OT: Noodle Soup

In our very short break to recharge our batteries - we decided to take a "home" vacation, sleep long hours, in a fresh made bed, and eat good and healthy. Also celebrating the Wagamama coming to Stockholm, where we have their cookbook - and they pay hommage to Tampopo - one of my favourite movies (about the "perfect ramen- noodle soup!" We got so inspired to attempt our own. In my handmade bowl - it was as delishious as it looks. Of course husband is my own Maestro Chef! Thank you for all nice comments on the Inspira sweater. It is great! Now I am on the finishing streak with several mittens. Ok, I did finished the panties but they will not be on this blog or posed... (but I tell you a secret - they are on me now - and they are lovely to wear. Just like hand-made socks has that extra feeling. Life is good!

3 3 FO's: Inspira Sweater, Punkt Fem and Nemisis socks

Finally done. The Inspira sweater - based on the Inspira Cowl, corrugated Rib pattern. I winged the pattern for the sweater myself, and knitted top-down. A lot of short-row's to lift the back. Yummy yarn - it is indecita alpaca held together with Solsilke's lynx (the purple), and then Artyarns Silk Rhapsody for the colourful main. Very soft yarn. But the alpaca is just a tiny tod itchy. Very snug fit...Now on the right is Punkt Fem - which is really named after the yarn- Point Five that is a Colinette yarn in colourways Copperbeach. I bought it on a sale, but it was not enough - but found some more at dear Ann (Ann-torp's väv) in Gamla Stan (old town). Three hanks would do the sleeves. They are knitted - and then frogged -since colour is just slightly different (different colour bath), but worse is that the newer yarn is just a big bulkier and "fluffier" which made this look like a Michelin Man... no - I am know crocheting (you can see my little cuff) and thought I will have removable sleeves (fastened with a button on the shoulder). Maybe. I actually love the vest as is. Buttons are my own ceramics experiment. Finally on the StickaMera SockKlubb (from 2010) socks Nemesis - Or "Silicon Valley Nemesis socks" as I named them, starting them in San Jose, and buying the yarn there... What to do on boring hotel rooms? The yarn is a favourite - Lorna Lace sock yarn, but honestly. It looks better in the hank than on the sock It bleeds weirdly (pools). Pattern is rather nice though. But took me 4-ever like a good "Nemesis" project should do. Maybe that has been the reason for the slow finishing streak??? Now I am back on track again. It feels good. So it is time to dig in and make the SockKlubb socks for THIS year instead. It will be my main knit (and a sweater) for my next week - In Berlin, and hotel again.... Glad dearest is home feeding fish and taking care of business. He just made the best Semla from scratch I ever had. I mean - he even did the almond-mix in the middle. No wonder the Inspira sweater feels tight... Back to the gym!

COM finished. Getting into WIP-wrestling!

Cast On Mania is finished. What a grand finale. Using 4 yarns together to make Löv or Leyfi that the original pattern is called. It is a top down sweater, and is already a fun knit. it is alpacka and silk, and merino and tussah-silk blend (Mimi) and then some wonderful Nikolaj yarn.... And the "just casted on" turtleneck sweater. I have no idea what it will be. You can tell the yarn is yummy. It is Handmaiden Cashbah. You can tell that I was pretty tired casting it on, it is bearly the first row! The finally thing is the Sock enabling - The StickaMera SockKlubb February pattern Maeva. I also started on Ewa (March pattern), but somehow missed the picture. Anyhow. This concludes the Cast On Mania for February - and now it is really focus on Work In Progress -knitting to get those 100 down to 0. The first was of course really easy to knit, but somehow the first sharp snow make me look older and flabbyer then ever. Anyhow - it is a headband to keep my brain in place. Necessary after this COM period. It is matching the braid sweater. And is actually very cosy.

Soon on the end of Cast On Mania - February!

