First knitted shawl!

It has been a while since I finally managed to get around and block this shawl, and with that actually managet to get it done. It's just due to my lazyness. ;) The shawl was done knitting before the accident, though...







The yarn I used is Sandnes Garn's grey Kitten Mohair (70055), and I used almost one ball (50g). Kneedles where 9 mm, if I remember correctly.

On hold...

I know I haven't been very good at updating this blog in ages and ages. I guess I've just been busy or something. I have been knitting, and even managed to get some projects done, but at the moment all my knitting is on hold.

We have actually had some really nice weather this summer, and in June I brought my knitting to the park, and spent some time there reading and knitting and relaxing. It's a nice thing to do, you know. In the picture here, taken some time in June, I'm knitting on my shawl (which is almost done, I just need to fasten the yarn ends and block it) and reading the book Villskudd by Gudmund Vindland.

The reason for me not knitting these days is that I was in a car accident only five days ago. I'm happy to be alive and all that, but am still in great pain, and am eating pain killers. I feel tired almost all the time, and most things takes a bit of time.

I am looking forward to being so painfree I can knit again. I miss it!

March hat

The hat for March is done. Actually, it has been for a while, but I haven't gotten around to take a photo of it until now. But here it is, all done.



The pattern is "Hand made hat" by Made with Hands. I've used alpacka yarn, and it's ever so soft. Used less than 50 grams of yarn. Quite pleased, it's a nice hat. :)

First pair of socks!

I'm finally done with the first pair of socks I've ever knitted!



Thank you to Kattepus for all the help!

Felted mittens.

In December it was my friends birthday, and as her gift she got to choose between homemade mittens, socks or hat of the colour of choise. She chose black mittens. So, in January I made these mittens for her. I haven't posted about it here before, as I wanted her to have them before I posted about them. Anyhow, here's the result:

February hat 2008

My february hat is done! I found it easier to knit than the January one. This hat project is actually fun. I mean, it's such a challange for me. :) I like it a lot!

New month, new hat...

I'm currently working on the February hat of the hat knit along. I think I'm getting the hang of the pattern as well. It's Lake Park Hat by Marnie MacLean. I'm knitting it round. I'm pretty curious to how it'll turn out.

Hat along 2008, January result

I finally managed to get my January hat done! I had a hard time as I managed to knit incorrectly so many times. I even managed to get a whole row of pattern incorrectly, but it was at the end, so I couldn't be bothered to knit back yet again to correct it.

The only thing that annoys me a bit is that I actually like the hat, but since I have such a small head, it's way too big. So, I guess I'll give it as a gift to someone at some point.

Gemma Beret on its way!

I know it seems like I never do anything according to this blog. The problem is, I forget to update. *laughs* I will try to get around to update about some stuff soon.

I'm currently knitting my first project using an Englsih pattern. I'm surprised about easy it is, as I thought it would be so hard to understand it. But with the help of a English to Norwegian dictionary online, as well as some clues from Kattepus (who's helpfull as always), it goes rather smoothly.

I'm knitting a Gemma Beret from Rowan. It doesn't go quickly, but I'm getting there. It's fun.

Status Quo:

My current projects:
- mittens in black yarn (birthday present for a friend of mine)
- socks (for me)
- a sweater I started ages and ages and ages ago. Haven't touched it for ever. My goal is to actually manage to get it done this year. ;)

To be started soon:
- hat for the hat knit along
- arm warmers for the arm warmers knit along

Knitting in London.

Every Christmas my friend Barb. and I go on a trip, and this time we went to London, just like the two previous years. Now, I'm not really going to talk about London, but about the experiense of sitting in a pub on a Saturday night knitting!

So, we had decided that we wanted a relaxing day, and of course this would include some knitting. After dinner (alas, the worst Indian meal I've ever had, maybe even the worst meal I've ever had), we strolled over to a pub not far from our hotel. We managed to find a cozy table in a corner, where we setteled down. We ordered some cider and were ready for a nice evening...



Mmm... Real, tasty cider! (Not like the sweet icky stuff you get in Norway!)


Barb. had started on a new sock project, which she has written about in her own blog, and was eagerly working on that. As for me, I was working on the before mentioned scarf.



Hard knitting Barb.


I love my wooden knitting needles.


Now, the really interesting thing about all this, was the reactions we god. It was as if nobody had seen anyone knitting before! Maybe not surprisingly, as we didn't really see anyone else knitting while in London, not even on the underground.

The first one to approach us was one of the guys in behind the bar asking us "Is knitting therapeutic?" Our reply was that, yes it was. And it is, it's a bit like meditating. Very relaxing.

Another fun approach was a guy who seemed to take a great interest in what we were doing. He was already wearing a hat and a scarf and asked us: "If you were to knit anything for me now, what would you knit?" Of course, I more or less instantly knew what my reply would be: "Mittens!" He seemed a bit surprised, but Barb. agreed. It's nie to have something to make your hands warm...

There were others who also came over to us, to our amusement, but it was great fun and really nice. People seemed very positive towards what they seemed to believe was some sort of Norwegian crazyness. This is something I probably will do again at some point.

Armwarmers, scarf and hat in wool.

I have made my first ever knitted set! I knitted arm warmers, a scarf and a hat of wool. The colours are black and a sort of red orange.





