Stockholm knits for homeless

See the article in DN.se (in Swedish) and link to their blog here.

for me?!!!

- Oh, I shouldn't....it is too much..... thank me very much! ...This is exactly what I wanted..............and it's not even Christmas yet.

Maja hat

I like all of Johannes patterns and decided to start with the Maja hat.

I like the Zauerball yarn in the pink/white/green shades - so I bought it.

The yarn is definitely not my colors, but in combination with grey it's wearable. (I think it would be even better with dark brown.) The pattern was fun to knit and I chosed the larger size since I do not like my hats to be too tight.

I just should have remembered that my head is still rather small and next time I'll try the smaller size.

Sprangeled cap or hat with tinsel (dvs paljettmössa)

How to translate "Mössa med paljetter"?
At Syfestivalen in November I bought some yarn to make this cap to my daughter N.

At a first glance - pink/orange yarn with "paljetter" I thought - how tacky can yarn be?

Then knowing my N, she would love a cap in this yarn. I continued shopping some pink soft wool and here it is. The pattern is based on a cap in this book.

Recap - Skirt in Muskat

Early this summer I started on a skirt to N in Muskat. The pattern is fron Nina's book, Sticka till babyn. A cotton ribbon should be placed on the inside and I took out my (OLD) sewing machine.
I felt like I was back in the 3rd grade and on the first ever sewing class.

The result was terrible. I had to remove it and place it back sewing by hand.

A helped out and checked the result.Luckely, N also liked the result and has worn it a lot. Here is a picture from Gotland this summer. Coffee in Visby and me knitting on "Stjärnhop". I think I only have 10 more rows to go and I should get going. I now have a NEW sewing machine that I bought at Syfestivalen, yet to be used.

Plenty of time!

With 4 weeks to Christmas I feel completely relaxed.

At least this one ought to be ready in time.....

...the rest of the to-do-list I'm not sure.

It's from last years Interweave knits Christmas magazine, the pattern is Holly Berry Stocking. I used Lima from Drops. I've changed the year into A's name. N's is already finished.

I used the I-cord cast-on from the Fiddlehead mittens. They are still on my to-knit list.

Did she have to make it?

I was having trouble enough to choose from the two "Fritt etter..." already out. And now I think I like this one even better.

But there are a lot more difficult and hard decisions in life than this :-)

Picture borrowed from here.

Granny stripes blanket ready

I've finished the blanket for N. Big and colorful enough for an almost 5 year old. It been in use for some time before I made the edging. I used a little more then half of each skein. So if A should get a blanket it needs to be just a little smaller, may I'll pick the colors radom the next time, or make a Babette blanket.

I just want to share with you what I picked from the garden last weekend. Roses, lavender and wild strawberry flowers. Not the usual situation in Stockholm in November.

Aidez in Drops Andes

I finished Aidez. I saw the pattern this spring and bought the yarn at Litet Nystan in the Drops supersale period. It was a quick knit. I used 6.5mm and got the same width but different row count. I ended up 20 rows/10 cm and adjusted the raglan shape by adding 6 rows in the decrease. I'm happy with the result apart from the sleeves. I would have liked them less tight.

If you plan to do it and see the error description and picture. My interpretation is that the pattern is wrong. The cross in the middle should be done the other way. I of cause noticed this after knitting passed it and unlike other knitters I left it in there. The bottom one is made according the the pattern description.

Crazy about yarn - at the museum

I want to visit this!At the Nordic Musem on October 2, a day full of activities around yarn, knitting and more.
I hope I can make it :-)

Summer of stars - Stjärnhop

I'm not the fastest one starting with Stjärnhop. When I saw the pattern I knew I wanted to do it. At Syfestivalen in February I bought the yarn but it took until June for me to start.

I started at the summer house and then the knitting followed me to Gotland. It rained some and we didn't have the best weather - but with coffe and knitting I'm happy.

I'm starting on the 13th and last star row.

Next problem is to buy a new sawing machine, my current one broke down this summer. To spend money on reparing a 25 year old machine - I think I rather spend it on a new one. Just need to find the time. Maybe on the coming Syfestival in November.

I didn't think I would miss it so much - I almost never use it. The things about the "possibility" to do something when you can - and the knowledge of not be able to do it. Kitting is a good example. You would always carry a knitting with you - otherwise you will miss it!!!

