Simply Knitting (UK) - no, I just said, I want it complicated - and FILATI -in all Lana Grossa, but some real ok patterns). Read them on the train 6.20 from Stockholm to Linköping and blowed my nose - drinking tee (no knitting.) Bus to Mjärdevi. Went through four packs of Kleenex and two packs of Läkerol (throat pastill) during all meetings (ok, brought a cake to my new work in Linköping) - Swedish work tradition called "squeze-in cake". Got worse. Told I would not be on work the next days to my new boss, who replied "I bet you would answer the phone": Took the overfilled train back 5.. Had more tea, fell asleep (no knitting). Woke up by a sound I probably made. Girls staring. Hubby picked me up at 19.00 and well, 3 more packs of kleenex, Tea and some more ice-cream. And throat is a bit better, but my head is on explosion. Just saw "While you were sleeping", ohh so romantic. Missed Scrubs. Red Nose. Knitting? Hard with a running nose. But I will try to go to bed without yarnroom. I had forgot how bad a cold could be. It was because I excercised like mad yesterday. Ohh. what new life. I just get sick. Sigh! Start over. It is like Fia with knuff (a stupid game I have no idea what it is called in English).

New life decision

Fuzzy Peony from spring. But it feels like a new life decision. I'm glad you all are back! 1. Catherine Parr swatching is not so great. I must go down in size, but I'm decided. It will be green with orange (or blue?) pattern. WHy? Because I have a lot of this yarn (thanks for asking!) It is my fall project! just trying hard to finish up 2. Julia sleeves and 3. Twisted float shrugs last sleeve! Hmm! And one hour of exercise a day! Husband asked me if I would get fit for a skitrip this winter. (
Note, I have been begging for years, but when I finally dragged him ;-) I had lost all fitness. So this time, I will give him a match for more than the first days. But it is time to practice! So, I had to buy Norah Gaughans Knitting Nature. Have a look what all the fuzz whas about. Ok, she has a matematic mind! Really intresting. But, you know! I'm finishing up, and I'm not starting anything new. I got a bunch of Bohus as well to knit. Life is just to short. I just love going around the world on the blogs or in life with a knit. Finally some mittens from Estonia. No, they are NOT MINE, the hand on the wall in the island of Kihnu. Of course! Now, I'm taking the 6.20 train to Linköping tomorrow. Which means leaving home about 5.30, so interesting. Do you think I will knit on the train? If I'm awake. I'm so happy of the phones with alarms, so you can fall asleep on the train!

My hubby reads my blog! But this is one of my favourite pictures. Good to think about now, when the first day I had a jacket on to work. 12 degrees Celcius. Brrr! It is all about work. I have timed my new way to work. Before it was 15 minuts walk or bike. That length is only the first third. Now there is also 30 minutes by commutertrain, and then another 20 minutes walk... ? Hmm.. I might get into walk-knitting. But backpack (well still ok in Sweden!) and people..... I'm now knitting what I spinned. It will be my rather heavy jacket. But I just feel great about it. I spin a bit, and knit a square that I add. It is growing. Sort of fun to feel the different textures of the yarn. I must go to sleep now. I wiggled my way out of the statistics course, but I still have a lot to do. Glad you are out there. When it is only work, work work, knitting, spinning and yarn is so grounding. And your comments, Thanks Zoe for adding me up and HpNYKnits is too nice. Anyway, I have gotten into this procedure. Don't laugh.
I stop my knitting, TV, blogging frenzy to go to bed. But, on the way I pass the yarn-room (yeah, you KNOW I have one!) And I just have to sneak in and do some rows a a project. Right now it is green silk sleeve (hey, I do listen to your suggestions) that I'm doing. It has a very wavy edge, and narrows down. I'm half way on first lower arm. I did start on the body before (and knitted an entire hank), but I'm frogging it. To get the A-shape it must be even bigger. But I hope that walking will get me in shape for the current size, so, I'm doing arms first :-) Always hopeful.

Spinning galore!

