Knitting for maniacs...

at Knitty... http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/FEATmaniacs.html

Oh... *blush* Don't I recognize myself?

"As far as I can tell, the only difference between "beginner" and "advanced" is that advanced knitters have a more devil-may-care attitude toward trying new things. In trying new things, we learn new stuff. Funny how that works. So the knitting maniacs of the world move on to advanced status, cavalierly adding pockets where we want, knitting gloves and socks, putting swathes of color all over, and otherwise biting off more than we can chew and figuring it out as we go. I'm sure this says something about the personality of some knitters. I'm not sure it's good, but there it is. Some of us are just nuts and will try anything once. We're shameless. A lot of us probably bungee jump and get into bar fights, too."

I so agree... the more I do, the more I can, the more I can, the more I do - and - zimzalabim, you're "advanced".

"bungee jump and bar fights" - yeah, and "sock wars" ;-)

"It's knitting, for crying out loud, not brain surgery." LOL Indeed ;-)
What is the worst thing that can happen? If you try it out first with some inexpensive yarn, the worst thing that can happen is that you whack the whole thing in carbage can. So - nothing, really.
What's the best thing that can happen? The mere thought makes your eyes tingle and your smile reach out for your ears :-)
Worth it? You bet!

P.S. I love to "see Eunny knit" :-) She has the best tutorials ever :-) Together with Knitty's, of course :-)

P.P.S. I forgot to post what's happening at Whiplash... It's accessories this month :-) TWO WEEKS, good people. Or 10 days as from now. Grr!!!

Two socks at once on DPNs

"Extreme knitting; 2 in 1"

This reminds me of a story from "War and Peace" by Tolstoy:

""Come, Anna Makarovna," Pierre's voice was heard saying, "come here into the middle of the room and at the word of command, 'One, two,' and when I say 'three'... You stand here, and you in my arms- well now! One, two!..." said Pierre, and a silence followed: "three!" and a rapturously breathless cry of children's voices filled the room. "Two, two!" they shouted.

This meant two stockings, which by a secret process known only to herself Anna Makarovna used to knit at the same time on the same needles, and which, when they were ready, she always triumphantly drew, one out of the other, in the children's presence."

Added 10.10.
I have talked with the designer, and it was inspired by this piece :-D
Read also this "Anna Makarovna's patented stockings"
Wow... FOUR SOCKS AT A TIME! See the maniac knitter's wide, crazy smile :-D
And think of all the possibilities!!! I am Finnish, and there's one special Fnnish weaving technique, called "doubleweave". Of course, it's been used all over the world, and one cannot say that a specific craft technique is from one certain country, but - I think of it as Finnish invention ;-) Anyway, in the craft school we were taught this technique, and we made a small swatch in tripleweave. It's especially nice, because one doesn't need to make both sides alike, as in doubleweave.

So why not use this in knitting... I'm sure someone has already done that, for example mosaic knitting, but - just something for "maniac knitters" to put their teeth on LOL (And mosaic knitting isn't quite the same thing as patterned double, triple or quadruple knitting either... Here's a couple of patterned doubleknit hotpads :-))

Nanowrimo and other things

Yep, I did write something... I think it was about 5000 words. Good story :-) I am good at starting writing LOL

So, it's time this year :-) Only a month to November, and National Novel Writing Month :-)

But... I feel python... Panic anxiety... Really "nice" thing :-> If your bullied kid won't start shooting around in the school, she'll kill herself in a way or another :-) And some people are worried about "sock wars"... *tsk, tsk, tsk*

To more pleasant issues.

Two-end knitting :-)

I made a swatch to remind me of it, and it's still fun. It's basically as knitting with two colors, but you'll twine the yarns around each other all the time. You'll get a very soft and thick fabric, which I can think would fit well as dishcloth. I want to make myself a wintercoat that way :-)


The swatch looks pretty awful, as I don't have any place to let it dry under tension, except my bed, and the dog loves to sleep on the pins... fakir dog Boris :-D

Now here's the right and "wrong" side, and you can see the twined yarns on the backside of the patch. On the right side, you can see the pattern. There's the two horizontal lines, "chains", and five small squares in the middle. If you make this with one color (still two yarns) the chain effect and the squares show more clearly.

The cast-on is done with three different colors, and I made it wrong - I forgot to twine the yarn... *blush* - and it's too tight, but one can see that one needs to be very careful to cast this loosely, and end tightly :-d Not like I did, cast on tightly and bind off loosely LOL

BTW, I was wrong with my previous entry about two-end or twined knitting. Two-toned brioche is not twined knitting. It's brioche :-) "Patenttineule" suomeksi, "patent" på svenska.

The Knitting Fiend: Brioche Stitches

October first

It's Yom Kippur and my husband's birthday.

The October challenges have not yet been published in "Tie One On" or "Pincushion Challenge".
(Added 3.10. Tie One On: Aprons as costumes (or part of an outfit, a fashion accessory), Pincushion Challenge: pincushion swap)

October socks in Six Sox looks pretty amazing :-)

"Project Spectrum" didn't obviously continue from August. :-( So I'll say that the color of October is orange :-) Orange and black ;-) Or orange, red, burgundy, yellow and brown :-D

Feline Flip Flop theme is Halloween :-)

" COLORS/THEME: HALLOWEEN - Orange, Black, Green & Purple and of course the BLACK CAT!

This is months theme is HALLOWEEN! So lets Spook it up with some bewitiching gifts in the haunting spirit of the season! Don't forget our Feline friend of All Hallows Eve.... the BLACK CAT! This months swap is sure to be purrrrrfect!"

November Color*iffic Swap*o*rama hasn't been posted yet, so that I don't know what it will be...
(Added 3.10. " **APPLE GREEN**CANDY PINK**DEEP RED BERGUNDY")

I have made some changes to my blog. A little arranging in the right hand column and a couple more blogs, Vattumato in Finnish and Knitting Crazy Cat Ladies... I'm a crazy cat lady wannabe *sigh*

More on sock wars

I'm dead.

