Thinking Sheep Thoughts

Recently I have found myself obsessed with a new yarn. Sublime Organic Merino.

It's as light as a feather and it might just be the softest wool that I have ever come in contact with.

Like "softer-than-Malabrigo" soft.

Everything about this little strand oozes naturalness to me. The lightly spun single ply construction gives it a handspun feel and I love this subtle natural shade.




Pondering over this yarns organic qualities led towards another new knitting related obsession for me.



Sheep!

Its only fitting that a child's sheep sweater be made from a super soft merino sheep!

And plus I found the cutest sheep buttons ever while visiting Portland.

Its a perfect match.

Pattern coming soon!

Inspiration, a garden that I would like to knit.

I knit a garden

If I where to knit a garden at the moment for inspiration it would be this one.
It's local and on my dog walk.
This house backs onto lake Mellan(Mellan-Fryken meaning middle lake)
And the front garden is almost as stunning as the back drop
(view of river)

I only have some green and pink so I need to add to my stash
so just like the great kaffe(to some)
I too can knit a garden.;-)

Roses that I have dried out.
My yarn stash need to be refilled as I seem to be awfully short!

Basic Thick Socks

Here's a pair of basic socks - two worsted weight yarns knit together with 32 sts on size 7 (I think) dpns. I'm bored with these socks though so I started another pair of the Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holidays. I really hope to update the scrunchie sock pattern and get you that list of worsted weight sock patterns soon.

So far I've sent $210.83 to the New Mexico rabbit rescuers - that is half my May Ravelry earnings along with all of my Amazon and Lulu earnings for May. (Obviously with such enormous earnings I'm right on track to becoming a millionaire by 2010!!!) All my patterna nd booklet sale earnings through the end of July will go to them - I figure it will be around $400 more.

Here's a KRQE article and video on the rescue which says their expenses so far are over $3600:

NM Woman Hoards 334 Hopping Bunnies

Knitted Booby, Beany, Cosy

Big booby
Well big boob issues!
1st I sewed it inside out(Right side, wrong side facing?)
So my ribbing is inside out, it is a prototype so I'm not stressing.

2nd the nipple size! mmmmm slightly Jordan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan_(Katie_Price
(Even the suntanned skin colour)

My skull is modelling it as a Beany here I think it works!
My garden oil burner makes for good stuffing. And now you can really see that my very excited about moss/seed stitch worked until, I had to lose the stitches and then I somehow ended back in the rib? very un-nipple like.

But it is enormous!. The buttons meant to be a fake nipple I even think this I have to work on?

How to knit a Jumper with no pattern 1975 style

1975
Maj Britt Engström(In Swedish)

I do remember this style of jumper Being a 70's child.
yesterdays charity shop discovery was just what I have been looking for.

my daughter like her mother is a free-form knitter, Crocheter, so I have been trying to explain how to make a jumpers, using different lengths scarf's
(Best description)

Of course she thought that I was taking nonsense........
But 25kr (£2) Bargain with pictures they make thing so easy to understand and they don't frighten beginners.

And this it how
Basic

Any size, you would just have to measure the teddy, baby, adult and pencil out a rough instruction and as long as it was knitted ,crocheted in a round about the size, it should work.

The Breast Knitted Tea Cosy!

Tea Cosy

Progress so far on my knit Cafe Tea Cosy pattern.
I have used a Bitch N Stitch, Beany Hat for size and similar measurements.
The my own twist!

This will be a Tea Cosy (but without the holes)
I want it to be multi functional
So it can be a Beany hat too or Just to keep your Tea Pot Hot

Rasmus

My poor pup, we are still being held hostage in our own home, the builders are still here and today it must be the hottest day yet!(nearly two weeks!)
(This summer in Stockholm)

Luckily for me my son watched him this morning so I could go out for a coffee
(Tack Karin), he has had to be competently bound to the hall today
(luckily its big)
As all the ground floor windows had to be opened to be painted.

To prevent him biting(kidding) barking at the painters.
My Coffee
I wanted to visit the Coffee shop mentioned in the famous Stieg Larsson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo
The girl with a dragon tattoo, one of the main characters
Michael Blomqvist visits in the book.
http://www.tomstardustdiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/michael-blomqvist-vagner.jpg

It's real(it's expensive but fair enough)
The address being
Mellanqvist
Hornsgatan 78
Stockholm

Back to the knitting!.

The beige part is the nipple (imagination here please)
Seed stitch
Or as we say in the UK Moss Stitch!
This is then my part of the pattern. If it works ill publish it;-)

Below is a link I found that I missed completely when it happened, just another fantastic knit/craft idea I wanted to share.

'printing by hand'

I feel like I have to 'run' to keep up with life lately. Just when I want to slow down and literally smell the roses or take a leisurely walk or sit on the glider and read a good book, there is something demanding attention--like those weeds I can't seem to keep up with lately, the deck needing some stain, or meat birds & hens that need feeding & watering. No matter what though, I try to squeeze in some crafting like this really fun project recently from 'Printing by Hand'...

Our daughter' boyfriend had a birthday, and since he is the nicest guy in the world I thought I'd make him something. Since he has a dachshund puppy I decided to make him a pillow using the 'Gus's Dog Bed' stencil.

