Sneak peak of Queen Catherine Parr, A Tudor Rose!

So far, so good. She is shining, isn't she? Hurray for Queen Catherine. I just finished the neck this morning, and have started on one sleeve. But, Monica, for you, I will show you the great Queen Catherine, before she is ready. Maybe I spoil the effect, but she is so great. And that extra one threaded yarn that I blended in, makes the hues so interesting. A bit coppar, a bit darker greem, a bit lighter green. Anyhow, a very cleaver pattern. Now it is "just the sleeves", and if you know how many swaters I have waiting for "just the sleeves" you would be laughing. More than 5 anyhow. I just think the neckband is so fantastic. What a great way to end a sweater: Look at it up close: You can really apprechiate the pattern. It is a bit bubbly, but it is stil unwashed and unpressed...! Great fun anyhow. I so miss going to the festival. And I realize that I had ordered yarn (another Bohus!) from Solveig, to pick up. But a dread walking. I was shortly outside and just up and down the basement (yes, you need to go outside in our house) really took the breath out of me. Imagine running around on a yarn festival. Im panting already. Anyhow, Im glad Sticka's speaker was Katarina Breiditis. I know everyone is so impressed with her, but for some reason Im not. I guess, it is because I think Im much more creative than her, and she is also as sloppy as Im - meaning, that does not impress me. But, Hey, Im not competing. Im not even in her business. Good luck to her. But, It is not like Im hanging over every word she says. And maybe, I detest slaughtering a knitted sweater. For me that is a process of making ugly. And - I guess it is a matter of taste, but I just admire neatness - maybe because that is something I wish I had more of. Im a bit sloppy as a person. Does not really bother, and nothing tight in my mind. A person I do admire is Britt-Marie Christoffersson. I admire her. I admire everything about her. Creative, knowledge like any I know (about knitting, colours, design, patterns), and of course the greatest teacher there is, And, the teacher of me (and Katarina B) by the way. Actually also the teacher of Solveig, hey, there is hardly any Swedish person not being taught or impressed by B-M. She is the true guru. Of course, having heard about ridiculus copyright stuff and yarn quarrels, takes a bit off the guru status of Alice S. But her pattern. My oh my, The Queen is a share joy. I cannot recommend it enough. Not if you are worried about "oversize" or not adding inches to your waiste, but what a pattern. What finish. Anyhow Queen Catherine Parr, who died of a fever. I sure hope that is not contagious, because I have not been this sick for years. It just doesn't go away. How I will go to work next week (physically) will be magic. OK one more look and say Ahh! Horray for the Queen. Horray for knitting. At least I can knit all weekend. (so, Should I sneak off to Stiches festival tomorrow? Last chance. Very last.. I must go, I just must. Bohus, Ahh bohus... Ahh more Naturgarn in white, to colour, great yarn!) Maybe some more fleece.. No, have enough.. HELP! Big help! I have a yarn room. Maybe I should stay the day there!)

Missing yarnfestivities, but hey, Im not bored!

Do I look like I need to go to a yarn festival? (Syfestivalen, nu på Sollentunamässan 3-5mars). THis was my findings after Warp and Wäft, and I have been shopping yarn since then. But I miss the Sticka yearly meeting. Im still fighting that bad cold, but otherwise Im fine. It was worrying that the lungs could fill up so quickly, but now Im just the normal miserable me ;-) Anyhow, that has not stopped me for giving 10 hours in front of the computer every day (I just HAD to submit my research paper!!) And I succeeded, much thanks to my great supervisors. So today friday, I have done minimum of work, checking mail and actually taking it easy, which means I have sawn togheter the Queen! It is now a vest, and I of course tried it on, and - TADA; IT IS PERFECT. SO, conclusion is - Im huge ;-) Actually Gail, do not worry, I think that not all Alice S. patterns are oversize, this one is, you can see a Large is 120cm! and It actually fits perfectly on me. So I started to knit the neckband, and it is a lot of "make knots", and now Im heading into the pattern (!) for the neck. I must say this pattern is one of the most rewarding I have knitted (next to bohus which forever has my heart!). The finish neck is really something else. I cannot WAIT to show it off. Unfortunately, there are still two sleeves (44cm!) to do. and that will probably take all March!. Then I promise I will do many sweater quick-knits, and finish a lot of UFO's. The painting by my brother (last posting) is Oil, He does mostly Oil hardly any acrylics (especially since he got an allergy from it I think).
Anyhow, do not worry about me. My spirits are great. My hubby grows a beard. I have tulips on the table in front of me, and the yarn-room is packed with interesting projects. Actually I have sneakily started (I know I shouldn't) a new big alpacka/silk mix you know, Catalina yarns? Debbie Bliss think aran? I think that will look great. Im doing it so plain. It is my "go to bed" knit. A few rows just before bed. Weird habits? Yepp! Now I must get back to pattern D, the neck... I just looks fantastic. Can you really wait for the finish product? you do you want a sneak peak? No, you just look at great yarn, and wish you were healthy enough to join Stickas yearly meet, and buy more yarn at the festival. Sigh! My thoughts are with you friends out there! Gotta Knit know, Ahh dear queen here I come!

Garngamen at ER - and back again!

