Fiolinn and the handy gnomes

I'm taking a break

2011-04-25T10:22:00.000+02:00

from blogging for a while. I haven't felt the inspiration for quite some time. Wish you all a joyous spring and a swell summer!

Best, Linn & baby E

The move

2011-04-08T11:16:00.000+02:00

Well, hello there! There has been a long time since the last update, and there is several whys. The most important one is that we have moved! Moving in itself is a tedious task, though often not without joy. Moving with an infant to boot is rather exhausting. My spare energy have been reinvested in a gym membership and decluttering. Decluttering also goes for the knitting department. Without much further ado I give you alle the finished items since last time:


Blackrose socks


Owl dress


Simple vest

Sweetie sweater

In addition a Wisp for one of my Aunts, a jacket for Ella, and a small vest for a coworker's baby is awaiting buttons and photography. A couple of my projects now are big. Huge. Lasting forever. Motivation is a bit fluctuating, but they have to get done eventually.

Hey teach!

2011-02-22T15:17:00.000+01:00

Just a normal afternoon, surfing on the internet, googling Conan O'Brian Show, and somehow ended up on one of the very fascinating t-shirt shops that are on line. Found a couple I might've considered if I was the t-shirt person..


For tha English Teacher


For the general teacher


Irony anyone?

They also of course have the one t-shirt which I really want to buy for hubby....

The grumpy old men from the Muppet Show. mahnamahna.

All pics in this post is stolen from here, and this post is really meant to hide the fact that I have no new knits to show you yet. It's all on the needles, and I have serious startitis.

Et øyeblikks fred...

2011-02-16T15:12:00.000+01:00

En sovende engel slapper av etter en slitsom dag med babyting....

A sleeping angel, relaxing after another busy day of babyhood

Mammen sniker inn noen rader på Nøstebarntrøya som en kollega skal få til sin sommerprins

Mommy sneaks in a couple of rows on a baby vest for a coworker..

Duss!

2011-02-11T13:51:00.000+01:00

This entry will mostly be in Norwegian, with an English explanation in the end.

På Uformelt.net finnes det en gruppe som kaller seg for De Uformelle SokkeStrikkerne (DUSS). der blir det presentert et mønster hver måned som man kan strikke, og februarmønsteret var Paraphernalia. Jeg falt pladask! Strikket de i Silja strømpegarn fra Gjestal- en litt sånn blandet opplevelse føler jeg. For det loer litt. Men, lillafargen er helt nydelig- og sokkene ble kanonfine! Jeg strikket på to rundpinner i stedet for strømpepinner, noe jeg helt klart kommer til å gjøre igjen- følte at det gikk mye fortere!
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There is a group in a Norwegian knitting forum who are knitting socks throughout the year. this pattern was the February one- and I just had to knit them.

paraphernalia or: Three steps to heaven

2011-02-10T15:13:00.000+01:00

What do you need to make sure your knitting experience is smooth? Ewenique of a 1/4 to has a post about knit kits that inspired me to share mine with you.

Classics

A cup of tea slowly cooling in a generous mug is the first step to heaven. Lady Grey by Twinings is my staple tea, even though I am venturing into several herb teas as well. Yogi tea and Pukka comes to mind.

Tin can wonder

The next step to heaven is this absolutely wunderbar lotion bar from Lavishea. I bought mine at the Loopy ewe. This is hand moisturizer in a bar, with a soothing smell of lavender. I am so fond of lavender- the colour, the aroma... You could of course get another scent if lavender does not float thy boat.


Tin can wonder II

The best liquorice bonbons ever vanished and left behind a very lovely tin can, with room for knitting knick knacks as needles and stitch markers. In addition a needle gauge (I am on the lookout for a smaller version than my knit picks one) and a tape measure. Couldn't find it for photoshoot. So there you go- three steps to heaven.


Eddie Cochran. You can't go wrong.

The song was featured in our wedding- good times!
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Ting og tang som er kjekt å ha når man skal strikke. Jeg må bare ha te, håndkrem og en liten boks med maskemarkører, stoppenåler og målebånd. På sikt kanskje en liten mappe å ha det hele i. Man lager seg rett og slett noen ritualer! Eddie Cochran er aldri feil heller- Three steps to heaven hadde i vi i bryllupet vårt.

FO- more baby stuff

2011-02-01T14:46:00.000+01:00

I know, I know. You might be really unintrigued by more baby stuff, but I promise- there will be adult stuff real soon. (Oh man, that just sounded really wrong. I meant knits for adult sizes.) Recently I have been knitting baby stuff because 1. I have a baby, 2. It is reasonably fast, 3. It uses up oddballs.

The originall Oddball from Kelly's Heroes

Well, then. Here is my take on the popular baby vest Milo, proudly presented to you by a very tired and slightly shy baby:


aww...

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Mye babystrikk for tiden, men jeg holder på med et voksenprosjekt også.. Men når man garnslanker så er det veldig greit med babystrikk! Milo var kjekk å strikke, det gikk med to nøster Svale fra Dale i str 6 mnd. Bytta ut fletteborden med honningbier. Ble utrolig mykt og godt!

FO: baby onesie / nøstebarnbody

2011-01-28T14:48:00.000+01:00

As I have posted before, there is a Norwegian staple knitting book with simple, tried-and-tested patterns for babies and kids. I reach for this book time and time again, this time for a quick fix. My husband made the cute mushroom buttons:) the yarn is simply heavenly- the Pickles baby merino in the colorway heather.

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En kortermed body til Ella, strikket fra favorittboka (nøstebarn sin). Pickles baby merino er et helt fantastisk garn, mykt og med litt sproing! Fargen er litt for melert for noe annet en helt enkel ribb synes jeg. Varmt og mykt og skjønt for ei lita jente. Mannen har laget knappene :)

FO: Space invader hat

2011-01-28T14:35:00.000+01:00

Well, they say that it is all in a day's work. This was indeed! This hat has been very popular among Norwegian knitters this winter, and I had the yarn and pattern squirreled away. Well, the rest is history!

Squirelled away? Yarn? Are you nuts? (Hardy-har-har)

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Etter mye om og men (eller, egentlig ikke, mest latskap) så strikket jeg denne lua i går den dag. Fantastisk rask, varm og stilig! :)

FO: Jingle-jangle

2011-01-15T12:21:00.000+01:00

When I was a kid, this tv show was among my favorites:

The Pingu Family

On the blog of Kaptein Biff, this penguin rattle pattern is for sale (in Norwegian only), and since I had all the materials and a soft spot for penguins I went for it! In one evening, Petra the Penguin was born:)

It has already been broken in by the baby- who greatly enjoy the contrast of colors and the jinglejangle sound.

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På grunn av min årelange forelskelse i Pingu ble jeg veldig glad når Elise fra Kaptein Biff (se link over) la ut kjøpemønster for pingvinrangle. Jeg og gubben åt kinderegg slik at man kunne instalere en bjelle inni plastegget, og simsalavips ble denne til i løpet av en efta. Heklenål 3,5 og gjestal sitt bomullsgarn. (Det har så fin glans synes jeg). Babyen har allrede lekt litt med denne, men hun mangler *litt* kontroll over armene sine ennå.

FO: Picklesomania!

2011-01-13T17:40:00.001+01:00

I have been a long term fan of Pickles, and when their book came out, I bought it. I also bought some yarn destined for certain projects in said book, and this cardigan really caught my eye and hands.. It made out of garter and daisy stitch, and actually quite quick to make!

Pretty cardigan on a pretty girl (biased? me?)

The downside is that it turned out kind of small, so I guess she'll wear it frequently the next few weeks. I thought I'd show you something else too, not that I've knitted, but actually a cardigan I had as a baby, that Ella wears now:

that 80's color

Gotta love sunny yellow vintage knits!

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Jeg har hatt så dilla på Pickles i det siste, tiltross or at jeg aldri får til strikkefastheten. Denne jakken er i den minste størrelsen, 3-6 måneder. Ella er snart to måneder, og som dere ser må vi nok bruke den. Jeg gikk faktisk opp nesten 1 mm i pinnestr på denne. I retrospekt kunne jeg jo bare strikket på en ekstra rad med daisyer eller to..

FO: Sunny jacket

2011-01-08T13:32:00.000+01:00

Pattern is by Pickles ( see here). I made some mods, see details on the ravelry page here.

A very quick and fun knit, with good results. A versatile cardigan / jacket that you could just wear any time. Hooray!