I have a screen printing kit but am still a bit intimidated by it all, so I just applied the screen printing ink with a stencil brush...

I can see where it would have come out nicer had I used the screen, but I think it still turned out pretty cute...


I've also managed to start a knitting and a crochet project...{I'm so much better at starting projects than finishing them :)
...will be back soon with more details.

Inspiration when you least expect it!

I sent an e mail to this magazine 2006

I had a reply printed on the dear Deborah page, I shared my end of year project with the magazine.
My 1st huge scale knit,
Well really my 1st knit attempt.
(1st at all, since I tried when I was 11 or so and promptly gave up)
A big 1st.
I won this book
Chic knits
By Maria Williams
I could not find any net info on her,the shop mentioned in book was the Stitch inn but I found nothing;-(

Really uninspiring is the cover you have to agree, fake mohair with more fake mohair, light blue with light Gray!, Oj oj.

Never inspired to read the book, even flick through it.
Reason why, other than the cover

I guess that the idea of patterns,
me with no clue, how, what, where, when......

And Of my opinion then, was that......
Why would you make somebody Else's!,
when you can make your own?.

I'm not of that opinion any more, pattern are organic they are their to be moulded.

It's no good!
I'm trying to sound nice;-) I hate the cover and would never have looked.

So I popped it away for a rainy day, then into a moving box for Sweden.

Years later
2009
I have read and been inspired so it just goes to show as they
"Say in the UK"
Never judge a book by it's cover..........

She uses all the novel yarns (As do I)
I aim to make texture,colour combinations that you would not usually think of.

Not those tacky fluffy scarf yarns that seem very popular used alone, it's criminal, unless your really really old and I mean really or really young tiny!.

She team good combinations of
fun yarn with really nice quality yarns.

That really work with her poncho's and shawls and I love the bag, of course I would make the bag but using chenille which can be frowned upon in some knitting circles, but I think here, it look's fantastic.

New Coffee knit Shop

Today's knit Event

New coffee shop on the block, well square! the place that I live is on a tram line and each stop has it's own little square.

The square with new coffee shop is Höglandtorget, very nice too;-)

Apologies for photo, not my usual standard but I'm getting even more of a

Tech head!

Taken from my phone camera and then down loaded to my PC!

New coffee shop

(my mission other than the learn to knit and crochet whist living in Stockholm)

Was to in fact visit as many coffee shops as possible, my art work can always travel.

So I'm not a slacker;-)
(Aimed at my UK friends)
I work and drink coffee!

Sat at my new local, I begin work with my Booby Teas Pot Cosy.

I was only sitting there for thirty minutes and I already

"Had one conversation about my knitting "

And

Two very elderly nod's of approval!

(kind of code, a nod or a wink, pleased that the young)

Young I use lightly (past the 25 to 35 tick box bracket!)
The nod /wink happiness that I'm continuing with the tradition.

And that I KIP

Knit in Public always. Mind you, three years I have been in Stockholm And as my Swedish friend know, not quite gotten around to learning Swedish.

Well I know the knitting terms when said slowly!

When given a compliment I answer in English this prolongs the silence and really I don't want to ask
"What did you say!"
That would be so rude (my lack of language)

I think that it's about time I actually signed up for some lessons.
(I Can't believe I typed that)

So if any thing, I would know exactly what the nice complement that I was told meant, by that friendly person whom appreciated that I kIP.

Oj oj oj, we will see! what my future brings.

Is your work ever finished?

Vogue Buttons

Free-from skirt and top that I finished a while ago...........or did I
This is one of my most recent( fantasy)out fit.

So it currently sits on a mannequin in my front room, a little strange I guess?
I really like to see, feel admire what I have made to make sure that it was the best I could do. It's good to admire what I have made(or criticise), if you cant be positive about your work!
who will......
I felt that the neck line needed something else, the thing with yarn/knit /crcohet with acrylic for sure it grows, stretches...........

It's natural, that's one of the thing I like about yarn. Even man made acrylic is Organic as it does grow.

Not the same with fabric, no give! unless lycra/spandex
(so Adam Sander and the Wedding Singer, Spandex!,I like that word)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wedding_Singer
What you have created is set, with yarn you can play;-)

So a new neck line, a little left over lemon cotton and I think that's definitely it!
Art in the garden
Yesterdays Art, looks like a Kaffe Fassett in the making;-(

Not so keen on his work, but I love the way he can knit what he sees.
He turn photography a photo, into a knited sample.

And of course the fact that he is a famous man who knits!
(not many.....)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaffe_Fassett
Poor Rasmus, my work is never done another Tick(festing) thats three in two weeks! Oj oj oj
On his eye lid the horror!

He is all fluffy in this photo as he had just had a bath, no easy task with a Teen pup.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick
They are the only bad thing about a Swedish summer every thing else FAB!

Easy Scrunchie Socks

Thanks to everyone who helped me decipher what color mauve really is. The answer is who knows??? The world of color names is a mysterious one.

Now when I said I was making a pair of socks in Cascade 220 that was the color of Pepto-Bismol, everyone probably guessed the color exactly.