I just cannot understand. It is so silent here. Well my dear friend Christina O, Textil artist sent me a letter to Garngamen (yepp, that is what the letter said!) with an invitation to Formex. Thank you so much. She is of course exhibiting her latest textile art. I have been wanting to go to this trade-fair for a many years, and now when I got an invitation, both me and hubby struggles with a soar throat and a cold. Instead, I have been spinning. Spinning like a maniac. I greased my wheelup, and it was a bit uneven, but now it spinns like a cat! ;-) But here smells like a sheeps stable. And camera will not cooperate for flash. A true software bug I assume. Anyway, the left brown is what I twined together yesterday. The middle is Farhem fleece with coloured blue fleece from Gudruns Ullbod. The white wool (now washed!) is from the spinning course at the knitting-meet in Gotland, where Ing-marie was kind to sell me some unwashed lambsfleece. So the white is not really dry, and it is something special to take out sheep-nuggets from the fleece. Im glad that our noses are stuffed, so it doesn't smell as bad. Should I wash the fleece? It feels fat and nice to spin though, so Im not complaining. Thinking about ordering more sheets of fleece from Fardhem. It is so nice and soft to spinn from. Interesting, that is for sure. Im sort of working through my fleece stash.

Ahh, spinning and Wermland women!

I am so impressed by the lovely Wermland Women. I had just arrived home, and in the middle of the night blogged that I'm alright and back. And - Dearest wonderful friend Marianne immediately welcomes me home over the net (see last posting comment!) I just get that mush wolly feeling immediately wanting to blog and give a warm hug back. Ahh. And I just start to do my laundry (it has piled up!) which I do not mind!It does not require much effort, and still you are "doing something". Anyhow, I decided to spin. And, in an brown envelope I really through I give this fleece a try. And, I realize that another of those fantastic wonderful Wermland women, Barbro, actually sent me this fantastic fleece 2 years ago (almost on the date!) And, have I thanked her? Well, not at all in parity of the greatness I feel this fleece has. It is so far the easiest and most fantastic wool I have spun yet. Just the right greese. Of course the sheep have had hay encounters, but it could be worse.
Just look at it carded. Oh, Barbro what sheep is this? I'm in love with this sheep. It has this light brown, dark brown hue, that when carded changed into a much lighter brown. I asked hubby (poor thing has a cold) to take a photo of me "posing" spinning. So you really could see the yarn, but posing also means it is not my "natural" position. Wow, Wonderful wool, Barbro. THANK YOU! What an orgie! You are just so kind and genererous. What great fleece! I'm spinning on "all levels".
I just had to have a short break and blog a bit.
But the result. Doesn't it look great? Well, I'm not finished at all, that overtension of last week was rather exhausting. But, to my great surprise I was elected "Best industrial presenter" of the conference. And that was a tough crowd of experts in my research subject. So I'm proud as a LAMA! (well, have you ever seen this great animals? having there head in the air!) It feels fantastic after so much struggle. So, spinning - what a cleanser of mind. Soft, rich woolsmell, a slight greese on the hands, and it is forming just right there. Your knitting yarn. What a treat. What it should be? Hey, that is next phase. Now spinning is happning. Well, Wermland sheep is like a great memory of my teenage years where I dwelled in Karlstad. And I did marry a Wermland man, just as it says in the traditional swedish song (sortof) except now is more empancipated!

The Yarnvulture on hold!

So, Yarnvulture (= Swe: Garngamen) have been working. New job, courses, and a fantastic conference, workshop at Windsor (at The Great Park) Do you see the Queens castle down there?). Met a knitting friend (though we didn't find out until we said goodbye). So, I have carried my knitting with me - and just have had no opportunity. Hey, when there is an english lager in the hand you cannot knit! Airports are crazy. Just did not want to press my luck at Heathrow knitting on the plane either (as I always do).But, it feels so good being back home. With spinning, knitting and my dearest. I have no idea of what is going on, but I'm not leaving the house - that is for sure!
So, updates will come! Hang in there! Meanwhile, enjoy some from my collected yarnstash.

Dreams. When there is no time.

I dream about knitting. I have had hectic days, and now on my way to a a sailingtrip, to immediately go to UK (Windsor!). I have now very few hours to say THANKS for your encouraging comments. Yes I will go to Linköping quite often, and probably one night occasionally at a hotel (I will of course check the local Knitters meeting!). But, right now, all I have is my dreams of knitting. And, they are soft. Organic, healthy. Supportive and very colourful. Like my yarn. Ready to be coloured? Ohh.... summer was so great. More summer holidays.