Nytt mønster!

2011-01-05T18:31:00.000+01:00

Gratis mønster til heklet monsterlue i str 1-2 år får du her (Free pattern ,in Norwegian only at the time being):

Happy new year!

2010-12-31T14:51:00.001+01:00

May 2011 be prosperous, healthy, filled with yarn & crafting bliss!

Monster pants knitted in Pickles Merino Extra fine

I have but one resolution in the craft department this coming year- No New Yarn! I have stocked up, so I should be fine, but you never know..

Best wishes for the new year,

Linn & baby E

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Godt nyttår til deg! Rart hvordan tiden flyr, og i dag, nyttårsaften er alltid litt til ettertanke. 2010 har vært et stort år for meg, året jeg ble mamma for første gang! Ella er en perfekt baby som allerede sover hele natten. (hun er 6 uker!) Det blir spennende å se hvor mye jeg får strikket til neste år, jeg har i hvertfall lovt gubben at det ikke skal kjøpes inn noe garn i 2011!

Beste hilsen og ønsker for det nye året, Linn & Ella

She is here!

2010-12-03T21:50:00.000+01:00

And so perfect.. I wish you all a peaceful holiday,and hope to see you back here next year!

Best, Linn & baby Ella

A break

2010-11-01T23:06:00.000+01:00

I want to collectively thank you all for the very nice comments left on my blog lately! It is really heart warming and greatly appreciated! Kitty Kjell is very flattered by kitty-comments and assures you all that wearing that sweater was a one time experience. He prefers to operate nude.

Nude and rude.

As my due date is very near (6th of November) I've decided to take a break from blogging until the baby is born and we're settled. I hope you all are enjoying fall and fall knitting / crocheting! With the word of the great Arnold:

I'll be back

Colours in my home: Green

2010-10-30T15:19:00.001+02:00

FO: baby blanket

2010-10-26T03:25:00.000+02:00

Originally a doily pattern from an old book, I though it might do as a circular baby blanket. ( Something like the popular Hemlock ring and Girasole by Jared Flood.) It was the hearts that lured me.. The garter edging is from Elizabeth Zimmermann, and I think it adds interesting texture, and not to mention- curl free edges. Hurrah!

Pattern: Valentine Design by Marianne Kinzel
Needles: 5,5 mm
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy, Beach Fog, 2 skeins

Rav page

My secret life as a seamstress

2010-10-23T06:02:00.000+02:00

Yes, I actually own a sewing machine! It is in rare use, and I have given away most of my fabrics to my mom, who is a much more talented and patient seamstress. But I have kept some gems, and last weekend I found a cute tutorial at Skip to my Lou I got the inspiration I needed. A few years back I bought a lot of 10+ 8 inch zippers that was too short for their intended use. They fit perfectly!

Now, if I have the guts, some of them might make it as Christmas presents this year...

Colours in my home: Orange

2010-10-20T10:45:00.003+02:00

Norwegian Holiday preparations/ Arne & Carlos-style

2010-10-18T10:42:00.000+02:00

In one of Norway's biggest online newspapers today, you can read about a strange and very cool (imho) phenomenon.

Picture from Dagbladet

A book of knitted Christmas ornaments by two designers called Arne & Carlos is all the rage amongst Norwegian knitters, and the book is already sold for launch in the USA this spring. I have almost bought it twice, but figured I could wait for a while. I kind of regret that now..

I am however knitting on something by Arne & Carlos, their mash up on the classic Norwegian Marius sweater and space invaders.


From Sandnes garn.

This is the original stitch pattern, in a more modern round yoke sweater. The Marius sweater has its roots from the swinging fifties and has been knitted ever since. Here's the space version, very unblocked and still on the needles..

We come in peace. We come in peace.

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På Dagbladet nett i dag kan du lese en artikkel om Arne og Carlos sin juletrekulebok som "noe overraskende " har blitt en schläger. (Vi strikkere er jo ikke overrasket i det hele tatt!) En bokhandler fra Færøyene bestilte 20 eksemplarer på norsk kan avisen videre berette. Kanskje dette blir en ny Doodle Bugs? (Doodle Bugs var ei dænsbændgruppe fra Elverum som feilsendte en pappeske med LP'er til Færøyene. Der de endte opp med å bli større enn Beatles. Fascinerende historie igrunn. ) Javel- da vil jeg ønske dere norske lesere en knakendes god uke!

So, it's almost.... Christmas!

2010-10-14T20:02:00.000+02:00

Apparently I am not very reality-checked these days. Yesterday it dawned on me that Christmas is not that far away, and I only had one handmade present ready. My Granma will get hand knitted Monkey socks, shown a while back.

She's been knitting socks for our whole family for years and years, and I thought she deserved to have the same luxury herself. (She is most definetly not online, so these I can show...)

But for the rest of the bunch.. I have a couple of wee cousins that I'd like to give something hand knitted to. But it needs to be cute, fast and functional. Enter Pickles. Their new free pattern for today is this:

Picture from Pickles.no

That would be perfect for the smallest one! I love the Pickles patterns, they are easy, fast and with many modifying options. They are publishing a book (sadly in Norwegian only) later this year. Hooray! Oh well, off to buy yarn. Have a nice weekend all!

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Årets julegavestrikk blir i liten skala. Heldigvis for meg kom Pickles med en oppdatering av barnehagesettet sitt i dag- perfekt for noen av mine mindre slektninger. Jeg gleder meg til boka kommer.. Og jeg så nettopp at Tine Solheim som står bak Maskeball og Maskepi-bøkene kommer med ny bok etter jul.. Jeg ønsker med flere armer. Åtte-ni kanskje?

FO: My monkey has mumps.

2010-10-09T16:38:00.000+02:00

The crochet hook seems more friendly to my hands than the knitting needles (even though I am slooooowly picking them up too), and this pattern has been in my Ravelry favorites for a while. I was a bit distracted when hooking this, so sadly this monkey has got a tinge of mumps.

All mumped out.

But, quick as it was, and fun too, I have a stack of no-mump monkey bibs on the assembly line. Great for small babies with drooling issues:)

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Søte siklesmekker i apeform blir til her i huset om dagen. den første fikk desverre kusma, men det neste kullet er kusmafrie og klar for å bli ferdigstilt. Kanskje i morgen?

Keepin' all 5 boroughs in stitches*..

2010-10-06T21:07:00.000+02:00

Or maaybe not. Anyway, I haven't knit a stitch in almost a week. My fingers still have that sausagey look and are as flexible as cardboard. (What a drag it is getting old*..) Most of my time spent on crafts has been very enjoyable though, as I seem to be able to crochet a bit and stitch a bit more. These two are WIPs, as I need to drag out my sewing machine to finish them.

The pattern is free, and if you take a look you'll see what they will be. Lavender sachets. Lavender, oh I love thee. Can't think of a more soothing and clean scent..
There are all sorts of cool embroidery patterns available, and I decided to branch out and try my first stitching on felt.

Love the pattern, a bit indecisive on my stitching. But it is a first after all.

*If you think I am an oddball just making strange statements here and there (which I probably am after all) I can assure you that they are quotes from real songs. The first is from The Negotiation Limerick File by Beastie Boys, and the second is Mommy's little helper by Rolling stones. The latter included in this blog post since I firmly believe I have gotten a real taste of life after 80 with stiff, sore joints, no stamina and needing help to put my shoes on.) By the way- today it is 6 th of October- on the date one month away from my due date. Hooray! :)

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Jeg har mast om såre ledd og pølsefingre lenge, men nå har jeg ikke strikket en maske på en uke. Det er fryktelig lenge! Så, mens jeg ruger denne siste måneden, og lengter etter å få fingre og kropp tilbake (og ikke minst få holde den lille frøkna i armene mine) går tiden med til hekling og litt brodering. Det er skumle planer underveis. men ting får ta tid så lenge.

FO: Stating the obvious

2010-10-02T11:43:00.000+02:00

What? You.re taking photos in MY window sill?

It's fall. And yes, I do think purple pumpkins are as cool as Mr. T.

The Blog Hub Swap day 7: The G-rand finale!

2010-10-01T01:16:00.000+02:00

I have delayed posting the last of my lovely swap presents from Ewenique, mostly because a part of me don't want this swap to end! This last present is something really useful and, as always- spot on in colour choice, and fabric. Ewenique made this for me (and I admit I feel very lucky and special!)