Samhain calendar

In the German protestant tradition they have "Advent Calendars" for Christmas. Advent means arrival, and these calendars were created to "help" children "survive" the December to Christmas. This tradition was created in the 19th century, and prince Albert spread it to the Anglian world.

There's many different ways to mark the days.

One can burn candle - or candles. There's special advent candles decorated suitably, and you'll burn a half an inch every day.
We also have a tradition where four candles are burned - one every sunday - before the Christmas. There's plenty of different four candle holders created for this purpose.

The most common calendar is the picture calendar. You'll open a "door" or "window" every day of December, and another tiny picture is revealed. There's variations of this too. I have seen calendars with candy behind the "doors", and calendars with a quote or a joke. I have also seen calendars where the child is given a puzzle or craft idea for the day.
The on-line advent calendars or count-down calendars are variations of this theme.
Here in Scandinavia there's a tv show every year, with a special short program made for children every day of December, and a picture calendar created for it, so that children can open the "doors" at home when the show host opens them at the television.

I'd say the most popular are the calendars that give you a small present, like candy or a tiny toy for each day. The European toy companies have taken this idea, and some companies, like Lego, make calendars with boxes to be opened and there's a piece of Lego in each.

The crafters have naturally taken the idea, and in the German craft magazines there's always a pattern or instructions on how to make an Advent calendar.

It's usually a tiny set of drawers - matchboxes are often used for this purpose - or a picture with pockets or pouches where the gifts can be put.

There really are no limits to what kind of calendar one makes. The idea is to give the child a small surprise for every December day before Christmas.
(Make a search with "adventskalender basteln" to see more ideas...)

Now this "small surprise every day" is THE problem with these calendars. Scandinavia is filled with worried parents in November, trying to fill their heirloom calendars with something that is small but affordable.

The easy way out is candy. You can have a piece of candy in every pocket. It's easy and cheap - but not original or healthy. Also, one can make a cookie calendar.

One idea is to get a big bag of tiny plastic animals, for example dinosaurs, if the child like them.

In the Christian families, the family creche is sometimes stored in the calendar, and the child gets to place the nativity scene characters in the scene and so build up the scene. It's always a big happening when baby Jesus is put in the crib on the Christmas day.
A Pagan could use this idea to create a Sabbat scene, illustrating one of the Sabbat stories, and fill the pouches with the characters to build the scene.

There's also different creche traditions around the world. In Krakow they use to build these amazing castles as "frames" to the scene, and in Provence they create tiny clay figurines (Santons) of every day characters to "inhabite" the nativity scene... The Santons scenes are lovely :-) In Italy they also create elaborate and huge scenes with high, rocky landscape filled with different animals and people from the Bible. These characters could be used to fill the advent calendar for different Sabbats.
For example for Samhain one could make Cerridwen's cauldron scene. Cerridwen with her cauldron would be in the last, big pouch, but in the other pouches there would be for example tin soldiers. The child could then paint the soldier and place it "dead" in the scene, to then "revive" them in the Cauldron on Samhain day and play with them. There are some role playing game miniatures sold, which are much more interesting than usual tin soldiers, but they are rather expensive... One won't easily pay a couple of hundred dollars/over thousand cronas 8 times a year... but one can make own characters of clay, salt dough or what ever :-)

You can also write or find a story with a chapter for each day. (The traditional Christmas Advent Calendar has 24 or 25 days, but you can choose as many as you wish. My calendar for Samhain has 31 pockets, but you can choose for example three or four weeks before The Day. The Pagan Sabbats occur on different dates and it might be easier to use the calendar if it wasn't date bound.) You print the story on nice papers and bind every chapter with pretty ribbon and put in the pockets. Then every day you read a new chapter.

You can also make the story your family tradition, and next year put a little something with connection to the chapters in the pockets. For example, if there's a mirror found in the story, there can be a pocket mirror in the pouch. If they see something special, there can be a miniature of that something in the pouch. This can naturally be part of the day's surprise even if the story isn't a family tradition, but you get a new story for every year. It's nice to illustrate the story with small surprises, and it also makes your job a lot easier. It's easier to find a small dragon than small "something".

There're naturally no limits to what to put into the pockets. You can use fridge magnets; stationary, like pen, notepad, erasure; jewelry or hair decoration for a girly girl; bookmarks; pearls and beads for a beader or other craft material; tiny toys, ornaments or figurines; a hat, pair of gloves, socks you have knitted; money... look around you and see the small objects in your life.

Advent Calendars - the history. From a company which produces advent calendars.
Advent calendar at Wikipedia

This is the tea advent calendar - for every 24 days you'll take a new tea bag, with a new flavor :-)

I designed my Samhain calendar this morning. It's meant to last from 1.10 - 31.10. There's 30 smaller pockets and then one big pumpkin pocket for Samhain eve. It depicts a garden patch. Surprises are put into 30 small pouches which are decorated with applicated root vegetable and embroidered greenery with the date number in it. The one to whom the surprises are will "pull out the vegetable from the soil" and enjoy the gifts of harvest ;-)

The message is that one's death is other one's life - we'll all die one day to give place to another life form. Harvest festivals are celebrating this. A plant will die when its roots are pulled from ground, or when it's cut. But in death the plant gives us the gift of life. Life takes life - plants use the dead animals turned into nutrition by the bacterias and other creepy crawlers in the soil, and animals use the dead plants. Death is a gift and should be honored, respected, venerated. It should not be seeked out, but it should not be avoided or feared either. No-one should want to live forever, and in the end of good life, the death is the Liberator.


P.S. I just added "Craft Sanity" to my links. Jackie the Snow Heart Witch posted a funny crocheted eyeball pattern from there :-)

Not only knitting...

