sheep and no city

They say it's summer here now

2008-05-05T22:20:00.005Z

At least it really does feel as if the dementors finally stopped breeding around here. I am taking deep breaths of fresh, mild air and can smell flowers and green grass. What a change - winter really got me badly this time. Feels good to be back!

Even though, I have done lots of knitting during all this time of absence, I didn't feel like talking about it. Moreover, I also didn't feel like reading about other people's work. Bloglines is probably up in the five-digit numbers for me - I didn't dare to look. In fact, I didn't feel like doing a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g.
But now, maybe because of alles neu macht der Mai, as a badly rhyming German proverb goes, I am going to start over again..

Maybe, because after months and months without even one single sock on the needles I finally started one again?

Yes, the famous Noro Kureyon sock yarn,
which I amgoing to "review" at another time.
Promise!

Or, because my anonymous handcrafting struggles have come to an end and my virtual endeavours met real life?
In a secretive manner, I signed up for a spinning class, or more accurately a "from sheep to yarn" adventure course. There, I met fellow knitblogger Sigga (who diligently has done her homework already. Go and look.). Of course, this had to happen one day, it was just a matter of time in this very small world here. But it still feels weird. In a good way, though.
We are going to learn about preparing the sheep's fleece into something that will eventually result in beautiful yarn. For now, with just tiny batts of tog and þel I am not very confident on this matter. We'll see..

Left, the raw material in two natural colours,
on the right, a small portion of tog.

And now, I am looking forward to reading all of your blogs again. I could try to further explain my absence or ponder about the vicious circle of what was first, egg or hen, I mean "not-blogging" or the devastating reclusive state I tend to fall in those gloomy winter months. But I could also just skip this and do nicer things.
See you!

I solemnly swear, I am up for an update!

2007-07-20T23:19:00.000Z

What's been going on over here?
Okay, France? Been there.

Sockapalooza socks? Done.

Waving lace socks. They will get their own post eventually!

What kept me from posting so long? Well, for once, the little ones.

Please, meet Herr Kohl and Frau Merkel! Apparently, when it comes to cat names, we do stick to the German politicians over here.

They are incredibly cute but also extremely lively. But then, it is not possible to take a picture of them, of course! Everybody keeps reassuring me that they calm down sooner than later. We'll see. Just this week, they started to calm down a little.
It's a shame, however, that cat life still has to happen indoors. We experienced the most beautiful weather imaginable (Icelandic standards). There has been sunshine for almost four weeks, with temperatures blasting the thermometers. Well, the ones with a scale up to 20°C/68F anyway. Thus, we spend every minute outside, not to miss a single ray of sunshine (imagine, being able to invite friends for a barbeque days ahead AND staying outside in t-shirts until almost midnight!)
The sparse time spent indoors was exclusively dedicated to the kittens. It is impossible to pet them both and operate the computer. They do make sure that they get full attention, I assure you. I have the feeling they already learned the trick, my childhood cat was playing on us. Throwing things down. First, letters/papers/bills. Those papers ususally just reminded you that the cat is somewhere around. Then he forced the key down the commode onto the tilings. It would be hard to pretend, you didn't hear that. If none of us wouldn't move to play with him, he would veeerrryy carefully push my parent's reading glasses (or any other fragile object) near the edge of the commode until somebody is forced to jump. So very clever.

Between all the sunbathing (just enough to get a sunburn but definitely not enough to charge my solar cells to survive the Icelandic winter) and pretending to be a cat toy, I also got my invitation for ravelry. Woohooo! Indeed, excellent news, if my unread posts in blogline wouldn't have hit the four-digit mark meanwhile.

Okay, ravelry seriously rocks! I am so looking forward to having the time to really have a look around and use everything what's there. The needle size tool? Ingenius! Also, I have to take pictures of my stash...

No, just kidding... But, I did mention, I would start a new job, right? What I didn't tell was that it would involve yarn! The job is nothing exciting, but I think, my lunch break view is ;-) Don't you?

Loadzz of Icelandic plötulopi!

Soooo.. to round up this short and hasty update I can also announce a technical one. You all know that blogger sucks when it comes to comments. Well, sometimes, it's just lazy old me but sometimes it's the software's fault, I swear!
I have heard that Haloscan works really well with the new blogger software and I am going to try that now.
However... if you don't hear anything from me even now, I do have another excuse: I'm off to a week holidays in the beautiful Icelandic country side. Right, go on holidays, when the weather begins to turns nasty again. Take your tent and join an open-air event..
Maybe, I will be able to grab a copy on the way!

(Crazy enough, there was a Harry Potter 7 release outside the book store waiting party (video link). When I was passing it today, I was surprised to see that the majority of the waiting paople were boys in there late teens. Of course, they have to be older here to be able to read English. But in my imagination, I was expecting 10-12yo girls and, well, "mature" knitters ;-))

But most likely, I will not - so DON'T TELL ME!

Okay, I'm off!
Thank you so much for still reading here!

Baahh

2007-06-08T00:03:00.000Z

I'm bad.
I am flying out in less than eight hours, haven't finished packing yet and I don't even want to think about all the other things left undone and post/emails unanswered..
No, wait. The really bad thing is writing a post in the midst of the chaos around me here.
Have to go on holidays now!
Hoping to see you again after a week, or so..
Have a nice time as well!
x
.....sheep and no city - see:

Time, it is relative

2007-05-25T19:14:00.000Z

One week

ago...

...I had just finished the first of my blue Embossed Leaves socks. It took me a bit less than a week to finish the second one. Even with ripping back and shortening the toe on both socks about one pattern repeat.

Have you seen some of these socks in this fabulous pattern around in the Sockapalooza circus? I particularily like the white version Peggy knit. Alison had even collected together some more links of Sockapalooza's Embossed Leave versions while I was still busy linking to hers. Ah, the internet. Too fast for me.

from now...

...I will have finished my first day of work after spending 3 months on sick leave. It will also be a new job. It's kind of exciting, even though the job is not that exciting ... really....

Two weeks

ago...

... I finished Shedir. (PDF-link to the special cancer issue of knitty.com)
I substituted the yarn called for with Debbie Bliss' Baby Cashmerino (colour 203). Since I was way off the row gauge, I had to break into another skein. Consequently, the plan is to add a pair of ankle socks matching the hat. They are just not completed yet, nothing to show.

from now...

...I will be off spending a week in continental Europe! In France, to be precise. Another thing to look forward to.

Three weeks

ago...

...I finished this Lopi cardigan. Brace yourself for appropriate and necessary exclamations of outrage: Even though everything was handpicked by the recipient (pattern, colour combination, even the buttons) he didn't even bother to TRY IT ON once. Since completion the cardi resides now in the coatrack for three weeks. I should have known that something like this happens. Oh, well... I'm proud of it anyway. I'm not often knitting b i g.

from now...