I guess this week was not as planned. Monday I took train to Lund (4someting hours one way) to do a work. No seats other than in dog-compartment. I luve dogs but Im allergic. Not a good start. That astma, stress, little sleep and cold started its magic. The day ended by a great visit to Sländan, which is the very nice yarnshop. I of course bought too much Twinni and some thick Alpacka-silk (looking like Catalina Alpacka! yes, both of them was to complete a project, that is at was Im telling myself). It made the trip home next to a flue-sick girl a bit better. And - I had a semla (hihi).. really yummy on the train. I bet a lot of people thought I didn't deserve it, But I did ;-) The thing with semla (a bun with cream and almonddough) is that sometimes they are cheap and use aprticot cernels in the almond doug. Im sensitive to stone-fruits. (You see how this builds up?) Anyhow, Tuesday I got the flue, and used my great option working from home, And at noon on wedn. I just had to call in sick. Hubby also sick. He told me that when Im to sick to water my Hoya's - Im ready for hospital, and - I was breathing rather heavy. So, ER, here I come. (In this panic, the first thing I packed was Queen Parr!) and -realized that I have not enough yarn, so I panted upstairs to wind two balls....Of course, this was when hubby heated up the car (it is COLD here!) because Im also sensitive to cold when I have asthma. I didn't tell him. So - ER, great people, hardworking nurses, and a lot of strange sick and old people. Stay on intense care - so there was a place at the Heart intense ward. Great nurses, they all luved my Birch-shalw. And took great care of me. Then tossed to Medical. And grueling days became better based on: I have a wonderful husband. I came with homemade caffelatte, sallads, served me all knitting magz I wanted. And - The fact that I had Queen Catherine Parr. I tell you it is hard to knit with a needle in your wrist, a thingi on your finger (puls, oxygen), so it was slow between medicins, but now 18 needlesticks later, Much to much chemicals Im home. And I think Tudor Roses is such a great book. It is such smart patterns. I have planned a lot. And Im very soon finishing the back. And - Thanks for all advide my dear friends. But I will tell you this: It is too big to be pillow. It might be better as a blankie. But you know, I learned that this particular model is oversized, and Im a bit oversize, and also, It is the new fashion to be oversized (accoring to all magz I have been reading, first the short trend, then the oversize!) So, If it is to big? I will not care. I will cherish this sweater for the rest of my life. Life could be short if you do not enjoy every stich. Im fine now. But it was scary. I cannot say enough praise of the comfort a big knitting does to all people in a hospital - at especially the knitter! Now, Im home with computer, Tv, Fresh caffe latte and a Vienetta (Chocklate icecream). (Art - Johan Mauritzson in picture above! Go brother!)

Weird it is.. More yarn to the collection

After a BIG fight with blogger (where I thought I would loose - meaning, not post anything) I hope (if that happens) that you will locate me). It is a warning message! (Im sure to figure it out). Anyhow, weird it is. And Im slowly (I mean slowly) even if there is occasional intense knitting, working on Queen Catherine. So Front is finished, and I just started on the back (sleeve-holes and up). It will be big. no infact HUGE. I think I will look ridiculus in it. And, I just have calculated I would have been done now, if I did fitting me. But I will not rip it up. Who knows, I might have a huge friend somewhere (Pun intended!) And I just reknit it (ha).
Im rather stressed. Abstract due today, and paper due next week for research. I have a bad cold, nose is clogged up (again). Even my new yarn is freezing in the snow ;-) I so like it. This is from the Warp and Wäft visit. It is so spring. Still winter. Real winter. Anyhow, I got to be a member of the Yarn Collectors (Thanks). So I must show you some more of what is in the bag.
This is Silla and Villa.Great for fine knits, like wrist warmers (also WW). I just bought a "few hanks" of each type of yarn. To check it out. I luve planning next project. I have been thinking about Poetry oif stiches in new colours and with yarn from stash.... But It is interesting. I do not really want to decide, because when I do, I want to knit it immediately, and I feel I have committed to finish the queen, and finish two more UFOs (at least).

Yarn collection and the need for quick knits

Most readers know Im slowly working on Alice Starmore's Tudor Rose: Queen Catherine Parr (in green). I have now two cm to reach back neck, and Im getting exited. Today is going to be a knitting day. Weekend. Just a little work to do. That calm is back. But I realized, between yarnshopping and blogging and knitting on thin needles, you need a quick knit. Just to say, Hey, what did I do January? 2 caps. So, It took me 1 hour to do half a pair of mittens. So, 4 hours to a pair of mittens? That is fast. Unfortunately the red cocoon wool yarn was one of those sale "I just got to test it" yarn, which I also have 2 balls of teal.
So Friday at my LYS (Nysta) I picked up 2 more teal, unfortunately the red was out, so I went with black. Im thinking of my cold brother, who freezes in his house up north. Any excuse is a good excuse. Do you not agree? It is so nice to get a comment from you my dear friend H., and a great button it is. I will now proudly disply the Yarn collectors button (of course invented by Presistent Illusion). I had no idea where that expression came from, but these things happen. Someone said Yarn collection instead of stash and you are hooked on the words. It makes me proud. Of course I have good intentions to knit it all. Slowly but surely. Im a bit suprised by the fact that dearest Queen did not use up more yarn. I was sure it would take 1.5 kg (more than 3 pounds) of yarn, but It is less than 500 grams so far, and it is not much left..... (Yeah!) just two sleeves and the half front and neck! Feels like I have done more than half! The sun just came out, -9 degrees. This is how I mess up (and do not finish). I do a Quick knit. After a while, the quick knit is not quick. It was an entire project. Now, this year is the year of finishing staring projects. Finishing all KALs I enter, since 2008 I will start with a clean slate (HA!) I will try. Im determined. First project is the Queen. Then Project spectrum needs its GREY and BLUE. This will also be matching my planned rythm. 1 NEW (Queen), and 2 UFO's. The Queen and I are still companions for awhile. And Montreal, here I come (week 9). I had so much trouble finding an open yarn store there. Now I know at least two. But, as always. Is there time for searching finds to the collection?

