Move on, relax, enjoy.

What to do when everything feels dark? Start a new bright knitting ;-) Cyklamen/Cerise. Ahh. To the left is the wonderful Silk bag where I got my petal collection, and one wonderful Kid-silk Haze in Cerise from Dearest HPNY Knits. That is mixed with Nikolaj (Danish yarn) and the bright cerise handcoloured from Solveig (Wool-angora) and 3 thick silk/alpacka from stash. So, the entire bottom of this wrap-cardigan is soon done, Ok, it is LARGE needlesize (8 Swedish!) I also got some Noro from Fuzzymabel based on a hint from NY. All Noro of course. Crazy I know. The customs will probably get the prize up to strange levels. But It was to easy, and I was a bit down. That is the second heeling tip of depression. Buy more yarn. Fixes you every time.
(Hey it is NOROVEMBER!!)
Of course being such a fan of my NY friends blog, I act like a true fan,not only stealing her great links, but her great ideas. You can see the Noro in my cerise knitting ;-)
With my yarnstash - you would think Im very depressed, but I can find many reasons for buy yarn. Anyhow, Do not worry about Julia. Elastics are out (since I, allergic to that stuff) and reknit? Forget it. But I will need to wash it before wearing it. Cotton shrinks a bit. Maybe a big belt. Just that the yarn was overrated.
So this blurry greeinsh yarn is Catherine Parr (A. Starmore, Tudor Roses) edge to be ripped. Give you a photo to have the colours. No, Im not using the blues. That yarn is still from the London show in last posting (Jamiesons colour scheme). Sorry for confusing you. But that is stress sympthoms. Cannot even blog structured. Take care. In Swedish Newspaper DN an article about knitting is on the Sunday part. Books and hints. Fun! We are making a mark. Now I need more cerise Kid silk, or should I be bould without it? I sure have been knitting. Luv to you! And thanks for commeting and caring, It makes it so great to see those comemts! Hugs. (Now I must rush to put clothes on my sailboat for winter!)

Disappointments and updates.

Im sorry. Im not a happy puppy! Two days wear, and Julia ribbings are all flat. You would think a yarn has been tested, not only created for "cool" looks. It is the Rowan Cashcotton 4ply. Cotton, Angora and something. Totally lost its form. Sigh, after half a years work. I should have figured overexpensive and micro-somthing does NOT mean it is great! Now I should really stick to WOOL. So, I started Catherine. Worked like a dog, and, even if I have swatched, I must have counted wrong, Ok, I'm big, but not THAT BIG, which of course means a 2 dm (20cm) should be removed. I did on circular, so, Rip rip. 6 hours work gone. But it will work great. Interesting I will knit small size ;-) Anyhow, I realized I did not have Catherine on wooden needles. So, I needed a new small project on the plane. I found HPNY Knits great Kidsilk mohair in cerise. Just matches the Danish Tussah silk -merino mix (Nikolaj). Wooden needles size 8 (no! NOT US size). And-now are Vouge Knitting on every news stand, and I have NOT got my copy? Why, I say WHY! I sure hope I will not miss IK too!

Confusing or just tired? All is Fuzzy!

