"After"

Here's the more neat looking scarf+gloves after their bath - ready to be presented in public. This set was made from Knittery's merino 4-ply fingering, colorway is "Passionfruit". A lovely yarn, (and a nice reduction of the stash).

As you may notice, the scarf is "Lace Ribbon Scarf" (Knitty, Spring '08) by Veronik Avery, further embellished by some plump, pink pearls. I've made this scarf already twice (the other version with a thick cotton yarn) - it's such a handy and easily remembered pattern, and produces an airy looking wrap around your neck.

The gloves are my own 'design' - wrist is following the scarf pattern, otherwise the hand-part are carefully mathematically calculated (i.e. just go along as you please, making the fingers more or less the correct size). Here's a close-up of the lovely pearls once again:

Voilá!

Just your average day..

..of picking cherries (from a fruit stand). And boy, were they sweet.


Here a quiz for you - guess what this blob of yarn is?

Well, girls and boys, this here is indeed a scarfe and a pair of gloves. Missing tidying up those ends and getting a good bath, but after that they are ready for Autumn. Consider this as the "Before" picture.

Polly got her weekly dose of water today, she looks perky and opened up another flower. I must be doing something right.

What's in a name?

Why I decided to call this blog "Kudos!"?

Well, in Finnish it means something like "Go ahead, girl, do your knitting!" (freely translated), also "a piece of knitting", "texture", "fabric" and "weave". For those more medically oriented, it also means "tissue". And of course then in English, it stands for "fame" and "glory".
So, in addition for being a multi-purpose word describing Our Favourite Things, it's also very modest and plain.

And now, here's my new friend - meet Miss Orchid, also known as Polly (but only to the most nearest and dearest). She came to our house last week, and has gotten used to her new surroundings - well, at least she's still alive.. It's such a pleasure just to watch her, such beautiful lines and curves and delicate features.



It's difficult to keep hands off her, I must admit. You can only water her once a week, otherwise just keep out of direct sunlight and spray some water on the leaves every once in while. I'd like to do something more, but I understand that she needs her privacy, and must protect her delicate complexion from the sun. Here's a close-up, feast your eyes.

Just as I mentioned yesterday the new issues of VK and IK, today mr postman brought Vogue Knitting Fall '08. Lots of autumnal colors, naturally, and thick woolly thingies - although I don't know how much those are of use, due to the effects of global warming.. Anyway, here are my favourites so far (after glancing through the magazine during lunch break).


Both of these mittens tickle my fancy, they look very smug and snug. ("Yellow Harvest" by Mari Muinonen, and "Green Autumn" by Jared 'the brooklyn tweed' Flood - I guess you can figure out which one is which..). I have some wool in my stash (oo, what a surprise..) so these might get on the needles quite soon.

..and another pair of mittens (by Tanis Gray) - these could look great with some darker, earthy tones, and maybe some alpaca yarn... to be contd.




I like the out-of-the-ordinary structure of this cardi by Rebecca Taylor - this original color is really not me, but maybe in black, or really dark grey / brown.. Let's see!



And finally, this scarfe by Sandi Prosser - would make a good wintery neck-wear for both girls and boys, so let's see....

Stash, here I come!

If at first you don't succeed, try try try again...

....and yes, I didn't at first succeed in getting enough stitches on my circs, and the early version of the Back to School vest looked like a dog's collar, not a piece of clothing that can be fitted on a person with a normal waist.. So purl purl purl it is, and start over. The pink lining is staying, however - after some doubts.

It's also Back to Work today (no vest for this occasion, since the weather is warm), but since I still have some summer holiday days left to be used later, it's not so bad.

I'll post pictures of the vest when there's something to show. By the way, can't wait to get my hands on the new IK and Vogue issues - loads of mittens, it seems!

I bought some yarn today

- shouldn't have, but did. It's black, it's soft and it's Sublime (with cashmere, merino & silk). Here's how it looks.







When this baby grows up, it will be the "Back to School" u-neck vest by Stephanie Japel (in 'Fitted Knits'). I will include 1 row of white/pink surprise at the hem and maybe also to the neck band, to cheer things up a bit.




I also hunted after some balls today in the shops. No, not yarn balls [and not the ones you were thinking in the first place, either] - just smallish ball-shaped objects (wooden, plastic, ceramic, wire, what-have-you) for a small display by the window. I thought it turned out quite nice.