The loot

As is common here in our bloggin' universe, we always show and tell what we've bought at crafts fairs, yarn meets etc. So here goes.

There were many interesting booths at the crafts fair yesterday (and a lot of people, let me tell you... I heard one lady sighing with frustration and saying to her friend "Well, I really must start crafting now, there's no way out of it...."), here's some I found very interesting. And please note, these are not yarn related - I am able to concentrate also on other things, thankyouverymuch.

Although I bought some yarn, as well, of course.

Joutomaa, who was selling postcards and small posters - here's an example:

"It'll all turn out just fine" the little doggy is saying.

And Think Today: Well-designed notebooks and framed pictures, made out of scrap pieces of wallpaper and other building / decoration waste. And then "Mary-me", for whom I couldnt' find any website (which of course doesn't mean that there isn't one....) - they had funny fabric printings available, both to be sewn on your own garments / bags / whatever by yourself, and also ready-made on aprons, purses and messenger bags. Meet mr Bear and mr Frog.

And oh yes, I also bought some yarn, almost forgot to mention...

That's a lot of green. The one in front is from a small farm close to my old home town, Finnish lamb's wool and dyed by the owner herself. The other greens in the back are Katia, extra-fine merino, which will turn out to be the 'Kingscot' mentioned in previous posting. Actually also this one was bought from a store who is located in my old home town. And Joutomaa is also from there..... maybe I should move back?!? And some Noro peeking under there, as well. And a set of 2.5mm dpns. I'm all set.

There's going to be a little break - so talk amongst yourselves, I'll be back after 1 week or so.. See ya!

It's here!

Let's Twist again...


Me like:

"Kingscot" by Nora Gaughan

and "Cabled Cuff Gloves" by Tuulia Salmela

What's your fave?

Bleak house

Oh man, what a weather - there's hardly enough light during daytime to get these pictures.. Bleak is definitely the right word for this rain and wind. And did I mention darkness already?

But hey, we can of course optimize and put all things together in one pic:

See?! Knitting, felting, beading - all in one. The 'East and Vest' has been continued, after receiving the package with 'almost the same' new yarn of Debbie Bliss. The color is a bit darker choc.brown, but I think it won't matter in the end result, as it looks like the striping was intended on purpose...

***

I borrowed a copy of 'The Ultimate Sock Book' by Vogue Knitting, and even though I've never been sock-knitter at heart, it's anyway interesting always to study new techniques. In the beginning of the book, there's this history section about sock knitting. During wartime, people were couraged to knit socks to soldiers with e.g. songs (even Glenn Miller recorded such a song, the book tells us). Who would make a song for the millions of knitters now?

..and advertisements:


This dude seems pretty serious about his knitting. And deservingly so - knitting socks for the president himself must put any knitter under huge pressure. Note the appropiate knitting attire!

***

And hey, here's the new kid on the block - meet my 2nd orchid. My sister gave this to me as an early birthday present this weekend. It's nice to have a blooming one, since poor Polly has been without her flowers for a long time now.

I think I'll call him Harold.

My own birthday present to myself will be going to a crafts fair this week on Friday / Saturday :)

***

To recover from this gloomy day, how about this as the next project?! (Moda, Nov '08)

The Novice

I have succumbed. Finally. After years of reading about it in various blogs, finally I bought some. Meet yours truly, the Noro Novice.

As everybody knows, it don't come cheap, this one. But a lovely scarf is already in my mind, maybe mixed with some Rowan felted tweed, which has a similar kind of feel to it. But of course, it's like comparing silk with... well, tweed.

And another pair of earrings, lovely cloisonné beads:

His&Hers

Yesterday evening saw the birth of these two colorful household necessities - cup cozies for him&her. The future lucky recipients of these have actually donated the yarn earlier to me (in past life it was some really old needlework wool by Anchor), so it's recycling in the best sense of the word. I hope they will like 'em!

and now from the back

One more thing, related to my recent bead-craze, here's a bracelet I made - categorically Hers, I think..

East and vest

Well, I've finally started my new vest..





...with Debbie Bliss 'Merino Aran' which was naturally discontinued already (at least from all the net stores I frequent..) - and boy, is this eating up my stash fast...it seems that I only can knit few rounds and swoosh, another ball is gone.
Being the creative knitter that I am, I made the decision to order more yarn instead of frogging this and making something smaller, something that could be made out of the measly 8 balls that I had in my stash (one glove, perhaps?). I ended up with the closest equivalent, Debbie Bliss 'Cashmerino Aran' - hey, there's only one word difference, so it cannot be too different, right?? Let's see when the package come and these two are combined...

The bumpy pattern is created simply by alternating the k3-p2 rib pattern with k rows (2 and 2).

***

Today, the second episode of the lovely, über-British, janeaustenish tv-series "Cranford". Capital!

Get cozy..

..with these 'Cabled Arm Cozies' (by Tanis Gray, in VK Holiday Issue '08). Knit with Rowan Tapestry yarn (combining wool and soya fiber) and 2.5mm dpns.

Please note the pearls, which nicely hide the fact that the original upper edge came out too wide and I desperately needed some gimmick to hide that - so I folded the edge in two just above the cable and fitted a pearl to decorate it. What you cannot hide you better enhance.. or something like that, eh?