I've been challenged...

- to think! How's that for exercising my brains on a summer holiday Sunday night (soon to be Monday morning if I don't go to sleep!) after a weekend of too much partying. 

Tora challenged me to make lists to go by for the next year. Well, I've been a bit apprehensive about this, since I'm feeling that I don't quite know where to go with my knitting at this point. On one hand, I want to create my own designs, but on the other hand I also want to take the easy road and knit up some of those incredible designs that have already been made.

I'm going to stray a bit from the original concept and replace one of the list of things I want to learn with another one as I can't really think of things I want to learn at the moment. I learn enough at university, I guess. 

Things I want to create:

1. Marianne Isager's Sommer i Tokyo from the book Japan. 

2. A pattern for the double-knitted scarves I've been making.

3. Asymmetric Cardigan from Knit So Fine

4. Twinkle's Best Friend Cardigan

Small things I might want to knit:

1. A pair of mittens; want to design my own, but let's see what happens

2. Tudora neckwarmer

3. Celestine docahedron "ball"

4. A pair of socks, possibly Charade

Non-knitting thing I want to create/finish/accomplish:

1. The pair of gloves I started this spring

2. The embroidered pillows I started too long ago

3. Read Jonathan Safran Foer's "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" (in less than a month since I went to the library to get in its original, wonderful language, English - and numerous other books, as I only read literature during the summer holidays (can't cope with it while reading for university), but I have to start somewhere

4. Finish my 5 kms at the DHL relay race in less than 27 minutes, preferably in 25. 

I think I am going to challenge another 5, but I won't (at least not at the moment). If you want to play, feel free and let me know :)

Not much knitting being done!

... as this arrived yesterday!

Me being a PC user up until now, this beautiful little white wonder is a bit challenging to me, but I think I'm learning quite fast. I've now got all my browser bookmarks set and my favourite software installed. And don't worry - I know it looks like the screen has already been damaged, but it's not! It's merely a blur I made in the photo editor cos you're not supposed to be able to read the title of the draft paper I'm about to read through - this will be my first paper ever if it gets published! Exciting! (No, my name is not first on the list, as I didn't write the paper, but as there are only 3 names on it - my two supervisors' and mine - I'm quite excited! :D)

We have a winner!

I had a great time reading all your comments - I thought a contest might be a good enticement for you all to comment, i.e. for me to get some new links to bloggers from all around blogland. So here's my thanks to you - including those of you I already "know"; so nice to know that you're reading here!

Well, as many of you correctly guessed, my new sport is: rugby!
As pointed out by some of you, you (most often) do not need the gumshield for ordinary football/soccer. On the other hand, more equipment is needed for american football, etc. Still, some other sports may require the exact same equipment, but this was a guessing contest and not a math problem, i.e. all possible solutions to the problem needn't be correct ;)

Having fun reading your comments, I simply have to draw everybody's attention to Eve's comment as it really made me laugh: "My thought after rugby (in case I was wrong) was some sort of game where you have to run really fast somewhere and at the finish line you get punched in the face. Which is really what rugby is all about, anyway :) Do you have to tape your ears for each game?" You may not be completely wrong, Eve, but I tend to think that rugby is slightly more sophisticated than that! ;) The answer to whether I have to tape my ears in for each game will be no. Taping the ears is only necessary for those who have to put their heads between other players thighs in the scrum - and that'll not be my task :D

Reading the comments, I also found out that Karen watches this (to a Danish person rather odd) game on TV and like many people lost her heart to the haka-performing New Zealanders! ;) Which TV channels show the games, Karen?

I listed the names of those of you who got the right answer, used the random number generator, which picked the winner:

knitmomma

Congratulations! I'll send you an email.

Thank you all for participating!

News + contest!

It's been a bit quiet around the blog for a while, so I thought I might drop you a line. No big news, though. So - to make some fun out of it, I made a contest (see below) for you! The subject is not knitting-related, but the prize is!