...we are going to have a new family member. After the first alarming incident and my untimely farewell to Willy, he left for real! He's been missing now for a months and we are about to abandoning hope that he might come home again*. We miss him so very much. Though we cannot replace him, we decided to carry on with sharing our house with a feline. So, after the holidays the time is ripe. I am already checking out the page of the local cat shelter on a daily base. Firstly, to check of course if somebody registers Willy and now, secondly, to find "our" new cat.

Okay, enough jumping around in time. Looking at the result, I feel kind of optimistic and that's definitely a good thing these days.

*Poor Willy was still suffering from his involuntary diet and was so weak that the vet had to force-feed him with via transfusion!

He headn't really recovered when he took off again. Because of that, he unfortunately wouldn't have the reserves to survive another long stroll (there's not much wildlife here to live from for stray cats)
Three pictures of finished objects justify just another shot of Willy, don't you think? Here he is not playing with my plötulopi yarn - no! He just grabbed the hanging strands and hugged them in his sleep. Oh, so cute!

In one day

2007-05-17T08:11:00.000Z

8:11

Yarn, needles, coffee, ipod - check. Pattern yet to be decided!
Today's newspaper headline proves that I am not cheating ;-)

Helpfully, the weather looks like there is nothing better to do than snuggle up under a blanket and knit.

11:30

Cuff and first pattern repeat done, pattern Embossed Leaves.
Hmm... I have no idea if I can make it yet.
In case anyone is wondering why I knit them in baby blue - it might be known here and there that I cannot stand wearing blue (except for jeans). The plan is to cheat a little on this knit a sock in a day challenge by knitting socks for a friend. Two shoe sizes smaller than my own feet, hehe.

14:40

Leg finished, time to start the heel!

17:15

Heel done.

19:50

Only the unexpected, foul play or an injury can stop me now!

22:50 - Done!

Unwashed, unblocked and blurry. Wow.
To sum up, there were days in my life sure more worthwhile than today. On the other hand, I've seen worse. So, tomorrow the second? I don't think so - but I will cast on.

Stats: 39 g (or 152 m) of SandnessGarn Lanett, colour 4904. 5 bamboo needles, 2 stitchmarkers,1 tapestry needle, 1 pattern with absolutely no changes neccessary, exept not cutting the yarn at the heel.
Stimulants: 3 cups of coffee, 5 cups of Rooibos tea, 9(!) hours of the 24h (!) dramatised version of Tad Williams' Otherland, 2 glasses of red wine, this evening's TV programme (Desperate Housewives, Without a trace - the latter so boring that I could already use the time for a photo shoot and posting)

Thanks for cheering!

The size of great things

2007-05-16T19:56:00.000Z

See, sometimes, you've got things that are cute and they are tiny.

But sometimes cute goes XXXL.
Last weekend was the final round up of a French Art Festival (Pourquoi pas?) which had lasted since February. Obviously, it had to end with something extraordinaire. And so it did.

A huge marionette stamped through the city, incidentally looking for her father, the giant.

He left hints and traces where to find him.

There's a knife in that bus!

It is such a funny idea and I was amazed that such a "simple" show can lure thousands of people onto the street. I mean, in times of Godzilla digitally remastered and all. It was literally great!
I think, for a couple of days you can still follow this link to see the news footage on the giant little girl's stroll through town.

But back to the little things. These baby booties are made out of scraps from Regia rainbow stripes I received from Judy in the good old sock scrap swap (September 2005!).
The design is by Dorothee from d.knit, you can find a link to the pdf file on her site.

Aren't they sweet? My new friend, the neighbour's kitten, thinks so.

I also have some normal size knitting to show. Long way back when it was time for
Toasty Toes, I liked the socks I knitted for Cynthia so much that I decided to made myself a sibling pair.

Same pattern, same yarn (Kid Mohair/Merino Sock Yarn from Crown Mountain Farms) different colour ("More Teals"). They are almost too warm for May, even in our climate.

Talking about socks.. uhm, who is talking about anything else these days, anyway?
I have heard from my sockapalooza pal via comments but forgot to mention it the other day.

Hi Pal, thanks for reassuring me, there's somebody out there knitting for me!

There seems to be some confusion this time with the contacting part. All the previous rounds have been quite silent and secretive on this matter, haven't they? But with over 1.000 participants it is quite understandable that people get nervous.

Okay Pal. Your comment is very much appreciated but please don't feel like you have to contact me. I know it can be a bit tricky trying not to give your identity away or you might just not be the secret message person. That's okay. Because, I know you are there now and trust in getting socks in the end ;-) Thanks.

Before I take action in the sockapalooza business myself, I thought I'd sign up for a challenge.
To warm up, you know. I am going to knit a sock in a day! This sounds ~~absolutely crazy~~ just the right thing to do now that I am beginning to feel a lot better in my back (thanks for all your comments on this, you definitely sent some good karma!). Nonetheless, I am strictly advised not to do anything silly (like gardening or painting the roof for example, both in the top seats of the to-do-list). However, I didn't dare to ask my therapist if this challenge would be a sane thing to do in my condition. I am too afraid, the physical immobility might have had an impact on my brain.

Let's fly the flag

2007-05-12T17:05:00.000Z

This Saturday is posing a serious challenge on the Icelander's national pride as well as Iceland's National Broadcasting Service.
First, there are the national elections which are of course always a big deal. People can give their vote to parties with illustrious names like Independence party, Progressive Party, the Icelandic Movement and what have you. I don't have the right to vote but I do hope that people will finally put a stop to the current interpretation - and worse - execution of "progress" or "independence". (Let me shortly remind you of inviting heavy industry on subsidised terms into this country, not regarding the loss and costs for nature, health and tourism. Or the former Prime Minister's "independence" in declaring Iceland a member of the "willing nations" in the Iraq war while the majority of the population does not agree with him. Another very progressive and independent move was surely to resume commercial whaling!) Moreover, I don't want to see the face of a certain foreign minister any longer. Even though I am not Icelandic, I am embarassed to see her lacking the fundamental skill for such a position: being able to communicate with representatives of other countries. Yes, I do think, this particular job description should read "being able to converse fluently in English".

But first, we will gather for the less serious part of the evening, the
Eurovison Song Contest. Uups, I am only allowed to say that because Iceland dropped out in the Semi-Finals. Again! Last year, it was claimed that the Icelandic presentation had been too provocative and modern, hence Europe not yet ready for Iceland. This year, sending an elderly long-haired veteran of Eurovision Song Contest, presenting a schmaltzy hard rock ballade proved to be too old fashioned. Oh boy.

In order to oppose today's outbreak of Icelandic nationalism, I made this cake. Which was supposed to look a bit more like the German flag (black - red - gold), inside and outside. Damn food colours. They do work better on yarn!