No Zoe, the last blog-entry pictures was from London. The yarn was for a yarnshop called Stash. The snow was gone this morning. So I walked out in the ice-cold and took this gloomy picture of what I got yesterday.Bag of fleece to the right, three hanks of this superthing green-yellow from Estonia, and the silk in from Solsilke. Grayish white is the merionostuff. It was cold, sand I didn't want to put the yarn in the wet (sorry for all bags).
And I realized that most pictures are fuzzy (shaking with cold probably)..
It is just above freezing, but It will get warmer (All this for you Z - weather!) But good part is that I rushed to Kaffe Fasset exhibition at Waldemarsudde with our Knitting-group Sticka. Nice to meet everyone. Mostly quilts, and I learned that Kaffe has some women sewing up for him based on his colours. Interesting guy that told some history though. And some knitted garments, but I saw them before at Steninge Slott (a castle here). I knew I was going to get disappointed a it (thanks all other blogs), but I still HAD to see it. Rushed home to hubby who changed tires (winter-tires on know!) Yeah!. We were to wrap our sail-boat, but they hadn't lifted her out of the water yet. Im so worried about our little Alice (the boat!). Well, I have started to do the Catherine Parr. Ohh, is she a slow one?
YES. 4 hours 2 cm. 3.25 on yarn. I mix Kempes green (normal 2threaded worsted), and one thread Estonian superthin (so fuzzy picture!) almost sewing thread! that has slow change of greens with a very light touch of bronze. Tough workweek again. I'm off to Aachen (Germany) tue-wed. Västerås (MDh) thursday. Exhausted Friday ;-) I will try to get a lot of Lindt Choclate (the factory is just next to work), and if I'm lucky (do not think so) I will have an hour at Anna Strasse (Görg & Görg) yarnshop. I know where it is at least!
So H. I have not a clue what "left over yarn" I will use for 70 swatches? But the example was a bit too mixed for me. I think I will be more coordinated (like Kaffe ;-)
Have a theme of several colours. Think it through. Create something more calm. All shades of green? no, I do like the Prins Eugen's palett. Blue. Or I actually saw a great painting. Listen to this combo: old pink, lime-grass green., brown-grey, white-grey, and lilac.... Hmm... colours are personal and changes. And we are almost loosing our light here in the blue Sweden. Sun drops so slowly that it is a loooong dusk. All have a blue tint. Just check the pictures.. Like this silk. Sorry for being so confusing. Late nite and brain-dump. Does not work! Luv ya out there. HUGS! Be patient with human flaws, it helps.

Winter- All saints night - Another yarn-show :-)

Freezing at night, and snowing wet at day, I realized that the "syfestival" = Sewing festival (hey no knitting or yarn in THAT name!) was on. Some dear person squeeled that the Danish Kartehuset was there, so I buy more fleece to finish my sock ;-) So, I rushed there. Kartehuset had the best spot, just inside the door, and they also had yummy merino,silke, camel tops to spin! But, the weirdness of these festivals is that there is 99% cash! and I had almost nothing! (Well, Euro's but hey, Swedish people still use the KRONOR!) I got my fleece and went around with sulking eyes. No, I HAVE a yarn room. I really do. Buy NO MORE: Ha! I met Tanja who have done a fantastic silk-garden alpacka mixed wrap-around (Vouge knitting-pattern) and she merrily told me about the new secret moneymachine ;-) Ahh! Plastic saves my day! So, after that, I got (I finally figured it out) some UlloMera one thread that will go with the rather "dull" Kempe's wool in green to my Catherine Parr. Ok, Merono silk from Grinasco (to color). Then I met dearest Margret from Färgkraft. Drueling at Dearest Nysta - bought a book and another head-band yarn, Garnverket - bought two books (she has the Fardhem Gotland-yarn), and of course everyone and everyone at Sticka's stand. I found "just the right" two hanks from Solveig's silk to mix with the cotton from Arcu...you know that Peru unpronouncable mark... Wow. Then Inspired by Tanja's merio-freak-out at Kartehuset I went back and got a whole set of turqoise. Im so into those shades. After giving Stäket (Eva) a quick buy of needles, I ran out in the snow and back to hubby. I have not deared to open my bag yet. I'm so ashamed. But when this turtleneck (loose) is done to Julia, it is Catherine Parr that is on. That is just it. Get going. Winding yarn and REALLY go for it. So, Top picture is the most expensive yarn (even worse than cashmere!) I have bought 22 pounds for one hank (Yes, it is from London).
This one is just from some shelf. (Not mine). If it is not to sloshy outside I will try and do a picture of latest stash enhancement! Im crazy. Clear Hording of yarn. At least I didn't buy any new Bohus (only because she didn't bring it!) Ohh, I forgot to tell about Margaretas ¨(Sticka) scrazy idea.Do 70(!) squares for 12x12 cm and then we are meeting to do a coat in august next year. That is crazy. I got to do some! All with "left over yarn". That could be cool. Baglady in grannySquares. I of course (with no sense at all after being hypnotized by all great yarn) signed up. Please forgive me.

Snow, Socks, Trekking, and Chaos!