Julia update, 1 UFO done and some spinning

This is how dearest Julia looks today. The little red is holder fo the neck stiches. I have just started with the sleeves. This I'm doing with a pattern. And, great advice coming to start with sleeves just do not work for me. When I see the result I get happy. I'm actually fond of this Rowan Summer Classic Garden 11 pattern Julia in Cashcotton 4ply. It is soft, lace and has the right colour for a use all fall. Looks like a little too open neck, (yes, I DID follow the pattern, almost).Of course I had to add size, since all Rowan sizes are for Twiggy models and ends at L or XL. This is XXXL, hoping to fit me. Also, I did remake it into circular (have I not told you this before?) But my great new job in Linköping (and Kista) but same company will definitely give me 1-2 hours knitting on the train.
So, sorry Linköping knitters, going on a saturday on a train excursion to knit has too much work-flair to me. Even if the company would be great. Second summer progress is doing the sleeves (YES, THEY ARE TOO BIG) but I refuse to frog them. The pattern is all my own, and it is done in Garnstudio's yarn Muscat (mercisised cotton). It is very comfortable. I just do not feel finished with them. I wanted to do an Icord in dark purple to finish neck, sleeves and bottom (no it is just rolling). But somehow It didn't look ok, and I might do that next summer. Now it is in use. And heavy like my MC-tires (ok, car-tires!). But that is a result of sitting to much on my butt, and my hubbies excellent cooking. He have promised to lay of with the coconut-cream wooks (green curry), which are fantastic but builds. On the other hand. I use a lot of yarn ;-) But sweater takes a long time to make compared to those small medium persons, I really envy. Yes, I know I can do something about it. I do not envy them enough,and knitting is FUN! But, Now I will show my spinning progress. And I know this is not the "best even spun yarn". But, I have been experimenting of making it, with different tensions, different ways. So, from the left is "spun directly uncarded, unwashed from raw fleece" (Swe: spinna från tott). Second is spun from Fardhem (swe: Kardflor") carded sheet of wonderfully soft Gotlands pels sheep. I experimented trying to make it in the same thickness as SORK (which was not easy) but it is very soft spun, ok most of it. I realized I do not have SORK yarn enough to a sweater, so I better spin in myself ;-) The third brown-white (also in close-up) is shetland (brown) and swedish (white) wool done on my handspindle, and is only one threaded. It will be a shawl. (Here you see my skills by hand is far beyond the Elizabeth Ashford wheel, which feels a bit wobbly. Need to check it with Gudrun - my specialist and trainer ;-) The far right is just shetland on the wheel 2-twined. I was actually quite happy with that since it is a start of my "falling leaves tree- coat." I think it is a bit dry, but easy to spin, but I might try and spray it a bit with water and oil. On this loarge picture you see the softspun and 2- twined gotland hank (that I actually did today) in comparision. Very rewarding. It just did itself. I had a plan to spin up all I have got rather quickly. So nothing lies and get bad... that would be a disaster. But Sleeves are on the agenda. I have some more that is waiting for that. But first I'm hard working Julia to the end. I'm surprised by myself. I really want something completed for a change. Maybe because I need something to wear at my new job. Take care dearest friends out there.

