Thursday 29 March 2012

Still On The CatWalk

Well, not me. I leave that up to those who can live without food for a very long time. No this is about me knitting cats and dogs. My jacket knitted in the round and cut after I finished it.

Amongst shawls, scarves and some more work in progress - the jacket has been resting for some time. But, now there are only one row with cats left and then I start knitting the sleeves.

It is a really fun knit. And I am happy about the colors. I will of course show you how it turns out - in the future.

I wish you all a happy easter with lots of chocolate and eggs - far from any catwalk!!

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Per Tryving pt2
Needles: 2.5mm
Size: M
Pattern: Pamphlet 1235 from Rauma  
Ravelry linkKnitting Cats And Dots

Tuesday 27 March 2012

A Grey Disappointment

I rarely knit anything in grey. There is nothing wrong with the color - in fact I wish I did not look sick wearing it. Anyway, I am not wearing this purse grey or not. This is my first knitted purse. I think knitted anything is great - well, almost... I thought this would be a quick and easy way to get a knitted purse. So far so grey.

In the pattern photo the purse looked fabulous. Just what I wanted. I ordered the kit and started knitting.

Well, it did not turned out as I hoped for. And that would be like the one in the pattern photo.

The pattern had no information about gauge. So it was a bit too little for the clutch. And to decrease while knitting cables did not work out well. Also no direction for that.

It must be said: Norwegian patterns are always vague. I really do not know why.

Maybe designers assume that the knitter is educated in knitting or it is simply a very bad habit. A lot of knitters has complained but it do not seem to help.

Any other suggestion or views on that issue?

BUT, the grey purse is here. And I will use it. Maybe not flash is all over, but just use it for a suitable use. It is meant to be a mobile phone purse. Now it is just a purse. It really looks better in the photos than in real life....

Too much complaining for one day - the sun is out. The spring is here. And who cares about a grey purse that failed?? There are so much more important things to knit. And that will work.... Have a grey(t) day - if you know what I mean. LOL!!


The Stitch Story
Yarn: Misti from Du Store Alpakka
Needles: 5mm (30cm circular needle)
Size: 13 x 11cm
PatternPurse for cell phones
Other materials: Clutch from the kit
Ravelry linkSort Of A Purse

Thursday 22 March 2012

A Case of Stripes And Stash

In two weeks I managed to knit over 600 stripes, use up some stash, get more stash and simply realize that the amount of stash yarn is a constant.

2012 knitting into one of the ends.
Anyway, I am so pleased with the outcome of this hybrid between a shawl and a scarf. It came out even better than I hoped for.

Exactly how I wanted it to be. It curl a bit due to the stockinette stitch, but that was intentional. I used Soak and blocked it, and that helped a lot.

I used two alternating colors and changed colors with a goal of getting most complementary colors together.

It did not always turn out well - not that many colors to choose from in my stash and in the shop. In a total I think this works - at least I am happy about it.

If you want to knit one of your own you can check my project page on Ravelry.

I have made sort of a pattern. This project would be nice in variegated yarn as well.

I am actually thinking of knitting a new one in alpaca.

I loved knitting this so much. And it is strange that I appear to miss it now when it is finished.

Do you know that feeling?

The idea for this project came from a machine knitted scarf I bought that had the same shape.

I simply started calculating how to knit one for myself.

And it worked. In the really old days knitters marked their work with their name and year of knitting. I added the year to my project. Nice to have when I am old and do not remember...

I found one of my polymer clay bracelets to go with the scarf. So, mission complete. For now...
My handmade polymer bracelet love my new scarf...
The Stitch Story
Yarn: Rauma Finull, Pt2 (total amount 420 grams)
Needles: 2.5mm
Size: 3.09 x 60 cm
Pattern: Lifelines
Other materials: None
Technique: Stockinette stitch, spit splicing
Ravelry linkStash And Stripes

Tuesday 20 March 2012

I Won A Baby Crow

I am so lucky. When Theresa wrote an article about Stacy I took the chance and hoped to win one of the ACEOs that were up for a giveaway. And I won the baby crow "Spring Fairy Blessings". I was so surprised and happy about it.

And Stacy surprised me even more. I also received a card and another little print of her baby crow "Smile". It is so precious to get something made entirely by hand. It really is a treasure. The card with the cat on, holds words from Stacy that is most appreciated!!!

I have been following Stacy and her blog Magic Love Crow for some time. She always surprise me with her art and creativity.

And she has an amazing story. In 2007 she almost passed away and in 2009 she decided to paint. She paints crows in the most creative ways.

She tells her story about life in her crows and you can really see her appreciation of life in her art.

Thank you for being such a kind person and blog friend, Stacy. And thank you so much for your lovely giveaway and the gifts.