I just couldn't resist (again)

In the end of July the family when to Gotland and of cause we had to visit Mejeriet.My intention was to only look at ceramics, not yarn. I lost - or thinking of it I think I won. I just had to have these hanks with me home. The are very much autumn for me. I have no idea what to do with them. Just looking at the colors make me happy now.

Winged shawl

In the Interweave Knits Christmas magazine I found the pattern for the Winged Shawl.
I bought the Drops Alpaca silke when it was introduced at Litet Nystan, with the purpose to make it as a thank you to friend. I added beads and I like the result.
The pattern was easy and the yarn very nice to knit with. The adding of beads (with a hook) was a bit tricky, the yarn feels a bit too thick.

The best thing it the the reciever was happy with it.

Princess dress for N

I bought my own sewing machine when I was about 16 and still living at home. Most of the times I've used it to adjust the length of my curtains (few and easy to count).

Being home with A I talked two other mothers (also beginners of sewing) into making princess dresses for our older daugthers (4-5 years of age).

I mean - how hard can it be?

Three beginners, three babies and three months later we've finished.

The dress is best at a distance but N likes it and she now have her own princess dress.

Granny stripe blanket - yes yes yes!

The blanket is getting bigger and bigger. I have done 4 repeats out of the 6 I'm planning to do. I like the colors but realized I forgot one (pomegate) and is then only using 16 in the Lucy pack. The acrylic yarn is softer than I thought and the colors look great together.

I will have yarn left and maybe later will do a another one and then I think I'll pick the yarn in random order.

Hjärtekatter

Yesterday I went to Avigmaskan and saw "Louise" and 17 other Hjärtkatter leave for their new adventures and caretakers.N was OK with me making a cat for another baby and I promised to make her one as well. I even bought yarn in pink and purple (her two favorite colors, being 4.5 years). However she wanted one that looked the same. Me being a nice mother (I think) I went along and the sibling without heart problem is almost ready (3 paws missing).

Caught in action - #%&@ bug!

I found a pälsänger in action eating up N's cardigan. I admit it died to qiuckly and painlessly.
I now have to decide if I think it had many relatives and if I should start hunting them down and what means to use if so or if I should hope it was on its own and wait and see.

I'm not happy thinking of my stash right now (and of casue the rest of the wardrobe for the entire family).

The cardigan will get a small flower over the hole - in time.....

Too late or very early?

Since I didn't start until after Christmas I vote for very early, at least with the first one. The pattern is from IK Christmas number 2010 but I changing the year in the pattern to the names of my girls. The yarn is Drops' Lima. It was a fun knit and I liked the I-cord cast-on.

I just hope I will be in time with the next one.

Granny stripe blanket - Acrylic, here we go!

When N was a baby I made a wool blanket for the stroller. Becoming a big sister made her rediscover this blanket(approx 50 x 70 cm) and decided she had to have it in her bed as a blanket (under the cover!). I found the granny stripe blanket at Ravelry and decided I wanted to do for N as a replacement.

First I made a swatch(!) that become a doll blanket, this time in wool.

Then I crossed the line - I went for the prepacked "Lucy stile" acrylic yarn. I got it from Mason's in the UK for about 40£/400 SEK.

Second step was to decide the order, here N helped out on the kitchen floor.

I have approx 170 "stiches"/57 clusters and hook 4mm and plan to make 6 repetitions of the 17 colors. Here is the first one ready.

GLAD PÅSK!

Spring is here and I and the kids had a great day at Skansen yesterday and followed the Swedish tradition of dressing up as påskkärringar (Easter witches).VERY little knitting/chrochet is done now. T has a bad back and is in constant pain so I'm busy with everything.

But I'm dreaming and of cause of new projects, how about the granny stripe blanket . I'm also considering the acrylic yarn but that is to cross a line.......

Knit cafe at Parkvillan Bogesund Sunday

I took my whole family and Therese took hers and we headed out to Parkvillan at Bogesund, Vaxholm. It was a really beautiful Spring day and the kids could run around without jackets.

Parkvillan was a nice and very pretty place and the cafe offered a full range of cookies and other goodies. I like the idea that everything cost 20 and you pay when you leave.

After lunch the men and children were let out and Therese and I joined the happy group in the knitting cafe. With the camera outside there are no photos of us knitting but I started on a new(!) project, a skirt to N in Muskat. The pattern is from Nystas childrens book. The phrase "Trassel was out of the pink yarn but I got you purple" was used to alter the color in N's wardrobe.