I started making the arm warmers, as I knew the person they were intended for needed a pair to use when out photographing in the cold. I made a "hole" for the thumbs, which I think was a good idea.





The scarf was knitted while I was in London during the Christmas days. (I probably should write an entry about knitting in London, but that'll have to wait). Same yarn and method, more or less. I wanted it to be long enough to be properly worn. ;)





The hat was still the same yarn and all that jazz... I stated knitting it when I came home after work on Thursday, and ended up knitting the rest of it during the reading group meeting the very same day. It was all done before I went to bed, so I was able to hand it over yesterday. The other two items were handed over on New Year's Eve, the very same day the person I made it for had his birthday.

Yes, this set was a birthday gift. The hat came as a gift card, but as I just said: handed over yesterday. The birthday boy was very pleased and happy about the gift!

Black arm warmers in alpakka, pt. 1

I have started a new knitting project: Black arm warmers in alpakka yarn. It's so soft! My flat mate Kattepus is helping me lots and lots! :D This is the most complicated pattern I have knitted in my life, and it feels good that it seems to turn out nice. ;)



The purpleish ones, marked as number 3, are the ones I'm knittng.


The start of the project.


OK, I wasn't exactly planning on decorating the plants with yarn...


Hm... This is actually looking like it's going to turn into something!


And this is as far as I've gotten so far.


I haven't done any knitting since last night, though (which isn't long ago at all). I needed to do something else from what my thoughts have been occupied with lately.

But I couldn't have done t without the help from Kattepus. Really! So big thank your to her!

Inheritance

When my mum came over to help me clean the old flat I was moving from, she brought some stuff after my grandmum. My wonderful grandmum died in 1999, my granddad in April.





Among the stuff were some old knitting patterns. I really loved the one to the far right, it even included a "knitting school"!





Not all of the yarn were of use... I threw away some stuff that were just a mess.





The grey yarn is acrylic, so it is to be given away to a knitting project at the public library. Thank you, Kattepus, for the heads up!





"New" knitting needles FTW!

Last night...

I attended the Stich 'n' Bitch knitting café in Lillestrøm last night. It was very nice. I started knitting the second sock (see my earlier sock posts) and worked on a crocheting project. (I ended up undoing the whole crocheting project, though, it looked funny in a not positive way).

Not really hobby related, but I would like you all to visit my little forest to support saving the rain forest. One click per person per day give me one leaf to my forest. Once the number of 100 million visits to the site is reached, they will put back 10 000 € to the enivoronmental organisation Aquaverde. Thank you!

Socks are fun!

The first sock is now done! I'm pleased with it - after all, it's my very first knitted sock (that I've made myself, that is). I used less than 50g yarn making this sock, and since the yarn was inexpensive, it means I'll have nice, warm inexpensive socks come winter. I think I'll need to make even more socks. It's fun!

Tomorrow I will be attended a knitting meetup thingy in Lillestrøm. I will go there with Kattepus. I think I'll bring more than one project, in case I get tired of one. But definutely the sock project.

Maybe I should knit socks for oktoberROSA too? I have enough yarn to make a pair...

I'm a Harry Potter fan...

I love the books about Harry Potter, end recently read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Today I found out there's actually a book about knitting inspired by Harry Potter. Now, for me, that's a must have, so I just ordered it from Play.com! It's called Charmed Knits: Projects for Fans of Harry Potter and written by Alison Hansel. I'm very much looking forward to get this book in my hands and start new, exciting projects. I'm a Rawenclaw, and really want Rawenclaw related items. And other stuff. I have a feeling this might give me some ideas about gifts. Yay!

I feel all bouncy now. ;)

Socks!

Guess what? Kattepus is teaching me how to knit socks! So, today I spent some hours with her, and started knitting my very first pair. I'm about half way on the first sock so far, and I'm pretty excited. Here's what I did today:

Red woolen scarf.

I made this red woolen scarf from the yarn I bought at "This is Kint" in Ireland. I'm almost looking forward for winter, when I will be able to use it.

Visiting "This is Knit" in Ireland.

I spent my Easter break from work visiting my lovely friend in Dublin. Like me, she's a crafty person, and in January she was "evil" enough to point me to the homepage of the shop "This is Knit". Needless to say, I started drooling. So much nice yarn! Goodness me!

So, after arriving safe and sound on the green island and settling down in my friend's current home, we had a good night's sleep before she dragged me along to Blackrock Market, and to the very shop itself. Entering the shop just felt wonderful! It had such a nice atmosphere and a really cozy look.









The two girls behind the shop were both enthusiastic and friendly, and I ended up buying a pair of beautiful wooden needles called "Joint Venture Knitting Needles" and hand spun and hand dyed woolen yarn by CraftSpun Wools (based in Kildare, Ireland).





In the shop there was a very interesting device. It helped you making the bundle of yarn into a more handy ball. The way it was done was great, and perfect for knitting!

I was very happy that one of the girls (who even had a cute t-shirt saying "Don't you wish your girlfriend could knit like me?") and my lovely friend helped me out with that. That is, they did it, I took photos. ;)









I might have left the shop with less money, but in return I had wonderful, soft wool and comfy knitting needles.

Who said you can't buy a bit of happiness?

All photos are, of course, taken by me.