This blog is supposed to be about fiber crafts... It's "need more FIBER", not "need more knitting", and right now it's been a lot about knitting. *sigh*

Well... I have all kinds of excuses. I have been sick for almost three weeks now. I have been PLANNING all kinds of things ;-)

Some of you might know that I am crazy about holidays. It started with Christmas, but I am not Christian, and there was a time when I objected to about everything about Christmas, simply because... well... the connection to Christianity is quite obvious, don't you think.
Then I found Wicca and the 8 Sabbats. The four sun Sabbats, Midwinter, Midsummer, Midspring and Midautumn, are SMALLER Sabbats... and Midwinter IS Yule - Christmas... and I thought of the Christmas madness, all the thousands of craft projects for Christmas and decorating and all that, and realized, that I can actually have Christmas all year around! 8 feasts all AT LEAST AS BIG AS CHRISTMAS!!!

But, alas, I'm a bad girl :-( I have the know-how and all the ideas, but no perseverance and discipline :-( You should see my home IF I did even half of all the things I have planned...

Now it was Mabon, and oh, didn't I have some great ideas for Mabon...
Next it's Samhain - Halloween - The Holy Night ;-) - and I have ideas...

I want to make table setting, with tablecloth, runner, napkins and table mats.
I want to make bread cloth and napkin rings.
I want to make a table cloth and some spiderweb doilies for the candy table.
I want to make some cushions and throw for the sofa.
I want to make potholders, kitchen towels, dishrags and apron.
I want to make chair cushions.
I want to make curtains, drapes, shades, what ever they are called
I want to make bedlinen, quilt bed cover and cushions
I want to make bath room sets
I want to make season mats to every room
and a lot of ornaments!

I want to have 8 different sets of decorating, change the color and textiles all over the household 8 times a year. Red and green for Yule; white and red for Imbolc; yellow and green for Ostara; green and pink for Beltane; blue and yellow, white and red for Litha; grey green, dark blue and gold for Lammas; autumn leaves (red, yellow and orange) and burgundy for Mabon and black and orange for Samhain...

The thing is that I know how to do a lot of different fiber crafts. I can knit, crochet, naalbind, tat and make bobbin and needle lace, I can sew and weave and felt and embroider and... anything. But I don't do "anything"... and that's a bloody shame!

Hats, hats, hats...

JULY

• Liette Hat::thefabledneedle
• wooly hat::alittlebunny
• 1930s beret::P
• bunny bike helmut cover::quenna
• Glacier Toque::stoneamazon
• remade hat::ruthsinger
• winter hat::cfederer
• mini santa hat::greetingarts
• Femme Fedora::CraftyGinger
• cheery rainhat tut::mo
• Snow White Crown::aiar
• school days::soplador
• (the sweetest) boy toque::CBShiffman
• Mermaid Headband Tutorial::clutteringmycouch
• howdy stranger hat with tutorial::katrin
• I\'ll just have the salad...::MamaCatfish
• Needlefelt Peacock::MysticSpiral
• Reversible Fabric Headband Tutorial::kcquilts
• nothing fancy::flapper hats::sarawithanh
• Buttoned Hat::marcisenders
• Voddy_Crafty Cupcake::voddy
• Fuzzy Bear Ears::rachellyra
• Medieval Kokoshnik::Brahdelt
• crocheted cat hat::planetjune
• The Miniature Hat Experiment-Tutorial::jeternity
• Artsy\'s Thai Beret::artsy fartsy mama
• bright winter hat::cowgirl53

So I missed whiplash this time too :-( *sigh*
I was planning on making a little witchy kind of felted, knitted hat, made of shock pink wool, wide brim and sharp top, and the brim would have been filled with knitted and crocheted flowers in reds, pinks and whites...
With a hat like that my sisters wouldn't loose me when we are shopping in the city :-) We could use me as a beakon LOL

Here's some links to knitted hats on-line
http://helpinghearts0.tripod.com/id17.html
and here's some more :-)
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/hats.php
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/hats.php

Here's Sally Pointer's "Pointed Hats" - with a wonderful Gandalf hat tutorial :-)

Update on sock wars :-)

"I know now that Assassin Baa Bonny Belle is knitting to kill Ketutar and Assassin Ketutar is knitting to kill Celtic Queen :-)"

Celtic Queen had send her socks to her victim, who had sent her socks to her victim, and my assassin missed the war and forwarded me to her assassin...
so... now Roo at war is knitting to kill me, and I have sent the socks to kill Celtic Queen - should be there on Thursday - and will be knitting to kill... Shoemouse or Boyforpele13... There is a slight difference there... Shoemouse has size UK5 and Boy US11 LOL... and they both are knitting so that the needles are smoking... so perhaps I won't kill anyone else LOL

I just love this. I'm laughing so I have difficulties staying sitting :-D

Thank you, YarnMonkey, for this lovely invention! :-)

Sock Wars II

Ok... we should have got the "weapons" and "victims" yesterday, but, alas, there was a hurricane in Belfast and our war leader couldn't send us the secret dossier...
About 9 a.m. today I found out that she had posted the sock pattern on her website, so that we can at least start... but now I'm so far on with the sock, that I need to know which size the sock is supposed to be... *sigh*
So I'm wondering, if I should knit them in size 40-41, because that is the most common sock size in the group ;-) and knit a new pair of socks if the victim's foot is of another size...
Uh.

I'll just wait. Just like everyone else :-D

Edited just 10 minutes later :-)
Yarn Monkey had posted all the assassins and victims on her blog, so I know now that Assassin Baa Bonny Belle is knitting to kill Ketutar and Assassin Ketutar is knitting to kill Celtic Queen :-) I know that Celtic Queen lives in Pittsburgh :-) Good :-) I better get the socks posted tomorrow :-)

Fingerless gloves and wrist warmers...