It happens.. things not expected

OT: Interesting world. My normal blog-computer had a black-out. Of course, that is where I store all my photos, but even a whiz-kid needs to find the CD (or burn a new one). Well, I whine for my hubby and he is in service - that is my love!(myself had to work on a saturday!) Knitting: Queen Catherine Parr is now moving on, working that bit between the split sleevehole and neck. Upperpart of body. Slowly but surely. Anyhow, I have got my first "job" as a yarn-consultant (that was the last thing my old computer did). Mother-I-L came for a visit, wanting to knit the Knitters Fall front issue. I have translated it, and she wanted better option for yarn than Fantasy (yarnshop in Arvika). So, Time for visit to the YARN-consultant in the yarn city of Stockholm (us!). It would be an easy find (ha!). Inca is not available in Sweden (and hard to get this exact thickness of alpacka too), and those colours, I swear, if you surf on the brownish, it looks like beige, so something is so wrong here. Also those little mixed colours in-between? Wow, what a challenge. After going through what M-I-L really wanted, the plain alpacka is a bit on the warm side. And she wanted smaller than small (petite!). Interesting, I do the opposite, add on to make patterns fit, and she has a discussion on what to take out. Also, she really thought those straigt sleeves were way to big. And she started them on straight needles.. (it is three threads...). Of course she is a master knitter. We went to Nysta, and she had Du Store Alpakka - Baby silk (30% silk and 70 alpacka) in just the right gree and darkblue. Now the medium blue became a great purple (you will see), Red we found a Garnstudio one, and the orange brownish is also Garnstudio. But that mix. In Sweden - there is just one place to go. Maria's garn. She hand colours, and it did not take long to find a hank that just beautifully captures all colors. (the one on the bottom). Not as in the original, but still. Of course MIL is already going at it. But three colours back and forth. Hmm requires circular on the cuff, and than back to two straight (the pattern looks fun!) This experience really gave me perspective.
The amount of yarn for a small/petite is the same as two sleeves for me (ok, maybe a little exaggerating), No wonder that supersize takes some time. Secondly, it was as fun to chase for me as it was for her. "If you need a yarn consultant - I talk you there!" So look at the difference of the yarn unwind and wind. Well, A yarn consultant also creates balls!
But, when dropping them off for a walk in the city I just HAD to stop at Warp and Wäft. So close to home, such a great person owning it. I wen beserk. Got this Green bug, and got almost anything knittable in the colour-range Green - including silk, Silla, Villa, Fia, Ulla, and whole bunch of Finish thin yarn mostly merino - silk mixes. I smuggled this bright paper bags in the back of my yarn room, and felt guilty. But it was just GREAT. Are you curious what I bought? Im, but trying to sneak off and take a photo didn't work. I got only one that gives a hint that the bag color is the same as the content. And Two bags. That says it all. Anyhow, this was just a big longing for the spring. It is so winter here. The fire is burning in the stove. Outside it is -15 Celcius. The birds look like balls. And I have a lot of insulation in my yarn room. No, it is not a STASH, it is a COLLECTION. I Collect yarn. But I promise I go outside and try and get some better pictures tomorrow. Anyhow. Did I really go to three yarnstores and not buy more than Two bags? Of course. Yarnshops should be supported. What about this golden hank? Ahhh! Silk! Ahhh. Now it is back to knit again! In Supersize. Queen Parr. This golden had been golden in her. My NEXT queen will have it. Maybe. I definitely going to do an edging in gold in some nice wool And, It should be royal blue. I realized Im so into green and I really lack good blue in my yarn collection. But I have Eyes sensetive to green (which is a great Swedish song: Ögon, känsliga för grönt). So it is a green Queen.
And thanks for all cheers, the caps are new. All sweaters are "old stuff". Guess it is a hard job to keep an advanced blogging audience alive. How do you do it? I noticed my Pentax Optio 330 was rated as an "OLD" camera... so maybe that is one of the solutions. Better picturs!