Catherine Parr, SORK and knitconfusion

How nice you all are, I just cannot believe all nice things people tell me on comments. That is encouraging. Anyhow, Here are some raku items I have done in the past. Two tea-pots in the left. What have I been upto? Working, sleeping. And spinning, and really worked through and twined a hank. I have also frogged Catherine Parr with shetland yarn. I just felt the yarn and the needlesize just didn't fit.Went into stash and are now swatching again, a swedish green woolyarn (Kilafors?, or is it Kempe?) well, It is not a super quality yarn, ordinary, ok, nothing wrong with it, even and 1.2kg. But Alice S is really knitting tight. Back to understand the yarn in a swatch - and Im NOT into swatches! And I found, my Gotland Fardhem yarn SORK, which is a thick, very loose spun yarn, on 5mm needles, different grey, that I just had to start (directly from the hank.. yes, it was late, I will do it!)
But what a nice knit. Then I spotted the candy mix of coloured fleece from wåhlstedts, and really thought how to "spiff" it up. I just love to start a sweater, and then design along you knit. You feel what the yarn wants to do with you. But, now I'm in knit confusion. I have too many ongoings, and 4(!) are now waiting for sleeves. It is about time to have a sleeve fall. Or many wests. I will take some pictures on the summers knitprojects this weekend. I must. Here is a reminder of Julia before summer. Ahh, must comment on Swedish Telly, we have Miss Marple (Agatha Christie) that runs on our CH4 from BBC. And it is so great, because this version is just filled with knitting, and nice knits. Great! More knitting and knitted artifacts on TV.

Sailing and knitting

Sailing cleanses the soul. When I just thought summer was by, my lovely and I went to the boat. It was raining. But we were packed. Waiting for it to clear up, thunder and a great meal at Bullandö Krog, we went out for two fantastic nights in the archepelago, with sunshine, stars and full moon, and magical warm swims in the evening. Julia on the knitting needels, and now I'm starting in the neck so it is soon "just" the sleeves left. Well, I got stung by a whasp (actually, I squeezed the poor thing between my arm and torso). And I slept like I have never slept before. The astma disappear, and we had great food. A Dajm-ice cream at Möja. This morning leaving Säck we got a new record speed on 7.15 knots, on our little Alice, and we had not all sails out. Tomorrow starts the serious business, so I guess the summer "frenzy" of publishing knitting trips will be different. But who knows? I have not yet taken any pictures of all my knitting progress this summer. Actually I really got into spinning again. Ahh, what a Caffe Latte can do! Take care out there, and be nice to each other (and me ;-)

Gotland Symposium Part 4 (of 4)

The last day had nothing to do with Chicken. But I fell in love with this one, who garded the entrance to Huskroken. Actually, from a distance, it looked real. These intestive great days. I ended up with the imaginative short course "try and test new possibilities" that recycled and cut plastics, made wholes, and knitted attachments (as well as bike-inner tires). Great! But I was at this time exhausted, tired! I just were content. No room for any more impressions. And, I love recycling, but my mind goes to Antiques rather than Ikea, home-made. Im just not into knitting with electrical cable, plastic bags, or any other type you can make into wire. But, Suede got me where it feels warm. Hide, to be cut up and knitted. Hmm. Well, a great course, some lunch and a good discussion with friends.
Dearest C. who nicely enough gave me a ride to Visby. We had a good time, checking out Yllet and the medieval fair. I got a ride and a long chat with my knitting friend H, and hit the sack around 5 in the morning (ferries at night is about as scared I can get, unfortunately have close relations to the Estonia catastrophe). So, now I have been working and I think there will be a lot more travelling - with work. Soon London (ok, no knitting on the plane this time!) Sigh. That is just so hard to understand letting a few yerks rule my world, paranoia is a disease spreading fast. I do not mind to travel, but if I'm unable to knit? I do not know I long I will last. Looking forward to airplane business announcing -
Here it is ok to knit with wooden needles. ok. I give you a small picture on my shoe. It is filled with yarn of course. As my life. And lately my dreams. Yarn do fill up. Tangles life. Give me hope. I will need that when I do sense hostility is starting to grow in the world. I always wonder if we WANT to misunderstand each other, or if are making an effort to see we are all humans as incomplete as we are.

Gotland Knitting Symposium Part 3 (of 4)

This day was mostly about Spinning. I felt very confident. I have spun some so I was not a total beginner. Most of the group had some experience, but the few who didn't really got going fast in my opinion. But, all of the Spinning wheels were "semi-modern" or modern, hence all of them was upright. I have an Ashford Elizabeth, a traditional wheel that I bought from Gudrun, but that beauty was at home. So, a local had made these, with an extra large entry whole for the thread. Becuase this was not an ordinary spinnig course, this was a local invetion (well...) called "Spinna Tott", which in my translation is spinning directly cut from the sheep. No carding!
The wool has too be long and of excellent quality, since you are supposed to clean out the tip at the same time you are spinning! We were taught by our teacher, Ingmarie ( in striped) had a lot to think about. Somehow my local, very beautiful crafted spinning-wheel just did not agree with me. But Hey, I know this, so I just struggled, and struggled and struggled... I realize that as soon as I started, the tension loosened up, so it was just twisting the thread, but not "eating" in (swe matade). So, what is called "breaking the neck" of the thread, or making a "rubber band", was at risk. You spinners surely understand.