Snow Chaos hit Stockholm by surprise. My dear warned me to take the car with summer-tires, but hey, he has cried wolf one time too much, so I ignored him and rushed to work yesterday. When leaving work it was too late. I left the parking at 6 and had to dig out the car with no gloves. I also didn't take my long-Johns Hmm, wanted to look slimmer at the meeting today, but hey. Thank you for dear, who had left my knitted Noro cap in the car. That helped. So after 2 hours! not getting more than 1 km (1000 meters) I resigned taking the car BACK to the parking and walked to the sub. I was very lucky, I only had to wait 20 minutes, and then coming to the central station, where 99% of all trains were cancelled, mine went (2 hours delayed) after 15 minutes. The train (Pendeln) stopped over the motorway, and cars and lorries scattered to block the traffic. No bus, (I saw it later stranded. Now it is -10 degrees Celsius, A hand of snow and a lot of ice. I worked from home today. Thank you for computers! Anyhow, I had Julia on (and thank you all for the nice comments) but NO ONE commented at work. I guess it looked so professional, noone even thought it was handmade. Anyway, you nice comments and the work I know was behinding made me smile all day (which is rather strange when chaos is lurking!) Was it warm? Surprisingly soft AND warm, with the angora. Im very happy. Now I'm thinking of Knitting pants again. I'm NOT finished with what I bought in London. I got one ball of TREKKING (normal sockyarn, 75% wool, 25 nylon), great colours. I need socks. They would probable be durable. And the "Trekking button" is just too nice! Last minute "join". Anyway a good way to find Normas blog and Zeneedel! First picture is the Nickerjack's sockyarn, hand-painted. I winded them today. They are very different. Interesting.
But in this sock-yarn discussion, I forgot to tell you about the greatest present I got from my dear HpNY Knits, which is from the PETAL collection. It was a bag, great hydrangea socks from Sundry. Just that heart-warming gift. Three pair of socks coming up. Also, I have really prepared for Catherine Parr. Swatched, and yarn winded. Ready to go. Like the bag from Stash yarns? I do. Great pattern. Smart! Maybe a little bag first!

Julia! Great Julia!

Oh, Julia is finished. Fits perfectly. After re-knitting the collar twice, and deciding that, no, it will not be a boat neck. And yes, I will do a loose collar that I can attach to this neck (check the small holes in the close-up picture below). It was a VERY slow knit. Maybe the lace on both back and front. The Julia is made from the Rowan Summer collection nr 10 for Cashcotton 4ply. Very nice smooth yarn to knit. It is cotton angora(!) and some weird microfiber.. Anyhow, it dusts a bit, but is soft like the softest cashmere. I started it March, April something this year. Of course, I totally remade the pattern, since all Rowan patters (with very few exceptions) are made for skinny models, not real-size women.
This is done in XXL (pattern largest is L). So it meant one more pattern on the front (and back) and adding a bit on the waist. I also redid it for circular needles, which are much more convinient for flying. I suspect one reason this one is done, is because it has been possible to carry it around with me. Just my lime colour. And a great pattern, very smart. Will be beatuful for a straight scarf with the leafs. Well, it had a flattering model, so, Im very happy. The problem is, that Sweden has got its frostbite (sorry, didnt save those Dahlias) this last nite. Snow on the way. Winter-tire should be on and not in the Garage). Sailboat should be up in is winter clothing, but is still waiting in the water with an ice-coat.Apples should be picked, but is still hanging in the tree. Grass should be cut the last time (to avoid snow-mould) but is long and filled with leaves. Well, Time seems to be shrinking, even if we got an extra hour this nite. Well, I guess I must be clearer.
The Mother-in-law sweater is NOT knitted by me, but by her. She has no blog. She is skilled.Now they left (and I wonder how long it will take until they are coming back, since they both worked like slaves cleaning and carrying stuff). Labour-camp ;-) Anyhow. This very last picture is what my mother-in-law is knitting (also a pattern from Solveig Hisdahl) on "left-over yarns". I'm amazed. Anyhow, it was a crisp wonderful fall day. Sun shining, and now hubby is preparing Gnocchi. That is just great! Filling and yummy. Of course, a typical Swedish forest troll sweater ;-) nothing for the bright city-folks. Well more stories are coming from London. Im sure it could fill the blog until Christmas. That was such an event. Either my life is boring (NOT!) or this was one of the best things I have done. Just following my hearts desire. Now I only have Pitti Filati in Italy to get in to. So, if anyone has a yarnshop, that gets an invitation (or wants someone to represent you), and could consider to send someone (for free to you of course), I'm your Gal! ;-)