Caps - Mössor and more ramblings

OK, First I swear to not do any simple knitting. I desperately needed some time off my Queen knit- and I guess the Sweater A Month KAL already will throw me off (but hey, I will knit at least 12- maybe 14 sweaters this year! I is just, the Queen is such a delicious complicated knit. I promise you, I will make it up. Im not striktly one a month.) And now, I have just parted for front and back in the circular, so it is still hope. And determination. Anyhow, It was a cold couple of days, and my sweater needed this matching cap. Unfortunately, I have weared my hubbies patience to the brim, so he will not take more photos. Most are dark like the coal in the oven behind. Anyhow. This actually took me all last weekend, and some days. Maybe because I was trying to be smart about it. Then I bought more yarn (are you even surprised). More Malabrigo. I cannot get enough of that stuff. My new cosy love. Anyhow, I also bought alpacka-silk (thanks Mary) for the the blindfold to put over the cap. Anyhow, I of course immediately decided that the great advice on quick-knitted night-cap was great (thanks Hila). You see that It has become urgent - draft problem in bedroom, that and a few days off the queen and I yearn for her company again. So this morning (!) I knitted a nigh-cap for my hubby. Definitely a 2 hour knit! He refused to be in picture (but I will get him in his sleep some time ;-) so you have it with me (and the sweater to match the other cap). Sorry, should have been more arranged. Sorry for looking like a maniac. I have just realized I have bulldog cheeks. Wow, It is so not me. But I guess hours tied to the computers does its job. I would definitely get a private trainer and do Pilates if I lived in NY! Guess who? ;-) Anyhow, it seems like it is paying off, I have had a great break-through in my research this week - and even if I KNOW it is not true, some of my research-pal's called it "seminal work". That is the FIRST person with an idea, that everyone will be referring to the next 10-20 years in research. I wish. I sure made me feel good. Did you fix the pairing? Bottom picture sweater and top picture cap? Actually I have reknitted the collar on this sweater. Ripped, and did it narrower and dou ble. You can compare with the old photo. But I forgot that this yarn looses its elastisity. It is just to short, soft. Hmm what is the opposite to elastic? Im thinking swedish for "stumt". Anyhow. You must pick up the latest VK. Beth did a great article about Sweden (and scandinavian knitting). What I do not get is 1) I love Wincent, but this is so English - why visit it in SWEDEN? Why not visit a SWEDISH yarn shop with SWEDISH yarn? Instead the two were Wincent and Cornelia Tutte's stuff. She has Japanese (Noro) and Colinette. I sure hope they went to Ann-Torps väv in the Old town. She carries some swedish yarn. Or Maria's or Garnverket... Well. Sigh. Also, noticed that Beth missed that Cornelias hometown Mariefred is actually SOUTH of Stockholm. What surprised me is that the picture had so dark colours. That is NOT typical Swedish. Anyhow, great to be on the knitting map. Sweden have a lot of fantastic knitting designers. Anyhow. I was visiting Wincent (since I realized I have not been there for some weeks) and boy is Nicole the sweetest person there is. I just adore her. We just chatted away, until they had to drag me out when they closed. She was surprised I wasn't at Maria G's 1 year yarnshop celebration. I had forgot. So I immediately took the sub across town to give Maria a big hug. Great - Some dear Knitting-friends was knitting away in the corner. And a lot of new yarn to squeeze. As always. I just HAD to keep control. It worked. Im so glad for her! That is just such a yummy shop. With a lot of quality handpainted yarn. Anyhow, I must do another bohus. Hubby walkes around in this and claims it is GREAT! Skogsmörkret is really a hit. Cuddle.. Cuddle.

Talking in a nightcap - tala i nattmössan!

Ok, I guess I have bored my readers with endless shelfs of Yarn. Of course, I will not go through all my boxes (and I tell you, they are still more than a big number). I guess I go back to this, very slowly exposing a little pack of goodies. Anyhow, the title, comes from a wish. My husband wants a night-cap. Due to my bad Asthma I like to have it cold and fresh air in the room when I sleep, but I agree. It is a bit drafty. So, how do a great nightcap look like? A beanie? Snug, but going down on the neck a bit. Cannot be around the neck though. And I think a pair of nigh googles soft, to put over the eyes, when I come in late and must turn the light on, My lovely will not be disturbed. Yarn? Cannot be angora, to fuzzy. Designing a nightcap? Cute, Ewok? Or Pirate? No, I think any nerd stuff would do. Like a fractal - after all, he is my great brain! Must take care of it. What have I been up to? Had a break from the queen. I have reknitted an old collar I was unhappy with (panic - it got cold and I needed a good sweater!) And, I desperately need a cap to go with it, since no other match it. I feel so busy, so much to do, that knitting (and life) is second place. I really need to ease up. At least, I will be in hotel and many hours to work on the queen tomorrow, she is good company when you are lonely and tired after a long day in a hotel room. At least we got to go swimming today. It was great. Mum, if you read this. Take care! I do think of you!

More yarnstash? Yarn case nr 4 More and more

So, In my fourth Billy (yes, the doors are waiting for assembly). I have two boxes, And what do they contain? ehh, ehhh. Wool! I guess it is Evilla, Estonian yarn on the left, but on the right? Hmm, I return. The dark spoton top self is Finish three-threaded yarn, Syksy (autumn) that is a bit varigated in brown. I planned it originally for Catherine Parr, but realized it is not enough. Now, being half through Parr, I know it would have been. But, It is saved for another project. Thinking, Knitting Nature (and have those fractals ripping....but colour.. hmm, blue? Maybe... Blue and brown, or gold and brown. Or orange and brown or, lime and brown.. or....beige, golden, white and brown?) Yep, definitely.The right side there is LACE-weight shawlyarn. Some Shealdan Faroese, Some Mora. Some unknown yarn shopping accidents ;-) Anyhow, Im still trying to decide what I should do for the Faroese- KAL. Going through the Faroese book like a maniac! Half of the next shelf reviels it is the overfilled Noro-shelf. And, My very recent Noro shopping is not even there. Ok, If you know Noro, you see it is a LOT of Kureyon. My great thin balls from US, and on the left a two colors of a great soft Kochoran. It is silk garden, it is at least 2 set-ups of more than 10 balls. I love the colors of Kureyon, and I think it really hints on what is coming. Ok, not the greatest quality wool, and sometimes bad knots, but who cares. Colours! Next is just a mix of great stuff. Most sale and Great shopping. The purpule is Rowanspun, the light lavender and light blue also Rowanspun. The pink is the great Twinni yarn (or was this Nikolaj yarn) Denmark anyhow. The reddish purple in the middle and the blue next to it is New Zealand merino from DK (Århus). Very left corner is from a great swedish spinnery - Wåhlsteds. On the right... hmm Isnt that all the WOOL-Cotton balls from Rowan? And some Jaeger matchmaker merino, And som more Rowan and Jager wool. Ok. Next shelf is a lot of Kid silk Haze from Rowan, and some novelty yarn (Lana grossa). Also colinettes new kid mohair and some other mohair. On the right is a since long planned LIME enterlac that is coloured by HV in a rather harsh woolyarn. Great spring colours. The last two shelfs could be said in one word. Twined knitting - or Two-end knitting yarn. It is all Z-twined yarn for this very special and extremely time-consuming technique. The pink plastic bag does contain my very normal (?) bag of just pink off yarns, that I thought I would create a real princess cardigan. So many different yarns. There is also the pink purple just underneath that is Garstudio Angora-.wool, that is also planned for a aran sweater with flossed sleeve (in black-white pink/purple). The darker purple is for my Two-end knitted sweater. Most of all my twined z-spun yarn is from my dear friend Anne-Maj Ling, own yarn-collection, who also wrote a fantastic book about the technique (available from Interweawe knits). A master-piece. I will definitely do a lot of socks, mittens, caps in it. Some few hanks are from Wåhlstedts who also does this yarn. Maybe Im not weird, but this hording of yarn puts me into very weird for non-knitters. I thank you knitters out there for encouragement. And Lene Lovic... ah, Mary I would hide in the NY disco and dance for hours. And Cecila, I remember that ad, you might be right. It is made based on me (or, Im not the only one). And dearest Hila, you so brighten me up! Well not going to smootchy now.. you know I luv you all out three! And hell-work week (10 days in a row) is over. Ahh. Weekend.