I received a parcel from Posh Yarn today! Alas, there's no sign of my purchase from May 21st yet (I'm beginning to convince myself that it's been lost in the mail - oh horror, good yarn gone to waste!) but the one from this Sunday's sale arrived quickly. Do you think my favourite colour is red?





On another note, I almost finished knitting the Alpine Shrug from one of Rowan's magazines in this linen/alpaca blend that's been lingering my stash for ages:

It's a beautiful yarn and colour, but the predominant feature of it is that it dusts all over the place! Yeah, some yarns do dust, but this one dusts with long black fibres sticking to clothes, the couch, etc. and very short grey ones that floats in the air, let alone in your airway! So, I ended up thowing the whole shite away! I figure I should have done so a long time ago, but it has been too hard for me to part with this beautiful yarn until now.

The summer holidays started 10 days ago, but I haven't really been knitting much anyway. I think the non-knitting exam period is still clinging to me - still getting used to having all this time off. Additionally, I've also started the 12-week training programme for the DHL relay race in September. Not that it's anything huge, but I've been running regularly (1-3 times a week) for a year now, and I found it high time to do something seriously about becoming faster - and it gives me something to do in these many many weeks of summer holidays (12 to be exact), and as Peter (the dear boyfriend) has joined in on the training as well, we have something to do together.

And now for the contest:

I've recently taken up a new sport that has started to take up some of my time as well (one has to hang out for the socials and games as well, you know). Can you guess which one?!

Clue: you must include all items shown in the photo to guess the right sport.

If you guess correctly and I draw out you name afterwards, I'll send you a small prize including a homemade item (knitted or felted), a ball of yarn, and some goods.

Edit: The contest is now closed! I'll be drawing the winner in a moment!

To enter the contest, just leave a comment to this post. If you don't want to enter, but want to comment anyway, just state so in your comment :)

BTW - aren't these boots just fancy? ;)

___________

Info for Stashalong:

Yarn thrown away: 532 g

Posh Yarn purchase: 464 g

A soft one

Last week I finished the Backyard Leaves scarf (from Scarf Style) in the Emily yarn from Posh Yarn in colourway Raddle - a mix of oranges and reds; hence, these leaves are beautiful autumn leaves and they are incredibly soft around my neck. I actually wore it twice last week despite the summery weather.

I bought the 100 g of yarn from another Raveler, pictish. I used 98 g of it for this scarf. Both numbers now added to the Stashalong stats.

The Übercool Twinkle Hoodie

I blogged about it a couple of days ago and here it is: the übercool Twinkle Hoodie!

It's faaantastic! Some might say that knitting on needle sizes 12mm and 15mm in a super bulky yarn is not knitting and does not challenge your skills. Well, I would have agreed until a week ago. Now Wenlan Chia got me over on her fashionable side. Cos that's what it is, this chunky knitting: it's fashion! Me like. Definitely not the last Twinkle knit from my hands.

If you want to now more about this Twinkle thing that I've gotten all obsessed with, please read my first post on the topic.

Remember all the yarn I told you about buying in that post? Well, this cardigan took 778 g of the charcoal colourway. How's that for stash reduction? :D

Vogue Swing Jacket

I finished the Swing Jacket (#19 in VogueKnitting Winter 07/08).

It is mainly knitted in Drops Alpaca in this lovely blue-green colour - and some Filcolana New Zealand Lammeuld and a little Spinni. Compared to the original version, my color changes are very subtle, but I like it that way.

I modified the pattern: I knit it in one piece meaning that the sleeves became raglan-like, and I added a front band and a neck band and moved the button.

364 g of stash used.

Twinkle knitting!

Yesterday I picked up my shipment of yarn from Wollbox. They have been so kind, and have specially ordered this yarn for me from across the pond: Cascade Magnum:
The colour in the left is more purple and the charcoal on the right is darker, but my camera constitutively refuses to reproduce purple colours correctly. 1 kg of each: colourways #9464 and #0075, i.e. not a modest purchase this time, but these chunky knits do use up some yarn! Cascade Yarns must have the same camera problems, as my photo is in fact more true to the actual colour than the one on their website. Fortunately, that is.