Mother-in-law Sweater from Solveig Hisdahl

So Mother in-law and father-in-law showed up. I have had a loong week. Bad cold, but been to Finland (Jorvas). Not a minute to shop but on the airport. Running nose. Then, just have a look at this isn't she fantastic knitter? This is Solveig Hisdahl "Poetry in Stitches", where she have adjusted a bit, because she is small, very small and skinny (it is the diabetic health regim! and walking for hours. Well, it is HIFA yarn from Britt på nätet. It just looked so fantastic in the crisp fall! She got left-over yarn to do another sweater! (It is green). Anyhow, She modified it as you can see. Especially on the sidepicture, you can see she did it one leaf shorter. So the shoulder is different. Also, she used the different hooks instead of buttons. I think it looks fantastic! And, now I have finished Julia. The sleeves are done (last night) and now I'm doing the last on the collar, which I have reknit- since I think it must be perfect. But having tried it, I just cannot wait to wear it. Wow, I MUST knit a sweater like this. It looks GREAT! And pink- hmm, I'm warming up to Pink.
Hmm, I'm so off the seasons. Now we go into wintertime tonite, and it is freezing outside, so I have spent the day of carrying the geranium (pelargoner) and other summer blooms inside. Hmm. Great, just remember I should walk out and cut the last Dahliablooms.

Ohh and even more London, Stash! Part 4.

Clever shop, STASH yarns in Richmond. About a kilometers walk. Dearest HPNYKnits found this little gem, which was filled with american goodies, so of course, nothing for a New Yorker! But, I didn't go on Ally Pally, and had no classes (I will next year), so I thought a little excursion would be fine, before we metup to see the London Craft show (the latter no picture, but great stuff! Really fancy textiles and ceramics!) So, it is a fab yarn shop for the rich. It was just so expensive I GASPED. On the other hand, I did found a lot of colour varieties that I missed at the show. Sohave a close look at this shelfs. Im sure that your best creditcard could help you survive.
Definitely a must for a London traveller. It was not so bad actually took me 2 hours back and forth from central (Picadilly), but ok, I was lingering in this shop. Nice owners! Check them out!
They were nice, and definitely sharing my taste of great yarn! So what did I get, Hmm, One skein of Cashmere in Turquoise (small skein in middle) up left is from the show. No, I will present these little gems much better, one by one. This is not all stash I got ehh, Not on picture is Trekking (Yes, I will KAL too ;-) and a whole bag of Harris yarn from Liberty. Which (when I came home, was NOT the complementing yarn I thought I had. The other one was yorkshire tweed, which was much thinner and better quality/shimmer, ok, I will ignore it, but it is irritating, and of course colours are off!). So In the stash is Lorna's Lace, Nickerjack and hand-dyed silk from Canada. Ahh, It was such a great trip. Links fixed and brain semi screwed on. We did mast-off our sailingboat today. And I have a cold coming up, and a short trip to Finland. Then some workshop. Oh, I'm so tired. But Im working on my knitting, slowly, but surely...

More London....Part 3

So, Check out Mary, Mary quite contrary, my Texas friend. Wow, She is really a good photographer too, and really as fiber-crazy as I'm. I sure missed that Wensleydale Longwool Sheepshop.. How is that possible? but, I agree, Yeah, we three (including HPNYKnits ) had really good times. Next time I make sure I'm not exhausted when I go, and make a real trip out of it. It was so nice. This picture says it? Ok, I admit, I have not even STARTED to take pictures of my own yarn. This is just going nuts at the Knitting and Stiching meet. And I asked the owner if it was ok. So, this first is handpainted silk from Get Knittined.
I have had one day in Linköping, one in Kista, and 3 in Budapest (Hungary). Finally back home. It was all work, but a really good time. Especially finding the choclate shop open 9.30 in the evening just around the corner from the hotel (I mean it - it was Fine choclates from all over the world). Listening to Hungarian folkmusik during dinner and meeting new and interesting workpeople. Unfortunately no time for yarn. And I had taken the wrong Rowan-book, so I had no Sleeve-pattern, so not much knitting.
But, I'm not going to complain. Look at this Jamieson (from Shetland) that also were in London. WHat colours. I bought books, and just had to take some pictures of their fantastic yarn - and get a full sample-card. What do you think? Gahh, druel, gahh.. more.... Even more.. But, they had only brought packs. I think if they have had one sack of each colour, it would have been sold! Bad planning. But next year, I will pre-order ;-) No, that was just it. I promised to fix up my yarn room. Displaying all I got will be the best prevention. But just look at it.