These lovely red wrist warmers are from "Saartje Knits" - it's her own design :-)

I am in a "Warm hands, warm hearts" swap. I love gloves - with or without fingers. I also love wrist warmers, as my wrists ache pretty often, especially on the winter - and now, when I'm ill... the fever always hits the joints.

I am a yarn snob and very particular with what I like and what not... But I am also a nice girl, and understand the thought behind things, and won't look "into the mouth of a gift horse" ;-) I will be happy about what ever I get. Besides, if I really can't stand using them, there's always people I know, who will :-) I'll be grateful which ever way :-D

But I was asked a question of what I would like... so here goes.

I received a pair of black and purple shadow-work wrist warmers from my one skein secret pal. I think they are angora or alpacka or something else like that, because they are very soft and slightly fuzzy :-) Black and purple are not exactly my colors, I like red, cream white and peacock colors; blended greens, blues, teals and purples. I also like green and teals, turquoise, aqua. Pink is ok too, but nothing dusty, greyish or with brown. I like clear, bright colors.
These one are pretty nice :-) fingerless mitts

Not this bright, though!
Fuzzy Mabel's patterns. Yikes! I am not fond of shock pink, neon colors, psychedelic combinations and such...
And these blue-and-yellow ones are yikes! too... the red and orange ones on the other hand are funny :-) I'd like those :-)
These are yikes! too ;-)

The worst would be purple or lavendel. Or browny-green with ochra... 60's or 70's retro style. *yuk*
This is one example of what I would NOT like: "Mitts at the beach"
Here's another: Wrist warmers

Here's an example of BAD "peacock colored" wrist warmers... I don't like Koigu. I like my variegated yarn to blend softly, flow from one color to another, like these :-) This is an example of GOOD peacock colored wrist warmers :-) Koigu is too messy for my taste. And this: just messy! I am not too fond of self-striping yarn either.

I love rainbows... these are very nice. Even with all the purple. ;-)

I am also not too fond of effect yarns. These are pretty awful... fun fur fingerlesses

Color work is nice :-) Swedish fingerles Mitts
Norwegian wrist warmers and cowl
- I wouldn't combine burgundy with apple green and orange though... Burgundy is a nice color. I love rich burgundy-maroony color. That one is a little too pale... it should be more spicy, richer and deeper color. More like this. :-) (Yes, yes, I know, messy variegated yarn - but very nice colors :-))

Also, I am a bit romantic, so lace would be nice :-)
These are very pretty :-)
Heartstring's fiber art lacy wrist warmers
These are very pretty - awful color though...
And these are wonderful! Those long, red ones... *drool*

I like beaded wristwarmers... these green ones on the cover of the Japanese "beads knitting" book are lovely :-)

I also like aran knitting, cables and such :-)
Fetching from Knitty are really nice :-)

I also have a little wacky sense of humor ;-)
I love these: Knucks
"harm - none" is a good message, and I think "knit-purl" would be fun too :-D
These are SO COOL!! Lace Up Skull Arm Warmers
and these: Snowball's Change in Hell

anyway... this is just talk. The only requirement I have is that they need to be at least 4 inches long. So even though these are really cool too, they are too short...

Here's some patterns:
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/mittens_gloves.php
and here's "Craft Like A Pirate" :-D
Swedish pattern for skull wrist warmers :-)

These are from Himalaya yarns, and are kind of witty, but WHY, OH WHY THE PURPLE!!! The colors are hideous! Especially the ochra one with ruffles... Ochra, salmon, teal and purple? Is the designer blind? *brrr*

Socktober fest!

It's still a week and a little to go, but it's time to start preparing oneself :-)

Here's a nice blog entry on how to photograph socks.
http://lostpurl.blogspot.com/2006/09/how-to-take-pictures-of-socks.html
It isn't always easy thing to do by yourself and with nothing to be used as a modell to wear the sock... So either one takes a picture of a sock on a flat surface
(Here the date is correct - my own design, clog socks to my hubby)
- or more ambitious ones make a nice setting ;-)
This is from a "sock of the month kit" club... I think it's called "mystery cables" or something like that.
- or you take a picture from "above"
These are Godzilla socks
or the classic "soles together yoga" kind of sock picture.
(Ignore the date - I didn't know how to disable the dating system, and it wasn't set either... the picture is taken in mid-June this year. Six Sox Color Blox)

It is really interesting to start looking at sock pictures with this in mind...
Here's Flickr group "Socktober Fest" which is an excellent place to start looking at sock photos.

BTW, here's "Island of Misfit Patterns"

I have a problem...

This is the peacock sock from Maggie's Rags...
I like the pattern. I would like to make it in peacock colors...
It's a tiny square stitch pattern, which would do fine as anything... but I don't know how it's done... And it's a copyrighted pattern too, and I have no possibility to get the pattern :-(

There are so many fascinating knitting stitch patterns out there... it's amazing that this variety has been created with k's, p's, yo's and k2tog's...

You can for example look at these stitches
http://www.ashidome.com/blogger/archive_craftystitch.asp?c=25
Here's some more http://knitting.about.com/library/weekly/blstitches.htm
and here's a couple... http://www.knitting-and.com/knitting/patterns-stitches.htm
and here's some too http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/stitches.php
Here's A LOT of stitches ;-) http://www.knittingfool.com/pages/StCatalog.cfm?alpha=A
Italian site with stitches in charts and words (Italian...) http://digilander.iol.it/MarcellaMaglie2/i_punti.htm

added 7.11. http://www.thedietdiary.com/blog/lu-stitch_patterns.php
corrections to "365 knitting stitches a year" calendar

added 2.12. http://www.geocities.com/love2knit_dishcloths/DishclothIndex.html
Yes, it says "dishcloth index", but they are actually stitches. Dishcloth 21; Feather Lace, looks like this sock...