A thoughtful detail

Gorgeous! And retro fabric is so me. Incidentally the colors are too- we're having green and lilac as accents in our living room. Thank you so much for all the great stuff Ewenique, this has been a really fun swap to participate in! And I have discovered her great blog to boot, you should too.

FO: Mama Bear

2010-09-29T16:52:00.000+02:00

When I found out that we were expecting, my husband lovingly started to call me Mama Bear. I was browsing Etsy for non knitting stuff to make when I stumbled across Nicole's shop, Follow the white bunny. In two shakes of a lamb's tail I was in love. I had to stitch the hibernating bear with the faux bois frame. It will be framed and put up in our new apartement when we move in February:

I used DMC variegated floss for the bear, andplain brown for the rest. I am now in love with french knots as fill stitch, though tedious the result is lovely.

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Det er godt å variere litt innimellom all strikkinga! Nicole har laget dette mønsteret, det er også en med et pinnsvin. For en skogbygding som jeg er (av opprinnelse) måtte jeg bare brodere denne, som er tiltenkt en plass i nyleiligheta etterhvert.

The Blog Hub Swap day 6: E and N the third

2010-09-28T14:32:00.000+02:00

Since I obviously cannot count the letters in my own name (There are eigth, not seven) today's post contains two lovely items! I am so overwhelmed and touched by what I've got so far, and I want to thank Eskimimi for setting this up at the Blog Hub as well as my wonderful swap partner Ewenique!

Photo by Kate Davies

The E parcel was a pattern for this, possibly the cutest baby sweater ever. I am so looking forward to dress Ella up in owls!

The next parcel had the most intriguing shape- a cube!

Peachy!

Yummy peach tea! I am such a tea person, I almost never ever drink coffee, but a day without tea is a very sad one. A pretty tin with sweet scented tea and with word play on the label- can it get any better?

The Blog Hub Swap day 5: M.

2010-09-27T19:37:00.000+02:00

A pair of lovely scissors! I have never seen anything quite like these before, but they are small and handy, looks quick to use and sharp as a pencil moustache.

Don't touch my moustache. You'll cut yourself.

Thanks Ewenique! I am so amazed by your ability to find cool stuff!! :)

FO: Baby Jumpsuit

2010-09-26T13:21:00.000+02:00

After waking up and feeling first hand* the effects of pregnancy water retention, I have figured out that I need to knit a bit less.(* waking up in the morning without sensation in the thumb, index and middle finger. That lobstery- feeling also known as carpal tunnel syndrome) Interchanging with some crochet just doesn't cut it anymore. I am so scared I'll end up like this:

What? You need opposable thumbs? Nonsense I say!

Therefore, I am doing some alternative crafts, and I will blog about those a bit later on. But I managed to finish Ella's jumpsuit- and I am very pleased with it. As I couldn't find the dark shade of buttons I wanted, these are a bit too contrasting in my mind, I went with some of blonde wood. With hearts of course..

Now, while we wait for the model to arrive, here's the old boring picture..

Pattern: Jumpsuit from Strikk til Nøstebarn, the Norwegian staple book.
Yarn: New Zealand Lammeuld held double
Needles: 4,5 mm.

A quick caption in Norwegian:
Jeg har blitt så glad i Nøstebarnboka, og denne dressen var veldig enkel og grei å strikke! Istedet for å strikke frem og tilbake la jeg opp seks klippemasker og strikket rundt. Veldig greit når man strikker, mye styr etterpå. Garnet er fra 123knit, og siden vi ikke bor i EU blir det trukket fra 25% på prisen. Jeg synes det er mye garn for pengene i en slik hespe.

The Blog Hub swap day 4: N the second

2010-09-26T12:20:00.000+02:00

Little acorns!

Look at those adorable little acorns! As a later post will show you, I am so weak for anything related to woodlands. The reason is very simple, I am from a part of Norway containing a lot of this:

Mount Trysil and the omnipresent pine trees

So, after very careful removal of acorns, these beauties revealed themselves:


Menagè au trois

Three perfect wooden buttons! The shade is one I have searched for for a long time, but I only find blonde wooden butotns here in Stavanger. And they go so well with the teal yarn! Thank you Ewenique (I wonder if you are a mind reader?)

Blog Hub Swap day 3: N

2010-09-25T18:39:00.000+02:00


Liquorice drops.....

A super cute box filled with the best candy available on God's grey earth, the prince of sweets, liquorice*. I have always been weak for this stuff, but it has gotten worse with pregnancy. Luckily I have a healthy and low blood pressure. (* A slightly rewritten line from Frank Zappa's great song Muffin Man. if you haven't heard it, go on Youtube right away. ) Ewenique, you are spot on today as well! Thank you so much!

Mmm... liquorice drops....

Blog Hub swap day 2: I

2010-09-24T19:23:00.000+02:00

The second parcel contained two big (100 grammes!) skein of Wensleydale sheep shop longwool DK in a yummy, yummy teal shade. A bonus is that when I hear Wensleydale and sheep together my thoughts wander to my all time favourite animated characters....

The shear-o-matic looks like fun, no?

So lots of feelgood in this parcel for me, and thank you ever so much, Ewenique- you keep on choosing the right stuff for me! :)

The Blog Hub Swap Day 1: L and Bebe

2010-09-23T15:18:00.000+02:00

Ravelry, the fantastic online community for crafters, has many sub groups. I belong to the Blog Hub, hosted by the wonderful Eskimimi. I have really learned, and I am still learning a lot from the lovely ladies in this group, and I have "met" such a lovely bunch of talented crafters (Hi to you all!). Anyway, a while ago Eskimimi started a swap where participants were assigned a partner, and by stalking blogs and Ravelry profiles put together seven little parcels which the recipient would open and share on their blogs. I have enjoyed reading the blog posts from the other participants so much, and now, it is my turn to share!

My swap partner is from one of my favorite countries in Europe, namely Great Britain. Her Ravelry nick is Ewenique and she blogs at a {1/4 to}- you should go and visit straight away- it is such a wonderful blog!

All clear!

So today, rainy, grey and a bit drab outside, yours truly feeling a bit under the weather (I am super pregnant- only 5 weeks to go!) this was the very best thing that could happen!

The contents..

I felt like Alice in Wonderland! Inside the envelope was a very lovely letter, and the instructions for opening. You might have spied that the parcels are lettered instead of numbered, Ewenique cleverly noticed that my name consists of seven letters (I would never have thought of that..). In addition there was two extra ones, labeled Be and Be. (Now, you see, I have as much self restraint as cookiemonster visiting the Oreo factory, so I have had my personal Christmas and opened all. You must however check back daily for a week to see what lovely things I've got!) Today is of course day 1 or the letter L, with the bonus of Be and Be.

The letter L was a lovely notebook and pen.

The first Be was two beautiful and super soft cloths for baby E, handknitted by Ewenique herself.

The second Be- lovely patterns for baby cloths

Ewenique, I am amazed, touched and I just want to say a big thank you! :) You really made my day today!

WIP Wednesday: How green was my valley

2010-09-22T11:36:00.000+02:00

One day, son.. You will knit a shawl so green it will put this valley to shame

(Picture from the motion picture How green was my valley (1941)

I have jumped in with my feet first and joined not only my first KAL (or knit-along), but a mystery KAL to boot! The very lovely and generous Lankakomero is the creator. The title, 22 leaves, immediately drew my attention, I am a sucker for anything with leaves. I snuck a peek at the projects already on going (this KAL started 17th of September) and went stash diving. I wound up with this lone skein of Knit Picks Shadow Tonal on a stunningly vibrant (or radioactive Pipe dream goo- remember that Windows game from the 90's?) green. Rrrrrrrrawr! But first, let me bring to you- a very happy reunion!

No more the loneliest number!

Yes, Inspector I and II has finally reunited. Back from holiday, with a healthy tan and loads of stories to tell Inspector I was most pleased with Inspector II's work. I expect to see more of these two in the future.

Now- the KAL picture. (Still on the needles, mind you)


Lovely green leaves...

Umm, Kermit called. He wants his fuzz back.

Otherwise I am now ready to cut the steek of the baby jumpsuit, my left over project from the hat and mittens I made myself is in very good pace- I hope I can show you some FOs real soon!

And don't forget to visit Tami's Amis- the lovely lady who started this WIP Wednesday Meme and keeps it going- many thanks to you Tami!

FO: All you need is love...

