Carolina´s Corner

It´s been a while again,

2011-11-14T00:39:00.005+02:00

..and as every year, I tend to keep a short break of knitting or whatever it is that I´ve been doing.. well, this time it took a bit longer for many reasons - and I don´t know whether I´m ready to share it or not.. but I´ve been receiving messages concerning about my well being and "Where are you?" so I had to come to say at least hello - not that I´ve been annoyed about the messages, but grateful: I have to say thank you, thanks to all of you, and for your concern!!

My home burned down last summer, and I lost nearly everything. And I don´t know of any feeling more devastating than the moment, when there´s absolutely nothing you can do, but to watch how everything you have and ever had - your life, memories, everything - goes down.

Anyway, after the fire we (I mean anyone who lived at that house) were able to go to see, if there was anything left, and okay.. my side of the building wasn´t that badly damaged by the fire - but the smoke and water had destroyed basicly everything, and the fact that I had a half meter of water on my floor.. it didn´t give much hope..

And how ironic --> just a day before the fire I packed all of my mittens, socks (basicly everything that I had knitted, crocheted (or whatever) over the last 10 years): I had them in bags, and the bags were in large cardboard boxes, and those boxes I then had pushed into my wardrobe (behind of my clothes).

After the fire those boxes, of course, were the first thing I went to see: the most of my clothes were so badly damaged, so I just threw them away, and the rest of the clothes I washed several times.. okay there wasn´t much left but anyway, I thought, it was better than nothing.. even if it quite didn´t feel like it?!

Oh, and those cardboard boxes at the back of my wardrobe?! They were all wet and smoky, but ´cause I had all my crafts in them - and in the plastic bags, they were like nothing ever happened.. okay I lost maybe one bag of skeins (threads whatever), but there were still 4-5 bags left, and otherwise everything seemed just fine. Whoa!

So the final "saldo", finally, didn´t look that bad: I still had my old woody bed, my favourite carpet, some of my clothes and almost all my crafts - then some of my home decor, the only picture of my mum.. and my keyboards --> lol wait, wut 0_0

Haha, yes, and I was so sure they were totally destroyed.. and even the firemen who secured our being back at that house later, told me NOT to take the keyboards with me, ´cause what on earth would I do with them anyway?! I picked them up from the floor and they were like thrown to the pool and then picked up - full of water!! But I just couldn´t leave them, so I took them at my friends house, left them out on the backyard for a week or so..

..and then, one sunny morning I went to clean them and I noticed, that there was no more water.. and couldn´t resist it.. call me crazy but I just HAD TO test whether they worked or not! And I connected the electricity - wheeew I couldn´t believe my eyes when the light turned on!? Lol I know all the neighborhood heard me screaming and yelling - that was just so crazy (^_^)/

So yes, I lost a lot.. but some of those little things that were/are important for me, remained; my crafts, my instruments, 4-5 bags of threads I had never used, and few other things as well. And of course, my health, yet I keep having my doubts, lol!

Anyway.. despite of everything that´s been going on, I´m live and well, doing better each day, hoping I could make it back soon!! For now I just wish you´re all good and well, as well as your families and friends, and hoping we all would remember to say every now and then how much we love those around us!! Blessings!!

Knitting, sewing, knitting, lol =))

2011-01-14T23:36:00.002+02:00

So here are knitted lace socks, for me for a change (this was a ready pattern I found at Novita´s pages under a name "Aina yhteensopivat pitsisukat"). I made them, and I had to put them straight on (^.^)/

Lol, other thing - I´ve been so anxiously knitting, sewing, and doing everything in between lately, that today it finally hit me back.. lol, let me tell you what happened :))

At first I have to say though, for some reason I´ve had this strange issue with pullovers.. I can´t knit them!! Well, I crocheted a huge blanket/coverlet to a king size bed (with a 0,75 mm hook!!), already years ago - so no, definitely it´s not an issue with patience?! I´ve also knitted socks, mittens, hats (etc) in multiple colors - I´ve done cables, lace etc.. so it has nothing to do with skills either, what then?!

`Cause still, every year when I begin a pullover, thinking that "This time I WILL make it!" - after a couple of days already I´ll give up?! So I don´t know, maybe it´s that I haven´t found a pattern challenging or interesting enough.. yet?

Anyway, this week then it happened again, as every winter before this one.. I found a pattern I thought could work?! And what a pattern anyway - it has to be done back/forth (which alone bores me a lot, lol!!), but also: every second stitch has to be taken on front or back on a cable needle, then knit one, slip the other back and knit it - and then repeat all this all over again.. all the time!? So in time I´ve done a couple of rounds of that, I could have completed a half of a basic sock already?! Or something?!

And let me tell you, on every second stitch I´m wishing the project to go somewhere, where the sun doesn´t shine (lol!!) - and then again, on every second stitch I can´t but admire the job I´ve just completed, even how little it is?! And not because "I" have done it, but because how beautiful that pattern just is!!

And to be honest, this time I really think I just could make it.. the pattern is so incredibly amazing, that so far I have managed to keep it on needles, lol!! And umh, I have completed the front piece already, which alone is more than all the earlier ones before, together!! So I´ll keep my fingers crossed for this one =))

In between I´ve knitted a couple of hats, black lace socks (above in the pictures), I´ve sewed something small for home as well, and so on.. and in the middle of all this, I have been so excited about this pullover thing, thinking that it could finally happen, I already began to search for other patterns for pullovers, lol.. and there somewhere I suddenly remembered, that "Hey, my new knitting magazine was supposed to come in these days" - so I went to check out the mail, there was.. nothing?! Hmh?!

The only thing I was able to think of, was that I asked for other people living in there, that "perhaps someone borrowed my magazine just for a little while, without telling me about it.." well, no one (of course!) admitted?! So I thought okay.. now, stealing someone´s mail is a serious crime - and to get into this kind of a level of thinking.. you can only imagine how angry I was, right?! But okay, before running into hurried conclusions, I decided first to take a phone call to this magazine´s customer service, that perhaps there had happened something..

And yes indeed, lol, a lady answered, listened to my problem - and then laughed.. that "Yes, the magazine WILL be published next week on Thursday or so.." Whoops, oh dear?! Impatience in the air, perhaps =D Well, at least I was able to laugh for myself, too, anyway it´s just a magazine?! So I "landed" smoothly this time, calmed down, and no harm was done to no one.. plus that that lady on the other side of the line just got a good laugh =))

So here I am.. oh, I also managed to update my Ravelry´s "Stash", at last!!! Now there are only few more projects missing, and then I´m done, wohoo!! Okay it´ll take time untill I get my dye tags corrected on all of them - but the point is that the most of my yarns are now there - welcome to trade, or whatever =))

And finally about the other pictures here, they are just something of what´s coming up next - new patterns etc (the pattern for the purple hat (in the picture with purple mittens) is here, if you´re interested!).. I wish you all the greatest weekend - enjoy, have fun, knit, tat, crochet, etc, and take care!!! Hugs!!

Knit Cable/Lace Hat

2011-01-12T02:31:00.003+02:00

So here it comes, my first knitted hat ever (meaning: "first knitted hat with my own pattern") =)) And if you´ve visited my blog earlier, you perhaps noticed it´s again the same pattern I used with my "Cable Mittens" a year ago, as well as on these "giveaway wristlets"?!

I also found one more pair of mittens I had knitted last autumn (with the same pattern, just a bit modified version of it), but for some reason I haven´t published any posts of them (and I wonder why ´cause I had charts and everything done already)?! Anyway I´ll try to fix that!

I only wish the pictures were better.. but I think the idea shows enough anyway!? I used 80 cm circular needles, size of 4,0 mm (on magic loop), but it can be made also with double pointed needles (a set of five), or on smaller circulars, too! The circumference of the hat when ready, is approximately 52cm, and it needed 114st(s).

A word though --> I knit very, very tightly.. for example the yarn I used recommends "needles of size 5" - and I knitted double (I mean I used two yarns of that kind: Rose Mohair, and Rose Mohair Lux). So lol, instead of "joyful clinking" my knitting needles mainly creak =D Anyway the point is, that perhaps you would like to check out your needle size and yarn thickness, thanks =))

Cast on 114 st(s) and knit the first round. Then follow the pattern, it goes 6x to each round! Please note, that if you wish to use thinner yarn, you´d need to knit 133st(s), and to repeat the pattern 7x - or if you use even thinner, then knit 152st(s) and repeat the pattern 8x.

Now in this case, repeat the pattern 6x on each round (click the img on left). When the height is around 15 cm(s), and you are about to begin the round to do the cable twists on the left side (where the cable needle hangs in back), do the round like this:

1) *Follow the pattern until the cables (so it means k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p2). Then p3 (instead of knitting), slip the next 3st(s) onto a cable needle, and let the cable needle hang in back as you knit the next 3st(s), then purl (instead of knitting) the stitches off of the cable needle, and purl the last two st(s)* Repeat *-* 5 more times. You´ll still have 114st(s).

2) Start the next round: *k1, p1, k2, p1, k1 (as the pattern goes). Then p5, slip the next stitch (without knitting it), then k2tog, and pull the slipped stitch over the ones you just knitted together (so this way you have just decreased 2st(s). Then p5.* Repeat *-* five more times. After you´ve completed the round, you´ll have 102st(s) (meaning you decreased 12st(s) all together).

3) Knit the next round without decreases: *k1, p1, slip-knit-pass-yo, p1, k1, p11.* Repeat *-* five more times. You have still 102st(s).

4) Now *k1, p1, k2, p1, k1. Then purl 2 together, p7, purl 2 together.* Repeat *-* 5 more times. Until the end of the round you have decreased again 12st(s) and you have now 90st(s) all together.

5) *k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p9* Repeat *-* 5 more times. We still have 90st(s).

6) *k1, p1, k2, p1, k1. Then p2 together, p5, p2 together* Repeat *-* five more times = 78st(s).

7) *k1, p1, slip-knit-pass-yo, p1, k1, p7* Repeat *-* 5 more times (= still 78st(s)).

8) *k1, p1, k2, p1, k1. Then p2 together, p3, p2 together* Repeat *-* 5 more times = 66st(s).

9) *k1, p1, yo, k2tog, p1, k1, p5 Repeat *-* 5 more times (= still 66st(s)).