I'm snotty Ketty...

Second week flu... yuk. But I have been doing things.

I joined a washcloth KAL group. We are to knit two washcloths a month, and we'll get the pattern just a few rows a day... so it's a surprise what will come of it :-D
It's just that I'm Finnish, so we are not used to use washcloths... or dishrags. I still find the idea of using the dishrag to wash dishes pretty scary... I am used to use a dishbrush. But one can always use some cute rags to wipe the counters and tabletops and so on. And I love knitting easy, quick and interesting patterns :-)

I made some doll clothes this weekend. My mother had found a couple of (really ugly) dolls in flea market, and they didn't have any clothes, so my sisters and I made them two sets of clothes. My brother has a daughter, who is 4 years old, who loves dolls and is a real girly girl :-) Loves pink and clothes and being a princess :-)

I am knitting a shawl for my "shapely t" - just a simple garter stitch triangle with japanese effect yarn borders as only decoration.

Then I need to do some wrist warmers to my big sister. It's getting a little chilly now, and we are not getting any younger ;-)

I have added a couple of blogs to my links
Faery Crafty
Knitting in Color
and antiblog.knitting
I suppose I need to add a couple more Finnish and Swedish blogs too, to make my Finnish and Swedish speaking readers happy ;-)
So, here's Hikihelmiä ja piikkilankaa
and here's Knittermarie's blog :-)

Antiblog has some absolutely amazing double knits... really inspiring :-)
Knitting in Color's Nanette Blanchard has self-published a couple of pattern books :-) They look pretty interesting :-) I think I want those knitted Christmas lights LOL

Faery Crafty has a list of free patterns, and this is the reason for this blog.
She has a link to Adriafil yarn company. I went there and couldn't find the free patterns, but then I noticed that when you click on the magazine covers, you get a new page, where it says "fashion" and "baby", and when you click on either, you get into the page where the free patterns are. And then you just click on the "Instructions" link under the picture of the "desired" pattern, you'll get the pattern. Some of them are such that "You Knit What" would have had a fugly moment and needed to dig out their own eyes to stop puking :-D But some of them are interesting. The baby patterns are nice, and I like the crocheted thingies... well... of course the fuglies are "interesting" too, but I wouldn't make them. :-)

Cute Baby stuff
She has collected cute baby stuff (duh! LOL) links on a blog entry.
Carole Bareny's seamless yoked baby sweater is not where she gives the link, it's here: http://www.knittingonthenet.com/patterns/babysweyokecard.htm
and Canadian Living's "Baby jacket" is here. It is really cute LOL
She has also bag links, bikini links (!), poncho links, shawl and wrap links, bolero and shrug links, summer top links and sweater links...
I am not too fond of bikinis, ponchos and shrugs... I find it hard to understand why anyone would WANT to have links to SEVERAL knitted or crocheted bikini patterns... how many pairs do you want? And can you actually use them for anything else but sun bathing? And how many people have a body that goes with knitted/crocheted bikinis? Or ponchos? How many of those wretched things you want??? Anyway - I am fully aware that people have different preferences and what is fugly to me is nice for someone else. Anyway, Faery Crafty has done a huge and very nice job, and deserves all credit for it :-)

Stargazer's free pattern links.

There's also a link to Ornaghi's yarn company.
So I suppose I'll give a link to Drops and Garn Studio. Something Swedish for all :-)
and here's Novita's patterns... in Finnish, I'm afraid. And here's more Finnish, Pirkka-lehden neuleohjeet. Those of you who are unfortunate enough not to speak or read Finnish can always look at the pictures... and if you find something you JUST MUST HAVE, I can help... perhaps... at least a little.

And here's Yahoo! group "Free Knit Patterns" :-)

Enjoy :-)

two-end knitting, twined knitting, two-toned or two-color brioche stitch...

I have been interested of this Scandinavian specialty for a very long time... then I finally looked it up, and to my "disappointment" I found out that I already know how to do it... I just haven't known that it's "two-end knitting".

"Twined knitting is a peculiarly Scandinavian method of two-stranded knitting, now most commonly practiced in rural forested areas of Sweden and Norway. Stitches are alternately knitted with two strands of yarn of the same colour, which are twisted after each stitch. The resulting fabric is durable and warm, only slightly elastic, with an even surface that rivals machine knitting in its appearance of knitting perfection. Twined knitting was traditionally used to make mittens and gloves, caps, stockings and sleeves. Knitted ornamentation was added with purl stitches or by the use of a contrasting colour. Twined knitting, with its firm fabric, was particularly suited to decorative embroidery."

Here's Anne-Maj Ling's homepage. It's in Swedish.

Here Theresa Vinson Thenersen tells how to do it.

On-line demo with pictures.

Knitting in color; twined knitting I and twined knitting II

Two-toned brioche stitch watchcap

Two color brioche stitch scarf

Then there's socks and mittens done with Karelian pattern, with twined knitting cord on the cuff. But that's in Finnish. I might translate it one day... Hopefully someone else does it first ;-)

My first knit design :-D

Lobster washcloth
(Goes fine for greyfish too... för kräftkvällar ja rapujuhliin ;-))

Size 7 (US) = 4.5 mm needles, cotton yarn in any color.

Cast on 41 stitches.