Picking up the yarn I got all set up for starting to knit TWINKLE! Woohooo. I really appreciate fashion designers entering the knitting scene! I've got the books, the needles, and the yarn! BTW, Wenlan Chia (the Twinkle designer) now uses her own yarn, Twinkle Soft Chunky, but as that is only available in the US and I couldn't find any European (= no fees for being allowed to pay tax) retailers being able to import this, I chose the Cascade Magnum, which I'm told is the yarn Wenlan Chia used before getting her own brand. And it's a lovely yarn, I must say! This is mainly sold in the US only as well, but as Wollbox sells other Cascade Yarns, they do special imports of other Cascade yarns as well as long as you pay in advance. Service.

The only thing left was to decide which pattern to start with! And that was indeed a tough one! Keeping in mind that chunky knits make people look - surprisingly so - chunky, I also had to take the amount of yarn I had into account and consider which garments I'd actually wear. I ended up thinking that the Twinkle Hoodie that I first set my eyes on must be the right choice.

Winding up the yarn, I ended up with the comically big ball:

Knitting at needles size 12mm and 15 mm really does get you somewhere fast:
I started out around 3am, and in spite having done other things today besides knitting, I've already finished the body and the sleeves! Too bad it is too hot for wearing the hoodie at this moment! Well, I'm sure the cold will catch up on us eventually.

In other knitting news, I started out on the Central Park Hoodie as well. I'm knitting with 2 strands of Shetland wool held together. I modified it to a size 34" (the pattern comes in 32" and 36", etc.) meaning that I had to modify the centre back cable, but I think it's allright. In addition, I plan to try out the EZ saddle shoulder on this one, as I think it would match this garment nicely.

Tomorrow (or any day soon) I'll show you the finished Vogue Swing Jacket. Possibly, I'll show you the Twinkle Hoodie as well, but I need some buttons before I can finish it, and the shops are closed on Sunday and Monday!

Puff Sleeve Jacket

I finished the Puff Sleeve Jacket (Vogue Knitting Winter 2007/08) knitted in 226 g of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed, colourway Magnolia. Ready for wearing with summer dresses now that spring has arrived! I'll post a photo with me in it some time soon.

Swatching

I did some swatches today - on the sunny terrace, where I spent about 4 hours today - for some small designs I'm considering to make. Even if I never get around to do anything more about it, I did at least use up 22 g odds and ends. It all counts in the Stashalong - and gives me more room in the baskets :)

I've got lots to show you!

- now that the camera returned from its very first business journey; to Stavanger, Norway.

First up it this scarf made from Habu Wool/Stainless Steel and Spinni giving the contrast between the airy, but crisp, Habu Wool/Stainless and the denser, yet still light, Spinni:

I knitted it up this week in order to give it away as a birthday present yesterday for Peter's sisters 40th birthday - she wears scarves most of the time, so I thought this would be an ideal present. And light: it's only 38 g.

I put my label on it and a small instruction note - almost professinal, right? ;)


In other news, a third elephant has emerged: Just as cute as its sister and brother. I wanted to have one for myself - and use the rest of the yarn purchased for knitting its brother.
It seems that I've been having this urge to clear put the bits and pieces from my stash lately: I've gotten rid of all the sock leftovers and cotton yarn by knitting this!
But since no babies of that size are around for the moment, I'll just keep it until some of our friend or family members produce some - I know that some of them will do so quite soon. Just don't worry/hope that I'll do so myself - I just knitted all this to use up the yarn, knit small pieces and - first and foremost - try out Elizabeth Zimmermann's February Baby Sweater (in front) - beautiful, isn't it?

While clearing out clothes and accessories a while ago I stumbled upon this vest I've hardly been using, knitted from some handspun yarn (read more here). I frogged it and out came the Shetland Triangle from Wrap Style:

Finally, the Stashalong information:

Habu/Spinni scarf: 38 g

Elijah III: 24 g

Baby gear from stash: 292 g

The Shetland Triangle will not contribute to the Stashalong since this frogged yarn was not a part of the original stash pile.