Socks, socks, socks

2007-05-09T23:44:00.000Z

I guess there's not much one would envy me for these days, but these socks are!
I got the Spring Fever socks from Julie - Woohoo!

My sincerest appologies for not blogging about them earlier - they did arrive well in time - good job, Julie, thanks! However, one good reason is of course that I was completely stunned to receive such beautiful socks. The other is, well, let's postpone this until later...

It does feel a bit stupid to write a post without being able to follow up other blogs let alone comment on them, but this one, of course, is mainly to ~~make you all jealous~~ praise my Bloomin' Feet pal Julie from stoneview and the Bloomin' Feet goddess and queen of the more intimate sock swaps, Amanda. Thank you both so much!

But now, do you want to see details of the socks?

Thank you so much, Julie! You did an amazing job knitting these beautiful socks. All the little embroidered flowers and beads! They are simply stunning. I already got compliments on them from many people who never bothered to comment on the socks I knitted myself. Some even remembered them and commented on them several days later (like when I was wearing my if I may say so pretty Embossed Leaves socks - "hey, you were really wearing some amazingly beautiul socks the other day"). Julie, you are not only lifting my spirits, you are also lifting my image as a sock knitter. No, of course I gave you the full credits!
Julie did not stop by just knitting these beautiful socks, and sending them, of course. She also added some many extra goodies. I only managed to take a picture of the cute little hanks she added for if there should ever be the need for darning. Very much appreciated. I do hope, I can keep them a long while just looking cute, but I am afraid, these socks will experience a LOT of wear. They are just too adorable! There was also some Debbie Bliss merino aran. Great feel, great colour, I love it!

The obligatory sweet treat has partly vanished and I somehow forgot to take a picture. I also didn't take a picture of the other great, great gift she added: sock patterns. One of them is the Gothic Spire sock pattern by Cookie A and I am soo tempted to knit these socks up right away. I got also some other patterns by designers yet unkown to me and I am sure, they will appear on this blog sooner or later. Maybe even for Sockapalooza 4? Julie, I am amazed how generous and thoughtful your package was packed and what an amount of work, skills and love for knitting went into the socks you made me. Thank you so very much, I am still overwhelmed - and very happy!

My sock headed towards their destination with a slight delay but should be arriving a-n-y m-i-n-u-t-e. At least I do hope so!

I have to thank all the commenters (and again, I am very sorry for not replying to your helpful suggestions!) . I really felt encouraged to go with the leaf design. I do hope, my pal likes them, too.
For the record, they were knitted in Socks That Rock, colourway Rose Quartz on bamboo dpns 2,5mm. I might consider to publish the pattern one day, but I can't bother at the moment, sorry.
I am still or more again feeling really really bad in my back. If my doctor would know that I am sitting down in front of the computer at the moment, he wouldn't be pleased with me at all. No sitting for me! It is so boring and I am seriously becoming very impatient about the slow healing process. But better this then going to surgery I am told.

Well, see you all soon for Sockapalooza 4!

Bloomin' Feet: Confusion, choice and collaboration

2007-04-11T10:43:00.000Z

Thank you all so much for the compliments on my Elfine's socks. I like them, too. In fact, I love them very much and that's why they are MINE ;-) I deserve them.
Not that my Bloomin' Feet pal does not deserve something so lovely, far from that! But the Elfine's are for me, me, me. For my Bloomin' Feet pal - I had and have other plans!

It is somehow not surprising how it came to the confusion that I would give away my Elfine's [gasp!]. In desperate need of STR for swatching I used the lemongrass yarn. As a matter of fact, it is still part of my project.

But now, I need your opinion.
I wanted something flowery for my Bloomin' Feet and especially after I decided for the Rose Quartz colourway. A rose pattern would obviously have been the perfect choice, but I couldn't find any. That's why I went for leaves instead.
I imagined the leaves somehow entwining around or along the foot and I wanted an organic look. I came up with a design where the leaf tendril sort of sprouts from the toe.

Please, do tell me how you like it. I am going to finish this sock for myself anyway (my pal has the same size, yeah for the match, Mr. Clothesknit!) and I quite like it. But since it is my baby I am not impartial.
The other sock (right side) is, you surely recognise it, Baudelaire by Cookie A from knitty.com. I came across this this pattern when looking for a toe-up heel flap for my Elfine's and I let me tell you: this is the best heel I have ever knit! What a stroke of genius! The fit is not only much, much better than that of any short-row heel I ever knit, it is also so much prettier. You have to try it!
However, after copying the heel and being so very pleased with it, I asked myself what are the chances, that the whole sock is very clever? My educated guess was very high. As a result, the Baudelaires will be my fallback solution aka Plan B socks. That is, until you tell me that they would be the better choice for my Bloomin' Feet pal. Go on, tell me. Please! And be honest, I can handle criticism.
Need more pictures?

An unexpected birthday

2007-04-09T22:47:00.000Z

Editorial note: So I am back on the right track again. It was so very disappointing to have plenty of time to blog, writing post after post and nothing appeared on the net. My problem: I hat too much time. I upgraded to the new blogger software, tried ambitiously to try another blogsoftware and implement these posts into blogger plus changing my server for pictures. Yeah, well, never change a running system. Something caused a hick-up and while I could see the posts on my computer, they did not appear anywhere else. I found out, that I am not writing these posts just for myself ;-)
Now, everything is back to normal. Or so I hope.

First, congratulations to the birthday boy! As you could have seen in an earlier post, Willy is back! Today, he is one year old. An exciting one, no doubt.
In celebration of this event, I am going to share with you a pattern for a cat toy, which I called Catoy. Ingenious, isn't it?
Meet the toy in action:

[you know this, mouse over!]

Make your cat, puppy, guinea pig or any other loved one too - to get this look. You'll find the link to the pdf-file in the sidebar.

Unfortunately, the star of the party feels rather weak today, in fact he is sick. I think, he might have had a nibble on one of the flowers which came just out for the Easter Holidays.

[Yes, it feels like spring even in Iceland now]

Not good for a little cat's stomach. Naturally, it is only I who feels bad about having to put him on diet and under house arrest on his birthday. He seems to accept his lot more or less. However, his resting places and behaviour simply spell indignation to me.

[curled up beside the toilet]

Cliffhanger for today will be the progress on my Bloomin' Feet socks.
Shout with me "Uh, design, ah, plan B...."
Yes, I do promise knitting content!

Springlike

2007-04-08T10:35:00.000Z

Some socks are prettiere than others.
The transformation works as following:

Outch!