Im Back - It is winter - Im tagged

I came back from Marseille after working maraton (to 3 at night) and 6 hours flight with a rather windy stop at Frankfurt on the way down (half the plane were in prayers). I Knitted of course. The best praying there is.No time for shopping and Knitting, but between Hotel, taxi, food and work I realized that it was 18 C outside - about the same we have indoors. Our host was freezing, with wool sweater and jacket outside. I was in T-shirt. Inside it was 26 and we call it Sauna. I realize Im a true Viking. Coming back the winter had hit Sweden, and this is actually my house (and you can see the balcony were I take a lot of my pictures). I measure this trip in cm (no guys.....) I have now knitted 37 cm on Catherine Parr. another 10, and it is ready to split for front and back (sleeves).I learn the mistakes, to not show every prouch inch of progress. Someone said, (Marika was it?) I have seen you blog so much, it is not NEW. Ok.. I do my best. It is now only a week until 12 sweater KAL has there first Show off. (my reserve quick-knit is the half-sleeve Twisted flaoted shrug (Circular, Vouge) that I only have a half- sleeve to do. And block!.... OK,
I have been tagged by Zoë. After much thinking here it is..

6 things that is weird about Garngamen:

1. I have owned and competed 4 horses (and ponies) for 30 years of my life, (Show-jumping, cross-country, dressage, voltige, etc you name it) when I complety stopped and only been riding like 5 times since then. My horses was the luve of my life for so many years. No, that is just a row of ribbons and medals collecting dust. Is that weird? I have no explanation.

2. I have a ceramic oven and about 300kg of clay in the basement, and honestly - Im better throwing pots on that wheel than on the spinningwheel for sure.

3. I think that mustard looks like excrement from a kids belly, and are appolled by the sight of it, especially on a weiner. Cannot kiss husband if he does not brush his teeth first (and the poor thing loves the stuff!)

4. I have lived in a room 23 years ago at YMCA in New Orleans, who was infested with Coack Roaches (Periplantera Americana, kackerlackor), got so hysteric screaming BUGS that the reception was sure I was on drugs (jepp, just in my night-gown!), when the guard went up with me tio my room, the roaches had hidden from the light under my pillow (in my bags, everywhere). I still cannot stand roaches. Not even on pictures.

5. Im so horrified by the cruely in the world, that I cannot stand imitation killing even in a movie, hate horror stories, and blood and gore. So even small tendencies get my juices cooking. I still close my eyes for bad images.(Other reasons is maybe from realizing that the world is so much harsher than any movie can capture, a too loose boundary between my imagination and my great ability for empathy that gets me carried away).
6. In my family, weird is a positive word, which have over the years put me into a lot of trouble. It is hugely important when you work at a stiff office (Dilbertian) Tele-company to behave¨. Of course few knows the inner me, that rather rock all night to Nina Hagen -Ich bin so heiss, Linkin Park, Stained and Pearl Jam, and dancing like crazy all night to Disco- Staying alive!!!! and Popfrom 60s to 80s...So, occasionally I just can't resist behaving like my idols "Dr Cox, Turkelton, Elliot, JD and the Jan I Tor from Scrubs, or Men Behaving Badly, or Absolutely Faboulus. I tell you, NO-ONE gets it. Im shameless. So cool calm and collected you wouldn't guess unless you pourd some Harvey Bristol Cream into me and dragged me to the Disco (ha!)

More Stash. Book case nr 3. Mostly WOOL!