The second problem I had is that I'm used to sit low and relaxed with my feed on the ground. This spinning-wheel was so high up that I had to "sit in the air" with my hands very high. Somehow I just could not relax.Back aching. And also, very unused to have the "whole" and the pedal above each other. But I thought. Practice. So I spun according to Ingmaries rules. Take the "tott" from the cut side. I sure became an "effect yarn", which was interesting. You need to be fast. And threading with both feet, my back got sore, my arms and shoulders was hurting, and snap, I strained a muscle. Poor me. Poor me. I got sad and angry. Non of the "relaxing" comforting spinning I have been used to. Sigh.But we had a break, and have a traditional got to the field, which is "gau te Änge" (my dialect attempt).
This means take your knitting, have a FIKA (coffe with saffron-bun and gorån) and just enjoy. This local meet should be done in apron and take on your best clothes and has been very important in history. I wonder how many kids that has been produced in those bushes ;-) Anyhow, We had good local accordian, and fiddle band and also a bit guiding. Wow. Very nice break to a broken body. Look at this great local ladies. They one in the middle were so proud, she had spun and weaved and sawn her dress.
She was though complaining about the Fardhem yarn being "to uneven". So I realize, we all have different preferences in life. I think it is a feature, they think it is a fault. Anyhow this great break did make me grow up to a decision, instead of whining about my disagreement of the spinning wheel. I just bought fleece. And thought to do it in peace on my own wheel. And, to be honest, I have been sitting two evenings now and and no problem - but, then I was told by Lilly from Sigster's that when you spin directly without carding, you should start IN THE MIDDLE. So I was tought wrong. I realized why my yarn had bad ends. Very interesting. But best of all, there is no problem doing it. I have though discussed that combing the tip a little before starting makes it better, maybe because I want a good yarn. I met her at the medieval week, where I also ordered a special thingi (got. Kränku?) (see picture above) to have your wool in. It is put on a pall (hmm, stool?) and you can turn it. The idea is of course you can us the pall to sit on in between. But when this wool addition is on, if the wool is cold, (and you know how hard it is to spinn cold wool) is that you have it up in front of the fire, and then turn it and pick a warm piece to spin. Nifty?! Well, All in all a fantastic third day. Except the total cliquing that occured. Making it hard to meet new people. Well, one better know when people rather talk ABOUT you than with you. That is a sad truth. On the evening there was also a Fashion show with all the local designers. To big and without printed program it just rushed by. So, Let me present one of my heroine, Agneta Werklin, behind Yllet! I just say that the Gotland people both have a fashion, colour and money-making sense. I just say. WOW!

Gotland Knitting symposium Part 2 (of 4)

The second days highlight was to visit Fardhem spinnery. A machine that came from one of the nestors Alan and Sotenäs spinnery from the Westcoast of Sweden. They started as Havdhem, but folded. And then a whole lot of people bought shares and it is a collective start, and some EC support, these two ladies have taken on the hard work of learning all there is about the machine and producing a very softspun yarn, where all aspects of yarnmaking - from sheep, washing, spinnery and distribution is done at Gotland.
Anyway, a bold attempt that produced a must have yarn.
So at this point I must confess. I have no idea what the lovely ladies names were, and currently I'm to lazy to find that little note. Why? I was so focused on the spinning process. In detail. Like she has to weigh just the amount of wool, that has been prepared with coconutoil (!) and water to the right moistness, and spread it out evenly in a short moment of the machine. bit, by bit, slowly but surely. That is really feeling your yarn!
Then on this picture the hanks are binded by hand. And - a must on two places (easy to forget!). Then a detail on Abba's sillinläggningar (hmm, herring-lids, a little thing from the west-coast) that I just found interesting. You really have to be creative to keep this old machine going. Anyway, I must say I really loved this visit. It brought me as close to the wool as I would like to be. And the two sheep GUTE and Gotlandsk sheep (curiously not the same).