2010-09-18T16:44:00.000+02:00

As promised my husband has taken some FO pictures.. The set of hat and mittens is from Pickles, and for once the yarn recommendations were followed. Lovely yarn, but a bit smelly when wet. (Some yarns just do, I suppose). I made no changes except going up a needle size for the hat, and I am reasonably pleased with the results. Hats are not my favorite items of clothing, I must admit, but this winter I will probably be out a lot with the baby, so it's nice to have something matching. There were quite some yarn left over, and I have plans for that. Stay tuned....

You may notice the blue inspector crab- the brown one is on holiday.

Mr Kitty

2010-09-17T20:22:00.000+02:00

I've had my mom over this week, and there haven't been much time for blogging! I am preparing to photograph a couple of finished items this weekend, so stay tuned! :)


Mr Kjell in knitted vest

While we wait, why not scootch over here and download this free Polaroid programme. It's very addictive!
It makes your pictures all polaroidy and cool. It even has the original crappy colors.. Here's the original picture for comparison.

Stitch markers!

2010-09-10T17:42:00.001+02:00

Warning! This post contains shameless self promotion!

I have opened a small shop on Epla, the Norwegian Etsy equivalent. Stitch markers is my main trade, but there's also some crocheted items. Some of you might know that I have an Etsy shop as well, where I sell my patterns. The reason for not putting my stitch markers up there is the hilarious Norwegian postage fees. I'm afraid no one would buy! Anyway- if you see something you like, we sure can arrange something! Just drop me an email (sprettmais(at)gmail(dot)com)! The price is 17 USD per set, including postage intl. Here's a few pictures:


Jingle-jangle

Woodland friends

tattoo / rockabilly themed

The split ring I use works for up to 6mm needles.

Have a nice weekend all!

WIP Wednesday: Slow train comin'

2010-09-08T16:59:00.000+02:00

As every Wednesday, Tami of Tami's Amis is hosting the linkety-link event of WIP Wednesday- this post is the 5th. I have come to like it a lot. It keeps me going!

You who have read a few of my previous WIP posts might remember the granny square blanket. I haven't got a picture - but three of twelve squares are done. I am currently contemplating whether to continue square by square or do the remaining nine as a serial thing. Haven't decided yet!

First I'll show you some baby stuff:

Jumpsuit from Nøstebarn. I like the brown and pink together. Still contemplating decor though...

A garter jacket. It's so boring knitting sleeves. Even tiny baby sleeves..
Last, but not least I've started on this:


Picture stolen from Pickles

I have started the hat, but I might frog. It seems to run small, so I think frogging and going up a size in needles might save me from a lot of despair. Here is mine:

I'm planning on making the hat and mittens to start- and I am using the original yarn. It's heavenly- and the colors are so lovely..

FO: Short sleeved light weight tunic

2010-09-05T13:43:00.001+02:00

Casting on project after project is not so bad, if once in a while something gets finished. Fresh off my needles is this short sleeved tunic thing knit with 2 ply yarn on big needles. I went down a needle size from what the book said too. It weighs 100 grams and I used two skeins of yarn. It will be a great transition piece when fall arrives. I can even fit my baby belly inside too:

Stats: Pattern from the Norwegian book Strikk til nøstebarn by Kathrine Gregersen. Yarn is Malsen og Mor Shetland soft in the colorway Porcelain. Needle size 5 mm. Ravelry page here.

Upcycling!

2010-09-02T20:38:00.001+02:00

In my mailbox today I found a copy of an interior magazine that I am subscibing to, namely the Boligpluss.
Inside among inspirational pictures and yummy chocolate recipes (Mint brownies...ah...) there was this crocheted vase, or really an empty glass container with a crocheted cosy. I decided to give it a go, with a few modifications. I might make a vase, but I need to have an Uncle Ben's dinner first- that empty jar is perfect for a small vase. What I found was a jam jar- begging to be a t-light lantern.

I am pretty pleased! If there's any interest I'd love to make a tutorial for you!

WIP wednesday: I am a lucky duck!

2010-09-01T15:46:00.000+02:00

Look here!

The lovely girls Anna and Heidi of Pickles celebrated their anniversary as yarn vendors with a competition. I was a lucky lady, and won a runner-up prize. They arrived today- two luscious skeins of Extra Fine Merino in a beautiful deep green, and a bamboo circular needle and two darning needles. I never win anything- so this was huge! :) Hooray for Pickles!

WIP wednesday was started by the lovely Tami at Tami's Amis and is an ongoing link ring every Wednesday. I love looking at others ongoing projects- it is very inspirational!

This week's small update from me: I finished Ella's top (see last post before this). i love it- unfortunately it seems that bamboo shrinks when washed, so my grand plans of using it as a dress and a top is now reconsidered. It will be just a top- albeit a very cute one! The crocheted blanket now sports two squares out of 12, and I am crocheting a bit now and then. I frogged the Kai Mei socks. It was never meant to happen. Uhm.. I cast on ~~a new~~a few new projects. Sshh...

FO: Pink! (it was love at first sight)

2010-08-29T17:22:00.000+02:00

A fellow Raveler sent me four skeins of the softest baby yarn, Bambu by Novita. I immediately looked for a project for this silky yarn, and I found it rather quickly. Meet Fiona's top by Sanne Bjerregaard. First of all, it is gorgeous! It is also quite expensive, but there is a good size range (from 3 months to 6 years) so you'll get a few tops out of it. Next time I'll most definetly knit the skirt in the round. It was very tedious to knit back and forth, and why on earth do I do that when I hate seaming..


Sweet as candy floss

I reckon she'll wear it as a dress first, and as a top later on. I can't wait until the recipient arrives! I promise I'll feature an extensive post with baby in baby knits then. :)

WIP Wednesday: Shiny things

2010-08-25T11:13:00.001+02:00

One of the prettiest songs I know is Shiny Things by Tom Waits.

The things a crow puts in his nest
They are always things he finds that shine best
Somehow they'll find a shiny dime, a silver twine
From a Valentine
The crows all bring them shiny things

Lately I have felt like a crow surrounded by shiny things. (In this context- yarn). I have started one project after another, fallen in and out of love with them, but also finished a few. My last cast on is inspired by this:

I found these at a local shop, small cupcake keepers. (I even found a cupcake piggybank too!) I bought six or seven of them, each in different "flavors". I think they will look good in my new craft room (after the move) and act as containers for needles, pins, buttons etc. The piggybank will of course be my new yarn fund. Now for the cast on:

I've wanted to crochet for a while, and when I found the cupcakes I was inspired to choose colors. I think this will be for baby Ella's new room after we move in February, I am envisioning a bunting and some pillowcases. We'll see :) It's worked in baby yarn on a 3,5 mm hook, so it is very soft and delicate.

Now I'll confess what's on the needles at the moment. I have two pairs of socks (Kai Mei and Sleepy Hollow), two dresses for baby (around size 1 year, both), a lightweight tunic for me after the birth, a garter jacket for Ella. And this blanket. here's the Tom Waits song:

Youtube link

FO: Woodland baby

2010-08-23T09:55:00.000+02:00

There is a Norwegian knitting book that is very popular with moms and other knitters. It contains very simple and basic patterns in many sizes for babies and children. Everything is knitted in two ply wool, and as I recently got that and the book, I had to make something. I decided on baby underwear (!)


Crochetet mushrooms on the drawstring

I am so glad we're having a winter baby- so many cute things to knit! Ravelry project page here

Winners, a FO and.. well, that's all!

2010-08-22T19:21:00.000+02:00

Thank you all so much for the comments left for the giveaway! A couple of you mentioned the buttons on the KitBitCowl, and I just learned that the store no longer exists. (It was called DuppDupp). That makes me a bit sad, because they had an awesome button selection. Hang on for the giveaway winner!

First, let's take a look:


Whisper cardigan

It's finished! I ended up using 2,25 skein of the Silk mohair from Pickles. Compared to both Elann's SilkenKydd and Drops' Kid Silk- I am never knitting with them again- the Pickles yarn is superior in all the ways! I might have to buy more and make a sweater.. Ravelry project page here.

Now for the good stuff- the giveaway drawing!!

And the winner is..... commenter number 14!! The lucky lady is Crystal, and I've sent her a rav message. Thanks to you all who left a comment :)

WIP Wednesday: Man overboard!

2010-08-18T10:13:00.001+02:00

It was such fun participating in the WIP Wednesday meme on the ravelry group The Blog Hub last week, that I thought I'd make it a regular feature. I am not in lack of WIPs, plus it is a very nice motivation for me as well... Today I feel so bold that I'll even throw in the world's most boring FO. But first things first. (Are you here for the giveaway? Scroll down to the previous post and leave a comment. It'll close on this Sunday).