More London yarn craze Part 2

It is breast cancer awareness month. Did you examine yourself lately? This is why half the audience had little pink bands, and why I am going to knit a pink scarf (well, donate!) Well, my story from the Knitting and Stiching show goes on. This work of art (to the left) is done by a young vibrant girl that I met at Liberty (her work at the show). Sorry, remind me of her name please? Every thursday evening a cool group of knitters meet for High tea (and I tell you it was GOOD! Tudor tea (got some champange too) at Liberty for a stich and bitch. The peole I met (which I have figured out - i.e. kindly left a comment on my blog) is Bridgid, and of course I Knit London, also Mary , who is a blogfriend of HPNYKnits, the latter which I was tagging along (like a band-aid ;-). Ahh, the Ally Pally. I leave you with a great druel pictures from the "Get Knitted stand". I bought the Nova Scotia Lace 100% Silk (2 skeins x100g (600m) for 19 99 pounds (yep - so expensive you choke). But, hey you are only there once. But I have to get to Canada. I just love this sea colours, when I get to the pictures of what I bought (none of these are) you will smile.... But this week Im going to Budapest (and Linköping), so no time to blog until next weekend. But, You are not eager are you? You cannot just blog, you gotta knit to!
These last picture is really showing the sea-silk (made of some sea-weed), but somehow the real silk had sharper colours. Below (sorry if I offended some artist rights) I snapped a shot of some of the art-work. I will post some more. I think exposure is important. This is a way to say how much I apprechiate them. Just wish I know names enough (how hectic could it be to jot down a name?) Very, if you are only a few hours visiting one of the greatest yarn-display. So, keep them comments going. They make me so happy. It is great to have visitors. But, rambling on about yarn is really ongoing. I think colour is really an area that is just great. Sparks me. I have all my different hanks laying around everywhere. Just to touch. Silk. Ahhh.
Hanging in a hand... scary and true..Well, I got to get ready for work tomorrow. Train EARLY. Tuula, I do not post my email here, but firstname.lastnameATbredband.net will do the trick ;-) or post your own? Sounds like have progressed in your hand-dying a great deal. Very impressed. Take care! and YES, I really would like to meet you again.

London Yarn Craze Part 1

So, I just went crazy, and said - what is more important than friends? One of my faithful commenter on this blog is HPNYKnits, (second picture)she said - lets go to London! And If someone can fly from New York to go to the Knitting and Stitching show at Alexandra Palace, I can. I just felt my SAS flying bonus had built up enough to give me two days. Anyhow, It took me a long time to decide to go even if London, even if it is not THAT far away. The reason was that Sticklingarna - my very close knitting-group, had a meet (today), and I already said yes - I will go. Great work situation to sneak of thursday friday! There I was, finally to met her in person, so I met my dear friend - a smiling, kind and very generous and caring person. We grabbed a Java and went to the show, where this crazy Ferrari - Yes - it is knitted! met us at the entrance. I quickly realized that I had not checked up on the Ally Pally enough, and that my dear friend was updated of what to buy and not. She was after yarn that does not exists in US, and I definitely looked twice to yarn from US (I have not seen before!) But, we went quickly to meet this wonderful Ingrid, in her booth, who is a master hand-dyer.
Her yarn (She blogs under Silkwood), and after OOhs and Ahhs, I grabbed sockyarn Nickerjac of her special colouring, and also Exclusive Silkwood hand dyed on Wensleydale yarn - supersoft. I think the Nicerjag sockyarn is avalable from Wollywools. What I really apprechiated was that she had reeled the yarn from two ways, so you could see the different colours working together. (Yes, I will show you later). ANother great thing was that she had prepared a ball of yarn with different kind of yarns. You just knit on to make a scarf, and all colours are matched and the yarn is different. Great for begineers and people lacking creativity. Personally, I just think - Great Idea to mix different yarns in same shade. Excellent for left overs! But look at it?! (Last picture?)
I just snapped so many photos of Ingrid's/Nickerjac's great colourmixes. Do you not agree? And yes, she sells and ships. I heard that she also did great special colours on cashmere. Anyhow, she was great - And that just started two days of crazy bliss. There is just so much to tell. BTW. Not cheap. Sheep ;-) Oh boy, what a place. I was stunned. Can you imagine me speechless? I just soaked it in. Like a cow let out on a field of green grass. My hands were walking, playing, touching and all was soft.
Just look at this party of colours. I went crazy. My synapses overworked, the amount of shops, all hand-dyed wonderful things. AHHH I went to UK Alpacka (and bought fleece) then we run past Sea-silk - really a novelity yarn. And I got to put my eyes on Kogiou yarn for real. Well. the exiting story continues. Now I must run to the kitchen and kiss on my lovely - while he is preparing Taco's for us. I will tell you more about London the next few days....(and the rest you can probalby read at my friend's blog!) Comments (thank you!) are always apprechiated!