In total: 354 g of stash presented in this post.

I'll count all the baby equipment as one item, giving me 3 finished items in this post (not counting the Shetland Triangle). Added to the other 2008 FO's this gives me another couple of free days for Stashalong. I guess I'll have plenty of those!

Now, what's that?

8 WIPs?! Yup. I just had to cast on for another 2 of them - and plan a third for the Stashalong April KAL within KAL.

The process was initiated by the Vogue Knitting Spring 2008 issue entering my mailbox. Not really finding any designs I liked in that magazine, I dug out the old ones, knowing that I especially liked some of the design in the Winter 2007/08 issue.

Firstly, the Swing Jacket: I've made some modifications I'll tell you about when it's done. My colour changes are also quite a lot more subtle that the ones in the magazine, and I think I like it that way. So far this seems to be a promising project. [For Ravelry users trying to look this pattern up on Ravelry: For some reason or another this particular pattern is missing from the magazine's site. Peculiar.] You can find an IRL completed version here; I'm mod'ing mine into a shorter and more roomy version. I hope.

This is going to be my project for the Stashalong April KAL within KAL calling for a spring-y project. I swatched to make sure the yarn fits the pattern, but I cannot start knitting before the KAL sets off on April 1. It's the Puff Sleeve Jacket (#22) from Vogue Knitting Winter 2007/08:

The last newly started WIP is an EZ February Baby Jacket in red cotton(!). No photo here.

Ultimately, I just wanted to show you a progress photo of the MI Solen:

Uhm.

Warm wrists

- but not for me :) A tiny gift I made for one of Peter's old friends who has visited my blog and liked these. The pattern comes as a swatch in Marianne Isager's new book, Japan (published in Danish only).

38 g of stash.

The Cabled Spiral Pullover

My experiences with Knitting Nature just gets better and better. I absolutely love this new sweater! It has a great fit, the yoke pattern is beautiful and makes the shape, fit, and look of the sweater just perfect. In addition, it's a pleasure wearing it, and I'm very pleased with the yarn and especially the colour I chose. It's just sad that my camera never figured out how to capture purple-blue colours; I'd call it gentian after this cute little flower (ensian in Danish - and in Austrian for that matter*) - the colour is slightly darker than that of the top of the petals in this photo.

I'm so happy with my sweater! :D

Information:

Pattern: Cabled Spiral Pullover from Norah Gaughan: Knitting Nature
Size: the smallest one - petite or small?
Needles: Addi Bamboo 4.0mm, and 3.5mm bamboo dpns
Yarn: ÅLJ from Henrichsens Uldspinderi / Marianne Isager; 342 g.

Modifications:

1) I knit it in the round! Why purl when you can avoid it?! This sweater is an obvious knit-in-the-round sweater. The chest shaping in order to make the collar fit on the front are easily made even when back and front are knit in one piece; making this shaping you have to knit back and forth for a few rows though, but there's no need to knit the entire sweater back and forth.
2) I made a minor waist shaping (I only de-/increased 2 stitches)
3) I made EZ's afterthought hem on the body as well as on the sleeves; I did not like the rolling edges.

Apart from this I followed another wonderful pattern from Knitting Nature. This is my 5th project from that book, when not counting the two stitch patterns I tried out as well. Must be the best knitting pattern book ever.

Information for Stashalong:

342 g used.

My 8th finish this year, earning me my 4th free day. I also got one from the February KAL within KAL on Stashalong, meaning that I now have 2 unspent free days. I guess I'll have plenty :)


*About that little gentian flower: it grows in the peculiar moor-like landscape behind the sand dunes where my parents have their summer cottage. It's has such a strong yet tiny appearence in that rough - or at least rather saline - climate. Furthermore, it grows in the Austrian Alps as well - it probably grows in all the Alps, but the Austrians use it for making schnapps... I tasted it last week while I went skiing there, and I must say: never pick this beautiful little flower to make schnapps from it; that flower water tasting liqour does in no way give the flower the credit it deserves! Eeew.