Last weeks WIP was the fluffy Whisper cardigan. I have been a fairly good girl, and I am now halfway down the skirt of the cardigan. I've broken in to the third skein of the yummy yarn- so hooray for stashbusting! (Let's not mention the recent purchases of vibrant colored, soft wool. It's for the baby anyway.) I am getting a bit bored by the endless stockinette of this project though- lucky for me there has been a Deadliest catch bonanza on the television. Have you seen it? It's a show about crab fishing in the Bering sea, featuring bad weather, crabs, men in rain coats and very charismatic captains. One of them is of Norwegian ancestry (Captain Sig Hansen), and he is some of a minor celebrity here in Norway. You should give it a go- it's the perfect knitting show.

Now; I have cast on a project this week too. It is justified by the world's most boring FO below. I have rediscovered sock knitting, and since a part of my stash is sock yarn and I'm stashbusting (if I tell myself enough times I might believe it too) I found a new love. The wicked thing about this pattern is that it features an unusual heel/ gusset construction. I can't wait. I even had an Inspector come by and approve my project, see:


Oh hai! Hm.. Color approved..


Love that pattern. All clear!

now, for this post's cheap thrill, I bring to you...... *drumroll* They have been languishing in a project bag for two years.... Now, they are finally whole and free from pointy sticks and sweaty palms.... With only 12362 other projects on Ravelry.......... THE MONKEYS!!

Tah-dah!

And I am glad they are done.

1 year anniversary !

2010-08-15T17:36:00.000+02:00

It's been a year since I started to write patterns, and this calls for a celebration! First of all: a new free pattern for you! The KitBitCowl is made with supersoft bulky yarn, and it is instant gratification. Easy and perfect for a treat for you or someone you know :) PDF download here or on Ravelry here

But in Bloglandia, no anniversary is complete without a giveaway. You can win this:

Yummy Dream in Color Smooshy in the colorway Gold Experience. This yarn is one of my all time favorites; the colors are so vibrant, and the yarn so darn good to knit with. I have a pair of socks OTN with this very yarn in the same colorway as we speak- mmmm...

All you have to do is to leave a comment below :)

WIP Wednesday: Coming from the 80's to check my style

2010-08-11T12:02:00.000+02:00

As I can't seem to not cast on these days I thought to my self- gee, I should really do WIP Wednesdays- I have enough WIPs to last for months!

Last Sunday, I was browsing cardigan patterns on Ravelry. Not that I really need another cardigan (who am I kidding- of course I do). At the same time, the thought of five skeins of silk/ mohair pining to be knit into something beautiful was bouncing around. ( You might be rather sceptical of the last statement here, and if you remember the eighties I cannot blame you- but I said Silk/ Mohair. It has silk in it. yummm...)

The functionality of this cardigan had to be debated.
A) It must be nursing friendly come baby.
B) As I have gained a heinous amount of kilos already it cannot be too fitted or else I'd look like a stuffed sausage.
C) It has to look wicked.

I found it. It's the Whisper Cardigan by Hannah Fettig. *sigh*. I am so in love... The contruction is really clever, and the yarn is fabtastic! (I'd say it rivals the allmighty Rowan KidSilk Haze in both softness and price.) I bought it from a Norwegian retailer called Pickles, but they ship flat rate internationally as well.

Imagine the knitterly Homer Simpson here: mmmmmmmmmm... fluffy...........

FO- Test knit for Eline Of Norway

2010-08-07T14:42:00.000+02:00

I was lucky enough to be test knitting this beautiful capelet for the very talented ElineOfNorway. She is a Norwegian knitwear designer, and she has some beautiful capelets. One of her patterns will be in the next Vogue knitting!

This was a fast and very fun knit. It's knit on size 7 mm needles with bulky yarn- and it is truly a weekend project. Hopefully the pattern will be available soon! :)

FO- Juuuuuuust enough...

2010-08-04T13:53:00.002+02:00

I might have mumbled something about reducing stash before baby shows up. And, I try. I am in the process of casting off a baby blanket for her, but it takes some time given the edging I've chosen. In the meanwhile I need some diversion. I found this halfway done in my chest of WIPs and thought heck, just finish it already! It's made with leftovers from my February lady sweater- and is as soft as butter. It's my first sideways scarf, and I have mixed emotions about sideways scarves and stockinette. But this, this was worth every purl! (Why do so many knitters loath the purl? )

Ravelry project page here. Pattern: Just enough ruffles by Laura Chau. Yarn: Abuelita Worsted. (similar to Malabrigo). (feels like knittin' with kittens).

FO: Scorched brainless

2010-08-01T10:17:00.000+02:00

Nowadays I have been suffering from the hardest bout of startitis ever. I cast on for new projects all the time! The willpower so famously attributed to my starsign Taurus is g-o-n-e. My hands hurt a bit less, so I have been able to knit a fair bit- and lo and behold!

I'm finished! Yay! It was a fun knit too, not boring to knit the second sock at all. In my very bold state I have already cast on for my next pair. ( Shouldn't I knit baby garments? )
Ravelry project page

Wip update. A burial.

2010-07-29T18:44:00.000+02:00

Remember the houdinis? well, they are dead. I had to throw them in the trash. Brutal? They would not fit a person with normal feet in a million years. The disappointment was too much for me to take. Unfortunately for Houdini, I decided to replace them with another pattern, this time with gussets.

The pattern is Brainless from Yarnissima. I love it. The fit is glorious, the pattern is just challenging enough. If it seems intimidating, don't worry. Just do as the pattern says. And the best part? It's free! Whoop! Whoop! A little note on the yarn- it's one of my first skeins of indie dyed yarn ever. I never found the suitable project for it until now.

Since I am me- life is never free of accidents. But luckily Knit pro needles comes in sixes.

and I also am an expert on making consolation cupcakes.

The jolly kitty!

2010-07-26T19:13:00.000+02:00

I have been knitting on this for some time. It's knit on the tiniest needles, with the thinnest yarn (if you ask me, size 2,5 mm needles are just too small). I made a lot of modifications, mainly the pattern on the yoke. It was originally the very classic and very Norwegian Marius pattern, but I felt mischievous and changed it to dead kitty chart from here. The onesie is knit in one piece up to the shoulders, and then steeked for armholes. I hand sewed my steeks, and it went just fine. (I still can't believe it!). Pretty pleased with the results, actually. (Now, that is unusual for me.)

Why not?

2010-07-23T11:39:00.001+02:00

As my hands are swelling due to pregnancy and hot weather ( and I look like a half assed melon smuggler), I have discovered that carpal tunnel syndrome hurts a lot. So while I am taking a few days off knitting, you bet I can't not craft at all. Pattern from Sublime Stitching

I then took the old sewing machine and made the embroideries into softies. I stuffed one with lavender (the smallest:

I thought the largest might be attached to our pram or stroller come baby.

WIP: I had a dream..

2010-07-20T14:25:00.000+02:00

A few years ago, after I discovered Ravelry I had an epiphany. Or should I say a temporary lapse of reason, anyway, I decided to knit myself a full supply of socks. I bought yarn in skeinloads, I bought cheap sock sticks in bamboo from Ebay (incidentally my best buy ever), and I invested in sockblockers ,

smuggled into my country one by one from the USA. It ended with four finished pairs of socks (among one pair of lovely monkeys knit in shibui sock), and one and a half pair of unfinished Monkeys. I still need to rip out the heel on one and reknit it.Then I discovered shawls. Now one of my beloved monkey socks has felted itself into heaven and I am in dire need of a replacement, especially since commercial socks are to tight for my swollen feet. (oh, how romantic..) Meet Houdini:

Ahem.. Something seems a bit odd here, doesn't it? Something missing? Well, yes, indeed- well spotted! but before we go there, let's take a closer look at this:

I love these colors together. Since I am using a self striping yarn I decided to purl one half of the upper foot stitches to create interest and texture. The original pattern has some lace in it, but the vivid colours and the nature of self striping yarns makes it difficult, since the yarn tends to obscure the lace. The construction method of these socks are very interesting, you knit a footprint, then unravel a half row of stitches, and knit the leg.

Let the unravelling begin... It looks like the stitches has been picked up askew, but I can assure you that it's right and straight..

Now to knit the leg..