1.- 4. *k1, p1*, k1
5. k1, p1, k1, p1, k33, p1, k1, p1, k1
6. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
7. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
8. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
9. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
10. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
11. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
12. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
13. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
14. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
15. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
16. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p11, k1, p1, k5, p1, k1, p11, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
17. k1, p1, k1, p2, k11, p9, k11, p2, k1, p1, k1
18. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p12, k7, p12, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
19. k1, p1, k1, p2, k13, p5, k13, p2, k1, p1, k1
20. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p 13, k5, p13, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
21. k1, p1, k1, p2, k13, p5, k13, p2, k1, p1, k1
22. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p8, k1, p5, k3, p5, k1, p8, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
23. k1, p1, k1, p2, k8, p1, k5, p3, k5, p1, k8, p2, k1, p1, k1
24. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p9, k3, p2, k3, p2, k3, p9, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
25. k1, p1, k1, p2, k 7, p1, k4, p7, k4, p1, k7, p2, k1, p1, k1
26. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p8, k15, p8, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
27. k1, p1, k1, p2, k13, p5, k13, p2, k1, p1, k1
28. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p9, k13, p9, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
29. k1, p1, k1, p2, k8, p1, k4, p5, k4, p1, k8, p2, k1, p1, k1
30. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p10, k11, p10, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
31. k1, p1, k1, p2, k8, p3, k2, p5, k2, p3, k8, p2, k1, p1, k1
32. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p11, k9, p11, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
33. k1, p1, k1, p2, k10, p11, k10, p2, k1, p1, k1
34. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p10, k2, p2, k3, p2, k2, p10, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
35. k1, p1, k1, p2, k9, p2, k3, p3, k3, p2, k9, p2, k1, p1, k1
36. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p8, k4, p2, k3, p2, k4, p8, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
37. k1, p1, k1, p2, k8, p4, k2, p3, k2, p4, k8, p2, k1, p1, k1
38. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p7, k5, p3, k1, p3, k5, p7, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
39. k1, p1, k1, p2, k7, p5, k1, p1, k3, p1, k1, p5, k7, p2, k1, p1, k1
40. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p7, k5, p7, k5, p7, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
41. k1, p1, k1, p2, k7, p2, k1, p1, k9, p1, k1, p2, k7, p2, k1, p1, k1
42. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p8, k1, p1, k1, p9, k1, p1, k1, p8, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
43. k1, p1, k1, p2, k8, p1, k13, p1, k8, p2, k1, p1, k1
44. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
45. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
46. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
47. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
48. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
49. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
50. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
51. k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p31, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1
52. k1, p1, k1, p2, k31, p2, k1, p1, k1
53. k1, p1, k1, p35, k1, p1, k1
54.-57. *k1, p1*, k1

Bind off loosely

If you want to, you can omit the 5 first and last lines, and 5 first and last stitches in every following row, and replace them with any edging you wish. I can think that wavy lines, even lacy edges, would fit very well with the theme.

Also, the 5 first and last lines and the 5 first and last stitches in every following rows are the edging, and you might want to add a little more space around the lobster - it's very close the edging as it is now.

This is a test cloth I knitted with the earlier pattern, and I wasn't happy with it, so I have added quite a lot of space before and after. It should be fine now :-)
NOTE THAT THE CHART IS THE OLD ONE!

Shrugs?

There was this One Skein Wonder... and suddenly I was made aware of that people LIKE shrugs! So much so that the Knit-A-Long I'm participating in is DYING to make a shrug. That's another thing I just don't get... Perhaps I need to knit one to get it ;-) But time being I shrug off the shrugs ;-)
Not really... I had nothing else to write, so I post several links to shrug pattern :-D

Wrath of Khan
The Gray Ghost
Hot Lava

I do

Reminds me very much of Elann's "Esprit"

Berrocco's shrugs

Cameo
Kid Merino Lacy Shrug

White Lies' Lacy Shrug

Shoulderette drop-stitch shrug

Scrawl

Drops' Vienna shrug

Little Fancy Fur Shrug
and other Lion Brand shrugs

Everyone's Doing It Shrug

vintage pattern: 1952 Bow Tie Shrug

Camille

Well... I have to say that One Skein Wonder works perfectly with White Lies Shapely Tank...

Knitting...

My camera has eaten up all the power from batteries once again, so no photos... but scanner works... the glas is dirty, so the pictures are a bit weird as well, but...

This is what I am doing right now. Six Sox Scale Skin Socks, picot edge.

I have already made the other sock. It's funny. It looks like dragon toes. I also like the fact that the yellowy green yarn turns into blood red in the end of the sock... really... dragon toes.

I feel absolutely awful...

I must be the worst swap pal ever... I totally blew it with One Skein and Secret Pal. Of course, there was a reason for that, but... *sigh* I'M SO SORRY!!!

I tried to make it up by sending a little better package, but the quality of the swap is so high, that my "little better" is just average... and I feel even worse... :-(

Uh - get over it, Ket.

Here's a great swap idea.
http://www.mittensmittensmittens.blogspot.com/

Sweet September

Isn't it funny how time flies? It feels like yesterday I started this blog... and in the beginning I think I posted like twice a day, and now it's once a week - if I'm lucky... *blush*

So, it's September and another month for all the projects :-)

Whip-lash is about hats :-) I love hats :-) This red amazing creation is by Ella J. Kidd.

Apron "tie one on" pinafore theme has been extended through September.

Pincushion "Recycle" theme is for August and September.

I just wonder if Maria has thought of arranging another journal swap...

Anyway, I managed to knit my t-shirt and it's very nice. :-) I was a bit worried of that it's too big - and I still suspect that it IS a little too big, but I'm sure it will become better after a visit in the washing machine. The color isn't quite right for me, a little bit too strong and muddled, but it's ok.
I managed to knit the bag, and I have send it to a swap pal. It's a bit sad that I couldn't take any more pictures of it, but when there are no batteries in the camera, there are no batteries. I hope my swap pal will post pictures. I hope she's still there... I haven't heard of her for a couple of months now...
Now I'm knitting yet another pair of socks. For Six Sox.

I found a couple of nice patterns at "Crystal Palace Yarns"
I was also told that Elann adds new patterns... and some of them ARE good :-D
I also would like to remind of Knitty's Breast Cancer awareness special

I'm an idiot...