Read Theresas interview with Stacy or visit her blog. I promise you a smile and a brighter day.

Tuesday 13 March 2012

In The Cable Light

Nothing is so lovely as a candle light a late night. This time it is cable light - cabled knitting fitted to a jar.

An easy and quick knit and it make such a great effect when there is light in the jar.

The grey one is a gift for a friend. And I really hope she will like it.

The pattern is very easy and well explained.

You can fit one cover to almost any jar you have  - or a nice one you buy for a gift.

I am going to knit more of these. I really enjoyed the fact that knitting can be so decorative.

There is a idiom that say "See the light in the tunnel". Well, in my world it is "See the light trough the stitches"

I wish you a day in the light!!!

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Rauma Mitu
Needles: 4mm
Size: To fit a jar
PatternRecycled Glass Jar Covers (free)
Other materials: Any jar of choice (these are storage jars from Bodum)
Ravelry linkCable Light


Friday 9 March 2012

With Stash And Stripes

I am pretty sure that my stash is forever growing. And when I try to minimize it - it grows even bigger. So I found out that it was time to use some of it. And it really started out well.

I picked the colors and started knitting only to discover that it would be nice with some new colors. And some more of the colors I already have. Maybe it is an illness - something totally incurable.

I thought I found a cure - to knit something from the stash. But as it seems, it did not help. AT ALL.

Anyway, I started knitting this stripy shawl or scarf or a hybrid of them. Two rows of alternating colors  - all the colors I love and most of them from my jacket of many colors. Oh, and some new colors.

It is going to take some time knitting on 2.5mm needles. But I fancy the outcome. So much fun to see the colors blend and see what happens to them when they make different pairs.

When i change colors I spit splice - no ends to weave in appart from the two in the beginning and the on in the end.

So, the stash seems to be a very bad excuse to get more yarn. But I get a fun knit and something to wear in the end. I added my sort of pattern on my Ravelry page. Check it out if you like to.

Do not ever underestimate what you have in your stash - there are colors you never thought of. There are possibilities for brighter days. Just like what is hidden inside of you. There are a lot of colors stashed away in our hearts. Let them shine - take them out for you and for us to see. And enjoy your weekend!!

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Rauma Finull Pt2, from stash (and shop)
Needles: 2.5mm
Size: About 2m width
PatternImprovised
Other materials: None
Ravelry linkStash And Stripes

Monday 5 March 2012

Thank You So Much - The Jacket Is Finished

Thank you so very much for your help and your encouragement on my last post. All that is knitted into the edges of my jacket.

Your comments kept me going through the weekend as I knitted the front line edges and the neck line all over again.

It may not be that visible in the photos but it made a huge difference in the garment.

I reduced the number of stitches on the front edges with 20 and had 152 stitches.

In addition I knitted with a smaller needle size, 2mm.

I had the same amount of stitches on the neck line - but knitted with 2mm on that too.

And this is like a new jacket. It really is. I also knitted some pattern on the inside of the edges. I also bought another cloak clasp.

It took a lot of hours to do this all over again, but the result is amazing.

I am so happy about how the jacket turned out.

And it really is like life itself: We sometimes need to go an extra mile to get where we want.

Even if it hurts and takes a lot of time. But in the end, a cheering up from a friend is fuel on the tank.

Thank you all again!!!


The Stitch Story
Yarn: Rauma Finull, PT2
Needles: 2.5mm, 2mm
Size: M
PatternDROPS Sweater (free)
Other materials: 6 cloak clasps
Ravelry linkJacket Of Colors

Friday 2 March 2012

Unraveling Without A Scream

No no no: The cut off edges from the jacket...

- There are too many stitches on the edges of your jacket. You simply need to unravel to get it right.

The lady in my local yarn shop said out loud. There was something wrong with that jacket. I thought the clasps were too heavy - the jacket was sagging in the front. I just needed new clasps.
My weekend project...
Was I wrong? Yes!!! And in that moment I just wished I was four years old so I could throw myself on the floor and scream my lunges out. But I did not.

I kept calm, went home to find the stash yarn for the new edges and neck line. I WANTED TO PANIC AND FREAK OUT!!! NO NO NO!!!

Instead of unraveling, I simply cut the edges off with a scissor. They were sewn so good that it would take a lot of time to unravel in a calm way.

So, now I have started to pick up stitches, knit new edges with less stitches and a smaller needles. But I am calm, knitting AND NOT FREAKING OUT. NOT AT ALL. I PROMISE - OR NOT!!!Grrrrrr!!!

Here is the jacket on which I am knitting new edges and new neckline. After doing a lot of calming down I realize that I will be very pleased with a jacket that will fit better. And look better. I just hope for that.
One edge down - one to go. Oh, and I also need a new neckline...
I wish you a lovely weekend!!!