Pattern:..Elfine's socks by designer Anna Bell at My fashionable life

Yarn:.... .Socks That Rock from Blue Moon Fiberarts,
...................light weight, colourway Lemongrass

Modifications:
...................Heel flap instead of short-row-heel
...................Eye-of-Partridge padding in the ball section of the sole (see following picture)

Needles:.2,5 mm dpns, bamboo

I highly recommend this design! The lace pattern looks lovely is easy to knit (and remember) and very comfortable to wear. Last but not least, you will also find that the pdf-file has a beautiful layout and well written instructions.
I am so happy with these socks! - Happy Easter everyone! That is, if anyone can read this, since I still have issues with finding my own blogspost. Creepy...

Warm and heart warming

2007-03-29T09:00:00.000Z

I am bad, so bad - and you are all good! Or in other words, I am obviously an half-empty-glass person and all you sympathetic comments showed that there are plenty of optimists out there. Right you are!
Willy is back!

He came back last night, looking very peaky and being awfully smelly but nevertheless we couldn't stop cuddling him. Now he is very, very tired from his big adventure. He has most likely been locked in some place and was finally released or could escape last night. I don't want to think about the stench he left behind in the garage or cellar he was in...
Maybe I should read my hymn of praise to him for making him realise, how much I missed him. Oh, and cats have so many lives.. I will probably go through this many more times.
Gosh! Thank you all for your encouraging comments- you have been right!

For warming the feet, not the heart, I have a finished hot water bottle cosy now.

Life feels good today.

edited 9th April 2007 ~~PS: Is anybody able to see this post?~~ Yes, finally they are!

Many thanks for tiny things!

2007-03-28T15:05:00.000Z

Yesterday evening, the postman delivered my Wee Tiny Sock, knitted by Darlene

Thank you Darlene, the sock is lovely. (And do you all see the card? How cute is that!!!)
And thank you, Emily, for this idea. It is such a small thing to do (knitting a tiny sock) but seems to evoke exponential fun. At least here. Maybe my excitement is a bit over the top because Darlene also included a tiny sock blocker!
I had seen those cute little sock blockers on Emily's blog, of course and had to order some myself. Not for me, no no no, but to give them away.

Well, I might have considered to keep one for myself... But now - I got one - just for me!
Hooray for mini sock blockers! Can you resist to get some for yourself? No? Go and visit feltupdesigns and talk to Debbie. She does an incredible job making and shipping them. Thanks, Debbie!

The hint of sunlight in the pictures above encouraged me to go out for another photoshoot. Finally, my Bloomin' Feet yarn aka Socks That Rock in Rose Quartz arrived ...

...and I am swatching and sketching for my grand design.

Wish me luck.

Rear window

2007-03-23T21:05:00.000Z

Hmm.. I feel a little bit like James Stewart these days. You remember the movie where he sits with a broken leg and stares out of the window all day long? Only, that there is really nothing suspicious to observe outside. Except for when the cat is away, the ~~mice~~ birds will play.

True to the Hitchock-feeling it felt like The Birds once in a while. We do feed them in weather like this, but usually the starlings where too afraid of Willy. Since he has left the territory, even other cats come sneaking in more frequently.

Wait, take a closer look at this guy.

[I found him sleeping under the living room table!*]

Isn't this in fact a Kitler!? I have to admit that I don't know this term for long and cannot remember how and when I found out about it. But surely, this page ("Cats that look like Hitler" - can you believe it!?) is in my opinion the most striking evidence that there is nothing too silly or absurd that you wouldn't find it on the internet. Nothing!

Okay, crazy but boring garden pictures and weird www philosophy aside. Some knitting has happend. Really.
The hot water bottle cosy is beginning to grow. I decided to go for a fishbone pattern as suggested in Maggie's pattern but in two-colour work. The yarn I am using (Highlands & Islands "Country Style" from Sirdar), which should be metioned here is a gift from the wonderful Wanda, thank you!) is only DK weight. Better have a double layer around the hot bottle.
Funny colour combination, but I think, I'm liking it.

*I cheated: I flipped the picture for a better match of the significant parting. but still...

Hindrances

2007-03-22T19:23:00.000Z

Meet my best friends these days...

Even though it might by now look like this blog is turning into a "fishing for sympathy blog" - this is not my intention. Today, I stumbled across some rants concerning the right and meaning of blogs without comments. Fortunately, I get comments and I appreciate every single one of them (even though I do not answer them all, partly because of blogger's flaws, partly because of my laziness - sorry! - but I do try to track people down and comment on there blog in return - honestly). But I also write my posts just to keep track of things, mainly my knitting projects, or just because it feels good sometimes, to "talk" about things that happen, affect and move me which, unfortunately, is not always possible in real life. As a result, my blog is a selfish hobby that turns into a wonderful, lively, encouraging, sometimes nagging or enlightening little communication tool when others participate. Thank you, every single one of you!

But what about the pain and ache this time? I have been home on so called sick leave (well, they stop paying you after two weeks, don't they?) for quite some while now. First, my doctor suspected a lumbago but I didn't agree because it just did not feel like it should (it's all out there on the internet, you know!). Unfortunately, I was right and a CT revealed that I have been suffering from a considerable herniated disc. Ouch!
What really causes me some pain in the arse (pun, pun!) is the fact that I can neither lie nor sit without pain and should in fact walk a lot. However, the weather beggars all description, and surely, slithering on icy pavements with sleet blowing down your collar isn't really fun, either. Walking around in my not so roomy apartment, however, I always find something to do that I rather shouldn't (you don't want to take a look under my bed after three weeks without vacuum-cleaning!)
Well, I thought it was at least time to knit up a Hot Water Bottle Cozy (links to a word.doc), designed by Canadian knitter Maggie who visited Iceland (and sort of me) back in May (so much for the community aspect of blogging). Go over, visit her blog and say hello. She knits adorably little toys and also sweaters, apparently in the blink of an eye.

Yeah, knitting... I'm kind of in a knitting blues. Not to be able to sit all that comfy takes the fun out of it. Plus, I am not easy to please with my projects these days. There are plenty new things I would like to start (see: bottle cosy) but my stash is savely stashed away in no-go areas, such as the attic or cellar, both only accessible by ladder.

There is of course Bloomin' Feet '07! While I am following the progress of the other participants, there's not much I can do. Reading my pal's preferences, together with my intention to make a theme sock, I could not resist ordering some STR in Rose Quartz. So cute! Never for myself, but nonetheless.
I placed my order looooong time ago and it arrived very soon afterwards at my sister's in Germany, who was due to send me a parcel anyway. You know, all the tricky sideways I go to avoid the impertinent custom fees here. Apparently, in Germany, they are back to delivery by stagecoach or maybe even attempt to walk the parcel here. I think, the parcel is travelling now for four weeks. And so is the new Interweave's Favourite Socks which I ordered on amazon.de because a friend wanted to have a look at it before she would send it here "second hand". Apparently, the book left Amazon on 20th March but the post's tracking service informs me that estimated delivery date is 28th April. Beg your pardon? We are talking about 300 km distance!