10) *k1, p1, k2, p1, k1. Then p2 together, p1, p2 together* Repeat *-* 5 more times = 54st(s).

11) *k1, p1, slip-knit-pass-yo, p1, k1, p3* Repeat *-* 5 more times (= still 54st(s).

12) *k1, p1, k2tog, p1, k1, p2 together, p1* Repeat *-* 5 more times = 42st(s).

13) *k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, p2* Repeat *-* 5 more times (= still 42st(s).

14) *k2tog, k1, k2tog, p2* Repeat *-* 5 more times = 30st(s).

15) *k3, p2* Repeat *-* 5 more times (= still 30st(s)).

16) *slip a stitch, k2tog, pull the slipped stitch over the ones you just knitted together, p2* Repeat *-* 5 more times = 18st(s).

17) *k1, p2* Repeat *-* 5 more times (= still 18st(s)).

18) *k1, p2tog* Repeat *-* 5 more times = 12st(s).

Cut the yarn, pull it through the 12st(s), and finish it well!! I´d also like to thank you for trying out this pattern, I hope you liked it - and if there´s anything at all, please don´t hesitate to ask, or to share your opinions, thanks =))

New Year, new tricks?

2011-01-11T18:24:00.000+02:00

I hope everyone had a great beginning of the year - any New Year´s promises? Lol, I promised I wouldn´t use "been busy" as an excuse anymore, so instead I´ll just have to apologize for rather a long break!!

This time though, I didn´t spend my time on nothing - instead I completed a lots of new and therefore, straight to the point -->

So at first some older projects.. the first one is an up-dated version of my "Hook Roll" that I made almost year and a half ago! This time I added a few more pockets for knitting needles, and some other small details.. of course I had to crochet new edgings, too.. I have to say I really love the way it turned out =))

Then the next two pictures reveal Christmas presents I made for a friend by her request (small, greek styled apron, and some pot holders).. and this really was a project I enjoyed doing.. not too hard, and something different for a change, right? And I figured I could add these on Ravelry, too.. well, a BIG mistake!! Because..

Ehm, I think I registered in in Ravelry perhaps a year ago, or so (so that I was able to link the profile to my blog).. and back then I added only a few projects there, just that my profile wouldn´t seem so pathetically empty, lol!? But I didn´t even check out the stash (nor the other possibilities), ´cause I knew that if I added there even one ball of yarn (or did something else similar) - I then had to add/do all of them.. kind of an "all or nothing" thing?!

So a quick look at my real stash was enough to tell that "Don´t you even try!!" lol - ehm, until the day I decided to add these latest projects there.. I kind of accidentally clicked the "stash" and there I was, already going through my yarn ball bands =))

And as you may guess already, by now I´ve spent a week (!!) doing it, and I haven´t done even the half of it?! Anyway the good thing is, that after I´ve finished with it, I really begin to see that what I spend, and how (and that where all my projects always disappear - ´cause I know they ain´t here, lol?!). And of course the best of it --> I´ll finally have some place to check out the dye tags (just in any case).. because somehow I always manage to loose/to destroy the originals ´0.0`

So I´ll just keep working on it.. I´m going to add my projects there as well - and when it´s all done, I´ll bring it up.. in the next life, perhaps =D

Anyways.. during the holidays I made also some small bags, just to have something where to keep my yarn balls while working on them.. no more running after "run-away-yarn-balls" lol!! And of course I completed mittens, socks etc.. and yes, also my very first knitted hat ever!! Okay last fall I did my first hat for real, but it was a ready pattern (Knitty´s Tychus), so it doesn´t count, right? The one I did, has cables and knitted lace - and yet it´s quite an easy job to do.. I´ll begin to write it down right after this one, so that I can share it with you!!

So indeed, this year started on a very protuctive way for me - hands full of lovely ideas, lots of materials to work with, and the time to do all that, a lots of it!! So I wish the very same to you, too, let´s make this year fabulous \(^.^)/

A Giveaway Close Up

2010-12-28T21:22:00.000+02:00

Okay okay lol, so here it is: so I got Martina´s address, sent her the package - and congrats once again, my greatest thanks for everyone participated!! :))

And as I promised, that I would publish a few more pics of the mittens I did, so here they are after I completed the fleece I sewed in.. and I have to say, that doing it for the first time ever, yes, it was quite a challenge..

--> I couldn´t find any ready patterns (for my big surprise!!), so I had to figure it out all by myself - and eventually I did (I had to rip a pair of my old, store-bought mittens to see how it was done, lol!!).. anyway I think I did more or less ok - at least they´ll keep hands warm, and that´s the idea, right :))

And anyway, now I have the pattern, yes, I´ll share it with you, too, hoping that it´ll help someone struggling with the same issues (and that´ll be for the next)!! So after I completed the "giveaway" -mittens, I did a few pairs more (practise makes perfect lol), and now I want to sew the lining in for all of my mittens, lol?!

And as well, during these three weeks while I stayed off, I did a bunch of new mittens, socks etc - most of those gone as gifts already, but I did something for myself, too (and of course I took a lot of pictures, lol)!! So I´m having a lot of new things to share, and also a bit of what I previously promised of "How to design and knit your own patterns" etc?! So, I´m planning to begin with those posts already today (and anyway my files are full of pictures, of which I already want to get rid of, so lol, the sooner the better :))

And at last, here´s an image of the fleece I sewed in:

Ain´t that enough already :))

2010-12-28T19:38:00.002+02:00

*Whew* From where do I begin?! The snow? Well, we have had more snow during this December, than ever before in history - the "latest" record is from 1915, and there is no data available from earlier years (the snow line height is currently around 74 cms - at some places even more), so yeah, this really has been a white Christmas, thanks :))

But (there´s always is), because even when this much of snow is mostly just for fun, the coin also has it´s drawbacks!? The main worries being, not only that it´s causing a lot of difficulties for emergency vehicles to reach places - but also the traffic is facing big troubles, the most of the parking lots are temporarily lost (because of being full of snow, and there´s just no time to unload it all, when it just keeps snowing for more)!! At the same time some of our roads are already out of use.. dude, plz!?

Although I have to say, lol - the mighty BBC News gave us credits by writing an article where they wondered how "Finland is able to keep Airports open, when the airports in all other countries in Europe are in full chaos" - well.. thank you, that felt awesome - lol, especially when our airports are THE ONLY thing working here, hahaha =D

--> Anyway.. due to all this, only a day before the Christmas Eve, the local department store in our neighborhood was burned to the ground!! Fortunately the whole area was emptied in time, so that the "most White Christmas" in our history didn´t turn out black (poorly translated article here)!! The blessing in disguise, I guess, was that the store already had done some plans on expanding, by moving to a new location - although it was scheduled to happen not earlier than the next year.. but anyway, I guess all the staff gets to keep their positions, which is a very, very good thing :))

So, here we are.. despite of all this happening around us, I / we had a very nice and warm Christmas - wishing your Christmas went well, too!! Did anyone get any Christmas presents? Any New Year plans, or promises? This year I did have some presents, yes, a loads of new threads, yarns.. but then the best of it all --> an appointment with my familiar tattoo artist (^.^)/

And no, I´m not talking about "tatting", but tattoos, lol - for some strange reason people often confuse these two?? I believe that anyone, who has even once mentioned "tatting" in her/his blog, also receives comments (and friend requests in Facebook) of tattoos and tattoo fans, and vice versa, lol!! Well let me tell you, I like both, so you won´t be ignored just because of tattoos, thank you :))

Well, that´s it this time.. I´m having a ton of posts to write, a bunch of new things to share, and I just can´t wait to get on them - so yes, definitely I´ll be updating for more (the next --> my giveaway, so plz stay tuned, lol) :))

Have we had some snow or what, lol =))

2010-12-06T23:33:00.000+02:00

..the first snow came already in the middle of the last month, but it wasn´t so much - now that it´s been snowing nonstop for two days, all our city´s snow plowing and lifting equipments are on streets working nonstop.. I´ve had my fun, too :))

I spent all day outdoors, doing snow angels (lol!), cleaned the snow on our backyard - and I took part in cleaning the streets as well, trying to be as useful as I could (even though I just had come from work, from the other side of our town)?! Anyway I have to say for me it´s been one of the greatest winter days for a long, long time!! And it still keeps snowing, lol :))

But I guess this isn´t what you wanted to hear, lol, so here it comes.. first though, I want to say thanks for all of you, this really exceeded all my expectations, and I´m more than thrilled to begin on new projects, as well as on new giveaways - and I really hope you all enjoyed this (^.^)/

So here´s an img on left.. there are all your names (35 names alltogether).. and as it strongly seems, Martina, you´re on top of this list!! So congratulations, you just won yourself a package of winter accessories!! And as I was a bit curious, lol, so I found out that you live in Canada, where the climate is, as I believe, very similar to our´s?! So I hope those mittens and socks would be very useful, as I hope they would both fit your size, too!!!

Now, to receive this package, I´ll send you an e-mail, so that I can be sure you´ll get this message!? Please, contact me as soon as you can, so that we can move on?! If, for some reason, the winner doesn´t want the prize, or doesn´t respond within the time limit (the 24hrs), the package will move on for the next one.. so please, make sure you´ll get your´s, thanks :))

And something else - during this I got some new followers, a big hug, and thanks for each and every one of you!! I really appreciate it, and I will try to update as often as I can, share more patterns etc.. and actually there already is something which I´ve planned for a while now, so.. until then, I wish you all the best.. enjoy the snow and sunny winter days :))

Oh.. almost forgot - I just took some pictures while packing, so I will share them with you in a.. ehm, as soon as I get those images fixed :))

Merry days ahead,

2010-12-02T15:15:00.003+02:00

..and so is also my first giveaway, there are only few days left, so on Monday the 6th, around 9 pm local (Finnish) time, I will finally have the honor to announce you the lucky winner, yippee (^.^)/

So here´s how it goes the old way: all names will be written in small pieces of paper, and blindfolded shall I grab names - if the first one doesn´t react during the next 24 hours, I shall call the next one, and so on (so please, contact me a.s.a.p, and let me know you know, lol, thanks :)) And once more, great thanks to you all, your comments, encouragement - it has been nothing but a great, great pleasure doing all this!!