I was very temted to buy of of each color of Erika Laurells cotton yarn from Muchis but behaved myself. But in my head I'm planning for childrens summer cardigans in "ice cream colors".

A very good day Spring day!

I never got to Avigmaskan Tuesday

This Tuesday Avigmaskan had an evening for finishing up project. I packed a (huge) bag with six project that are almost almost finished (just the boring parts left - or?)

One of the project is Cobblestone - T's Christmas present.

How close to finished can an UFO be?

I have 16 stiches left and then I'm done (since 2 weeks maybe)

Then T had to work late and I couldn't make it in time so I decided to stay home. Did I do any of the projects?

No, I started a new one! This will probably be mittens for N for Spring (or Fall 2011).

Japanese Garden Shawl completed

It was a fun and fairly fast project. I like the yarn I got for it, Ella Rae, it's a hand painted merino and I found it at Trassel. Should I do another one I would make it larger.

Japanese Garden Shawl

Wendy has a pattern on Ravely I bought the pattern Wendy sells on Ravelry.

Wendy wrote:
I will donate all my proceeds (after Paypal takes its cut) from this pattern’s sale to the American Red Cross for their disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific, for all sales of this pattern through the end of April 2011.

She got 1200 USD the first day.

Two colors at Avigmaskan

Yesterday I took my self to Trassel for a night with two color knitting with Avigmaskan.

We should have started a knitting prior to the night, the Heart Mittens (Ravelry link) were so fun that I actually finished the first one beforehand. I tried to start on Stjärnhop but it felt too odd having one strand in each hand. I guess I need a smaller project (e.g. a hat) to practice on.

I switch the dominating color on the other mitten and had to start over when I came home.

But I enjoyed myself!!!!!

Visit to Syfestivalen

This year I visited Syfestivalen with my friend Therese. Just the feeling of walking without a stroller or someone calling "mommy" every minut was great. I actually thought that we would have time to sit down and knit while drinking coffee. I was wrong.....

For the first time at Syfestivalen I joined a workshop. I made a hat for N. It is a little big but over time she will grow. The most important thing is that she liked it and wore it the whole weekend.

Of cause I got a few other things as well. The black and pink/gray wool from Ullcentrum will (maybe) be a "Stjärnhop" one day in the future. The purple rabbit skinn - I'm not sure yet. If N decides they will be in her bed all the time.

Valentine's heart

Last Tuesday I went to Trassel to participate in Avigmaskan's "double knitting evening. I had fun that night and I hope to be able to return for other events during the Spring.

I had never done it before but managed to make 2! hearts.

Next time I do this I'll need to remember to twist the yarn when turning. Otherwise it went fine and was fairly easy, but I think I need a lot of training before trying it in front of the TV :-)

Maybe in my next life.....

A possibility to learn how to spin at Skansen.
I think I would like it very much but I'm too afraid to start spinning. I feel that the yarn stash takes up enough space in our home with adding a new stash of fibres :-)

So in my next life I'll attend..........

Citron - blurry picture

I've knitted a Citron in Malabrigo lace. I made it a bit larger than the original pattern but have still to wear it.

I think I started in 2009 and finished the blocking part in 2010.

Start and restart of Cobblestone

For Christmas I bought T yarn to a Cobblestone sweater. N, now 4 years thought that he should knit it. I explained that I was going to do the knitting part. I bought Heavens hand in an olive shade at Litet Nystan.


While starting many other projects (and finishing very few) I started in a good manner. I swatched and meassured. I made it "the old way" meaning (only) making a small swatch 12 cm at the tops and not really long enough to count the rows. It was according to the gauge - so - I frogged it. (At HV I was taught to make a larger swatch, prefferably in the same manner that the garment will be knitted - for Cobblestone, it in the round. Then wash it and save it. Never seem to remember that part of the preparation)

Size was decided and I started. A, 8 months helped me winding the yarn but mostly she was trying to eat it.

Feeling good about the progress I asked T to try it on after one skein, it looked OK. After the second skein I asked again for I thought it looked a bit too small. Of cause it was.....

Time for restart making one size larger:

Current status is almost ready to start the yoke, T is away this week so I've started on the first sleeve, and of cause also started two other projects and brought home yarn for another three :-)