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

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

Tour de Fleece! Spinning!

Ok, I am still knitting, but there is Tour de Fleece going on (of course, you are -when you are "spinning" supposed to look at the bicycle-race in Tour de France....I am still spinning my own "wheels".

Since it was some years ago I did spinn my first day spinning on the right, and today on the left - it is definitely a bit uneven, but getting better... but it still has a bit of lumps and bumps, of it was "perfectly even" it would not look handspun... but of course - one should train so one CAN do "perfectly even" first. This is just the first thread.. the singles, z-spun, then two together becomes the well balanced 2-ply thread... this is of course called "plying"...

So, my little goal is to do some just for the fun of it for a few days. Each of this is not very long but it is one hour spinning on each... Thank you for the nice comments on my blog - for my mittens.... I thought I just told you a few posts back CarrieK, about my title on my thesis. Read the text, LOL! I know. I also mostly look at the pictures. Fleece is from Kartehuset.dk (at the syfestival).. superfine merino (16my) with camel, alpacka and silk. Lovely to spin.

FO- Kurzeme - Barta mitten

It is simply beautiful patterned work in the Latvian Mitten from the District of Kurzeme. This mitten is called Barta mitten (pattern plate 117). That I knitted "exactly" as the pattern is - but I cannot really take the colour palett from the book - so I do my own modern take on this. This pattern really contains all my favourite colours (except from the green palett) which I also love. Funny that the lime look very yellow in this setting. Anyhow, I am very happy about this mittens, "fits like a glove" as they say.
Otherwise I have started a second blog. Equally "boring".. but for you stalkers - check out my attempts to achieve my goal of "Getting in Shape" in time for my PhD. Trying to log exercise and food. I am doing this for myself - to keep honest, and feel better (and of course look smashing on my big day!) Also - we are doing a lot of work around the house, so this will be talked about there... Join the fun!
Finally, dear commenter - I have a series of links to yarnshops in Sweden and Denmark to the right in this blog. If you make yourselves known - you can mail me in Ravelry where I linger under the same name (garngamen). Also - if you do not have a Ravelry account - it is about time you get one, it is free - and being a knitter and not joining Ravelry - you are missing out big time. This is pretty much my summer. Knitting, Thesis, workout and fixing my home. Have it great out there!

FO - Choclate Crossing

Ok - Choclate Crossing is ready - Midsummer day! After intense rain-showers and (still) some nasty cold, (but I do get great service when I am sick...). We sneak a photo in the shower breaks posing on our "mediterran" wall... with cermic pots made by me and the great blue lobelia in flowers... Now This knit is not done in a week (which you can believe if you follow the blog)... I knit a lot of knits simultaniously, and this has followed me in the car commuting to work for a very long time. (No, I am NOT driving!)...The cables were so great, and the yarn - Malabrigo is the softest. Love the name colour of the yarn "Rich Choclate"... and the pattern is modified version from Interweave Knits (some years ago)..but I can for sure spot some strawberry in there..... Just need the champange ;-) Sweater is a bit to warm, but will be perfect for fall. Did not do all cables on the back, but some.....Have a wonderful Summer you out there! Take care!

FO Gripsholm

The rain was really bad, and I was balancing on slippery slope in the garden. Anyhow, I am still happy having finished this beautiful cardigan. The stripes were so nice to knit and is very flattering. A fun knit, with many modifications. I already love it. And the colours...Definitely a bit tired after intense weeks, and it does not seem to end just jet. But rain is great for the vegetable garden... It has been a bit dry after all. Spinage, carrots, beetroot, mangold and radish are staples, but we also experimented with broad beans and corn this year, making the veggie garden look like a "tent". Our pests are of course mostly dear Bambi, who eats anything - and also has got a baby.. . Ok, it is a bit dry.. we needed that rain! The little cuties. It is heart-breaking to chase them away, but they can totally demolish all the roses, flowers and trees - and not to mention the veggie garden.

Soon, very soon...