So here we are, almost ready to hit the road?! Some small things remains to be done, and also some of which I haven´t even decided yet, lol. so on Monday, the latest, you´ll see the final size of this all?! And to be honest, here the package looks a lot bigger than it actually is.. lol I´ll tell you, after I saw this picture I thought "Oh dear.. I overreacted, again!! Lol!!" But oh well, it´s my first giveaway, Christmas is almost here, and anyway why the heck not, I´ve seen also bigger giveaways.. a lot bigger.. and many of them :))

So.. I´m already looking forward to the next one, and while figuring it out, I´m sooo excited to see, where this one will end up?! So please stay tuned?! I´ll post again in a day or two, and hopefully I´ll be able to tell you more about the next giveaway to come, too?! Until then.. "Ta taa" (Hannibal Lecter) :))

A big big hug,

2010-11-22T05:24:00.171+02:00

..and thanks, for all of you: for your great support, for your encouraging words, for the new followers, for everything - I really do appreciate it, thank you!! So yes, I am also very excited about this, but even more:

--> I am happy to tell you, that the mittens are now ready, completed (yesterday, actually), but since there exists this small inconvenience (also known as "a job" lol!), so I had no time to update a thing, (and there are still some details I have to fix, so that´s why no pictures of mittens.. yet :))

So, for the next, I´ll begin with the socks, and there are pictures coming a.s.a.p, now I just wanted to say thanks (from the bottom of my heart) for all of you, and that I´m still here - just being busy, not ungrateful :))

And something else: some of you asked of those angels, so here´s a link to show you exactly what it´s about - beautiful, huh? And as I promised, there are still a lot more goods and goodies to come, so I´ll try my best to make the package worth waiting for!! And, also I´ll try to keep you updated as well as I can.. so until then,

..I wish you a great, great day, with love!!! And please don´t forget, that any comment, on any of my posts (labeled as "giveaway") will do, that you´ll be counted, thank you!

Pst: Oh, I forgot.. yes, that´s me up there (in case you wondered); me, and my very first Christmas in.. in.. well, in the 70´s anyway, lol :))

\(^.^)/ MY FIRST GIVEAWAY II

2010-11-17T03:10:00.000+02:00

Whew I had a buzy week, some things came up and I had to run.. however, I managed to begin with my giveaway-mittens, lol, the pattern looks familiar, right? Only the colors are a bit more "Christmas-like"?

Well, the reason is, that I figured, that perhaps I wouldn´t have so much time after all, I mean to do all I thought I would, so I decided to knit both, mittens and socks with patterns I´m already familiar with - this way I saved more time for knitting (my first post of this giveaway here).. in fact, the only thing that changed, is, that I will publish those patterns just a bit later, and that´s all?!

Right now I´m more worried about having time enough to spread the word.. will someone there give me a helping hand.. will I see any comments below my posts? Whew.. I wouldn´t have guessed this so stressful, lol :))

Anyway, in the meanwhile I completed a pair of wristlets (or hand warmers, however you prefer to call them), and I will publish the pattern later, too!! So these will also be a part of this giveaway!! Just for some reason I couldn´t catch the real color (because of the flash I guess, or perhaps it was the thread I used, this glimmering mohair)?! So those hand warmers are not as blue as they seem.. the color is more like a "dark plum" or dark purple, with a small shade of deep cherry red - anyway in real they look very, very beautiful, and feel very soft, when on ;))

And a lot more will still come up - so wheather you´re an old or a new blogger, or a first time visitor on my page, please don´t hesitate to take part in this!! Just leave your comment (or any "Hello" will do) below of any giveaway post, and you´ll be in - there will be time until the 5th of December, so please feel free to take part!! And please, spread the word (since I don´t know where else to boost this), I would really, really appreciate it, thank you!!

Now.. this little package of candles (in the middle of the img, doesn´t show up so well, sorry about that): I placed it there because I wanted to show you, not only those mittens coming up, but one of those little extras as well, which I earlier promised.. it´s a small package of some traditional Angel Chimes (from Sweden, actually, lol), but since we have had these as long as I remember, as a part of our Christmas decorations, so I wanted to share these with you, too!!

The idea is to place four candles under the angels (and the bells), so that the bells will begin.. hmm.. to chime, lol?! Now, if you collect angels (as I earlier discussed with a few of you in Facebook), this is "a must" item ;))

So, remember to leave your comment, please spread the word, and who knows, perhaps it hits you when you least expect it!! Thank you for your visit, and take care!!

\(^.^)/ MY FIRST GIVEAWAY I

2010-11-05T23:05:00.266+02:00

..updating completed, labels in order (kind of) and I´m ready for the next.. I´ve been writing up some drafts of "How to knit a sock" - it will be a dive in back to basics, with a loads of pictures and other info included.. after that comes "How to knit mittens", and so on - everything around this idea of mine for a small package of winter accessories..

And I have to say I´m so excited about it, ´cause everything that I will knit for these posts, will be a part of huge giveaway - which is something I´ve been planning for long time already (but never had the time for it)!!

So there will be at least a pair of socks, a pair of mittens, and I don´t know what more.. only time will tell and the further we go, the better we´ll see lol?! Perhaps I´ll do only one big package, which includes them all, or then there could be, for instance, two smaller packages, I really don´t know.. yet lol?! The only thing I do know, is, that the more there is people taking part in this, the bigger will be the package!!

And somewhere there I´ll also bring up some issues of how to plan, and write down own patterns etc.. so there´s a lot coming up, and each post concerning this giveaway, will be linked here!! Just one thing, the socks here won´t be a part of it, but since I have nothing yet done to show you, it´s just a small preview of what´s coming!?

Though I can already reveal some things: I will do all in colors of very dark blue and silverish grey.. kind of a "Moonlight" -themed giveaway, I think.. hope lol!! And since the package comes from Finland, there will be some nice traditional extras as well.. so I really hope I gave you reason enough to take part in this ;))

So what to do to "win"? There will be time until the end of this month, so more or less three weeks, perhaps a week more if needed - so that a "lucky winner", or winners, would receive their packages in time, for Christmas. The only thing you´ll need to do to take part, is, to leave a comment after this post.. any "Hi´s" from anywhere around the world are more than welcome! Plus, that all those who already are on my "Reader´s Digest" -list (or join by the end of this month), will automatically take part in this!

So there it is then.. I wish you a great, great weekend,
and hope to see many, many comments below as the time goes by :))

Decorating my bed?

2010-11-05T16:31:00.004+02:00

Here´s an image I already introduced you earlier last year.. the reason I bring it up again, is, that I later bought a new bed, a loft bed, just because I love it - but also, because I have my second home in an old "Villa" (because of my jobs I need two places), so it was kind of a perfect thing to buy there, fits in style perfectly!!

The house itself is more than a hundred years old, and belonged to a family, which later grew to be one of our most famous novelist-families. So it´s full of history, and I can´t say else, but it´s maybe the most cozy place I´ve ever lived - it feels home each and every time I get to go there?! Kind of hoping, that one day I could also stay.. for good :))

Anyway.. back to my loft bed?! So I thought to decorate it by crocheting this lace all the way around.. I´ll bring you pictures, when there´s anything to show - unfortunately this project has been on hold already for a while now.. otherwise it should take only few weeks to get finished.. theoretically speaking, lol :))

Scandinavian Mittens,

2010-11-04T22:51:00.000+02:00

I had seen some pictures of these mittens already a year ago, but since the pattern was a complete mystery to me, I then gave up.. until a couple of months ago, when I saw them again - this time I also found out, that it was a pattern from Novita´s Winter Collection in 2008..

..hmm, a quick visit to Novita´s site and yes, there they were - just that I had to order the whole magazine to get that particular pattern, hmph (my teeth are still creaking), to pay 26€ to open up just ONE pattern ´0.0`

However, after I had ordered (and paid for, lol!!) I was able to open up the whole library of knitting patterns - I realized that it wasn´t a bad deal at all: there were thousands and thousands of knitting patterns available, lol, now "only" with the price of 26 Euros yearly!! Plus the magazines, of course!! So my mistake, sorry about that :))

So, finally, I had the instructions in my hands - I did two versions of them, the originals above and the shorter ones below. Happy end? Oh yes (^.^)/

Leg Warmers (and some tips within) :))

2010-11-04T21:20:00.002+02:00

..so here are the leg warmers that got delayed, because of the hat-project lol!! Otherwise these are very fast/easy to complete, and I did complete the one in one night (approx in 5-6 hrs or so), so it´s not much of a challenge anyway (okay I still need to do the other one, too, but lol it´s another kind of a challenge hehe) :))

And yes, it´s a two-color pattern, but in my opinion it´s one of the easiest!! In fact, I considered it so easy, that at the same time I encouraged myself to try out a whole new way of knitting on circular needles: "a magic-loop" -technique!!

The idea is, that you´ll be able to knit even the smallest baby socks on circular needles (no matter how long is the cable - in fact, the longer the better!!), and no more messing around with five needles, but with two only!! And in the meanwhile, when/if you´re not knitting, you can just slip all loops onto the cable, and there´s no more fear of falling loops, even when traveling (^.^)/

Some consider this also faster way of knitting, what it surely is, but for me it´s just a lot easier way, please check out the video above, so you´ll know what I mean.. I just love it, love love love it :))

And what more, while I was working on my first two-color pattern on magic-loop (I hardly use any other needles anymore lol), I also found out, that when I knit on five needles, the outcome is very tight - here it wasn´t like that at all!! For some reason I didn´t have any difficulties to keep the distance between the loops (which is needed when changing the colors all the time)!! So, lol, I could praise this technique for ever haha :))

Anyway, here´s the other tip I promised - for all those who use circular needles anyway, but especially if you try the "magic-loop" for the first time, and you find it difficult to use because the cable twists all the time.. so what I did to get my cables straight: heat up some water (just enough not to boil it) and then keep the cable in water for a second or two - just remember to be careful not to put the needles in to the water, so that the glue melts off (and the cable gets loose)!!