Sorry for being weird yesterday, yepp H. I was just tired and sleeping helps thanks. It is raining again, and I got a running nose (again). Synchronization. Anyhow, that big cardboard-box is filled with Quivit fleece. I got my manager to buy it for me on location. But, I do not feel like a confident spinner to dig into it yet, So the entire black-box on the right is fleece from merino and islandic wool and all sorts of collections. The top shelf is the yarn for Catherine Parr that that is my WIP right now. That will create a "temporary whole" but my guess is I will have enough for gloves, a hat, a scarf, and socks. Maybe also a bag and a Parr Ipod case ;-) Well, we see. The big white, is just 1 kg (2.2 pounds?!) plain two-threaded white wool, that could be dyed, but also could stay white. On the right (in a plastic bag) is the Färgkraft 2-threaded great hand-coloured yarn. I have a lot of thoughts for that, but I think a plain Aran or structured knit will look great.
Next picture has a "repeat" of the top (sorry, didn't think when I took the pictures.) But shelf below reveals more secrets. To the left is the yarn fo Bohus in plastic. It is definitely the Grey Mist, and Blue Shimmer. The whitish plastic bag with some pink in it reveils yet another Bohus pattern (from Karin Kahnlund) that got it exclusively (I think, I do not remeber its name)... Anyhow the yellow/limish is a bag of Gunga-Din yarn 2-threaded. I had a plan of doing a "plain" Guernsey out of it. But plain yellow is a bit sharp, it is not matured enough to be knitted just yet. Also 1 Kg (which seems to be my standard buy when I plan a sweater and do not know anything about lenght of yarn.) And to the right is the collected Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4Ply that is already out of order but still available and has a faboulus feel to it. Definitely the next fair-isle pattern will come from there. A lot of greens and blues and very little white and such. This next two shelfs are filled with goodies. From top left, 3 Alpaca big-wool, behind is some Anny Blatt green mohiar. The darker blie is Cashmere mix bought in Croatia (but from Italy), and the light blue is some weird fuzzy German novelty yarn. The grey all shades are Naturgarn's Alpacka Sport (1 kilo each. You can also find the yellow alpacka I plant-dyed myself on the bottom. The grey and yellow is for a "bubble-sweater". Then some thinner alpacka in lime (Denmark). On top some dark Jaeger Alpaka thin from London. These goes into mittens and to highlights in machine-knits. Topshelf to the right is Felted Tweed in my lime, that a have great plans for - I luve reading the Rowan Magazines over and over.
Bottom shelf I go from right to left. It makes sense. It is Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed in red about 15 hanks, and than 8 in blue and 8 in green. It is a very non-soft wool. I would call it harsh! But, I got a great magazine for just this yarn, most of it bought at a Yarn-sale at Fantasy (in Arvika). The left of that shelf is all Norvegian yarn. Norsk Kunstvevgarn, and Norweigan Spelsau. Im sure there is also Old-series and some other. Basically it is Mitten yarn for "Håndplagg" (author Heide Fossnäs). Just a fantastic book. Buy it for eye-candy and mitten inspiration. Thick and beautiful. The last two shelfs are PT2 (Per Tyving 2-thread wool), which I have lots of. Definitely planning to do Norsk Strikkedesigh or Poetry of Stiches patterns. The ribbed jacket, and some other pattern.. Also some Rauma Finull's yarn. Do not tell it all. But a lot. Last shelf is dedicated to Mojärv spinnery. It is all two-threaded yarn with a great colorscale, and honest yarn from North of Sweden (which do not have a blog - guess if they are missing out!). Here are a number of sweaters planned. You can actually spot a little color swatch on one of the patterns in the middle. Yepp, that is on my list and I will eventually decide. Now it is work again. Late night. Compensation for sleeping in.

Weird existence - so OT but some knitting.

It is too late for the Swedish gnomes, and now they are gone. But the mittens are great on them. It fits with the winter storm (usually blizzards with snow and below freezing (0 C) now, a storm with a lot of wind and horizontal rain warm (5 to 8+ C)(for Sweden in January) not that we beat NY! Anyhow, work has a habit of piling up. Hubby ok again (Thanks) and all over creeps the winter-barfing virus. Im on my way to Marseille (see how this goes), more work all weekend, but definitely a friday nite at a hotel with my knitting. Decent girls do not go out in a sailor-town. Sorry - and pardon my french, but it is not as great as it was (huh, I know Im not funny - but constant Scrubs (Telly series) makes you weird!) I did half a row on the sub yesterday. But oh, Im so tired and I realize my time is not enough. So much work, so little time. Bought Knit simple! With a huge discussion trying to make patterns simple. Well, Im quite happy - when is the "knit complicated" coming out? Not today.
I would also like the magazing - Knit tired. (travesty of wired!) Im so tangled up! Ok, you get it? Too tired to blog. No blogging this weekend - just a short hold. Im here. And no time in Marseille for yarnshopping. Must plan holiday. Yarn-vulture hits US of A. Find me a pool. Fill it with yarn and swim. No, Im hallucinating now. I have enough. Time to hit the sack. (huh, not cool calm and collected at this blog). Knit the dreams. Dream the knits.

Si, more yarnshopping and Queen Parr Progress

OK, I admit. Ihave been shopping. Was it blogging around, and remembering that I had not bought GOLD in Bohus? Or was it the very special letter from Nina (Nysta) about the sale? Well, I did it. Both, I got Gold and the "grey mist" in Bohus. Bless you Solveig. And then I strutted to a surprisingly empty Nysta. Hey this is the real yarn deal. 20% off ALL, and 30% on some!. So, a bunch of odd balls Kureyon. Some silk-garden, one Malabrigo etc...
You can see how this goes on and on. And I realized that Mary had that great Malabrigo picture... I so got that and it fits like yummy icing, when it so go with Kureyon. That is the Male Japanese colourful and Sensual Peruvian Indian softness in a mix. What a marriage. Two souls. I just love them together.So 7 Kureyon, that is interesting to create something from. Anyhow, I so missed one sweater in my 12 sweater rally. So I think I will have a 14 sweater rally. But month of January is going to be long, Im so knitting Queen Catherine Parr for the Tudor Roses- Along, and it looks great, is fun but slow. Ohh so slow. It is working it every row,and just breaf rows. Also, it is BIG, I mean BIG. I think it will hide every resturant visit I ever had.
But please. Say something Nice. I have actually worked between 1-3 hours EVERY day on it. And, I have not so much time to blog. I will KNIT it. I want it so bad that there is not room for anything else. Well, alittle something something is there always room for. Like Yarnshopping, blogging and generally surfing and kissing my sick hubby.