Apples, yarnstores, Julia and other progress info

The Garden requires full attention. But this weekend has been all about a friend P-G's 50th birthday, and staying with my cousing Sebbe in Uppsala. I of course got 15 minutes on Saturday at YlloTyll, but again (!) I was successful entering a yarnstore without buying something. Maybe stress and hunger had something do do about it. But - I tell you, the store was packed with goodiees. Amazing. I could spend a DAY there.
Also, a lot of displays of knitted garments, many of their own patterns, very smart. But, this week, started slow, but a Machineknitting meeting at Stickbutiken (where we all caressed the new Garnstudio Silke-Alpacka yarn). Great meeting, which will be a story in STICKA's magazine. But Friday I was in Lund - and I also had 20 minutes in a packed yarnstore (Sländan) who had a lot of interesting yarn. Among some, Twinni, and I stocked up on complementing colours for my Speede (100 g of colours 10S and 11). But I sure hope It was not 11S that I had. Anyhow a great and very busy week. On the long trainride home from Lund, I worked on Julia sleeves. So here is progress on both sleeves knitted at the same time. So, it is slow, and still half a sleeve x 2 left. But, I'm getting there. Finally, I have also been good with my circular sweater. "The otherone" is done, but I frogged the first one, so that needs to be reknitted. Finally, what do you say about my handspun sock? I definitely need more fleece to knit the otherone. Since this will not do! But ít will be so warm and soft. I really like it, and I also think it is a great feeling both spinning and knitting the fleece. OK, now it is apple-pie time (Gravensteiner), and I sure hope SAS will not strike, because I'm planning to go to London to the knitting show (just to meet my NY-friend "When the going gets tough, the tough gets going!!")

It is a learning day..

So, I'm not being honest. I bought more yarn than told you about. For example this weird Noro yarn. I do not remember why I decided to get it. It feels weird. In some sort of tree (swe. Bark) Ganbi something. Weird. But, The plan was to do a hair band.
Like the one I did in this other weird Noro yarn. (see next picture!). I seem to fall for the weird yarns (too). They look so challenging. Without any reason. And just to play around with. I also bought an odd Kueyron (black pink grey in the blurry last picture), in a colour that is gone. Realized it is the second time I do that. So, now I have two of them. A pair of mittens? Sweden is not that cold? A purse? Maybe...
I agree J. a pair of silk gloves would be great. Thanks for the congrats! Over the hill and no sliding on the way out. In good mid-crises style I walked fast and biked fast on my journy to work. I sure do need to do that a bit more frequently. Today I had a machine-knitted top on.
I made the edge with beads. I do have a bought sweater that just match it, since the machine-knitted stuff seems to wait to get finished.
So, I was just discussing why so few of my Swedish friends comment on my blog, and the reason is obvious. I speak english here. So, Im telling you. Det är helt ok att skriva svenska - BARA KOMMENTERA. OK? Skriv något. Bums.

Great LYS (2) day!