Then take it out, and straighten out the cable carefully, and let to cool down - voilá, here we are: no more twisted cables (just remember to keep them straightened as well, otherwise they´ll twist again) :))

Now if you wish to try the pattern - you´ll find it here, I hope you´ll like it, and please feel free to ask anything, I´ll be more than happy to help you out, as much as I can!! Hope you´ll have fun :))

Legwarmers, the pattern

2010-11-04T21:10:00.008+02:00

For these leg warmers (original post here) I used two colors of "7 Veljestä", black and grey (150g/300m), and needles of size 3mm (28st(s)/10cm). The size of these leg warmers is around 50cm x 13cm, when completed.

Cast on 72st(s) on black (color A).
Rnd(s) 1-17: "k2, p2" -ribbing all the way.
Rnd 18: knit all st(s).

Next 11 rnd(s): *continue with two colors, and repeat the pattern as the chart shows below. Then leave the second color on hold, and continue again on black:

Next 2 rnd(s): knit all st(s),
Next 6 rnd(s): purl all st(s),

Next 2 rnd(s): knit all st(s)*

Repeat between the ** marks as long as you´ve reached the the desired lenght, and after you´ve done the two-coloured pattern the last time, do some rounds of ribbing, as you did at the beginning (I did 6 rounds of it, I think) - and there you are! Please feel free to ask anything, hope you´ll enjoy :))

Knitty´s Tychus..

2010-11-03T21:32:00.000+02:00

Ehm, I had to put my legwarmers aside (what a surprise lol) - for the reason that while I was on a site for Finnish crafters ("Ihan Itse"), I found a link for something I wanted to try out immediately: a free pattern for "Knitty´s Tychus Hat" - whoa, just what I had been looking for!!

And looking for for the reason that a dear friend of mine wanted to learn to knit (or rather, she just needed me to remind her of her forgotten skills lol), and since she had a hat in mind, so I figured this could be the perfect one to begin with!? So tomorrow I´ll see her again, and let´s see if she´ll like it <3

This pattern was a pleasure to knit (fast and easy), and I think I will do a few more, just to try out some different materials and sizes.. the instructions were easy to follow, so I hope this link would help others as well! Oh, and it fits perfectly, too :))

I had:
*needles of size 4mm,
*yarn "Isoveli" (black and dark purple 100g/130m),
*the result size around 53-54cm :))

A lot of good news, a lot of new goods :))

2010-10-21T12:18:00.003+03:00

For starters, here´s one miraculous story of what may happen, when you are in the right place at the right time!! The story is about me and my mom who was a traditional craftsman (ehm, woman lol!), but sadly passed away when I was only a child. Well, despite of my very young age, I do remember her well, and ever since I´ve had this passion to become an artisan, craftswoman.. to become like her you know, what ever.. but I never really took my dream for real, I mean it´s been more like one of those dreams that we carry with no intention of implementing them?!

And so, until these days knitting, crocheting and all that, has "only" been like a very nice hobby for me (a hobby that´s been a major part of my life, but still just a hobby), and that´s it. Or at least, so I thought, until rose the day that changed everything lol ;))

And let me tell you, that day was two weeks ago, exactly when I lost my mom over 20 years ago, the October the 11th, the memorial day! Whew.. okay let me continue ;))

So back at that day, I had been knitting for hours and needed a break, so I thought to get up, and light up some candles for mom.. and so I did - and while doing it, I had this idea, almost like a voice in my head lol, telling me to visit a site where I hadn´t been for a long time: "go and check out knitting machines!" Wut? Well, I got back online, opened up the browser and logged in on a site called Huuto.net (it´s a Finnish site where people can privately sell their stuff, kind of auction -based thing).

So anyway, out of curiosity (or was it the voice in my head again haha), I went to check out the section where knitting machines were sold.. and how come I ran into a knitting machine with price of 5 euros (yes, five euros!!) - "Impossible!" I thought: "..it must be for spare parts, or something" ´cause that just can´t be, especially when there was no description of any kind.. and even how I tried to see it, I just couldn´t believe it!? A mistake, perhaps?

And so I moved on, because as we all know for real, those machines are really, really expensive (and even if you sell your old one, you definitely won´t sell it for 5e, more like 500e!!)! For instance a good one (to knit cables, lace etc), wheew.. costs alone like 1500-2000 euros!!! So at the same time, this was one of the reasons why I never thought about the dream I mentioned above, seriously - ´cause if you´re doing it for living, you don´t need just one machine, you will need to have many of them (and I definitely had no possibilities to buy even that one to get started - so bye bye dream)!!

Well, back to the story.. so I kept on looking for more, and yes, all the other (used) machines began from prices of 400 euros, up to 2000e.. oh dear!? But lol, this particular knitting machine.. it had already begun to bother me, so I went back and noticed, that someone already had offered 6 euros.. hmm, okay that´s it - I impulsively offered one more.. thinking that even if it was for spare parts, I could always sell it again, no big deal and no money spent in vain?! And I went back knitting, forgetting all about it..

..until the next day, when I received an e-mail: "Congrats, you just won - please contact your partner a.s.a.p." Dude?! What? Okay then, so no one offered more.. that´s cool.. I think, lol?! And when I finally went to collect my "new" knitting machine, I really didn´t know what to expect (I had to drive more than 120km´s, so lol, had I time to think about this weird, weird deal..)! Well, I arrived in time, got my machine (paid my seven euros!), and got back home.. and let me tell you.. the surprise was totally, totally crazy after I gathered the pieces together, and finally got it to work.. ehm, did I say "got it to work"? What? Whatwhatwhat --> ..it..really..did..work!

IT SO TOTALLY WORKED!!!

*fainting*

LOL, AWESOME!!!

*fainting again*

=D =D =D

It knits cables, lace, it does it all - even socks and mittens, wohoo!! Now question: how is this possible? Well, the lady who sold it, said, that she got it already years ago (for free), and that she just coudn´t make anything out of it - she had no patience to learn and so on.. so one day she just decided to sell it on Huuto.net?! She knew the real value, of course, but since she didn´t pay for it either.. she said that she just hoped it ended up in good hands - well, it definitely did :))

So whew.. what a story, w h a t - a - s t o r y ! If I ever have been in the right place at the right time, it was now, here!! Thank you once again!!

And one more thing.. after I realized that all that happened on my mom´s memorial day.. what can I say - was it just a coincidence, or is there really someone out there? Watching after us? Because it wasn´t just any knitting machine I found - it was exactly the same model my mom used to have!! And I swear I´m telling the truth - and not only that, but the very same machine carries even the same name with my mom.. just a coincidence? On her memorial day? Lol, you may consider me crazy, but I don´t think so :))

Sooo.. this is how I´ve been spending my time - this machine is now under maintenance, so that I can use the best out of it, and I´m also taking some classes to learn it better.. so after couple of weeks I guess I´m able to begin some serious knitting lol!! Oh, and by the way, up in the img you´ll see my first "test drive" ever, happily in pink lol.. well I´m more than happy with it!! And what more: very, very grateful!!!

And in the meanwhile, of course, I´ve been knitting.. a lot!! I completed two new pairs of "Scandinavian Mittens" (which you perhaps saw on my Facebook Gallery already), I completed some pot holders, too.. as well as my first leg warmers ever will soon be completed.. I promise I´ll tell you all about these with images later on, now = the job calls?!

Hope you´ll all have a great week,

see you soon <3

Edt: I forgot to say the most important: never ever give up hope!!! ´Cause you´ll never know?! In this case, I guess, my dream of becoming something what my mom (and her mom, and even our great grand mum) used to be, just got a step closer.. well, actually it just became as real as it can ever be - after all these years of wondering wheather "to be, or not to be" :))

Quick Knit Scarf =))

2010-10-06T21:43:00.000+03:00

This was propably the fastest scarf I´ve done ever (I had to hurry anyway, lol) - the only issue I had, was that perhaps this pattern was a bit too ladylike for men?! So I took a thicker yarn, and three different colors thinking, that it would make the difference.. and so it did, my biker-friend is now happy, and on his way already, somewhere.. okay here the scarf looks a bit rough, for some reason the image doesn´t do any justice to it.. anyway, job completed - and works well :))

I think this pattern is good also for beginners?! I´ve done other scarves with the same pattern, but used thinner, a bit furry yarn, and the results have been just amazing! For example mohair would work really well in this case. Just not for men lol!? And yet there´s a number of examples if you google photos for "drop stitch scarf" - you´ll find all the examples you need to see what I mean :))

So the pattern here --> I made the scarf in three parts, each color separately, and then knitted them together. I used two needles of size 4, "Isoveli" -yarn (black, beige and purple), and knitted back and forth.

K1 = knit 1
P1 = purl 1
YO3 = wrap the yarn around the needle 3 times
Drop3 = drop the 3 extra wraps off the needle

Cast on 11st(s).

Rnd 1: K1, *P1, K1* - repeat across, turn.

Rnd 2 (back): K1, *P1, K1* - repeat across, turn.

Rnd 3: K1, *YO3, P1, YO3, K1* - repeat four more times, turn.

Rnd 4 (back): K1, *drop3, P1, drop3, K1* - repeat across, turn.

After the fourth row, give the work a gentle pull to straighten out the dropped stitches. Then repeat these four rows nine more times (so all together 10x), and then knit the first two rows one more time.

The next 4 rows of ribbing: *K2, P2, K3, P2, K2, turn back, P2, K2, P3, K2, P2, turn* and repeat one more time these two rows (so 4 rows of ribbing all together).

Now jump right back to the beginning (Rnd 1) and start repeating the whole set, as long as you´ve reached the desired length.

And at the end of the work: knit one more time the first two rows, so it´ll begin and end the same way - with two rows of knit/purl -stitches. And there we are - nice, fast and easy :))

The last ones to go,

2010-09-29T13:22:00.002+03:00

..for a friend?! Whew, have I ever had so much trouble in knitting socks!? For a moment I thought it´s just a mission impossible (due to the requirements): the socks had to be made for a hard daily use, definitely a machine-washable (read: socks for a daily use, to be hand washed, for a young guy - a combination that just doesn´t work lol, not even if it was for me) :))

And what about the colour then, it all started on it!! For some reason we don´t have such colours available here (kind of a multi-coloured purple, which changes the colour randomly, but not as stripes)!? Or we do have, but not as thick as I wanted/needed?!