While I remember it...

I'm just posting this to remind myself that I used 342 g of ÅLJ, on sale from Henrichsens Uldspinderi - a lovely yarn! - which can then be withdrawn from my stash; I'm counting for Stashalong.

I'm looking forward to showing you a photo of it, since it is such a nice sweater; I've worn it 2 days this week but as of yet I've been to tired/busy/too-late-to-get-a-daylight-photo. I'll try to get one during the weekend!

More details then. Edit 14/03/08: now more details and photos here.

Beginnings

As soon as my photographer returns from work in time to photograph me in my new sweater I'll present to you my new Cabled Spiral Pullover. Finishing that means the end of several major WIPs, in turn meaning that I can now cast on for loads of new knits. And so I have.

This afternoon I took a photo spree round the flat to photograph all the new knits I've started up recently. Most of them are just a cast on and perhaps even an edge. Only one has gone further that that - that'll be the scarf (can one get to many of these?) I brought with me on my skiing holidays because the almost finished Cabled Spiral Pullover would be much too big to carry along.

I'll start out with those knitted after a pattern.

1) The Shetland Triangle

They kept popping up here and here, so I thought I might make one myself. I had to find some heavy yarn to make it brooklyntweed-style, hence I frogged a vest I've had lying around for a couple of years but not really used; it was knitted in some dark brown (unevenly) handspun wool with pink/heather spots - from Lystbækgaard. It is quite hard to see the pattern in this uneven, dark yarn. Let's see how it turns out. Warm, I reckon.

2) Solen from Marianne Isager's new book Japan
I'm making the narrow version in black; with 6 different red/pink/orange colours for the circles. It'll be interesting to see how it fits, since I made it a litte narrower, which is usually necessary for me when knitting models designed by the oldest of the Isagers.

3) Elijah III

Secondly, the designs I'm making up myself:

1) A summer cardigan in Posh Yarn's Eva (laceweight silk/cashmere)I've swatched and figured out how the design should be during a lecture. This is the cast on and the first row I've finished here, I guess.

2) My pocket-y scarfI came up with the idea ((C) Birgitte Zeuner, 2008) for this scarf earlier this month. The colours inside the "pockets", i.e. the colours on the back of the scarf changes in stripes, using all the matching leftovers I have around. I'll show you more as I progress.

Well, I guess that this will be enough WIPs to keep me going for a while. But you never know, do you?

Photo of me wearing the Color on Color Scarf

- the way I prefer it. Almost a piece of art.

My stash has grown by 28g today...

... but not by any kind of grams: the 2 Habu Textiles Wool / Stainless Steel 14g-cones in dark dark brown and wine-purple, respectively, arrived from Glasgow today (or rather, earlier this week but I went and picked it up today). Uuuuhm.

Photos of the Color on Color scarf

I think those over-sized, soft buttons I made are really cute

So I found the time to block the scarf anyway. It's 26 cm x 140 cm (approx. 10½" x 56") and flamboyant.

Details below.

Unbelievable yet true: I finished knitting the Color on Color Scarf!

I still need to block it before it's done and before I'll take photos of it. That may have to wait until I return from the skiing holidays; then you'll have something to look forward to ;)

288 g of stash used: 41 colours using 20 different yarns. This is a real stash-busting project. The pattern calls for a certain kind of yarn available in numerous colours (1-200 I believe). I, on the other hand, collected all by stash (especially bits and pieces) to get as many colours as possible, found the colour chart of the yarn used in the pattern on Google, and sat down and combined the colour numbers given in the pattern with my own yarn, making sure the amount were almost similar to what the pattern called for. My mother provided me with a green and an orange colour, since these colours are rare in my stash. I go for blues and reds instead.