I have knitted and worked and worked and knitted. And yet, I am still not completely done. Wonderful Cardigan Gripsholm pattern, by the Swedish designer Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton, Mariefred. I have had the yarn for ages. It is Noro Kureyon in the now gone colourmix nr 52.One of my favourite Noro combinations. I mean blue, turqoise, green and lime and purple - all in different shades. Love it.It is mixed with Noro Cash Iroha in black. Which makes the colour even better. I still have half a sleeve to do, but since I did not post anything last week, I thought you were waiting ;-) Otherwise we are still fighting the cold that just does not seem to disappear.. and tick-bites maybe infectious, and the normal hurdles of life... but when the peonies are blooming, sun is shining, it is hard to complain about anything....really. Life is to beautiful. Full of colour, full of hope. Finally we go the vegetable garden seeds in. And I am still working on the two last chapters of the thesis... Still much review and rework to do, but getting there.... ahh, subject? "Software Testing" (computer science/software engineering). PhD date 21 Oct (probably). Title "On Test Design" (I think... it is short and bold..but so am I).

Summer cardi/top in Cotton

It is summer. At least summer feel to the green and lush. I knitted this top/cardi. It is actually yarn from an old (20-25 years old??) cotton sweater that I frogged, that I never was very happy with how I knitted it, so this is so much better. It is almost (swe. veke-garn) wick-yarn, with a thread of linnen around it. Did some flowers to make it happier and used my ceramic buttons. Surprisingly warm. Otherwise it is the first and very nice day relaxing and home. Rain is in the air so we see how gardenwork is going. But all is in bloom, and it just great.
Have a great day! And thank you kindly for your nice comments. It cheers me up and motivates me to keep posting here, even if times are busy.

Lopi mittens done...and some OT..

I have been very good posting almost every week (often sundays) on this blog. So, sorry dear readers for the short break. First we were at the wonderful London (with work) which also included some yarnshopping at Loop in Islington (Bought Handmaiden..and some stuff) I could have gone to Uppsala.. but the pound is low, so ok, Lovely shop! Lovely people. Of course, I am getting so exited since I did get into KnitNation in July. Will be such a great event to meet people. Anyhow - another highlight (except Liberty ;-) was the resturant "The Pearl". A once in a life-time thing. I can strongly recommend their tasting menu. Not cheap, but worth the sacrifice. I eat porridge for weeks to redo that. Now last weekend was equeally intensive. 80 year or birthday of hubby's uncle. And 30 year reunion of my dear schoolfriends. I am truely blessed. Now - to the MITTENS! My own little fish-pattern and the colours are in Islandic Plötulopi and the white is mohair/wool blend (handspun) from northen Sweden. Best part is that they fit to hat and cardi. A set. I did some aha - knitting these "free hand". Here it goes - "advice" for knitting Bulky Yarn" mittens.

• If you knit loosely, they will not be very warm, since big wool = big loops. So - Oversize them and felt them for a warmer mitt. Note it is very difficult to get propotions right.


• Note that the more felted the heavier the mitt is.


• The wrist is really sensitive to "harsh" wool. If you make it tight around the hand wrist, coat it with something soft.


• Decide if you want large cuffs - that can go "outside" your jacket, or they are a plan for "inside" the wide jacket arm. You do not want a gap between the sleeve and the mitt.


• Personally, I like a little decrease just to make the mitt have a snug fit around the handwrist. It stays in place.


• A slender mitt makes the hand look slender. That also goes for the thumb. Elegant!


• But the younger you are, and also - depending when you are using your mittens, they might be wider - wide mitts is good, since you can wiggle your fingers inside!


• Fair-ilse mittens (meaning, patterns with two or more yarns. are best to make a mitten warm), the more yarn carried - the thicker it is - you aslo need more "room" in them.

Enjoy! PS. Several sweaters in the making... ;-) I will be back!

Another Pair of Mittens: Latvian Alsunga pattern

The Latvian Pattern book is filled with fantastic patterns. This is from the district Alsunga, but I made it "in my own" colour scheme, since in my mind, the entire colourscheme used in the book does not appeal to me. It reminds me of the 70's.. and not in a good way... The pattern is rather busy and I know I should have taken the picture in a softer light, since it really shows that they are not been blocked (wet, and pressed). Well, there are more work on these: Folded lace edge, and the thumbs match the pattern (so they should be "invisible" held against the mitten)... But I guess it does not really show. I used Östergötlands Ullspinnery yarns. You can see the tree blooming in the background, I am unfortunately fighting the normal spring allergies together with a cold. Let's say it is not as pleasent as knitting. Btw. Thank you all for you superkind comments. It is so nice to know that someone else enjoys knitting accomplishments. Have a great day now!! The sun is out again!