The later has also been called gotländskt pälsfår (meaning Gotlandsk pels or fursheep), but the have redecided on the name. What is curious is that all of them are called lamb's in the local dialect, and a lamb is called a lambkid. And also, both female and male have horns. Wow, now Mary-Lou, a good translation would do, horns? I feel it is like an anti-loop (sorry, had to put in hyphen there, since Im a computer nerd!). Anyway, Gute is the original sort of sheep. Both have great wool, and they breed for wool. Lately that have had focus on the meat, which is a pity (for us wool lovers). What I also learned is that the lambkid (haha) lammunge (Gotl.) fur is not cut the first fall, but saved until february next year, to become extra long. This wool is used to spin directly from (handspin) without carding (swe: Spinna tott!)
Here we can se the fleece getting spun into one thread. A process that must be watched to fix if it breaks. You can also see Marika in her fantastic real bragging-knitted beautiful Ovanåker in Twinni yarn, trying
to avoid my camera (or is it me?)
This last picture is the phase before, where the yarn is cut/moved into fleece-strands. Wow, I realized that handspinning is really a great, just needs some wood and string. Ahh, ok, the screws are metal, but I know they are not necessary. But, yet. In this noise these two ladies work so hard to create a new and novel yarn. I bought Sork (the really thick one), in the different natural shades of grey and grey-white (to difficult to clean the machines from all gray!) also because I alreay have Töis in grey and lime for a sweater (the more common, one-threaded yarn). So, I was happy - But - as you know, I have yarn enough ;-) And I can also spin!

Don't you just love it?
Then we went in the beautiful evening to Huskroken. I never understood that they are behind the colouring of ecological cotton etc.. Great colourplace, but most colourblends just do not agree with me, and - I know how to color wool (I know it is not the same process!) and I really looked for some cotton yarn, I just were not yarn hungry. I have a good stash to take from here. (WOW, what a surprise!). But such a great evening. This is the real Gotland to me. At the coast. The sunset, heat and flowers. But, again. I might have my colour course to close. I'm filled up, content. No more.
For me this colour is like someone just played-Kids stuff, ok for kidsclothes. Maybe doing a neckless. But that is it, again. But, she is a weaver, which I think is an explanaition. Knitting is not always good for superbusy. I think colour and colour-mixes are so personal. It is ok to have different point of viewes. What was curious about this whole knitting meet that it was a very select group that was invited. Well, that is how it is. So what course did I go to? It was called Knit in all directions. And was led by an artist Pia Berglund, who seem to make a living of copying others work (good for her). Like knitting Sushi (found of 33000 hits on the internet for that!), and knitting shoes. And imitating painting from Matisse etc. So I started in - from an artist point of view- bad mood.
I personally think using someone elses pattern "copy", and takes away a bit of the personal touch the whole creation is. An artist should invent "ideas", well, I warmed up. Her idea to make a one day workshop, buying old shoes (smelling badly), and knitting around them were not that bad. Actually, I got into it. Not that I see the process very liberating - since I'm a free spirit. But a lot of routine - pattern bound people really were extatic. And the result - I agree - was great. An exhibition of all our shoes. But now I sit with this stinking thing, and thinking that I wasted my expensive yarn on something that just takes up space. Interesting. Very interesting. So, being the most grumpy participant... well,. The Fardhem Visit was really good for me. Doing something for the waste-basket. At least I worked hard to make my shoe useable. But the thought of doing anotherone, and also having to walk in these high-heels, really makes me anti. So why did I not do the simple way? just a fun shoe? I'm such a serious person, with so little time in life.I do not know. Maybe it is because my very original and extremely poor brother struggle so hard, I nothing is copy about his work. And blogger refused my shoe picture. Something to dwell on later then.