Back from vacation part 2

2010-07-15T00:32:00.000+02:00

As I mentioned in my last post the lovely AC of AC Engineered knits (go on, have a look at her lovely blog!) has kindy awarded me with this:

What an honor! There are some rules of acceptance for this award, namely:

Thank the blogger who bestowed you with the award - Oh, AC, thank you ever so much! I really appreciate you blog and your style of writing, not to mention your beautiful knits! I especially like these.

Sum up your blogging experience, philosophy and motivation in five (5) words - Fun, motivational, community, inspiration, and lastly learning! This has been nothing but a thrill ride. I am still amazed that somebody actually reads my blog too.

Nominate 10 deserving bloggers- Sure thing! I want to thank all the following for inspiration, motivation and of course entertainment. (Hey, that felt almost like being at the Oscar's! ) In no particular order cuz they are all great:

Steph of Stephcuddles

Mimi of Eskimimi knits

Andrea Zuill's blog

Pia of Frk Snupp's blog

Merete of Monstermønster

Elemental stitches

Hege of Cloudberry

early bird special

Ingvild

Little Sparrow knits

Back from vacation part 1

2010-07-13T11:01:00.000+02:00

Hello there!

After our very nice roadtrip where we encountered not only baby hares, but adult hares, moose, reindeer and regular deer, roadkill and lots of beautiful nature it is indeed good to be home. Picked up the cat from the Kennel and get settled in our daily routines. I have spent the lazy days of vacation updating all my patterns so that they are in the same layout and have the same graphic- I will re-release them later this month. I am also currently working on some new fingerless mittens with the goal of releasing them in August as an Ebook. Aaaaand I cast on for socks, a shawl and a few other things too.

But I have also knitted this vacation:

A wisp, Knitty's great and free pattern just for me! I knit one in June for my coworker (and it was well recieved!) and got jealous. So I remembered that I had a ball of Kidsilk Night (like the Kidsilk Haze with a metallic thread, sadly discontinued) that I bought on sale from Little Knits years ago. In lightest pink, perfect for my new brown jacket. I did not sew on any buttons this time, since I want to use it as a scarf. If you, dear reader, have not knit this yet I say you should get a ball of mohair and just do it. It's gorgeous, easy and very versatile.

This is another staple pattern in my collection, namely the Forrest canopy shawl. I knit this in Noro Kureyon Sock, also from Little Knits. I'm not sure if I love it yet. However, the pattern is as staright forward and glorious as ever!

I have also been nominated for a blog award by AC of AC engineered knits, so more about this to follow!

now- time for pregnant lady to rest a little. See you later!

A little hello from the enchanted forest

2010-07-06T10:01:00.000+02:00

Look at this cutie! A newborn hare that we found outside our cabin. It was the sweetest thing ever... (of course, rest assured, we did not touch it or startle it in any way). While on vacation (from one family cabin to another) I have developed plans for a really fun event in August! It will be my one year anniversary as a pattern designer, and I am working on a few new designs and a contest with great prizes! So stay tuned :)

We're all going on a..

2010-06-24T00:13:00.000+02:00

summer holiday... I have brought a lot of summer knitting with me, so until then- have a nice summer (or winter if you are on the southern hemisphere ;) )

Fruit clothes

2010-06-22T21:47:00.000+02:00

While perusing patterns fitting the instant gratification category I found this... The more I though about it, the more sense it made. Naked fruit loitering in my purse collecting germs and debris- no more! From this day I will proudly dress my fruit before carrying them in my purse. If that makes me silly knitting lady, then so be it.

Coworker appreciation!

2010-06-20T14:13:00.000+02:00

It's nearing the end of the Norwegian school year, and tomorrow it is the graduation ceremony for our 10th graders. (It's not as fancy as in the States, by all means..) I've shared my class with this fantastic lady, who have been a source of tips, comfort and laughs for these first two years of my teaching life. Since I will be entering the world of motherhood in a few months time, she will team up with another teacher for the next three years. I have knitted her the Wisp from Knitty. This is my third wisp, but I have given them all away. Perhaps I should knit one for my self too?

I love this pattern, it's easy to knit, and the result is always satisfying. Hm.. Maybe I ought to do cast on one for me and bring it along as my vacation knitting?

Lavender water

2010-06-14T20:47:00.000+02:00

The allmighty Wikipedia states this about the use of lavender:

According to folk wisdom, lavender has many uses. Infusions of lavender soothe and heal insect bites. Bunches of lavender repel insects. If applied to the temples, lavender oil soothes headaches. In pillows, lavender seeds and flowers aid sleep and relaxation.

And oh, it smells sooooooo good! To make a natural and very low cost allround product of lavender- go for lavender water!
I made a bottle of lavender water out of 4 tablespoons dried lavender to 0.5 litres of boiling water. Boil water, add lavender and cool in a pot. Pour in clean bottle or container. You can strain the lavender or not, I chose not to. I have used it (so far) as soothing agent of sunburn and as footbath (glorious!). I plan to experiment further with spritzing some lavender water on the bed sheets before ironing.

a cardigan for baby Ella

2010-06-07T21:09:00.000+02:00

I found, quite unexpectedly some balls of lovely Elann Peruvian Cashmere in the shade of pink in my stash. Incidently on the very same day I found out I was expecting a baby girl. I decided to pull out the old crochet hook. The pattern is free from Drops and oh so very cute! I haven't blocked the cardi yet, but I just had to share :)

Hey, I did knit something!

2010-06-02T22:53:00.000+02:00

Today was a joyous day! We went for our ultrasound scan and everything looks perfect! And to top it off, we're having a baby girl.. I would have been equally pleased if it was a boy, but I think having a girl will always be a little special for the mommy. In addition my February Lady Sweater was dry, so I managed the "I am home alone and have to take pictures in the bathroom mirror" photoshoot. (Yes, I should probably have put down the toilet seat too, but I am pregnant. I need easy access)

A small holiday

2010-05-19T19:14:00.000+02:00

Greetings! Wie gehts? I've just come back from a long weekend in Berlin, Germany. This was a family trip with me, my husband, my sister and brother, dad and stepmom. We sure had a great time!

Alas, as always after an amazing trip, the everyday life catches up with you again. I am a teacher, and my class are in their final weeks of the Norwegian mandatory school. That means exam time, and my darlings drew English as their final written exam. Now guess who's the English teacher?

So, that means that the next few weeks will be all work and no play, so please bear with me if there is a bit infrequent postings here.

Psst, have you ever been at whipup? A fantastic resource for all crafters, inspiring and with great ideas!

Tschüss!
Linn :)

knit knit knit

2010-05-06T22:57:00.000+02:00

First of all, thanks to all who visited my blog and left me a comment or two during the blog week. It was greatly appreciated!

Now, for something on and just off the needles. both of them were quite popular some time ago, but somehow I never found time to do any of them then. With pregnancy I'm starting to stashbust, and hence these two projects.

The February Lady sweater. With 8866 projects it might be outknitted, I dare say retro. And retro is cool, right?

The Baktus. Simplicity. Versatility. Wearability. Love (1000)

Lovelies....

2010-05-02T11:55:00.000+02:00

Since the beginning of my Ravelry days I have always been curious about yarn. Hours spent stalking Ebay, looking for that particular skein of lovely. Since then ( 2007) quite a few skeins has arrived in my mailbox and I actually keep a yarn journal where I tape in the ballbands and write comments to them. (Geeky, I know..)

One of the yarns I love the most is from Latin America. Single ply, lace weight, vivid colors...

Malabrigo lace in the color Cadmium. Just sitting there in my stash. Must find a worthy pattern soon :) What's great with Malabrigo as well is that it is quite reasonably priced. But if you want to really treat yourself to something special this is it:

Twisted Fiberart evolutions in the " Cuddy" colorway. It even has a coordinate called "Vicodin". Any fans of Dr House here?

Little birds return....

2010-05-01T14:55:00.000+02:00

Today it is time to revisit an old FO. The 1st of May is the traditional gardening day here in Stavanger, Norway. It is a public holiday, and only gas stations and garden centres are open. The husband and I went to buy some flowers, tomato plants and american blueberry plants. Here's an action shot:

It still fits over my baby bump :) I am thinking of making this cardigan again, but more as a traditional cardigan, not this style.I find that this one slips off my shoulders a lot. I wear it none the less, and I love it. My most worn FO of all times.

Battle of wills.