12 sweaters in 12 month. I luve Knit-alongs.

This is the time of year to do a Knit along or be a Knit alone. All KALs are found on this page for this year. And, as I discussed the other day, even if I want to knit from my stash, and also want to finish UFO's they all had this rules and confessions etc. Like it would be BAD to buy yarn? That is the best thing there is, why not enjoy every fiber? I just believe people who brag about having none are jealous (they must be! every day I go to my yarn room and get blissed). So, a better motivator for me would be the Sweater A Month KAL. Of course, this does not say you cannot finish UFO's or use your stash, or prevent you from any yarn bargain. So, I have made up my mind. Im IN! IK knitting finally arrived. The KAL for knitting the front page, already shows how someone is finished. That makes me boil. But, they are nice enough, every page was so filled with great sweaters I gasped. Hey, Of course, what a combination of KAL's of sweaters, finishing UFO's and KAL'ing about it. I did not do a good list of what I finished last 2006. I couldn't remember and was too lazy to go through my blog and count. But this year. I will flaunt it. (first pic. is Angora from luxury yarn shelf).
OK Here is the list of planned 12 sweaters.
1. Tudor Roses KAL - Catherine Parr. Ok, will definitely take time. done 20 dm on body, and grows by 1 cm a day at max.
2. Circular nono, I mean Twisted Floated Shrug KAL!, ok. technically it is only one half sleeve and blocking (and a million of threads to fasten). But, then, I have a big belly, so Im going to add short-rows in the front. Definitely a brain-problem there, or is it? Im walking "almost" every day.
3. Hanne Falkenberg KAL Studio 9. I have done one triangle. 99% needs to be done.
4. Green Silk- Definitely the summer knit sweater, started, sleeves done. Simple and nice.
5. Bergå- brown swedish with embroydery and take-away sleeves. Done west, and both sleeves half-way. Now I need to figure out how Im going to attach them, so it is both with, and without sleeves and look great. Then it needs embroydery, and maybe add extra length...own pattern, so nothing is for granted.
6. Of course I will finish a BOHUS this year. The yellow lace-collar. I have just started on the neck, so it is 2 month hard work.
7. Enterlac one (matchmaker merino) that needs a clever solution on last sleeve, since it is uneven and squares do not match!

8. Enterlac Noro- Malabrigo - Working on getting neck ok, then sleeves. but should be for I should be able to do it rather quick.
9. Then I have my Spinning sweater. I spin, and I knit a square, and I attach it.
10.Ohh I almost forgot my Färgkraft Patent (brioche) two-colour on one-thread cardigan (my forever shirt, named after one row (twice) took 40 minutes!). one half front, two sleeves, collar. A month with hard work.
11. Ishager sweater in Östergötland Wool-spinnery yarn. Also a summer month knit. See picture:
12. Definitely finish my TWO but at least one of the machine knitted sweaters, and fix it to a wearable status.
12 (oops) The Noro Shinano-sweater. Sleeves done,. Might rip them when body is done...This is th
e UFO list...
but, I also have a "if time is given" extra list of new stuff: X1: Faroese sweater - have not chosen which. X2: Islandic cardigan. Patter ok, but color? X3. IK Winter is just great. Which.. or is it another Bohus?
I will do my best. I will not promise order. I might do anything inbetween, like the Faroese shawl, like the Birch to my Aunt, like finishing my alpaca Lavian mittens, like a couple of great socks. But, Ill try to be a good girl and do this challenge. That would be fun. AND Im doing Project spectrum KAL 2.0. Í will just GO for it. What a year.At least the following trips are planned: Marseille (France). Korea, London (UK), Montreal (Can), Dusseldorf (Ger), and US.