Gotland Knitting symposium 2006 part 1 (of 4)

It was time to meet my fellow knitters. After a very early start, the plane dumped me at Gotland airport, and luckily I found other knitters in the same predicament. We shared a cab all the way to the middle of the Gotland Island - Hemse (read: This means too far from swimming in the heat!) First day was great! I really felt like a lot of people actually wanted to meet me, which created a warm fuzzy feeling. A lot of dear hello's, and many familar faces. And also some new... What a great start. After a long introduction of all the teachers we could finally get into knitting: I took a short course with special pattern used in Sweden but probably from Faroese or something (no one never credits the right person for a pattern, sigh)... clumsy translation: lift hank, lay hank, knit hank and stitch together. That created this nice thick pattern. (A bit weird starting this knitting though, you have to read the pattern carefully). This course was tought by one of those really important strong knitting women, Kerstin Nilsson, who arranged last years knitting symposium in Åsa. She is a very entertaining speaker and has a lot of knowledge, but I heard rumors she is waiting on her pension, probably leaving this carousel and becoming private. Well earned, since she has been working at Hemslöjden for many, many years. Her true soul is of course with BINGE, a traditionally Swedish pattern group (and totally screwed up in some english written pattern books). So the "lay hank .."-pattern looks great in both thick yarn and thinner yarn, but should be knitted to 5 to 6mm needles. Not as fast growing, as one could think. But, as some patterns with a story, a very interesting experience to knit. In the evening we heard an seminar about Gotland's knitting tradition from a non-Gotland women Birgitta (who only lived there 26 years!) (OT: This says all about an attitude that I just can't understand. We all live in the same world? Who is counting years?) We got a Gotland history of knitting through her speculation, which I rather liked.Who knows without research, and unfortunately this women power have never been in focus or documented in such detal, that it can be truely known. Therefore the blogs will serve as a great research database for the future. But, Gotland knitting tradition with "trojkellingar" (hmm. sweaterwomen), was very interesting how these women earned something for themseleves. The Gotland pattern collection and recording is saved only because one Women: And a lot of the thanks goes to Hermanna Stengård, a strong women living many years ago (end of 1800), that collected knitted artifacts, and copied down their unique patterns. It has been documented in a book, "Gotländsk Sticksöm" which I have managed to get a copy of some years ago. Just an amazing book. Do not even try to look for it - It is an antique. But, since I'm a pupil of Britt-Marie Christoffersson, the number one mentor of all knitting for the last decades in Sweden (like US Elisabeth Zimmerman) , I already new most of this. Britt-Marie has been presented before on this blog, and I think almost all teachers and current knitting designers in Sweden is a pupil of hers. And I owe all my skills in knitting to her. Of course my first break I sneaked into Solveig's Bohus class,
and checked out her new patterns. Having broken her arm, she confessed she has been very bad for a long time - no colouring or knitting, so it was such a warm meet. I truely respect this wonderful women. Her coloursense is beyond words. I so much hope she will find strength to give the world more Bohus patterns as accurately as she does. It is such a true and rich pattern treasure, the world would be poorer without it. Finally my favourite collar is created. Look at Marianne posing in Grey mist. She does not look happy. But she, a wonderful friend really is one of those warm and generous persons. Second picture here Marianne is posing in the great yellow lace collar. Of course in my collection and on needles, but not that far gone. But, the true news here is "the Egg", small picture, which I of course immediately bought.
These very intricate patterns in the wonderful merino-angora (50-50) yarn is the peak of luxury. It is so filled with status, that one person told me, (story probably origin from Solveig in class, but great stories spread fast),anyway, this women had stopped some distance from Solveigs stand and started to cry when she say that blue shimmer was for sale as a yarn pack, since that was one of her highest wish in life, to become so wealthy to be able to own a true Bohus Sweater. Get it? Beyond our comprehension. But I have no problem crying over a Bohus pattern, it just moves me to tears too. It is so sensual at the touch to do these patterns. They are so great. And, my weird mind cannot remember the other new patterns name on this last picture (which is a bit fuzzy), but you get the picture? Beyond words. Note, Blue shimmer is not in these pictures. But on my needles. Also, For those US readers, do not miss my very distant Swedish friend that runs One of Susanna's, and makes it more easy to get Solveig's patterns in the US! Did that end day one? No, it became so busy and late that my head was spinning (hihi) before I fell asleep after a lot of knitting and discussions in the nice Swedish summer-evening.