I started the scarf more than a year ago (I do not quite remember when), but it has been a slow process: I've been knitting a stretch and then let it lie for months; you have to do loads of reading for this scarf - the pattern covers 12 pages, photos included - because something new happens all the: a colour change, stitch pattern change, or a new section starting. Finally I had to weave in loads of ends (I didn't like how weaving in as I went along looked) and knit a huge number of i-cords. Today I made buttons! The pattern said to use real buttons covered with knitted fabric, but since I don't have any and don't intend to buy any, I made my own soft, over-sized buttons. Photos of these will appear after blocking.

If you're up for a stash adventure, you should knit this scarf, but you'll have to have patience :)

Edit: I forgot to mention that the pattern - called Color on Color - is from Scarf Style and made by Kathryn Alexander.

Now with photos, above.

Foxy lady... ;)

Yesterday I finished the Colette Pullover (link to Ravelry) from Interweave Knits Winter 2007. My beloved Peter not being home before sunset I had to go and play with the self-timer to be able to show you photos of it today:


Above is my favourite picture (well, not because of the look in my face) but I'll show you some more just for the fun of it:



I am immensely pleased with the result! Being unable to structure a text properly this late in the afternoon, I'll put all the facts I want to share with you on bullet form:

• I started this project in order to (1) practice my jacquard knitting skills (I think I've got hold of that technique now!), and (2) to see how jacquard and body shaping go together without having to think it up myself: they go together quite nicely, I must say! I'm very pleased with the result!
• As you may have noticed, I'm still contemplating what buttons to sew on it. The buttons I originally planned to use are too large for the buttonholes (explanation for this below), and I haven't decided if I can live with some of the other buttons I have, or if I'll have to go and buy some. Until I decide, it will work perfectly well without the buttons, as you can see in the photos.
• As I actually expected while knitting it, it turned out a little too large. I had a larger gauge (that's what you get when knitting from stash!), and even though I knit the smallest size (but fit the second-smallest) I was pretty sure it would still be a little too big for me. My suspicion turned out to be correct; but not to worry: I knew that this yarn would felt quite easily. However, felting in the washing machine is pretty uncontrollable... Luckily, I know how to felt by hand (I have made this jacket for myself; no knitting involved!), so crawling around on the kitchen floor I reduced the sweater size by 8 cm (~3") in the round and 3 cm lengthwise (~1.25"). 'Twas worth the trouble: the sweater now fits perfectly!
• The felting and the jacquard pattern knitted with 2 strands of each colour makes it perfect for the chilly environment in which I move - and for the skiing holiday in Sölden (Austria) we're going this Saturday! What an incentive to finish the sweater.
• And just a peculiarity: I did the sewing-before-cutting of the two neck opening steeks by hand! :)

And now for the stats (Stashalong-wise as well as general information):

• Knitted with 2 strands of yarn all the way. The black main colour is wool from Henrichsen's Uldspinderi resembling Marianne Isager's Tvinni, though much cheaper when bought at the factory kilogram-wise. The two pink/heather contrast colours are both a single-ply yarns from the local farm Lystbækgaard near my parent's summer cottage in Western Denmark.
• Knitted on needle size 3.5 mm in the round.
• I used 542 g of stash yarn.
• My 6th FO in 2008, giving me my 3rd free day (more on that below).
• One of the items on my Stashalong list for 2008.
• It is my February contribution to 12 projekter.

Regarding the free days (part of Stashalong): I have finished 6 items this year, and since I earn one free day (with the limitation of never buying more than I have used up so far) for every second item I finish, I've earned 3 free days this year. I used the first one in January on a rather modest purchase. I used the second a week ago - and I got the yarn today:

6 skeins of Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in colourway Magnolia. 300 g of yarn added to the stash, but since I have already used more than 1500 g this year, it is quite all right, and still what I'd call a modest purchase.

Having finished my 6th object I've gone and spent the 3rd free day: It seems that modest purchases is my way to go this year: I've ordered 2x14 g of Habu Stainless Steel Wool. I've been wanting this peculiar yarn for some time know, so when Ysolda directed me and my fellow readers to a new Edinburgh yarn store with a webshop on the side being the only European(= no taxes or fees to be added) Habu Stainless carrying shop I know of, I couldn't resist making an order! I'm looking forward :)