Well, after I had tried several yarns with variety of colours (almost a week spent, made/ripped from 5 to 6 socks), I decided to visit some shops one more time. And yes, I finally found something of which I thought might work: a multi-coloured yarn that forms.. oh no, stripes lol!! Well that just had to do, after all it was the only machine-washable multi-coloured "kind-of-a" purple in the whole country! And I still can´t believe it, but yes, this is what a customer gets, when productions are transfered on so called "low-production" countries?!

Well, online-stores and local artisans: "Here I come!!" :)) Oh by the way, these threads I finally used, in fact, are from a local artisan (^.^)/

Anyway.. so I found the yarn I wanted, now the only trouble was, that alone this yarn was too thin?! I was already soooo frustrated, yet stubborn (and sufficiently peeved) to try one more time, so I added some black yarn to cover the thinness - yes, sadly knowing that the result just could be not only too heavy, but perhaps those two yarns won´t even fit together.. hmh, like I had much of a choices left at that point!! Anyway, I´m not of those who give up, so I went on..

After two weeks of struggling, after six knitted/ripped socks, after almost an impossible task - here they finally are!! In the match between "Carolina - TheYarn" results are 1-0 in favor of Carolina lol?! Anyway he gave me a good challenge, and I think I did quite well - the colour is still not purple, but enough considering that it´s the nearest possible?! Socks are machine-washable, very thick yet soft material to keep feet warm (even up to 25 degrees of Celcius below zero!!), and definitely will take hard daily use!!

So what´s left - hoping that the recipient will be satisfied, nothing else matters?! And I´ll be off to my own lovely, lovely projects I´ve been only dreaming of while doing all these socks for my dear friends :)) Hope you´ll all have a great, great week - I sure will.. I hope.. lol :))

Yo ho ho, and a pair of.. bubbles? Lol :))

2010-09-21T12:21:00.002+03:00

Duh, finally found the pattern - now were these socks a challenge or what?! Not the socks themselves, but finding them!! I had seen those earlier by other bloggers, and fallen in love immediately!! Just that I didn´t have any idea of how to start looking for the pattern - I couldn´t imagine of any word to discribe them but "bubble socks?" or "knit bubble?" and so on?! Grrr!?!

Well, after several blogs, patterns and images, I finally found it: "A Bubble Wrap" by SockBug! Whew!! Amazingly easy to follow, really fast to complete and oh.. they were done before I even noticed!! Oh I´m sooooo going to keep´m myself lol!!!

I thought this pattern would do so well as leg warmers, too: settles down nicely, looks good - etc etc.. mohair would be just perfect? Anyway, I´m happy for the results, this must be one of the cutest patterns I´ve seen in a long, long time!! For sure I will use this on several projects to come!!

A big, big thanks for Sockbug, you made my day (^.^)/

Another pair of socks :))

2010-09-16T12:47:00.020+03:00

These ones I made for a friend, sent them yesterday so I may publish this already?!

To begin these, I used the same pattern as I had for these mittens a year ago (there´s also the pattern)?!

The material I had here was the same as always (n/ca 150g = 300m), and needles of size 3,5. You´ll need colors A (green) and B (white). Other info here, hope you´ll like it :))

Another pair of socks (pattern)

2010-09-16T08:22:00.029+03:00

This pattern is for these socks, hope you´ll like it and have fun, thanks :)

To get started, cast on 56st(s) (green)

Rnd 1: k1, p1 - repeat.

Rnd 2: p1, k1 - repeat.

Rnd 3: knit all stitches.

Rnd 4: k1 (white), k3 (green) - repeat.

Rnd(s) 5-6: knit all st(s) (green)

Then start the pattern (the first img), it comes out once on every needle.

After the pattern I added a round of "holes", so that I was able to slip some ribbons in there with tassels: if you wish to do the same, follow the next (if you don´t, jump to "heel flap"):

"Holes": after the last round of the pattern, knit 2 rounds (green) by knitting all stitches. Then:

Rnd 1: *k1, yarn over, slip 1, k2tog, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, yarn over* - repeat around. Look at the imgs 1-6 on left to see how it goes! Then knit again 2 rounds by knitting all stitches (at the first round you´ll already see the "holes" :))

Then repeat one more time the first 4 rounds of the pattern with green/white (kind of a "cross-figures"), look at the pattern if you already forgot it lol - then jump to the heel flap :))

Heel flap: knit one round (green), and then continue by knitting the stitches from your first needle onto your fourth needle (all together 28st(s)), turn. Slip the first stitch, purl 27, turn.

Then start *slip a stitch, k1* repeat 14x alltogether, turn. Slip the first stitch, p27 --> repeat these two rounds 11 more times.

From now on remember to repeat all the way until the end this *slip a stitch, k1* as you go on on the frontside, and always purl the stitches on the backside (even if I say just to "knit" - thanks :) With this pattern now k17, slip a stitch, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one. Turn, p7, p2 together, turn. You´ll now have 8st(s) to work with in the middle, and 9st(s) on both sides.

*k7, slip a stitch, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, turn, p7, p2 together, turn* Repeat these two rounds until you have no more stitches on both sides (please notice that there´s always 8st(s) in the middle).

When there´s no more st(s) on the sides, we must have 8st(s) left in the middle?! Knit those and pick up 15st(s) from the left side. Knit them as well as knit the next two needles (needles 2-3), then pick up 15 more st(s) from the right side and knit them. Now share those first 8st(s): you´ll have four of them on your first needle, and other four of them on your fourth needle --> meaning you´ll have:

*19st(s) on the 1st needle,

*14st(s) on the 2nd needle,

*14st(s) on the 3rd needle,

*19st(s) on the 4th needle.

Now, continue with this *slip a stitch, k1 - repeat* on every second round, and every second round knit all sitches (here knitting all stitches every 2nd round covers the rounds we had to purl earlier). At the same time start decreasing stitches on needles 1 and 4 - on each round! Meaning:

Needle 1: k17, k2tog (there´s 18st(s) left).

Needle 2: k14.

Needle 3: k14.

Needle 4: slip a stitch, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, k17 (there´s 18st(s) left).

Continue decreasing on each round like above, and by each round you´ll have one stitch less on needles 1 and 4. When there´s 14st(s) left on every needle, continue knitting all stitches until the work covers your little toe! Just remember to use the pattern I reminded earlier lol (*slip a stitch, k1 - repeat* on every second round, and every second round knit all sitches). Do that all the way until the end, no matter if I say just "knit", thanks :)

So when your little toe is covered, start decreasing:

*The 1st round:

1st needle: k12, k2tog, k1.

2nd needle: k1, slip a st, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, k12

3rd needle: k12, k2tog, k1.

4th needle: k1, slip a st, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, k12

The 2nd round: knit all stitches.

--> repeat these two rounds (of course every time as you decrease, there´s 1st less on each needle, instead of those 12 mentioned).

And when you have 8st(s) left on each needle, decrease the stitches on every round, until there´s only 8 left alltogether: cut yarn, slip it through the 8st(s) and finish it well. Do the other sock the same way. And there we are, not hard? Hope you´ll enjoy :))

Easy Socks :))

2010-09-15T08:26:00.004+03:00

So here´s some pattern that works almost with everything - if you wish to do it even more simple, you can leave every 5th round undone and just continue k3,p2 all the way through?! Here´s the pattern and other info - I made it quite simple and without imgs this time, so if there´s anything to ask, please do and I´ll be more than happy to try to help you out as much as I can :))

Well, about these socks.. ehm, there´s not much to tell!? These socks were a gift for someone who asked me to knit her two pair of socks - and so I did?! And now that I´m done with all of those, I finally can start on something, which is only for me.. lol, can´t even remember when I last did something like that :))

So until the next time, I still have some packing/sending to do, so I wish you all a very nice week.. here it started raining, so I guess the summer is finally over --> duh, it´ll be the time for candles then :))

Pattern for "Easy Socks" :))

2010-09-15T08:08:00.004+03:00

So here´s the pattern for "Easy Socks" I earlier told you about! Very fast, and very easy to follow :)) Some info below:

*150g of yarn (n/ca 150g = 300m)

*a set of double pointed needles of size 3,5mm!

Begin with 60 stitches (15st(s) on each):

Rnd(s) 1-4: k3, p2.

Rnd 5: *Slip a stitch, k1, yarn over, k1, pass the slipped stitch over those bold ones, p2.* Repeat ** around, and continue with these 5 rounds until you reach the desired length.

Heel flap: continue by knitting the stitches from your first needle onto your fourth needle (all together 30st(s)), turn. Slip the first stitch, purl 29, turn.

Then start *slip a stitch, k1* repeat 15x alltogether, turn. Slip the first stitch, p29 --> repeat these two rounds 11 more times (24 rounds alltogether).

Then (repeat all the way through this *slip a stitch, k1* as you go on on the frontside), and always purl the stitches on the backside! So now k18, slip a stitch, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one. Turn. Now p7, p2 together, turn. You´ll now have 8st(s) to work with in the middle, and 10st(s) on both sides.

*k7, slip a stitch, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, turn, p7, p2 together, turn* Repeat these two rounds until you have no more stitches on both sides (please notice that there´s always 8st(s) in the middle) as well as always on the frontside remember to repeat this *slip a stitch, k1* Thanks :))

Now we must have 8st(s), knit those and pick up 17st(s) from the left side. Knit them as well as knit the next two needles (needles 2-3), then pick up 17 more st(s) from the right side and knit them. Now share those first 8st(s): you´ll have four of them on your first needle, and other four of them on your fourth needle --> meaning you´ll have:

*21st(s) on the 1st needle,

*15st(s) on the 2nd needle,

*15st(s) on the 3rd needle,

*21st(s) on the 4th needle.

Now, continue with this *slip a stitch, k1* every second round, and every second round knit all sitches. At the same time decrease the stitches on needles 1 and 4 - and decrease the stitches on each round, instead of every 2nd round! Meaning, that at the end of the first needle k2 together, and at the beginning of the fourth needle slip a stitch, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one. Repeat decreasing until you have 15st(s) on each needle.

Then continue all the way until the end (also when decreasing the very last stitches) this "every second round *slip a stitch, k1* repeat - every 2nd round knit all stitches" - when the work covers your little toe, begin decreasing on every 2nd round like this:

1st needle: k12, k2tog, k1.