So this great Knitting bag was bought at Maria's garn yesterday. It is made by Sanna (SannStick). It is made to use on you hip while knitting. Just a tiny bit too small, but great for socks. My Birthday today! Sundy girl. Thank you all, for congratulations! And only present was best given by hubby with love (Ray of Light by Madonna - a bit old, but hey, so am I). Great! But I like to give myself presents. The clematis flowering is gullclematis, and I have actually try to rip it out, but it just keeps coming back. Vigourus! So, Maria talked so warm about the Debbie Bliss Pure Silk , but she was so out. So when I wen't to my second favourite LYS, Nysta (Nina).. She had the full tray of it, and -at 99 SEK I just couldn't resist the four of them below. But honestly I think her other silk is of greater value, just 140 SEK per 100gram. But - I'm crazy. My best silk is still and yet bought at Solsilke. So stop this nonsense of buying. I Keep nagging myself. Maybe soon time to start yarnoholic 12 step program serious. But it is the vibe it is the colour, it is the feel. I MUST arrange my yarnroom in the same fashion, so it is just to walk around. And yes, I do sound like a yarn porn. I just love the touch, colour, smell. I do need help ;-)
But have a look at this. Smooth.
So, also Maria's "fault", she talked so well about Malabrigo from Uraguay, that was just the softest wool in just the right colour... But again (sorry) Nysta got the business (not intentionally), since first I got hooked on the new Noro yarn. Just look at it ahh, and then I realize that was just exactly like the Malabrigo turqoise.. So, I can really see my poncho (!) starting(Bottom picture). What I do with the silk? Not a clue. Mix into mittens? a little scarf? A headband? Wristwarmers? I luv dreaming and planning.
I have also realized that This blog has dropped old mail. Scary. I need to save them. They are disappearing.My life is disappearing. This is midlife crises.

Great LYS day! (Part 1)

I have been shopping today!
First I went to Maria's Garn. Great windowdisplay as always. All purple yarn, wow. So purple. Flowers, yarn and two fab knitted garments. A sweater and a coat!. I mean, she is a shop-window Godess! How impressive. The store was of course filled with Goodies - lush yarn! And - I met Sanna there (who is arranging the next Stickstämma - Knitting Meet in Dalarna). She told about the usual hassles with arranging a meeting like that... since the person she booked with had stopped working where we are supposed to be. Scary. But she and Karin (Uppstickaren - no blog!!) is so clever, they will sort it out. No worries. It will happen. Im counting on it. Anyhow, the business is going fine, and it is so great to see the younger than me generation, popping in to Maria's store, saying "I just want to make a quick scarf" then buying three yummy Fonty Kidopale (Mohair) and size 10 needles. Of course I squeezed and planned carefully, no I have a yarnroom. Carefully... not buy anything on impuls.... But then I saw Sanna with the Como silk thread from Warp and Wäft, and thinking WHY? Well, I now know why! With a one-threaded colourshock like Färgkraft new Tulip (turqoise, pink and blue.. wow...) or the great Trollskog (my favourite) in blueish deep green and forest green, you knit your scarf with a thread of silk. And admiring Sanna's on-going Ikarus (Interweave Knitting 2006). I'm sold. It just looked absolutely great! 750 m, I will definitely have a closer look. Then I found more of my summer Aracunica (well, I cannot pronounce or spell it)... but, then Maria kindly told me that I might not need so much - maybe I have enough. But then she showed me how great that fat uneven cotton goes with Muscat (Garnstudio), in its silky contrast.
So now the hunt is REALLY on to find a fitting colour. Of course I noted that new dark turqoise (almost blue-greenish) special tint I have just fallen hard for lately (the same as the new Linnen colour from Yllet).
Ok, so first LYS was Maria. And Tomorrow you will see what I bought! OK. I GOT One hank of the new handpainted silk from Colinette to the too much silly prize of 200sek (Nysta has it for 180!) But look at the colours. Isn't it great?

Yarn Splatter - Yarn craving - yarn restraint?