2010-04-30T10:11:00.000+02:00

Today's topic in Knit and crochet blog week is where do you knit? The short answer is many places. In my car, at home, on vacation, on planes, trains and what have you. But I prefer to knit in the comfort of my own home. In this home I incidentally have a nook where I can lounge and knit my heart out.

Let's see a detail picture too:

Wallace and Gromit mug, tea and scented candle. Yup, all set! Now just go to fetch my knitting. hang on!

ah. again. That's why I usually knit on the couch.

Skillz.

2010-04-29T00:28:00.001+02:00

Today's topic is skills one would like to aquire regarding the fiber arts. As I have been a knitter for several years I've tried a lot of techniques (for example the kitchener stitch, steeking and two color knitting). I try to challenge myself, but sometimes stickin' to what you know is safest. Here is my list of skills I'd like to aquire:

Patience. (I'm not sure it is a skill but I'm working on it)

Intarsia. (Haven't tried yet, should most definetly)

Finishing. I'm never satisfied with seams, edges and the lot. Not to mention sewing on buttons. Practise makes perfect I guess.

A project I have made, with seams. And buttons.

The good, the best and the inspiring

2010-04-28T17:57:00.000+02:00

As a part of knitting and crochet blog week, this post will be about knitters I admire. This is an exciting topic, and browsing other blogs is very inspiring. Such a diverse array of knitters! I think every knitter ought to be admired for his or her work (I am a teacher, can't you tell?), but admittedly a special few always makes stuff that makes my jaw drop. here's a clue to where we are going for the first one:

Ei saa peitää

Finland, twelve points! Meet the very talented Nasti! Her blog is in finnish, but take a look, this lady is so talented! The ultimate knitter in my point of view; she has a keen sense of photography as well as colors and patterns. What's not to admire?

Copyright: Nasti

As hard it is to pick just one, well, I can't. One more. When it comes to the field of knitters and designers, I have one more who I rely on for inspiration and good patterns. We're going to.....

Fàilte!

Scotland, and to the lovely Ysolda Teague ! She designs such loveilies as Ishbel, Damson and Little birds, all of whom I have knitted.

Little birds cardigan.

Well, I'm off to knit, y'all have a good evening now!

An object of desire...

2010-04-27T15:03:00.001+02:00

As a participant on Ravelry, I've come to realise that there are such an array of talented crafters and such an array of gorgeous patterns. I might fall in love with a pattern one day, and completely fall out of love with it some time later. Some of the patterns become permanent favorites. So, why not knit it? The reasons are many, as a Norwegian crafter there is some trouble getting hold of that particular yarn you want, as foreign wool is hard to come by. (And Norwegian wool is coarse and old fashioned. But that's another story). Maybe some new skills are needed to fulfill your dream. As I browse through old favorites I found just the one that I have admired for a long, long time, but never came around to knit. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you........

Ivel

Picture copyright Sublevi

Going back to mah roots! (yeeah yeeah)

2010-04-26T10:24:00.001+02:00

As a part of knit and crochet blog week this first post will be about why and when I started to knit and crochet. I will start with a quote from everybody's favorite rastafari, Bob Marley. In his song "Trenchtown rock" he sayeth:

One good thing about music; when it hits you, you feel no pain

If you change the word music with knitting, welcome to my world. This I remember well; a dark fall night in 6th grade. Rustled my mom's knitting basket for some 80's fluffy acrylic and mohair in black and purple, and a small circular needle. Taught my self to knit from a magazine, and proceeded to sit up *all* night to knit the soggiest and fugliest black hat with purple fair isle elephants. I proudly wore it to school the next day. Needless to say this did not go unnoticed from my classmates who reacted like 12 year old kids do, and the hat was never worn again.

After a few years of not touching needles I gave it a new try when I was 16. Here you can see the result:

This is the very traditional Norwegian Fana Jacket, with origins in Bergen. A timeless piece ( for Norwegians that is) even though it is a bit boxy. I still wear it to this day.

As a majority of knitters I come from a line of knitters. My mom, granma and aunts are all knitters, even though they knit for several reasons. For my granma it's necessity. She has taken it upon herself to knit socks (the ragg kind) for the entire family. For my aunts and mom I think it might have started as necessity, but surely now it's for pleasure. And with grandbaby on its way my mom can hardly wait to pick up the needles. Mine are already picked up.
I never looked back, and with the discovery of Ravelry the possibilities are endless.

A little something for the baby..

2010-04-25T23:05:00.000+02:00

When me and husband was in London for a friend's wedding last September, I convinced him that going to Iknit in Waterloo was a great idea. (Which incidentally it was. They serve beer. They have yarn. They are very nice and friendly, and so are their patrons). This yarny lovefest resulted in me spending a whole lotta money, and I invested in a couple of skeins of Artesano Alpaca DK. Ah, how I love thee... My pet skeins have now turned to be this:

The pattern is being test knit as we speak, and will hopefully be ready to buy for a very reaonable price in May. I am excited, because this s my first go at designing a real garment (in smurf size,but Rome wasn't built in a day).

Knit & Crochet blog week

2010-04-22T19:18:00.001+02:00

Next week is Knit and crochet blog week! The very lovely and creative Eskimimi of Eskimimi knits is the creator. More info here. There will be a different theme every day. Join the fun!

Tiny things for tiny beings

2010-04-18T20:15:00.001+02:00

Well. Time has come to share the very first garment I've knitted for my own baby, due in October. The pattern is Pebble, courtesy of Thrifty Knitter. Very straight forward and quick pattern, not to mention the yarn, Silkroad tweed DK by Jo Sharp. Lovely yarn!

Now the question is; what to knit next?

maternity Vine yoke cardigan

2010-04-12T16:12:00.000+02:00

Just off the needles; a Vine Yoke Cardigan by the talented and lovely Ysolda Teague. It's knitted from side to side and incorporates short rows for shaping. A very quick knit, and I am most pleased with the result. Many people on Ravelry has had negative experiences with this pattern, but I found it just fine (but I am a tight knitter, maybe that has something to say?). The result is just as it should be, and the garter stitch has sufficiently stretch to accommodate baby bump. :) Yarn is Cascade Eco Wool, I definetly will knit with this lovely yarn again.

Absent...

2010-04-02T11:59:00.000+02:00

Well, as you might have noticed, some months have gone by and there has been no action on this here blog. The reason for this is quite simply that I am pregnant, and I have been pretty nauseous and tired the last months. I am nearing the end of first trimester ( just a couple of weeks) so hopefully it will pass by then.

Knitting hasn't been on my mind of late, but I have a few projects on the needle, but with very slow progress. To leave you with something : here is the link to a fab online row counter. So handy when knitting sleeves!

Look out for more knitting related stuff in the near future!

Best, Linn

Third FO for challenge, and some art!

2010-02-09T20:13:00.000+01:00

My husband found this outside the other day. It is a dried out and decayed Physalis fruit, and I thought it was remarkable and beautiful, and decided to photograph it.

This is my Estonian Scarf. Pattern is by Nancy Bush, and I knitted this in a week or so. The yarn is shetland, Jamieson and Smith 2ply lace, beautiful yarn that bloomed with blocking. I think a lot of people have been put off by all the nupps, since the scarf only has some 60 projects on Ravelry. The modifications I did was making the nupps smaller (5 sts instead of 7) and instead of purling 5 sts together, i purled first 2 together, then three together and slipped the first st over the last. (My oh my, I am a crappy explainer).. Anyways, I am super pleased with this one!

Start wearing purple.....

2010-01-31T12:53:00.000+01:00

Shawl number two:

Pattern: Boneyard shawl by Stephen West (westknits on Ravelry)
Yarn: Drops Angora Tweed, 2.3 skeins.

I am very pleased with this one, it's very versatile and wearable, even though purple aint my color, I kinda like this one. Very soft yarn, with a subtle halo. And the pattern is free! :)

A challenge..

2010-01-10T13:05:00.000+01:00

in which I boldly took upon myself to make 10 shawls in 2010. As far as knitting ADD go, I got it. Bad. 10 shawls might as well turn out to be far fewer, but I am nevertheless finished with the first:

This is Green tea.

Yarn: abuelita baby lace

Pattern: A leaf in a leaf by Mabel Teoh

If you're on Ravelry and would be interested in joining the challenge, please click here. There are prizes to be won too!

A Celebration! (Whaaaho!)

2009-12-15T20:45:00.002+01:00

The very talented and superfriendly Melissa of the speckled pear is the designer of the new shop look! I am super thrilled with the result, and as a celebration the Technicolor cowl is now free for you to download!