These are the Easy Scrunchie socks (pattern in previous blog post) knit in size 6 dpns instead of size 7. I realized I forgot to put the gauge in the pattern last time so I'll add that for both sizes and add the pattern as a PDF on Ravelry for those of you who prefer to work from PDFs. This is a busy week but I'll get to it as soon as I can.



I've decided to devote the summer to knitting myself some really thick socks. I've found a few interesting patterns online so I'll post a set of links for those of you who also like socks from worsted weight yarn.

I love June...

I'm thinking that there is not a month more beautiful than June, and I cannot hardly believe that there is little more than a week of it left. Our weather has been warm and wonderful with deep blue skies and quite a bit of sunshine--something we never take for granted after our long cloudy winters. We've not had a very rainy spring, although Saturday it rained all day--mostly a gentle misty sort of rain that has done wonders for the roses and all the rest of my flowers {except the poor peonies}.

Friday and Sunday were sunny and warm days, perfect for weeding the gardens, taking a bike ride, sitting on the deck with a glass of wine, and enjoying everything in bloom...

...the peony bush before being downtrodden by the rain.

...lilies, a white rose bush in the corner, catmint, and ever spreading violets.

...my little garden chair is due for some paint I think!

...another new peony bush, a foxglove just beginning to bloom, and a clematis growing up the wagon wheel. I have never been able to keep a clematis alive for long and am still trying to find the ideal location.

..some bleeding heart, alchemilla mollis, and I believe, red valerian??

And the first of the strawberries are just being picked, and they have a heavenly flavor that the store-bought berries can only dream of...I can't wait for enough for that first strawberry shortcake.

Hope your summer is off to a great start!

Very Cherry

I

I am happy to share with you my newest pattern.

Very Cherry

(What is it with me and fruit-themed children's knits?)

While I was knitting this one up I was so worried that it wouldn't turn out right. But now that its finished, I love it! It is exactly what I was envisioning...

...A perfect, practical summer dress with just enough details added to make it acceptable for a dressier occasion.

Also I love this bright cherry red color!

It's so sweet and cheery, not the typical pastel you would normally find for a child's summer dress.

As you know, I'm also obsessed with this lace edging.

The picot edge plays up this lace pattern so beautifully. They just go together.

The picot cast on and bind off are quite time consuming, but so worth it!

You can find an instructional video for the picot cast on here and a video for the bind off here.

I love how the picot bind off around the neckline kind of sticks out and looks like little red cherries framing the face.

I also think that this dress is quite versatile and could still be worn even in the cooler months. Well... in California anyways :)

The color would definitely lend itself to a fall/winter wardrobe and the dress could be worn over a long sleeved top and tights for added warmth.

Here is some pattern information for those of you who are interested in knitting it:

SIZE
3 months [6mos, 9mos, 12mos, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] (shown in size 2)

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS

Chest: 17 [18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25] inches (0 inches of positive ease)

Length: approx 14 [16.5, 18, 21.5, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27] inches after blocking

GAUGE
24 sts/30 rows = 4" in Stockinette stitch on size 6 needle

MATERIALS
Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Dyed Organic Cotton [100% Organically Grown Cotton; 150 yd/137m per 65g skein; color: #309 Cherry; 3 [ 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5] skeins or approx 440 [470, 500, 520, 540, 570, 600, 620, 650] yds of dk weight cotton or cotton blend yarn.

(Separate one skein of yarn into 2 balls)

1# 16” US #6/4mm circular needle for smaller sizes
1# 24” US #6/4mm circular needle
1# 32” US #6/4mm circular needle for larger sizes
1# spare set of US #6/4mm straight needles for 3 needle bind off
1# 16” US #5/3.75mm circular needle for neck edging
(You may need to use US #5/3.75mm double pointed needles for smaller sizes).
Stitch holders
Tapestry needle
Stitch markers

The yarn that I chose for this design was Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Dyed Cotton. I fell in love with the worsted weight version when I knit up my Something Red Sweater so I was so excited to try the skinnier DK version. Unfortunately I found that the DK weight isn't like the worsted

at all.

This yarn is constructed with several tiny plies spun together. And with any cotton yarn that is constructed in this manner, splitting is inevitable. So I found it a bit finicky to knit with, especially the detailed picot edging. Several times I had to correct split stitches. (That's why I enjoyed working with the worsted weight so much! It was just a lofty soft 2 ply. So easy to work with!) Yarn constructed this way though does have its advantages, the stitch definition is better and crisper, showing off the lace pattern beautifully!

Also... I fell in love with how this rich saturated red color barely bled in the washing process! And once knitted, the fabric draped so beautifully and it softened up so nicely once washed and blocked. And its organic cotton! Which is always nice to have against a little ones skin.

Like all of the NeverNotKnitting patterns, the construction is simple. This dress is worked from the bottom up in one piece. The finishing work is very minimal.

I hope that you enjoy knitting it and that your little one enjoys wearing it as much as mine does.

If you own a yarn shop and are interested in carrying this or any other of my designs in your store, please contact me for wholesale pricing information: nevernotknitting@gmail.com.