Yeah... I just joined another swap... It's... it's the Swap-Bot!!! It hypnotizes you and FORCES you to join swaps! I swear it does! I'm not the only one who have noticed this.

Anyway, it's "Hot Socks" and you need to send some sock yarn, something to make a cup of hot drink; coffee, tea or cocoa, to someone, and then a little suprise or treat :-) So - just join you too LOL

Right now I'm in 9 swaps...
Cherry Red and Tangerine Orange
Red & Aqua Swap
Paper Doll
Magic Yarn Ball Again....
Warm hands, warm hearts
Samhain fiber craft swap
Hot Chocolate And Book - International
Trick or Treat goodies
Handmade Christmas Ornament Swap

And I think it's a pity that I missed the Nordic Secret Pal Swap LOL

Wardrobe surgery

Picture: Angela Johnson; redesigned, reconstructed and recycled clothing

• mu-mu land::janellepietrzak
• myuglysweater: kureyon skirt::myuglysweater
• swing-back blouse::ruthsinger
• Dragon Pants::redgedesigns
• Not a boring blazer::karrie
• Heralding Fall::Valerie Cheel
• Craft: Skirt::CraftyGinger
• Little red dress tutorial::muppinstuff2
• Scarf Skirt::beesnest
• grey redo skirt::iHanna
• silver::charlotte
• Skirting the Issue::Art Esprit::artesprit
• classy strapless dress::planetjune
• Edwardian Scissorhands Bag::jixichick
• back to school::mo
• Jeans Clutch Purse::marthawinger
• Summer top from old dress::giseleschoene
• Baby hat tutorial::mdhaworth
• fresh summer pants::dozodozo
• Leg gone dess::Strikkelise
• conventional coat hat::completely cactus
• baby that\'s simple::greetingarts
• dress shirt to shirt dress::stoneamazon
• Boring Jacket into Corpgoth Fab!::aiar
• Bohemian Jacket::lucette
• dress to skirt::bekka
• the \"transvestite shirt\" w. tutorial::katrin
• matisse::true stitches
• that ol\' (Kara) Janx spirit::jenfullmoon
• Sweatshirt transformation::clutteringmycouch
• Western Wristlet::funkyfinds
• Bridesmaid Dress Revisited::kcquilts
• correct link for happy kitty sweater::whizzzzme
• Stellar Tank::hvonmarko
• Budda Bar::Brahdelt
• Pants and a Pal::orinda5
• Jumpah::dorie

Yeah... I didn't do it this time either *sigh* Ok, so I'm bad. So? *grrr*
So look at all the nice stuff all the others have made and get inspired :-)

P.S. "Junky Styling" specialise in recycled eco friendly fashion, deconstructed clothing, wardrobe surgery, unique bespoke fashion and made to measure clothing in East London.

Sock Wars

Ok, I joined the sock wars :-) Perhaps idiotic, because I live in Sweden. I'm pretty fast at knitting socks, but... I live in Sweden. It takes at least 4 days to get anything to US... So - what happens, if I have sent my sock to kill my "victim", but someone else have sent her sock to kill me at the same time? I have to wait to get the sock from my victim before I can sent it to my killer, and during that time someone else might have killed my killer, and SHE needs to send the sock to the next killer, and... Er...

It sounds really funny! :-D And it will be nice to get a pair of socks :-)

So, please join you too! Go to Yarn Monkey's blog (http://yarn-monkey.blogspot.com/2006/07/are-you-ready-for-sock-wars-2006.html) and send her a message :-) You have about a month to join :-)

The battleground will be the Sock Wars Forum :-) Now BE THERE!

P.S. It's ok to practice a bit ;-)
Two socks on one circular needle - toe-up
Two socks on one circular needle
Casting on for two socks on one circular needle
Straight-laced socks - two at once on one needle :-)

Knitted handbags

What is it with these knitted designer bags?

Valentino, Ferragamo and Fendi have all made their version of the "knitted bag". And the knitters all over the world are exited...

Black Dog Knits: Attitude
hitbyabus's Ferragamo bag photoset

Er...? I don't get it. I think these bags look all a bit... er... how to say it... self-made.


Well, sure, they are a little bit classier than "Interweave Knits' "Give Me A Handbag"
(I like this "Via Diagonale" Knitty pattern)

Projects...

This is what I am currently doing. The pink bag is the little unsuccessful effort of making the "French Marketbag". On the right is the blue "White Lies Shapely Tank" - I'm going to make it with sleeves. It's a bit bothersome job, because I have to multiply my main cotton yarn. I'm using a large cone of one-ply cotton, and I am using it 4-plied. And I don't want to just use four yarn balls, so I'm spinning it into yarn. And I have to wash it so that the spin relaxes, so... it takes time. But I'm sure the top will be nice.
The multidirectional, orange thingy is "The Felted Bag with Mitered Squares". It's the current knit-a-long project. I am using the one-ply wool yarn I have plant dyed myself, three-plied, so that I get the colors to mix better. I don't like the bamboo handles, so I'm knitting the handles. It's going to be interesting to see how it works in felting... I'm considering giving the bag away in a swap, but I might want to give it to my mom instead, as a Yule present.

I really have been a bad girl with my swaps. My poor One Skein pal haven't got more than one skein, and she should have got already two AND the final thingy... I'm going to send her something extra, as thanks for her patience with me.
And my Secret Pal is also going to get a BIG package this month... I hope at least that 10 days are enough to get the package to Australia...