Things to come...

2009-12-14T22:37:00.003+01:00

Just off the needles. I will make it available as a free pattern after New Years!

I ain't ded.

2009-12-08T22:57:00.003+01:00

It's term paper gradin' time..

Oh Dear!

2009-11-12T14:05:00.003+01:00

New pattern available at Etsy and Ravelry! This was a joint venture between my husband and I, he drew the deer on graph paper, and I did the rest. The yarn is Elann Peruvian Cashmere, so soft!

Shabby Apple Dare to Design Limoncello Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-10-26T19:16:00.000+01:00

Shabby Apple Dare to Design Limoncello Frock GIVEAWAY!!!!

click the link to see this gorgeous dress, you can enter the contest by linking to it as well :)

Mama's got a brand new bag....

2009-10-09T14:25:00.003+02:00

First, for setting the mood; Then..

Knit in Drops Silke Alpaca on 3,75 mm. needles
Pattern: my own.

New patterns!

2009-10-06T15:14:00.003+02:00

Alberta fingerless gloves, and the matching Albertine neck warmer now available at Etsy

I made it!

2009-09-30T20:51:00.003+02:00

After weeks of haunting the Etsy treasuries, I finally managed to grab a spot.. Go see!

(A treasury is way which Etsy users can show off their favorite items, most often with a certain theme... Quite addictive eye candy!)

Queen of the castle

2009-09-13T17:56:00.004+02:00

A sweet little crown for you to crochet!

You'll need:

Scrap laceweight yarn (I used less than 1 gram for this)
Crochet hook size 2,5 mm

Hdc: Half double crochet
Sc: Single crochet
Ch: chain

Instructions:
Chain 13.

row 1. Work 1 hdc in second chain, work 1 hdc in rest of the ch. Ch 2, turn (11 hdc)
row 2. Work 2 hdc in first stitch, 1 hdc in each stitch until last stitch, 2 hdc in last stitch. ch 2, turn. (13 hdc)
row 3. Work 2 hdc in first stitch, 1 hdc in each stitch until last stitch, 2 hdc in last stitch. ch 2, turn (15 hdc)
row 4. Work 2 hdc in first stitch, 1 hdc in each stitch until last stitch, 2 hdc in last stitch. ch 2, turn (17 hdc)
row 5. Work 2 hdc in first stitch, 1 hdc in each stitch until last stitch, 2 hdc in last stitch. ch 1, turn (19 hdc)
row 6. 1 sc in each stitch. ch 1, turn
row 7. 2 sc, ch 4, skip 2, 4 sc, chain 6, skip 3, 4 sc, ch 4, skip 2, 2 sc. ch 1, turn
row 8. 2 sc, (3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc) in loop, 4 sc, (5sc, ch 3, 5 sc) in loop, 4 sc (3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc) in loop, 2 sc. cut yarn and pull the end through.

Steam lightly to block.

Usage: whatever you want! I use mine as a brooch, but you could also adorn a hairclip, mittens, a bag.. Sky's the limit!

Payday!

2009-09-10T22:53:00.003+02:00

Payday is fast approaching, not even a mere an hour away... I have been on a yarn diet since May, and except for the occasional skein I have been a good girl. I have knit from my stash, and I have used my small revenues at Etsy for a couple of Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere skeins. I am still waiting for their arrival :)

One of the yarn shops I really, really like, is Little knits. It is owned by the lovely Fulay Little, and contains a lot of beautiful yarns. A lot. Norwegian yarn shops are notorious for keeping only a selection of norwegian wools and some german novelty yarns. While norwegian wool is okay (though often rough and quite... plain...) I don't care much for novelty yarns. ( Hey- whatever floats your boat!) neither have I been bitten by the Wollmeise bug, and I don't think I ever will be. I am quite comfortable being a middle class yarn snob, which implies this:

A yarn priced unreasonably ( say above 24 $ per skein) is better left unbuyed. Why? Because there is a lot of very, very nice yarns below that price, and until I develop super duper knitting, finishing, seaming or whatsit skill that will justify the price I choose not to. paying $100 for skein of a certain yarn is just ridiculous
Not buying poor quality yarn. A skein that retails for 2$ is probably itchy, coarse and unfriendly. (However, for the norwegian thick socks that is fine. we do after all descend from vikings)
to venture beyond wool and cotton does not mean wringing your wallet. Alpaca, silk blends, mohair- it is all within an affordable reach.
For every 100 $ I spend on yarn, I go to Kiva and contribute to the amazing world of microfinancing. it works like this: You make a loan of say 25$ to a person in the third world that is setting up his or her business. You can search for recipients of all categories from farmer, butchers,taxi drivers, knitters and shop keepers. you can also search on locations like middle east, latin america, US and more. Your loan will together with other's loans be paid out to the recipient, who will repay in a given amount of time. You can withdraw your dollars if you like after repayment, or you can loan further. I really, really recommend you take a look, this is such an amazing thing to do for your less fortunate fellow man. You also get updates about how your recipient is doing.

I am off to browse Little Knits, until next time- may the force be with you.

Linn

It might as well rain until September...

2009-09-06T10:26:00.003+02:00

and it did! August was rain rain and rain here in Stavanger, but September had a lovely start at least, let's hope it stays that way!

This last weeks I've been knitting up a sample and writing a pattern. You can see some details in Ravelry. (Rav link). It is currently being test knitted by some lovely ladies!

I finally found out what I can use my leftover Malabrigo lace in the pearl colorway. It's been in my stash forever. Looky here:

have a fantastic week!

Linn

Sneek peek

2009-08-29T20:49:00.001+02:00

The handy gnome and I have been busy this last week, the fruits of our labours will be up in our Etsy shop this weekend. Here's a tiny peep:

The aquisition of knowledge

2009-08-22T22:40:00.002+02:00

Sometimes when you get an idea stuck in your head, especially if that particular idea includes fair isle knitting and the making of a pattern, you'll need skills.

Not only knitting skills, but also more technical skills like say..... making a chart in Excel. I am not a world champion when it comes to maths, and certainly not in Excel. (Even the name of this program mocks me!) However there are girls out there with the knowledge and the generous gene. I am speaking of one of my favourite designers, Marnie MacLean. She has a tutorial archive brimming with clever tips and tricks in this domain. I really recommend a peek!

Until next time

ta-ta

Linn

Your granny did what?

2009-08-17T17:58:00.003+02:00

I found these old granny squares in a drawer and I thought they should become something special. So I stitched them together and added a piqot border and voila! A mug warmer....

New free pattern!

2009-08-16T20:55:00.002+02:00

A free pattern for the Starmaid Scarf is in pdf here.
You'll need 3-4 skeins of super bulky yarn like Eskimo and hook size M/N.

Hm.. A premiere!

2009-08-11T12:57:00.002+02:00

hi there!

It's been a long summer, I got married, went on honeymoon, and opened an Etsy shop! It's not that much yet, but there are some plans for patterns and goods. hope you'll drop by!

Linn

I was hibernating, now I'm awake.

2009-05-24T16:12:00.002+02:00

Oh hai!

yes, I am still alive (insert 90's Pearl Jam tune). February is a long time back, and the reason for this blog break is simply work. My first year of teaching 9th grade, say my first year teaching anything, has been a long and very windy road. That is challenging if you don't lift your feet high enough- you'll stumble and fall several times. So here I am again, up on my feet and still roaring. A call from my friend Daniel inspired me to start posting again. So, are you ready to see what I've been up to?
This is Cherry by AnnaBell. lovely summer cardi knit in Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece. I bought the cherry buttons of Ebay, but I might change them to regular red buttons instead. Not sure yet. This was the project for learning how to seam properly, thanks to my handy Stitch'n Bitch book. I am not enchanted with seams, but at least I'm not afraid of them anymore. Now I just have to wait for warm weather.

This is very autumn-like steeked wristers knit in shetland wool on 2,5 mm dpns. What is a steek you ask? Well, it is when you knit a piece in the round and then cut it open afterwards. Brutal, yes? The reason is of course convenience, especially in stranded knitting. this project was a test run for a much larger project involving steeking I have on the needles..

Have great day, and with the words of the Governator: I'll be back.

Rogue

2009-02-08T14:22:00.005+01:00

It is done!! I am stoked... Knit in Malabrigo worsted this is just a great big hug to wear. A wearable hug. It is slightly fitted, my only regret was not making it a wee bit longer. I decided not to sew in the edges.