So, what does this mean to my Bloomin' Feet socks? I swatched, I browsed the internet for patterns, I contemplated designing my own pattern, I swatched, I swatched..
I am thinking cables. I am thinking little leaves. Why not design leaves and mini-cables entwined around the leg?
Nothing so far made me really happy but I still believe that the exactly right yarn (and not some STR substitute in another colour!) will do the magic trick.
Meanwhile, I found out that I did not in fact re-invented mini-cables but merely remembered the Cablenet socks from knitty plus all the enlightening articles on designing them by Ariel Barton. However, this pattern is evidently is not the best choice for variegated yarn and STR might also be just a wee bit too heavy.

And that is why I am stuck with Elfine's socks once again. Since I managed to knit past the heel now I can only laugh about it: The fact that I tried four different types of toes! First, according to the pattern, than the m1tfb method and finally two different wrapping sort attempts of short-row toes. All of them easy as pie. Just not now. When I was finally satisfied with the look of my short rows, I realised that my eye-of-partridge-ball cushion was way off the position it should be. Of course - I couldn't even try them on because I am just not able to dress myself in these parts, these days. Ah! Rip again...

Last but not least:

Have you noticed the little sheep stitch marker? Aren't they cute!? Katie from Straying Power designed them for this year's Project Spectrum Sheep Club 2.0. Go and visit her etsy shop and get yourself some! They are just as cute as the bigger sheep but more practicable for smaller projects like socks. However, if I would have to decide for one or the other, I couldn't. Luckily, I own both variants because - can you believe it - Katie sent them to me on a quest for checking out the international shipping service. What a nice surprise, thank you again, Katie! Potential customers, be assured, Katie does a wonderful job, packing and shipping them. They are very happy here now, maybe a bit lone, I should get some more ;-)
To my Bloomin' Feet pal: not to worry! There's a plan B pair of socks in the pipe. They might actually turn out better than the plan A ones!

Farewell to Willy

2007-03-19T22:40:00.000Z

Willy is gone!

[drawing from just one hour before his disappearance]

This weekend, we had the whole family(IL) for dinner around and the little fellow chose to escape into the night instead of taking a rest in one of the unfrequented rooms. Nothing wrong with hanging out outside, I would say, normally. Unfortunately, this night was one of the coldest and ghastliest. Icy storm roared and forced powdery snow drifts round and round.
Well, Willy, who is also know as Willy Haarlos (hairless), does not like snow very much but had to stick his nose out of course once in a while. We were at first quite surprised and shortly after worried what would keep him out so long. - We still don't know but it kept him until now. Lost for 48 hours! In weather conditions like this, it can sadly only mean one thing. My hopes were high for him being trapped inside a garage, cellar or garden shed, the only way to survive the deadly cold. But, the time is running for poor Willy in this kind of refuge, too, if he hasn't been discovered and released by now.
I think, it's time to face the facts.

Willy will be so painfully missed! Even though probably not the prettiest cat on earth, he was the perfect one. At least, the cat with the best character I have known so far. In his short life, it would have been his 1st birthday on 9th April, he was always entertaining and cheerful but never a nuisance (well, there was the bird). Not once did he use his claws to hurt either one of us nor our furniture. Unbelievably, he also just wouldn't touch anything that was not meant for him, like juicy meat left on the table. He was unbelievably cute and made me smile in the mornings when he was waking me up exactly one or two minutes before the alarm clock would go off. I will miss how he would come home from one of his strolls and in his loquacious manner tell me exactly what was going on outside. Or inside, for this matter, as in the last shot I took of him in purpose of blogging about him. A neighbour cat came for "visit" and Willy the coward rather called me indignantly for help as taking the matter into his own paws, fangs and claws.

As for the knitting memories of Willy, it has to be said in his honour that he never played with yarn except it had been especially labelled as toy for him. He was in particular fond of the Lizard Ridge as you can see here in his appreciating pose.

Yes, good news. The Lizard Ridge is finished, all sewn up, blocked and very, very beautiful. It just needs an edging now. I have not have had an enlightenment about that (Noro or another yarn). It will not only be the biggest and undoubtedly prettiest thing I ever knit but also a Willy memorial blanket, because I will always remember how he spent his last night here cuddled up sleeping on it.

Wee tiny post

2007-03-19T14:37:00.000Z

Wee Tiny sock

Grand idea. Thanks, Emily.

Winners

2007-03-16T20:41:00.000Z

I'm a winner! You need some explanation for this outcry? Here you go.
Long time ago, Amanda had the terrific idea of giving previously unnoticed and anonymous world wide travelling yarn a worthwhile setting: Yarn Aboard! It didn't stop there and in inconceivable dimensions a second round was hosted. Yarn Aboard II. I am still amazed about all the creativity, enthusiasm but also hard work and cold cash Amanda was willing to spend on this project. Thank you, Amanda! I enjoyed this yarn exchange so very much. And it still makes me smile when I stumble across one of the names of the discoverers and find myself associating their name with boxes full of yarn and goodies instead of "discoveries".
However, no exchange without participants, so big thanks go out to everyone who joined in! And before this starts to sound like the Oscars, I'll better keep it short.

There was a contest involved and I want to say Thank you to everybody who voted for my Leif Eriksson post. Taking the Leif-box out on one of the iciest and stormiest days I recall from last winter on this photo trip earned me - in your eyes and thanks to Amanda's generosity - a gift certificate from Scout's Swag. Yippieh!

In case you wonder what happened to the content of the Leif-parcel. Well, sooner or later sock yarn turns into socks! (and you know where the chocolate usually makes it reappearance) Phoebe had sent me among other lovely goodies two skeins of long anticipated fabulous Koigu yarn in a beautiful semi-solid ~~grey~~ silver.

Pattern:..Nautilus by Anna Bell from My fashionable Life
Yarn:.... .Koigu KPM, colourway "grey" (lost the label, sorry)
Needles:.2,0 mm dpn rosewood

What can I say? The Koigu yarn, not at least in its fascinating greyish non-colour-silver-shininess, is definitely a winner. In our short love affair it presented itself not quite as springy as e.g. STR but instead "crispier" in texture. The pattern was a delight to knit, catchy with a little twist, not your Planet Earth kind of knit, but simple enough for any other sort of TV programme.
In spite of lacking evidence on the picture, I assure you, I completed two socks. Sort of impractical to duplicate socks in a mirror for the purpose of wearing them. There is a good reason why I cannot take any other pictures at the moment, (most likely to be revealed in the next post) and therefore I give you a detail shot of the sip (sock in progress) from back in December, proving how very cosy they are.
Thank you again, Phoebe!