2nd needle: k1, slip a st, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, k12

3rd needle: k12, k2tog, k1.

4th needle: k1, slip a st, k1, pass the slipped stitch over the knit one, k12

Of course, on every 2nd round as you go on, there´s always 4 stitches less, than those 12 mentioned above :))

And when you´ll have 8st(s) left on every needle, decrease the stitches on each round until there´s only 8 left alltogether: cut yarn, slip it through the 8st(s) and finish it well. Do the other sock the same way.

And there we are, thank you :))

Knitting, knitting, blogging?

2010-09-15T03:43:00.003+03:00

I spent a little more than a week knitting.. and the result? Lol 3 pairs of socks, a pair of mitts and a few of wristlets.. not that much of a work as it sounds - but while I searched for some other interesting patterns, I found these (with free pattern) - and I just couldn´t help it, I had to cancel everything else, and try these lol.. and here they are!! Did some for my friends, too :))

Actually all I did, is that I followed the pattern to get those ruffled parts done, and the rest I did the way I always do when knitting socks!? But lovely they are - and so much more when on.. just lovely, can´t describe it any better :))

Baby Socks :)

2010-09-03T20:08:00.023+03:00

So, a friend of mine just got a baby, so I did a pair of babysocks for her - though I didn´t know if it´s gonna be a boy or a girl, so I chose the color to be yellow?! Then the pattern I took was the one I found earlier - quite simple and fast to do!? English version here!

I also completed a few pair of socks, a pair of mittens and two pairs of wristlets, all of these I will publish here as soon as I´ll find some time.. I have to update my blog anyway, more than a half year passed since I last did anything, so.. ehm, back on track again :)) Wish you´ll all have a nice week!!!

"Knit Happens" lol :))

2010-08-01T01:19:00.008+03:00

Well hello hello hello.. lol, someone´s back and it feels soooooooo good - I´m so happy to see that those few bloggers/friends I had are still here, as well as I´m grateful for all those posts and couraging words I´ve received (bloggers, friends, family etc) :))

For those who don´t know, shortly --> already some time ago I had a burnout.. too much work, stress etc, burned the candle at both ends as they say!? A dear friend got dangerously ill at the same time and he was hospitalized - I then had a company to run all by myself - jobs that needed at least five people and there was no one but me.. plus the paperworks, taxes and all that sh.. and yet I tried to find some time for myself as well, just thinking it would give me the power to keep it all together.. well, impossible?!

The "funny" thing is, I can´t even remember that fall, but some flashes here and there:. days went by like "autopiloting" - duh, long story but the point is: I´m now healthy and recovering, and feeling so blessed: I´m still here with the people I love!! And yes lol, definitely having enough time to rest!!

A little hint: "Stop hurrying, before it stops you" :))

So.. yes, I´m working on something again - I already begun with a new pair of mittens, and if I´m happy with the results, I´ll soon have some new charts to share! It feels so nice to be back!! I wish you all have a great & relaxing weekend!!

Long time no see :)

2009-11-28T21:14:00.010+02:00

So I had a little break.. had to do some other things, and left my blog totally alone, sorry, won´t happen again.. I hope :)

Anyway.. I did something, while being away - finished a pair of fingerless gloves, then did another pair for my own use, and after those began a project on a pullover - which is something I´ve never managed to complete until this far.. so let´s see - images on left :)

The first ones I finished already a couple of weeks ago, for some friend of mine who desperately needed a pair for daily use.. I used the same pattern as earlier on cable mittens - however I will publish the pattern for these ones as well.. the link already exists on "Work Alongs" - so I will let you know :)

Then the next ones were the ones for me (although, there´s only one glove, don´t know why, and I felt bored to take new pictures , sorry about that:). The pattern is the same again.

Then the third image shows a little bit of this sweater I´m on.. I love this yarn (it´s the same I used on my fingerless cable-gloves), but for some reason.. the more I knit, the more I begin to feel this pullover will end up for someone else.. the colors are great, yes - it just doesn´t feel like for me..

Anyway let´s see, maybe I´ll change my mind after I´ve done with it?! Just that this is exactly the deal here - because of my dubts I´m having a hard time finishing it - not to mention I have always had difficulties anyways, with such "large" projects!! I just get carried away, from time to time, with patterns I consider great.. forgetting what happens next --> they never get ready lol :))

This was also one reason for I felt little "bored" to update my blog.. having this kind of projects in hand, that just keep delaying on other things.. duh. Anyway, I´ll keep trying.. perhaps this time makes the difference (^.^)/

I did also some crocheting, finished the rest of the "Christmas Swap" -jobs, and gathered up the rest of the things I will send to Italy next week.. it has been a great deal of fun - and I´m very excited about it.. can´t wait for what´s coming for me, too!! I have to say big thanks to "Crochet Along´s" people ,and for those who made it possible!! And also a big hug for my Swap partner Josephine.. this has been nothing but a great experience, I can´t wait for the next to come :)

So there it was.. huh, thought I´d never make it lol.. so, I wish you all a great weekend, until the next time again, hugs for everyone!!

Baby Socks -pattern :)

2009-11-12T21:10:00.027+02:00

So here´s the pattern of Baby Socks I told you about and the original is here! This time I didn´t take any imgs while doing it - I thought it was so easy to follow anyway.. so here it is, hope you´ll like it (and please, feel free to ask anything, I´ll try my best to help you out) :))

*Baby Socks (age of 0-6 months).

*Yarn yellow n/ca 50g = 200m (100% Acryl).

*A set of double-pointed needles (of size 2,5mm).

*60cm of each: yellow, light green, orange satin ribbon.

1) Create 40st(s) and share the st(s) on four needles, 10st(s) on each. Knit 6 rnd(s).

2) Then knit the next 12 rnd(s) like this: k2, p2 - and every 4th, 8th and 12th round like this: *knit the 2nd stitch of it´s backside (backloop), but keep it on the needle and knit the 1st stitch normally (frontloop) - then drop off both st(s), purl 2*(this way you´ll have a kind of a small cables on every 4th round). Repeat.

4) After you have completed the 12th rnd, do the next like this: *k2, p2 together, yarn over* Repeat until the end of the round. Then knit one more rnd like this: k2, p2 – this way you´ll have the “holes” to fit the satin ribbons later on :)

5) Then leave the st(s) on needles 2-3-4 on hold. Continue with the first needle and start round 1: increase 1 stitch, and then: *k2, p2, k2, p2, k2*, then increase 1 st - you´ll have now 12st(s). Turn.*Knit the first stitch, p2, k2, p2, k2, p2, knit the last stitch*. Turn. Repeat these two rounds and always knit the first, and the last stitch!

Please notice --> the small cables (the ones we did earlier) - do them now on the 5^th, 9^th and 13^th rnd(s), (always on front side).

6) After you´ve completed 13th round and turned back (meaning you´ve done also with the 14th round) knit one more round like this: knit the first two st(s) together, k1. *then purl 2st(s) together, k2* Repeat until you have two st(s) left - knit them together. You will now have 8st(s) on your 1^st needle. Don´t turn :)

Instead pick up 9st(s) from the left side, then knit st(s) on 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th needle like this: *p2 together, k2* - repeat. Then pick up 9 more st(s) from the right side. You´ll have now 8 st(s) on your first and third needles, and 16 st(s) on 2^nd and 4^th needles = 48st(s) alltogether?!

Knit the following 7 rounds.

Then begin decreasing: knit 7st(s), you´ll have *1 stitch left, slip it, and knit the first 2st(s) from the next needle together - then pass the slip stitch over the knit ones - and knit until you have 1 stitch left on the needle.* Repeat ** until the end of this round. When you have completed the whole round, you´ll have 40 st(s) left. Knit the next rnd without decreasing!

Now, repeat these two rounds, until you´ll have no st(s) on the 1^st and 3^rdneedles to work with. Cut yarn (leave 25-30cms of yarn for finishing) and finish the work as shown at the img here (you´ll find it next to title "Silmukoilla tehtävä sauma"). At last, measure the satin ribbons for desired length, and slip them through the holes! Ready :))

Lazy gal´s Hedgehog -mittens =))

2009-11-12T08:26:00.010+02:00

Lol, I found something to do - these little sweeties I already had forgotten!! Heh, and only because of the advice I received after crying out loud my "too many choices" lol. Thanks Diane :)

I finished one of those just in one day, against my expectations (I thought it would take a lot more time because of the way I had to work on those)

--> I did the job on four needles, but knitting both sides separately - by knitting the first two needles, and then turned back (on purl stitches), then the other side the same way - so that I connected both sides, at the turning spot, just by wrapping both yarns together.

So the idea was, that by doing this I was able to knit the beginning and the top together, and I didn´t need to do any extra job (connecting) at the end. Okay the job goes a little bit slower than usually, but it saves me all "dirty" job at the end hehe.. so I could say these are a true lazy gal´s Hedgehog -mittens lol :))

And now there´s still the other one waiting, so I´ll take a good night sleep, and shall continue tomorrow!!

Notes /Wednesday Nov.11

2009-11-11T07:16:00.005+02:00

Whew.. time for a break, perhaps? I have a lot of materials, lot of ideas lol, time is no matter either, so what´s wrong?? Well, exactly --> I just don´t know what to do next lol, "spoiled for choise" would be the right expression here, I´d say :))

The thing is, that this little break of mine, caused by having fever, really pushed the other fever up - the fever of knitting hehe.. I would like to start working on socks, at last - but then again, I still have some ideas for mittens, of which I´d like to try before moving on, ´cause I know I won´t have any interest on turning back (for mittens) after that. So this is how it goes with me - clearly seasonal?!

So why not to knit a few more pairs of mittens? Duh, like I said - I´ve so many ideas, but none of them actually inspiring enough lol (over the other I mean), and yet I feel like I´d still like to work for some more, aargh..

I´m not whining though (even if it sounds like that lol) - there was a time, not long ago, when I had a lot more serious issues going on, so I´m okay.. it´s just that you always need to have something to fight with LOL :))

Dub-a dub, dubi dum.. so what should I do? Any ideas? Okay this giveaway I mentioned a while ago, it´s coming - slowly, but it´s on it´s way.. so maybe I should work on something for that, then!?