Let us start with yesterdays Cast On. I started on a pair of Mittens (Swe. Kragvantar) on the right. The yarn is homespun (not by me) from a mohair goat/wool blend - almost as thick as "lovikka". I did them in only 5 hours. No pattern, but just plain - try it on on adjust. It is a set in thumb on the side (V-shape). Now I plan to put some embellishments on it to practice my embroyderi-skills. Below - the Orange mitts, is almost cheating, since I already have knitted the cuffs with glass beads. But I never used them. And thought I would try out a pattern from the Estonian mitten book. Doing it with these small yarn balls just for fun. Love it. I think it will be working better like these. Below - you have seen it before. The Punkt Fem cardigan. That now - with some afterthought - will be a vest. I was lucky enought to find more yarn at Ann-Torp's Väv of this "sale" yarn - Colinette point five - in the Cobbar Beach colourway. But - It really goes to tell that time does mess up things. The new yarn is MUCH thicker, much more blue - and is just not the same. It would have looked ridiculus. I already knitted one sleeve before I realized it just will not be flattering. So, I am thinking my old, rather "crafty" buttons I made would fit just fine here. Since I did not do any button holes, I am still thinking if I do "military style". You know. Two buttons and a band between.. or if I just should "force myself" through (which would also be possible in this very large stitches type..)Now I must be honest. I am still stuck - and that is the ONLY reason for you not seing this finished today. All ends darned in. Somehow I think it will work. But will it be an "asset" with the buttons? Or will the entire thing just look very home-made? I am not sure. But it is practical. A vest that is. So - on demand - I did a "green" vest for Stacey - my US-sister from back when I was an exchange student in Fresno, California. I met her again now this November. She is still so nice.
She waited for me in the yarnshop while I squeezed everything. Well - I think this will be a warm, not to dull vest. I hope it will fit! But it is hard to knit for San Fransisco. It is windy, but not really cold. At least the wool breathes! An interesting month. Not so easy this time to invent new knits. Maybe I am just to pre-occupied with writing my thesis. And the winter is still holding its grip, even if the current mild weather gets the birds starting to practice their spring-welcoming songs.

And more Cast On's - Still Mania time

The snow got us again... and again.. and I keep adding new knits very faithfully honouring the Cast On Mania - one new project every day. Most looks like to the right. Except on weekdays, where I have to attempt take some "indoor" pictures. This "string" of cast on is made in some really yummy yarn - Ambrosia, and I started a cardigan, but now decided this is so soft - it would work perfectly for our cold winters as a "cowl"-neck sweater - "pullover". Anyhow, I gone a little mad on mittens. This time crochet. It is a "half"-mitten based on a sweater from Vasa (Finland).. which starts with crochet and then some knitting. Not supersimple but not so hard either. I think it will be really fun. I also started another norweigan vante (mitten) with embroyderied pattern. I had a long discussion with my dear aunt Viola, about how to do the embroyderi on that. She is a pro! We both went to the Syfestival (Sewing-fair) and really enjoyed ourselves. It was good to meet "old friends". From Eva i Stäket I bought two wonderful soft cashmere yarn for a shawl. This one I started directly for Viola - she picked the colour. I am on row 8, but I guess I have to rip it all and restart - since I dropped a stitch - and not just any stitch - one of those k3 tog.. I doubt I cannot repair it. I guess lace is not made for a tired evening. But - It is fun! I have now to really go for it only a few days left of February... so, time to really think what I want to knit - since finishing all this projects are work for the rest of the year!
But - I am knitting on - and it keeps my spirits high! Of course the new kitchen adds to the fun - we are heavily experimenting in it.

More Cast-On's -

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

Yet another Latvian mitten from Kurzeme and..

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

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

Latvian mitten with some Swedish influences...

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

Cast On Mania continues!

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

Cast On Mania February 2011 - FO Lopi mössa

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

Absolutely nothing interesting to say.

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

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

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

Resolutions! 2011 is Wonderful!

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

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

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

FO & Looking back at 2010 and anticipation for 2011

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

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

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

2010: Best-list

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Merry Christmas 2010

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

Another FO! Laurie is done!

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

Stonecircles and "Ugglor i mossen"

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

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

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

Fixing times and new stuff!

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

OT- Ceramic Tile making to our Kitchen!

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