You spin me right round, baby - and left!

2007-03-09T18:30:00.000Z

I can't get this silly song out of my head when thinking about the RPM socks. And talking about head, the fact that this song also evokes memories in the direction of hair fashion in this glorious time makes knitting and thinking and talking about these socks quite a challenge.
But they are finished now (actually since before Christmas!) and they feel good!
Of course, in honour to their name and designer Ajia Goto's photo shooting, I had to dive into my record collection in order to model them approbiately. (Have you seen Ajia' latest knitty design?)

I might have looked just like this on several occasions during the knitting process.

Facts about RPM in STR:
Pattern:..RPM by Ajia Goto, knitty.com summer 06

Modifications:
...................I reversed the purl spiral in the second sock to have one turning right
...................and one left or both inside (or outside, you know what I mean...)
...................Heel: Eye of Partridge heel instead of short-row
...................Toe: the one from Embossed Leaves by Mona Schmidt (IK winter 05).
...................I felt it just perfectly helped to carry some of the purl stitches from
...................the spiral into the toe and besides it is very comfortable with my feet.

Yarn:.... .Socks That Rock from Blue Moon Fiberarts,
...................light weight, colourway Scottish Higlands

Needles:.2,5 mm dpn bamboo

I have to admit that it was a very challenging process to knit these socks. I completely overlooked the tag tangy at knitty's - what the heck, knit and purl...? But, I frequently messed up the counting when moving the purl snake over the round's join. However, the pattern is a winner. I always liked the little purl bumps of variegated yarns and this spiral is also a nice twist to striped yarn. Great design.

Taking you by surprise

2007-02-20T18:37:00.000Z

I'm back. Thus, a hearty welcome back to the patient readers and friends who not only seem to come back to this deserted space but also kept ~~nagging~~ encouraging me to post again. Thank you all very much!
I am not going to waste time on explanations for my flight under the radar. Instead I will jump right into what we are ll here for: knitting content. It's all here, new projects, known but grown projects and things that I haven't touched since I "left" you back in December. Meaning, there is in fact plenty material for many future posts and work to be done, like cleaning up the sidebars and so on. In fact, I was planning to move the blog to a new provider since I am not really happy with blogger (e.g. the awful comment section, which renders almost every comment as anonymous) but haven't decided on an alternative yet. Any suggestions?
But now pictures.

[mouse over for a cat-free view]

The Lizard Ridge is coming along nicely. After several "sqares" (I did not follow the instructions to stop after 12 segments but rather finished the skein) I decided to knit stripes out of two skeins. Two of those double-stripes plus one "square" have been grafted together now for a long stripe (=5 skeins). I have now 5 of these and the only tasks left are sewing and blocking. Tedious... but I am sure the outcome will be very satisfying.

In the next posts I will not be able to resist showing off some finished projects. And introduce the project for my one and only actual swap/KAL Bloomin' Feet. I am really excited about this exchange and want to use the opportunity to send out some warm virtual greetings to my secret pal!

Indoor season

2006-11-19T22:22:00.000Z

Toasty Toes, even in -10°C (14F), thanks to Emily and a huge mug of hot tea.

It was too cold, however, to sit down and take detailed pictures. Jumping around on one leg on frosty ground was no option, though of course possible entertainment for the neighbours. And not as risky as the days before where I would have been literally blown of my feet with winds around 25 m/s (56 mph acc. to weatheronline.co.uk). That sounds scary, huh? But most of all: COLD!
I learned now that due to these wind peaks and combined with the frosty temperatures the windchill provided for a felt temperature down to -35°C (-31F - how come they are so close now? I will never understand this system). Of course, in times like this, the hot water reserves run low and neither the ovens nor the shower was as warm as desired (we heat with hot water). But - toasty toes!

And here's the whole chocolate haul Emily included. Imagine, I had to stop myself from trying for six days because I wanted to make a decent picture in daylight and that's only possible during weekends this time of the year.

But look, chocolate from the Andes (anything to do with KnitPicks yarn?), delicious organic chocolate and extra strong dark chocolove, complete with stamp and a love poem inside (how cool is that!). The Whitman (Walt?) sampler comes in an adorable old-style tin box which will be perfect once it is empty to hold my growing stitch marker collection. Or shall I use the cute little box that now still holds Harney's & Sons "Winter White Earl Tea"? Again, thank you so much Emily, you have been such a generous swap pal!

But talking about Winter white..
How very clever of me to step out for the sock shot on Saturday.
Because this morning, it looked like this.

Willy's first snow. I was excited to witness this in the same way "normal" people witness the first word, tooth or step of their babies...

More pictures?

Unfortunately, it was impossible to snap his four-legged-backward jump that followed.
First conclusion, Willy does not appreciate snow for it is cold and covers everything that smells and moves (hunting leaves in the snow had been his favourite sport during the stormy period)

But snow also brings finally the official proper excuse for cozy, snuggly winter knits. I jumped on the band-wagon and started the Lizard Ridge afghan from kitty. Very clever pattern and I can even read doing it while knitting backwards!

I'm going to knit three (or four) stripes rahter than single squares in order to get the best use out of the precious Kureyon. However, organising this proves to be too hard to handle for me already. With only two balls I have already lost one banderole!

Toasty!

2006-11-14T19:55:00.000Z

Amanda's Toasty Toes round up list today told me that almost everybody has received a ~~heart~~ feet warming parcel by now. Of course, I was prepared to wait a little longer being aware of the distance...
Naturally, the list also told me, which socks I could not hope for anymore. (If you haven't seen the Toasty Toes socks by now, go there and check them out. Seriously!)
Each and every pair is adorable and surfing the remaining participants (yes, I admit, very snoopy), I had just opened this blog, when the doorbell rang.
A parcel for me. Not just any parcel but the Toasty Toes parcel and from exactly the blog I was just reading! No kidding!

completely wrapped in red - I love red!

Emily put together countless goodies, most of all a HUGE selection of (presumably) very tasty chocolates.

You can also see a very stylish thermos mug for any beverage that keeps me warm inside. How generous! Tea is also included, but Emily recommands hot chocolate. I agree, especially tonight.

[mouse over for US conversion]

And of course the socks!

Oh, oh, oh... I adored her choice of yarn (Socks That Rock in Lagoon) already back in July when she had a poll on her Toasty Toes sock yarn. And now the socks are here, all mine. They are sooo pretty. They fit perfectly. They are toasty and even show off the Toasty Toes due to the special toe Emily made. I would have never dared to attach a different coloured toe and you could see me for some while muttering "Why not? Why not - in all these years of knitting socks!". It is such a clever idea and just adds the little extra twist to a handmade pair. I really love these socks, Emily, they are perfect!
As I am writing this, I am of course wearing the sock. The sock_? Yes: only one because I still have to wear a bandage around my right ankle and I don't want to overstretch my brand new socks. But I can feel the difference. My left toes are definitely toastier!