Also, I´ve finished my project with this Christmas Swap I´ve been on (I´ll publish it later) - so the deal is, I have no other "obligations".. and maybe this could be the issue? That the most of the time I´m usually working on things I´ve promised to do, and keeping myself buzy with those..

--> and now that I´ve finished with that all, and got all the time in the world for myself only, I get confused? Perhaps it´s time to meet doctor Phil lol? However, like I said, this kind of issues are the ones I love to deal with - not too serious, and easy to handle!! Heh, I´ll let you know, hopefully soon, for which of those ideas I then finally ended up to (^.^)/

I wish you all have a nice day!!!

Knitting, lots of snow..

2009-11-10T11:34:00.013+02:00

..and being ill - that´s what I´ve been up to, the last couple of days.. I didn´t feel good enough to start fighting with my pc, I mean to write anything at all (it seems to have some issues with me, and I don´t know why - since it works totally well, when my pc-expert friend uses it lol).

Anyway.. I still have some fever, and got a flu or something, but otherwise I´m feeling quite well, and positive - hoping that it´s not of this virus, which has been among us lately.. and anyway, I haven´t been that ill, that I couldn´t do any of my favourite things hehe!! So here are some mittens again.. after these ones though, I figured to move on socks.. yet I think there´s still lots of time to finish all of my Christmas-presents, so let´s just see :)

The best part is anyway, that what could be a better time to work on these, than this very moment - as you see from the picture above, we are full of snow, and that´s the best of it all!! I mean I´m not much of a winter-kind, but I do love this time of waiting, the excitement, all of this fuzz around Christmas.. and of course, always, the first snow (^.^)/

And after Christmas? I think it should be summer again, if I was asked lol :))

Anyways, so I had this pattern for cable mittens - I used it again and did some "half-fingerles" gloves in red.. those were supposed to be a gift for someone, but another friend of mine just took them before I had any chance to say anything lol!! So I´ll just knit another ones hehe.

And then the ones in green, for me this material was a totally new acquaintance, and it was softer than I expected.. it feels very comfortable in hands, almost silky (Järbo Garn´s "Nya Fuga"). If I had to say something (anything) negative, it was the time spent - it took a lot more time than I thought in the first place. But again, that has nothing to do with the material itself :)

And yes, those are half-fingerless gloves as well - but hehe, also usable as normal mittens (because of this small cap)! And no one could see the difference, which surprised me a lot, since I just wanted to test how it would turn out.. and I immediately fell in love with them, for sure I´ll keep them for myself lol!! Later on, I will bring out this pattern, too.

So there it is again.. I´ll continue with my knittings, and try to concentrate on resting, on getting myself better again. My fever already seems like it´s gone, but so it has been the last couple of days.. coming and going. Maybe some sauna would do good - now that the fever is gone. Again (^.^)/

Have a nice week everyone, thanks for joining my followers-list, for your visits, and your kindest comments!! Hugs!!!

Notes /Wednesday Nov.4

2009-11-04T22:31:00.007+02:00

Yet another post, I just took some garbages out, aaaand..... tadaa -->

--> the first snow has covered the land, trees, all around here - and it´s all soooo white!!! Sorry though, for this bad quality of my picture.. yet it is dark and my own Canon is broken, so I have to take all images with my Nokia.. nighttime just doesn´t work with it!?

However, this is from my friend´s backyard. Ooh I´m so happy that this year, thank Heavens (they´ve heard my wishes lol), we didn´t need to wait that for that long (for instance last year it came as late as in late December, and didn´t even last) 0.0

Well, my knitting-fever just got amazing boost lol!!

*dances with snowflakes* (^.^)/

Notes / Wednesday Nov.4

2009-11-04T19:50:00.010+02:00

Well well.. I finally gave myself an excuse to go, and visit this absolutely amazing shop, Lankamaailma Nordia.. and I just couldn´t get enough, there was so much of everything - I spent there nearly two hours and saw many people just hanging around and watching, not actually buying lol..

But I surely can understand why.. just looking around, and touching all of those materials and to think of what all kinds of things you could do.. whew, I absolutely recommend this for anyone looking for a place to do some serious shopping :)

Oh, and yes, I remembered to buy something for myself, too - couple of navy blue and white for.. well, I haven´t figured it out yet?! Just that it was so cheap lol - and I love this navy blue shade it has.. also this yarn is good for felting, so let´s just see! Then four balls of green/white, of which I´ll knit this biker´s cap I´ve been on.. then I got some brown, to do these - I already have ones I´ve made in black, so I´ll make those a little different this time!

I also found a ball I´ve been looking for a long time already (this lila/white, it´s just beautiful!) to crochet or tat something out of it.. and the last one, brown, too (or more likely: bronze, or even gold), for something I don´t know yet.. I´ll still need to do some more shoppings, to buy my favourite yarn I usually use - so I tried not-to-spend so much.. all of this cost only 15e, so I´m okay I guess..

..for now (^.^)/

Cable Mittens, the pattern

2009-11-03T11:53:00.018+02:00

So here are all instructions and charts, the original post is here. You´ll need yarn 100-150g, in color you prefer (n/ca 150g = n/ca 300m). And a set of double pointed needles, of size 3.00 mm - 4.00 mm (I had of size 3.00 mm).

Bgn with 52 st(s), 13 on each needle. 1st rnd) knit all st(s). 2nd rnd) *k1, p1* repeat until the end of round. 3rd rnd) knit all st(s) for the first two needles, then start following the pattern for needles 3-4, work like this all the way!

Here are some links and explanations of my marks. The first one is "skpo" - it supposed to be "skp" and "yo" - but since there´s not much space on my chart, I had to make it shorter.. so this "skpo" means "slip, knit, pass, then yarn over".

It´s all explained on my charts anyway (the first chart on my post), but I have them here because of the link --> here they show how it´s done (browse unti "skp" and you´ll see "view continental video") So do this, and then remember to yarn over (please check this video, browse unti "yo" and see continental video)..

--> this way, on following round, you knit these same st(s) on front, so it makes a "hole" there. I had to point this out, since when we later work on thumbs, we knit all increased st(s) on the backloop, so there will be no holes. Thanks!! On my previous patterns I did it differently, so that´s why all this explaining again :)

After you´ve done this, the next weird mark comes along, looking like "o2tg" - this means "yarn over, knit 2 together". If you have anything to ask, please feel free to do so!

Thumbs begin at round 22 --> each time you see this darker little mark with a number in it, work like this: knit until the 2nd needle, and knit the first 9 st(s) in it. Then inc.1 (by yarning over), then knit as many stitches as the mark points out, then inc.1, and then knit the last remaining stitch on 2nd needle. Complete the round normally, by following the chart.

So, for example round 22 --> knit until the 2nd needle and the first 9 st(s) in it. Then inc.1, knit 3, inc.1, knit 1. You´ll have 15 st(s) on the 2nd needle, complete the round.

Rounds 23-24 --> knit all stitches (by following the charts of course lol).

Round 25 --> knit until the 2nd needle and the first 9 st(s) in it, then inc.1, knit 5, (look at the mark, and the number in it), then inc.1, knit 1. You´ll have 17 st(s) on the 2nd needle. Complete the round.

So this way, each time there are 2 more st(s) on your 2nd needle – until you reach the round 37. After you´ve completed it, you´ll have 25 st(s) on your 2nd needle!!

Round 38 --> knit all st(s), by following the pattern, too :)

Round 39 --> knit until the 2nd needle and the first 9 stitches in it. Then take the next 15 st(s) and slip them all to a separate needle, or you may use yarn as well (see the first img here, how they´ve done it with yarn) - and leave them on hold for now on.

Increase 3 stitches (yarn over 3 times), to replace the st(s) you just left on hold, and knit the last remaining stitch on your 2nd needle. You´ll have again 13 st(s) on your 2nd needle? On the following round when you knit these increased st(s), knit all three from the backloop, so you won´t have any unwanted holes there :)

And there you are, just follow the charts and you should be just fine! Please ask, if anything, at all, comes up, I´m more than happy to help you out!

Now, the last cable --> you can leave undone - or do it like I did. Since there´s only 3 st(s) left for the cable, on the 3rd needle it goes like this:

--> instead of 3 st(s), slip only the first stitch onto a cable needle (on front), and knit those next 3 st(s) (no purl st(s) this time at all), and then knit the one stitch off of the cable needle. And there you are, it looks like a half cable, and looks good :)

When you reach the 4th needle and the 2nd cable, take those 3 st(s) onto a cable needle (on back) and knit 1, then knit all 3 st(s) off of the cable needle.

And when you´ll have only 8 st(s) left, cut yarn and pull it through all st(s), and end it well.

Now take those 15 st(s) for thumb, and create 5 or 6 more st(s) to cover the place you earlier created 3 st(s). Knit until it covers the half of your thumb´s nail, and begin decreasing --> knit 2 st(s) together at the end of each needle. When there´s 8 st(s) left, cut yarn, pull it through all st(s) and end it well.

If you want to have this same "wavy" wrist, you´ll need a crochet hook of size 3.00 mm. Crochet a single stitch to any loop, then 3 ch(s), 1 single stitch to next loop, 3 ch(s), 1 single stitch to next loop -repeat this all the way and cut yarn, end it well.

The right hand goes the same way, just that the pattern which was on needles 3-4, is now on needles 1-2!! And your thumb will be now on your 3rd needle. Make it as you were looking it from mirror - when the first thumb-mark comes along, you´ll do like this (as you were coming backwords your left hand thumb lol),

--> knit 1, inc.1, knit 3, inc.1, knit 9. Then knit the following two rounds. Then again --> knit 1, inc.1, knit 5, inc.1, knit 9. And so on. And when you reach the part in which you´ll need to leave your thumb-stitches on hold, knit until the third needle, knit the first stitch in it - then slip the next 15 st(s) on hold, yarn over 3x, and then knit the rest 9 st(s).

I hope you´ll enjoy :)

New Cable Mittens :)

2009-11-02T21:57:00.010+02:00

So here they are, I´m so happy for these ones, they don´t even look like the originals - I changed nearly everything lol.. anyway the idea was great, and I want to thank the designer (Anne-Maija Immonen) for that - thank you :)

I will publish few charts I made earlier today, all of them are very easy to follow, maybe even easier than my previoius ones, and I added some more symbols there, to avoid messing with posts and charts and all that stuff --> so you´ll need to print only those charts and there´s all you´ll need - stitch by stitch, from the beginning until the end!