Tangled Joke ;-) Cardigan Finished!

With the Forsythia in bloom behind, I pose on early Saturday morning in the wonderful Tangled Joke cardigan (ok, it is really Tangled Yoke ;-) But you know we Swedish cannot pronounce Y it sounds like J. Wonderful pattern from Eunny Jang (Interweave knits) that has this nice cable that goes around. I must say I really like it. Nice and comfortable. But it is getting warmer - and this is for cooler weather ! Yarn is the Jaeger Luxury Tweed, which has mohair in it. A bit "fuzzy" and unfortunately itchy. But a nice knit whilst commuting to work. The cable had to be done in a more concentrated state, but otherwise,a rather simple knit.

Happy Valpurgis celebrations - Glad Valborg to all of you!

Only 1 FO - Orange Mittens!

Reaching for the sky! These mittens are special in many ways. I did the cuffs long time ago (yes, they have glass beads) and angora edging. But they were a bit too big. So I added some Mojärv left-over yarn and the wonderful repeat pattern from Aino Parkli (Estonian master knitter from Tartu). But the actual mitten pattern and colour mix is my own. And I think they turned out great. A bit late for mittens, but they are fun and inspiring to knit - and my cold is really preventing me to be my best in the garden, sigh....Right now we have a red-ant battle on-going. It is really war! But otherwise it was a Happy Easter to us - and I hope to all of you! Thank you for your nice comments!

Two FO: Latvian mitts and Ewa Socks

It took me 6 years to make the second mitten to the Latvian mitts (pattern 19) from Uptis book in yarn from Östergötlands Ullspinneri. I did ran out of the back blue. But now it is done. It feels good. Below is the Ewa socks, pattern is Ulrika K. who runs the StickaMera SockKlubb. This was March entry. I really like them. Simple straighforward and fast to knit. The yarn is Regia 4-färg that I bought sometime years ago. Probably in Aachen. As you can see, spring is finally here in full bloom. It is wonderful. And the final apple-tree is pruned. Now garden cleaning is next step.

3 FO again: 2 Mittens and a Shawl

First are the Vasa halvvante - (halfmitt). It is crochet (or jaquard crochet) with several colours, and then the white middle part is knit, to be finished off by more crochet. They are just lovely. They pattern is based on the Finish wonderful pattern "Korsnäströjan" -which is an east Finish knitting to mix like this. Not "my" colour, but a good first attempt. Then I finally did the embroyderi on the back side of the Kragvantar. They are wonderfully cosy. And it has almost a little fire in the blooms ;-) Anyhow,finally the snow has melted away, and the spring blossoms have started. I put my initials on these "kragvantar" and some bling too.., a buit late in the season. My last finished is a shawl. It is a shawl "Pimpad Liese" whish is done in the most wonderful handpainted yarn that I bought on the Knit-meet in UK years ago. I love it. Soft and "just my colours". Will suit all my green jackets. I actually knitted this this fall. But since one knits the edge at the same time, there is an decrease at the "way back", which I did "too fast". So I had to rip it up, and reknit half of the shawl. But now it is done. And I am super happy! And yes, we continue to eat our great noodle soups....It is constantly improving. We finally found the little quartier in Stockholm, that hold all the interesting foodshops. Not only could we finally find black mustard seeds, but also the Indian "Dahl", which looks like a cross between chick-peas and lentels... Dearest got Dahl in front of the eyes...So I guess we eat indian today. Yum Yum. Otherwise we are both plagued with a spring cold. I guess that happens waiting for our wind blew down the electricity and thus all trained stopped for hours. What a chaos. Again. And waiting around outside in the cold for several hours. That is not fun! Not fun at all. Glad I had good company (and the knitting).

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!