I owe you detailed pictures of the socks but there is no way I can shoot them right now. It's so dark and the above pictures are poor enough.
So, we are all looking forward to see these beauties with their fantastic stretchy seed stitch rib, fabulous gussets and flashy hot toes in bright daylight.
Thank you so much, Emily, for knitting these wonderful socks!
Thank you, Amanda, for initiating and hosting this great sock swap!

jinxed?

2006-11-03T17:31:00.000Z

Me and the rpm sock ain't gonna be friends... hm hmm hmm hm hm hhmmmm

I totally messed up the counting - hey, it's not that difficul: 9 st pattern repeat, knit and purl. How very smart of me not to touch my Icarus shawl at the moment!
However, I felt too lazy to rip back the whole sock and only dropped a "few" stitches.

You probably know better than I did. The whole process of picking them up and tidying the messy strands possibly takes much longer time than just rip and reknit.
Suddenly, I realised that it was time to run (hobble) for the appointment at the doctor's. (What a butcher this time. Teared off my bandages with pure force. Idiot!) Coming home, I felt slightly uneasy about the fact that Willy and the vulnerable sock, hastily dropped onto a table before sudden departure, were all alone at home. However, I can not say that it was fortunate that he did not care for the sock in my 30 minutes absence. See why. Better yet, don't click if you are sensitive to bloody crime scenes. Because, Willy proudly presents his first contribution to the family's menu: starling tartare on ÖDUM (IKEA rug)
(oops...reminds me that I still have to think about my contribution to the fabulous knit & dish swap over at Amanda's...)

Call it a bad day, yeah?
No, not yet. Having picked up all the stitches, counted them about a zillion times and getting started to finally make some progress in this beloved grrrrrrpm sock, THIS is what happens!

I think I will spend some money on a lottery ticket this week. I should at least win enough to buy a new set of rosewood needles. Argh!

Who is wearing socks anyway?

2006-11-02T21:34:00.000Z

Has it been quite here again? Yes? Too quite?
That's why.

Someone does not mind me not washing my foot for some days now.
Or wait, does it smell like fish already?

No, I don't type with my right foot but...
That's a partially torn ligament (Everybody assures me that's the best that could happen compared to a fully torn ligament or a simple ligamental strain. Please keep quite on this one because in my opinion, the best would have been, not to twist my ankle in the first place!)
It has been responsible for hours and hours spent in hospital, at doctors and on the phone, trying to be on (paid) sick-leave, and, yes, resting my ankle while observing the invasion of dust bunnies and mysterious multiplication of dirty dishes.

It feels somehow nice though having official approval to spend the days lying on the sofa. I just wish there would be more time for knitting. But there isn't. The pile of reading material is higher than would be healthy resting my foot on.
However, feeling so bad about my Socktober record, I had to cast on for some mindless- knitting-while-reading socks. As so many things take the wrong turn in my life these days, so does this sock.

See, beautiful Socks That Rock yarn in the colourway Scottish Highlands*.
Which is very appropriate because of the weather here, momentarily changing from mild autumn sun to heavy dark rainfalls faster as you can say Socks That Rock in Scottish Highland. Or faster than you can spell p-o-o-l-i-n-g! And the pattern (rpm, knitty.com), although simple, demands for some serious counting. Well... Plan B is therefore the challenge to follow one of the most difficult books I ever read (Tolkien's Silmarillion) in audiobook format and knit (and count, and curse).
Anybody perked up his or her ears when I said Tolkien? Great, because last time it was so very, very helpful to have people commenting on my study work. This time it's a Tolkien seminar and my main concern is an essay on "The Evil of Saruman". You are so very welcome to share your thoughts!

*I really love this yarn, even hand-winding it into skeins. But I was not too happy to find a knot in the hank, hence the small ball in front.

Across the ocean

2006-10-20T21:44:00.000Z

He's coming home, he's coming home, he's coming, Leif is coming home.

Resemblance?

[click for a closer view of the inscription]

"face to face"

So, Leif Eriksson made it "back home". How come that I guessed to be one of his landing ports rather than say Vasco da Gama or Marco Polo? Hehe... The suspense was of course not to know when the vessel would arrive here. It did so last Friday.
Want to see what was inside?

Phoebe sent a bursting box full of goodies! !!!!
Yarn first: she included two skeins of Koigu KPM yarn in a beautiful silvery/grey shade. The absolutely stunning colour shines like silk and will be perfect for patterned socks. I love it! She also included a ball of Cascade Fixation. Super cool! My sister has this no wool! attitude when it comes to socks. Unfortunately, I don't enjoy to knit with cotton. But the elastic Fixation just looks like it fits the bill. Thank you, Phoebe, that was very observant. The icluded sock pattern looks very intriguing (Peak Experience Socks by Betsy McCarthy) and included on the page is an inch metre (great!) and a grafting diagram. I will finally be able to survive without an online connection.
The parcel was also packed with some chocolate extraordinaire (it took some time until I understood the concept of "whack and unwrap") and delicious citrus tea. Very thoughtful again, Phoebe, to include tea filters! It is not long since those were (if at all) only available in special tea/coffee shops over here and you almost had to buy them piece by piece (or more wish you could, given the price). Thank you very much, Phoebe!

Here's a tiny little peak inside the parcel that I send off ..hmm.. back to "Vínland"? Who knows..

On other means, you have probably read that Iceland "is giving the finger to the international community" by resuming commercial hunting of whales. The hunting for "research" purposes already stirred up the discussion last year and I am getting kind of tired.
As much as the idea to kill whales might disturb me in general, I am also able to blend out my emotions here. The mere fact, these animals are bigger or supposedly more intelligent or "cuter" than others, doesn't neccessarily grant them a better stand than other animals, breed and hunted for feeding purposes. At least, I think, they are free roaming and apparently happy animals as long as they live (not regarding the increasing pollution of the oceans at this point). Something one cannot assume for the majority of poultry and pigs for example.
However, I cannot find a single argument in the official statements for resuming the commercial hunting.
I remember a poll from last year, revealing that 2% of the population had actually used the opportunity to be able to buy and eat whale meat again. I don't seem to find the source again. Anyway, make it even up to 20%. That's not really a pressing demand that has to be satisfied. Together with the fact that the meat is not at all selling as hot cakes. Quite the opposite. Even though being one of rather the cheapest meat you can buy, it fails to be a commercial success.
The other favoured argument leading the discussion is that of tradition. Well, traditions are not neccessarily a good thing and need to be revised here and then. Hundred years ago, girls were not allowed to go to school and I won't even go into topics like female genital mutilation.. but everybody would whole-heartedly agree here in interfering and stopping the corresponding nations in such behaviour. But nobody is allowed to even comment on the Icelandic "tradition" to hunt whales, which are by no means their "property" by the way. And then, there were other nations big in whaling, anybody remember "Moby Dick"?!
I, as so many foreigners, might just come about a little patronizing in this matter and You might find it interesting to read about it from an Icelandic voice over here.
I just cannot see the point of the Icelandic officials in bringing themselves into the spotlight again and again with highly controversial projects. The latest and biggest of course being the disastrous Kárahnjúkar dam, which eventually will lead to irreversible destruction (or if you prefer to have it neutral: "impact") on 3% of Iceland's landmass.
Think about this behaviour if you are considering a journey to a country that until now appeals to people mostly because of its breathtakingly beautiful landscapes and unspoiled nature.