I´ll add some links to instructions as well, to see the most difficult parts for those who have never done cables - also, I´ve marked thumbs as earlier, and to work on those you´ll need to check out my info post, if you´re not familiar with my patterns - they´re very easy though, after you get the idea!?

At the end I crocheted the wrist part (if you can see that little wavy form), because I just didn´t like the way they "just ended" - without any.. well.. anything!? So there´s a little bit of "girly" look, too :)

So that´s it.. I´ll start working on those posts and I have to give some info also to "Lapaskuu", that I´ve completed my first pair to that blog - wohoo (^.^)/ ..after all, that was all I promised in the first place - one pair only! Now it seems though, I won´t leave it here haha :))

Edited later --> here are the charts and instructions, please have fun!!

Notes /Saturday Oct.31

2009-10-31T16:22:00.013+02:00

The last post in October 2009.. the last chance to do anything - the last possibilities to get this month on map are passing by in the name of seconds, if you haven´t done it yet. The last moments to do something from where you can say: "Yes.. that October was a significant month for me.."

And then it will be gone for good, never coming back. Well, ain´t it sad to put it this way? I have a cure for that --> do something about it next time - or don´t think about it at all lol :)

Anyway.. I joined "Lapaskuu" - which means something like "mitten-month" or so.. this means I will remember this month always, was it the first time ever I participated this kind of a thing anyway!

The idea, briefly, is to fight depression caused by this darkness around here - by knitting as many pairs as you can, and then, at the end of the month all mittens will be put together - now that´s gonna be one "for crying out loud" mountain of mittens lol.. or what you can think about the last year, for more than 460 pairs of mittens alltogether?!

So.. let´s see what will be my number!? I just begun with new pair, and this time I´ll work on a bit different kind of pattern, actually the first time ever, too! The pattern is from here, I just modified it a little, took something from the scarf and put it all together - and it ended up better than I thought (okay I had it undone once, again lol), but otherwise I finished it very fast.. and yes, I noticed, thanks lol, that my thumb is still missing :)

So there it is again.. thank you for your visits and kind comments - I wish you all nice, sunny November full of energy and happiness (^.^)

Notes /Tuesday Oct.28

2009-10-28T01:51:00.012+02:00

Hmh.. I´d definitely use something to cheer me up a little.. this darkness is horrifying, depressing - argh I so hate this time of the year. I just spoke with some of our customers today, that the only thing that actually helps us to endure this, is that you can keep your mind on what´s coming --> the spring, and sunlight which will increase until it shines through the night!! It would never feel the same without this "test of time" :)

Anyways.. I thought to rest a little, again, but well, heh, then I found this knitting bag in Tzugumi´s blog (thank you, again :) - and then these.. cute ha? I remember having a pair like this, years ago, when I used to work on board on cruise ships - and I also remember it was a fast job to do, because of the large needles (of size 6), and double yarn in that pattern. I completed them only in an hour or max two, and believe me, I´m not that fast knitter to do such jobs!!

So.. I´ll just have to find my own pattern for them from somewhere.. the point was anyway, that I´ve almost completed this motorbiker´s hat (a cap (?) as I figured out the word eventually lol) - there´s missing only a small part of it.. yet it doesn´t look like the original, before I´ll get the last part done! So after this I will complete the scarf, before beginning (or continuing) anything else ^.^

Played also my guitar today, tuned it, and did some lessons my teacher gave me - and it felt good for a loong long time, and that cannot be nothing but a good sign (by the way that image I´ve got there, up right, it is taken while I´m playing, so that´s the reason for my.. kind of a weird "pose" :)

Anyways, there it was again, have a nice week everyone, a big warm hug - and bigger thanks for all of your supportive comments and all!!!

"Put on my blue suede shoes and I boarded the plane.
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues,
in the middle of the pouring rain.

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues,
in the middle of the pouring rain.."

Great Grandma´s

2009-10-25T09:59:00.005+02:00

..mittens are now ready, even that I got sick on Thursday - fever took me down to bed, and I had to give up on everything, just to concentrate to get myself better.. and now I am better, fever is pushing out after more than 12 hours of sleep lol =))

So there they are, I got up from bed five am this morning (for some reason I didn´t feel like sleeping anymore lol), and decided to finish the project.. so I guess I´ve had enough of mittens - now what? Okay I know I have the scarf to complete, then a hat I promised to knit for a friend who drives motorbikes, he´ll definitely need a hat like that (now how is that called in English anyway?). So.. I guess there´s enough job for the next couple of weeks (^.^)

Notes /Thursday Oct.22

2009-10-23T01:03:00.010+03:00

Completed few pairs of baby-mittens, proceeded the scarf, and started another mittens for my great grandmother.. she celebrated her nameday today (Ania), so I decided to remember her a little better this time..

..so, as far as I can recall from my childhood, she used to wear a lot of blue and brown, so I chose the same colors also for her present (the pattern is the same I´ve used earlier - you´ll find it here, if you´re new).. I hope she´ll like it!

And I´m still having a lot to do, but because of the most of my "doings" being on my list of "Christmas presents to give", I will reveal no more - just in case if some of them happens to visit my blog.. after the Christmas then (^.^)

Anyway, just a little hint --> now it would be perfect time to start telling me about your favourite colors and possible themes :)

Have a nice weekend everyone!!!
(where is the time flying anyway?)

Notes /Wednesday Oct.21

2009-10-22T07:24:00.009+03:00

Here comes the big "Ooooh!!" I have to consider this as a progress of my side - indeed, I found myself planning my next work lol!!

The story is, that after I finished my mittens, I took a few days off - altough I did proceed the scarf, but otherwise I´ve been just taking it easy, and at the same time looking for the next pattern to dive right in to.. and yes, I did have an idea or two in mind - one of them was to knit "mittens" to a newborn babygirl (a friend of mine is having her first in a couple of weeks or so).

However, it wasn´t in my mind that fast.. I mean I didn´t hurry, because of thinking, that I had time! Well, someone, somewhere, decided otherwise, since it happened anyway - I mean I did some bloghopping yesterday, found a pattern that inspired me a lot, started working on it - without realizing, that it was for kids!!! Until, of course, when I already had few rounds done, and the shape of it begun to clear out lol (^.^)

Well, since I earlier had the baby-ones in mind anyway, I decided to complete the whole set right away - and there I did this small "prototype".. just to see of what size it would be, if it needed some more planning, etc.. in any case, it just saved me a lot of work, even that it just "happened" to happen :)

And something else came up, too --> I thought these little mittens are actually so sweet, that this will be my very first giveaway to celebrate my "very young babyblog" - indeed it is only three months of age, so.. heh, there it is.. I´ll open it very soon - after I get some decent pictures of the ready ones, and some satin ribbon to replace the pink yarn etc..

Ladie´s Mittens II

2009-10-20T11:20:00.007+03:00

So here´s the other "pattern" - and as I told earlier, this can be worked on the very same way as the previous ones, the "Cherry" -mittens :)

--> after you have completed round 34 on this chart here, take the 2nd chart from previous mittens and continue that one, as you had just finished the round 34 there. I mean, continue from round 35! Nice, handy, and very easy, I just love this pattern, it works even with the same amount of stitches --> you begin with 56! Behind the links above are also the instructions to work with!

The only difference, actually, is that when you decrease the stitches on each needle from 14 to 13, on previous pattern we did that at round 31 - so here we need to work that on round 35, just before we begin the thumb at round 36. Otherwise it´s all the same - I hope you´ll enjoy and let me know, if there´s anything at all you need to ask, or comment or whatever (^.^)

You´ll find my mittens ready with this pattern here. I hope you´ll have fun :)

Finishing our mittens,

2009-10-19T13:54:00.008+03:00

..my post with all the instructions was already so long, so I thought to place the rest of the info here - for example the "tassels". To do this we need a crochet hook 4,50mm of size, and both of the yarns we used, as well as a 3cm piece of a cardboard or something like that - I used here my ruler (as seen in images lol) :)

Anyway, this, if you have done these never before, so just follow the imgs and you´ll do just great :)

1) Crochet a chain, more or less 24cm of size.

2) Then take yarns and roll them around your 3cm piece about 20 times both,

3) ..slip it carefully off,

4) ..and tie yarn around it.

5) Cut the ends open,

6) ..shape it bit,
7) ..and cut the extras off.

8) Then slip it in chain you crocheted earlier,

9) ..tie it well, and cut the extras off.

Now you can place it, before you finish the another one, and it would be too late lol :)

* here were the instructions and charts of these mittens,

* and here the other mittens (the grey ones) (coming soon!)

Have a nice new week, I sure will have one, I drove home today and we already had a little snow around.. winter is coming - this means I get to use my socks and mittens faster I expected =))

Cherry Mittens

2009-10-18T05:22:00.013+03:00

Voilá, there they finally are, couldn´t be happier =))

I´ve been working on the instructions all night, so they will appear some time tomorrow - I´ll edit them on to my link lists also, now I´ll just need some good rest.. also worked a little bit on the scarf - whew, I´ll continue later, cannot stay up anymore.. have a nice weekend everyone, thanks for your very kind and supportive comments!!! "..zzz.." (^.^)

Edited later --> well now it´s there, all set and done! You´ll find it under "Ladies Mittens" from my "Knit Alongs" - and here´s my direct link to instructions!! I wish you´ll have fun!! The pattern itself is quite simple, and easy - the difficulties come in colors, at least in the very beginning it took me a little time before I got used to it, I mean having two or more yarns along. However, if you´re having any doubts, who says you cannot try it out in one color at first :)

Well, that´s it, I´m on new things already, I thought to publish also a very simple model of mittens, something that could be done in a day or so - these ones really sucked the juices out of me - even if the pattern was so easy, but it took time to explain it all, and since I´m not familiar with all of the abbreviations and stuff.. whew it was a lot more job than I expected!! Anyways, for now on it´s going to be a lot easier for me, too, I don´t have to do this again, so I´m cool :)