More of that 2nd Luxury yarn-(book )case

You see more of that islandic yarn top shelf. Really itches to do the cardigan free pattern on that. Islandic sweaters are really quick knits and all on cicular with very rewarding pattern.On the second shelf to the right, you see the lime colour in the Lett-Lopi, pre-fabricated. You know Im so into Lime. And my plan was to use that with any left-overs from the other yarn (if it fits). The rest of that shelf is so filled to the brim. There is from top left: Angora merino from Gepard in Lime, Angora.merino from Henrichsens wool spinnery (in Denmark). There is also a little yello plastic bag with fur-thread from Norway. And I found a whole bag of angora hording collection I showed most of you yesterday. Then there it is a FIND. First from dearest Gudrun in Enköping. Where I learned how to spin. She raised angora-goats for a while. This is her colouring (she also does colour courses), and it is spun by Wåhlsteds many years ago. It is turqoise and white, and to my luck she said she sold some to "Hemslöjden" and I think it was just one week later, I found it in Uppsala Hemslöjd, just on that little corner, on sale. I just bought it all! How fantastic (red!). Snuck to the Lett-lopi are those Cashmere yarn from La Drougerie. In perspective, it did felt like a rip-off. But how soft it is. Below is scatterd finds from yarnsales. I think I was rather early in capturing the great yarn, before the knitting-boom have caught on. Next shelf is a lot from my UK shopping spree at Knitting and Stiches show.. Some alredy winded, some wating for what to become. In plastic are the Egg - Bohus pattern, and the Yellow-lace colour (divided to left yellow and right white), Bohus pattern both from Solveig of course. Here is all sorts of silk, yak, Nikolaj yarn and Lornas lace hanging in front.In that mess, who probably would look great if spread out, is quit a collection of Solveig's practice colouring yarn. Practice makes perfect is so true in her case! You know she is trying to recreate the original Bohus, and she has really become a master of colouring, thus she does not quit until she got the right colours. She sells her experiments, and I definitely buy them. Great to have a very nuanced colorscheme to work with. Underneath you can get a glimpse of the handcoloured Kempe yarn from Gammelvala. For years I have been dragging my husband and his family (who lives in Arvika) to this event nearby, and really gone mad in their colours.Well, here is the last two shelfs. Both my color experiments, but most from Gammelvala. The yarn they use are not the best, but ok, it is Kempe's. It is all done in the old ways. With collected dye from plants. I guess, purple is something else. But here are at least 3 great sweaters waiting for their making. I have planned one in purple (only) aran. One in the "fall" teal, yellow, mustard colours, and one in the green nuances with some yellow. The next shelf is my Mohair from Svalan and Älands Mohair. Both looped in lime and blue, and then the kid-mohair in purple and so on. On the right, hey, what is on the right there in plastic? Don't know (yet). The bottom shelf (hardly visible) are 20 packs of Jaeger Shetland Tweed woold in some weird turqouise light blue (for the rinding cable jacket in LoopdLoop). To the right white? And below for sure is Alpacka from Garntjänst, in blue (sale). One of the cheapest internet providers of yarn. But occassionally great finds (too much acrylic blends for me though).Finally in yesterdays blog-hopping, I found 2007 Project spectrum (Lolly). Im so in. Difficult colours, but that is a challenge in itself. "Must finish the Queen first"...Also thinking about "Knitting from Stash 2007". Do you not agree that would be good for me?? But a short quote from the rules (and the fact I just mailed Solveig for more Bohus knit-kits):
"We will not buy any yarn during that period, with the following exceptions:
2.a. Sock yarn does not count. What? You think we are made of stone?
2.b. If someone asks for a specific knitted gift that we really and truly do not have the yarn for, we may buy yarn to knit that gift.
2.c. If we are knitting something and run out of yarn, we may purchase enough to complete the project.
2.d. We each get one "Get Out of Jail Free" card -- we are each allowed to fall off the wagon one time....."
You can see how I fail on the first sentence of the rules. Now you have seen my really "expensive" yarn book-case...Somehow I know there is a stach of Camel yarn in-there in brown from Italy. But Im a bargain shopper. Yarnvulture. That is my name. And maybe Yarn dragon would be better, since I cherish every ball like my jewels in my collected treasure. So, Yarn-cave was quite a good name Mary!

On top of second "luxury" shelf in yarnroom.

Here is the start of the second shelf. On top a number of boxes, with some of my most dear yarn. I bet you are curious of what the boxes contain?
Anyhnow, top is my Islandic yarn from Halla. A great dear friend who has a special place in my heart. She has a small yarnshop at home just north of Stockholm. But I think what I really like is that I special ordered islandic fleece from her, and her mother carried this 2 kilo of fleece on their vacation around Europe before coming to Sweden. I luv her mum to, but I have never met her. I definitely have planned a yarn trip to Island (with the Blue Lagoon) in the next couple of years. Including one day at the Factory outlet of ISTEX. So, there is this "carded, cut yarn that you wire three of these disk's of pre-yarn" together in a ball. Then you knit this great Islandic sweaters. Im planning a cardigan from Sticka, and at least two more warm sweaters out of the top shelf, and If I ran out, I now where to find it. The green in the middle is the left-overs from my hubby's islandic sweater. Remember?
Well hidden and in packages, I reveal the three white boxes here. All from sale at Liberty wearhouse in London, where a knittinggroup meets on thursdays in the Cafe (this bought on a winter sale!!)The two left is Cashmere, and the one on the right is silk. The two on the left have an individual plastic box package for each ball. That is a wow factor. Colours are Teal and Royal. The silk on the right is of that fantastic colour GOLD: It is really gold. Im actually thinking about combining the three into one sweater. Reason is simple. Even if it is 10 balls of 25 gram, 250 gram is like a very small top. I think next pic is really fuzzy. Must be the lack of caffe latte. As you can see, it is a "luxury lime" silk yarn from Filatura di Crosa).
As you guessed, this is also too little to make a sweater, but a top? or maybe mixed with Kid-silk haze to become a sweater? Up some size? I think it would look great in cables. So, this is maturing. It is well packed anyhow. This last picture for today is my Angora collection. Definitely hording here. Most of it is 100% angora. The light turqoise were bought in Denmark, but was bleached from the sun, so I got some extra yarn instead. Reds and some from Valencia. And Angora is just great (but not for babies) since the fiber really sticks in your nose and is great. I think I learned that if you use it as a highlight, the angora will "be eaten up" by the other yarn. So have soft companians. But would work in a Bohus collar! So that is the plan! My own self-made Bohus inspiration.
Thanks for the very nice comments.I have become "inlove" with Queen Catherine. Time-consuming, But fab. Take care out there fantastic people!