I would actually like to be doing some Mabon crafts, but I don't have time for that. Perhaps I need to draw down all the swaps for a while at least... *blush*

more swap packages :-)

I love swapping :-) I love selecting the items for a package, wrapping them and sending them, I like knowing that I have managed to bring a little joy to someone's life :-) This really is addictive :-D
And eventually you get a bit more substantiate rewards too LOL
I have got two swap packages this week. One Skein last package - my swap pal was Swedish LOL She managed to keep her identity secret very well :-) Tack, Ulla, du är underbar! I just wish I knew where your blog is - if you have one... She has been sending me these wonderful, luxurious yarns in perfect colors, and wrapped so beautifully in nice scraps of quilting fabric.
Now she send me a card revealing her identity, a wrist warmers and pattern for it :-)
I have a tendency to get my wrists cold and aching, so she didn't know how well her gift suited me :-) I really cannot pour enough praise over her LOL The best One Skein pal ever :-)


And the Secret Pal :-) I got a note saying that a package was heading on my way, and today it arrived! YAY!

It was in a silver box. I love boxes :-)
Inside was a card - very nice card, with a picture of Whitby Abbey in sunset. Very mysterious and nice cards :-) You can see some of it behind the flash... *blush* I'm not good with pictures, I'm afraid...

Then there were the fashinating stone candles...Very nice :-)
A wool fat soap from Mitchell's Wool Fat Soap Limited :-)
Then there was a bag of sugar candy :-) Joseph Dobson's Yorkshire Mixtures :-D So I am munching away these "old fashioned sweets" as I sit here :-) The English apparently enjoy their sweets stronger than we do ours. These candies taste a lot :-)
A big package of Indian Spiced Chai tea bags... Cardamon, cinnamon and gloves. My husband is especially in love with chai, strong spiced tea with sugar and milk. :-) (By Whittard of Chelsea ;-) I really enjoy the fact that she is sending me products from where she is :-) It's fun to find out more about these companies... they should give her something for it LOL)

The scents were wonderful... candles, soap, tea, candies... Not too harsh to cause headache, but just enough to make me feel as if I was in a colonial ware store... I don't know if they are called that in English, but when I was a little girl, there were these stores that sold everything brought from the exotic, colonial countries; tea, dried fruits, candy and things like that. They smelled like my package, and I still remember how I loved just passing by these stores, because when the door opened, the smell of orient poured over me... Sweet and spicy *_* So my secret pal don't know what a treat she gave me :-)

Then there was a little cupcake pincushion ornament. Very cute :-)
There was a skein of beautiful pink mohair, wrapped in green tissue paper and closed with a beautiful little pink tassel in gold ribbon. I love tassels. I am really happy about that tassel too. Makes me feel a bit like a baby who doesn't much care what's inside the packages, because the paper and ribbons are so interesting LOL But no, I do care a lot about what's in the package, I just love tassels ;-)
And I have saved the best for last. There was a tiny green package and when I opened it, I saw a pair of most beautiful earrings! It looks like a shard of quartz or glass polished by ocean, wrapped with silver wire... and they are just so beautiful! I wonder if she has made them herself...

Thank you very much, my secret pal!

I feel so blessed with pals like this!

It's been very busy lately...

so I haven't been here for a while. Poor Robbi, nothing to read ;-)

Anyway, I made myself a knitted and felted bag, the French Market bag. It didn't work out quite as I had thought, but I know where's the problem. I didn't have the right needles, so I used #3 for parts of it and #6 for other parts - and the #6 parts felted more than the #3 parts. Naturally.
So I need to figure out what to do about it... I have been thinking of cutting it in half and either knitting more in between, or adding a quilted piece there. *hmm* I also didn't sew the handles into tube, and I should have. So I could just as well cut the first effort into potholders or something, or make toys of it, and knit a new one, this time with one size needles and making the handles better. They need to be a little longer too.

I have also been making some jewelry. Here's the red candystripe earrings.

Currently I'm knitting the White Lies Shapely top, using the nice Kureyon I got from my One Skein pal and some old industrial cotton yarn I "stole" from my mother. It originates from my aunt, who used to work for Finlayson. So I assume it's as old as I am... perhaps older... but it's about the same color as the effect yarn, and very soft. I hope the top will be nice :-)

About August challenges and such:

Whiplash AUGUST is officially WARDROBE SURGURY month - re-fashioning/freshioning your wardrobe, you can deconstruct/reconstruct or embellish/decorate and of course you could do a tutorial of either of these.

Tie One On August apron is the pinafore.

"Pinafores are often confused with smocks. Some foreign languages do not differentiate between these different garments. The pinafore differs from a smock in that it does not have sleeves and there is no back to the bodice. Smocks have both sleeves and a full bodice, both front and back. A pinafore is a full apron with two holes for the arms that is tied or buttoned in the back, usually below the neck. Pinafores provide protection above (at least in front) and below waist and aprons are a protective garment worn below the waist. Here the difference is a fine line. Pinafores have complete front shaped over shoulder while aprons usually have no or only small bibs. A child's garment to wear at school or for play would be a pinafore."
-- Wikipedia (They have an entry about everything... I love Wikipedia :-))

The theme for August and September Pincushion Challenge will be: -- Recycle!
Fits nicely with the Whiplash AND pinafore theme... make a pinafore of something in your wardrobe and make a matching pincushion :-) Very housewify ;-)

Project Spectrum's August is neutral - basics, naturals, black, white, greys and browns...

The Color-iffic Swap-o-rama colors for September are white and silver. :-( Of course, there's a lot of ideas, and things can be used for Imbolc, but... er... I'm not too fond of white/silver combination. A little bit too minimalistic for me...

But Feline Flip-Flop has "August - Cherry Red and Tangerine Orange"
Red and orange... nice :-) I especially love red cats :-)

And here's the wonderful package I received from my One Skein swap pal already last month... I just have forgotten to add it here. This is Finnish silk wool blend (30/70), Silla by Wetterhoff, and it's just... *drool* LOL The color is nice too :-) Now I just need to invent what I am going to make of it... probably some kind of neckwarmer... For example something like this: Poikkiteloin. Knitty's Flora would be nice too :-)


I also love the packaging :-) So pretty :-)