So frogging the too large sleeve on Cocoon, or twisted floated shrug, makes many small balls of yarn. These are currently splattered all over the place. (This picture is from the summer course at of the colour nestors Färgkraft that I have rambled upon. I guess, I really feel weird. I have now a 62 item work-planning-list. My job is fun (still), and it is just not enough time to knit. Julia sleeves had got some rows during the week (actually, 20 minutes to my new Kista office is ok, but the hour to Västerås (MDH) is better). So, Im called disträ (scatterbrain?) by my hubby - but at my age, I can live with that. Tomorrow I will go to my LYS's (hmm, realized there are at least 4 that I regularly visit in the Stockholm area!) And I do feel like doing a Poncho (how late am I in fashion?) A quick big knit before really digging into Catherine. (ok, I am planning to finish Julia and Modisett Twisted first! They are getting there. And - best of all - we are having a Sticklings-meeting in two weeks. Finally. Thanks Eva! That is our little group of knitters that went together for 2 years at HV (and some of us even 3 years!) in the knitting course. THe problem is I would like to induldge in yarn - but I have so much. Endless much! Anyhow, I'm going to Lund next week (Sländan?) and then Budapest (Hungary) and Helsinki (Jorvas), so, I doubt there will be much time for yarnshopping. But I hope I have some time for it. (Then again - I have a filled yarn-room, it is just so much fun with yarn!).
Oh.. this is old photosession... haha.. sometimes I think I should go out an pour all my yarn in one big pile. That would stop me from buying more yarn. This is just like one hank from each colour.... Summer linnen.
Oh, I forgot. Yarnshops in BUDAPEST anyone? I at least know some yarnshops in Helsinki...(very off main tourist track!) Take care and see you in the yarnshops tomorrow ;-)

More Crazy books on net! Really crazy!

So, I thought the Starmore was a Queen of Knitting. But I bought her Scandinavian Knitting (her first book), and I was lauging in tears. Not only did the book hurt my wallet. But it was so filled with so many faults it was ridiculus. That was an overrated book. Mixing Binge and Skåne. Wow. Not a pattern I did not know. What a waste. So frustrated (this behavior is called "contrafobic") I of course bought the fair-Ilse Knitting book from her. I sure hope it is better. Of course, I found it on half prize on ebay just after. It is so my birthday soon (ok, Sunday!) I'm turning 45! Scary! I guess I should go for the herbrides and Aran knitting. Well. It hurts. Lets give the Tudor roses a better hand. That is good enough. But no clue on yarn. Wow. Weird that is.¨(Sorry Blog do not want picture today!)

What a week, what a weekend..

What a week! 3 nights in a Hotel. Working like a dog. Exhausted. Conference, talk, hold a one day tutorial... good friend in trouble.in Germany. But home to lovely! Bliss.
Boat motor fixed. And beautiful weather for Sweden in September. It could be freezing, but it was 20 Celcius. Fantastic. Friday nite - inspired by Ulla (Garnlek's) finished Cocoon (ok, Twisted floated shrug), I though, what the heck. It is time. So, We packed up, and half of my luggage was the sweater. Bullandö and to the (in)famous Sandhamn. Full!. But a place at Lökholmen. Then "taxiboat" to Sandhamn. Finally, the real hip place in the archepelago (20 000 islands) outside Stockholm. Beautiful small village, but all closed (evening). Us and our friends went to DB (Dykarbaren) or diving bar. Last nite. Ridiculus place. "Fjollkaffe" 300 sek (i.e. Caffe Latte for 35 dollars!) But a beer for 40 sek (5 dollars). No, do not use the word Fjollkaffe for Lattes- It means sissycoffee! But the big Sandhamn Hotel was more reasonable. We were tired anyway after a day sailing.
Here is the proof I at least tried to knit in the break. But what differs Sweden september to June, is that it gets dark 6.46 now, and in June, It does hardly get dark at all. (11.30 at nite). Well, Great sailing back today, but strained a muscle behind my shoulderblade, so it is actually hard to breath. Weird. Notice the wonderful yarn from Estonia (turquoise in the middle and purpelish), slowly transforming. As usual the neighbourghing boat commented about it. On the other-side was a party boat, that rumbled through the nite, so I think it will be the last time staying there. But, amazing. We have had a almost 4.5 month sailing season, which is fantastic. Well, my new job will require much more of me - a lot more travelling. So, I will definitely slow down this blog to about one posting a week if nothing spectacular happends. Take care out there, and thank you so much for the comments. I luv them.