Fast forward

2006-10-16T22:27:00.000Z

Are you thinking Happy New Year with me?
False alarm. It's just IKEA celebrating the opening of a newer, bigger store in Iceland. Everybody I know has been there over the weekend while I kept ignoring this event. To there excuse, it must have been quite a sensation for the children to meet Astrid Lindgren' s characters Lína Langsokkur (Pippi Longstocking) und Emil í Kattholti (Emil of Maple Hills)*. My excuse for boycotting the opening festivities is the mere fact that the whole building site was dumped onto an until then unspoiled lava field. Very beautiful and specially picturesque in the autumn these landscapes due to the slooooowly growing vegetation are most very sensitive to human interference. This special site was designed to remain protected but as big business tends to undermine such thinking here all too frequently, big trucks cutted ugly trails into the whole area. The best is the current TV spot of IKEA, featuring a young couple. The boy leading the girl blindfolded through the lava landscape and kneeling down with rings in order to propose. ..when the girl suddenly discovers the blue and yellow monster building in his back and forgotten is all romantic and of to shopping it is.
Well... complaining now, I might just go there soon anyway, when in need for another Billy or Benno or what have you. Sigh.
I can even walk there now. And hence, their firework show in the kitchen window. 15 minutes!

In real life, fireworks aka New year's eve have to wait little longer. We are celebrating autumn over here. For example with Indian summer coloured finished Toasty Toes socks!

Pattern: Seed stitch rib (1.Row: 3K 1P, 2. Row: 4K, repeat), Toe-up
Yarn:.... Kid Mohair/Merino sock yarn from Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks, colourway Indian Summer purchased with superfriendly service from Crown Mountain Farms
Needles: 3 mm circs bamboo

I thought this "pattern" was my own but surfing for other sock patterns I stumbled upon this one in Knitty: Thuja from Bobby Ziegler. Surely, I have seen this some while ago and just remembered it unconsiously. Therfore credits go to Bobby. I changed it into toe-up knitting, however, and short row heels worked in the magic loop method. Woohoo. Magic, no less for my pal.
I really like how these socks turned out. The variegation of the yarn is just sufficient to make this simple pattern interesting. Also, it is wonderfully soft. Ribs are also everytime a good option when knitting for someone, who cannot try on. I hope my pal doesn't mind the stripes, though. And most of all , I hope of course these socks are going to fit ~~like gloves~~...
One thing still bothers me a little. As much as I like how the colours turned out, they are not quite what I had in mind when ordering "Indian Summer" (you all know, the true colour - monitor effect). But pretty anyway.

They have almost left the building in order to keep someone else's feet warm this winter.
Bye, bye Toasty Toes socks, I enjoyed every minute with you.

* a note from the amateur translator. While the concept of Pippi Longstocking is kept in all the languages I can observe (Swedish, English, German Icelandic) in means of the socks (Socktober reference!), Icelanders named her Lína. At least a nice alliteration. Emil, on the other hand, obviously sparks more creativity. Being originally located in Lönneberga (Swedish), he moves to Kattholt (Iceland) or Maple Hills (English/American?), but turns into Michel von Lönneberga in German. Well, nevermind.
Thank you for being still with me until here and foremost for enduring my droolings over peculiarities!

Socktober, first pair

2006-10-12T20:06:00.000Z

As everybody knows it's Socktober again!
I already have one finished pair to register - yippie (and the Toasty Toes socks are coming soon.)

[See how I am desperately trying to make use of my new tripod?]

Pattern: my own, simple 2K2P ribbing short-row heels and toes
Yarn:.... Trekking, Atelier Zitron, colour 99
Needles: 2 and 2,5 mm dpn bamboo

These socks have been a field for experiments. I usually knit Trekking on 2,25 mm needles but this time chose 2 mm for the feet and 2,5 for the upper part of the cuff. It felt odd to knit the ribbing on bigger needles - and it does not make too much sense I have to admit. Probably active cuff shaping would be wiser. Next time. Also, I knitted them cuff-down despite my fear of doing so when using a single skein. And it was really close in the end. With shaking hands I measured the left-overs: less than three metres.
This pair is my first with short row heels AND toes. The grafting part of the toes was a delight. It is amzing how perfect aka seamless the socks look. I will definitely do a short row toe again. Not so sure about the heel, though. As you can see on the picture it does not fit perfectly. I like the ability to adjust the sock measurements to my instep when doing a heel flap.
Concluding words: I love the rather unusual colour combination and I still love Trekking yarn. Fun!

Back

2006-10-11T22:20:00.000Z

Is anybody out there still reading? Really, it has been a long time.
Almost calls for a yarn-give-away contest:
Why did I disappear from blogland for so long
a) Iceland decided against internet technology and cut down all connections
b) I'm pregnant (as so many other bloggers out there!) and was indisposed
c) I stopped knitting!
d) ...
Well, let's stop here. None of it is true but the fact that I was in a state of ailing. Nothing to worry though. At least not anymore.

But enough of that. I'll better jump right back into the knitting blabber.
First of all and most important (sorry, Melanie for letting you wait so long!)
I received my Sockapaloooza socks!
I love them, they are so squashy, comfy and warm. Perfect for roaming inside as is advisable in the approaching winter weather.

Melanie (visit her blog Dandelion Spinnery, beautiful name!) demanded for a some pictures since she forgot to take them, or more like hurried so much to have them sent off. She went through quite a frenzy to knit socks for me! Her first pair turned out too small for my giant feet. I was so sorry to hear about that, not only for all the work she had obviously put into the knitting but she also knitted them in handspun yarn. Wow! The second attempt was stopped by her after gathering that I am not really into blue socks. Gosh - stupid to say now - but I wouldn't have minded. Anyway, third time is a charm and Melanie surprised me with these beautiful grey-shaded luxuriously soft (and fitting!) socks! I really do love them and don't regret for a second having participated in the Sockapaloooza exchange. Thank you, Melanie, thank you Alison!

One pair of socks in, another - almost - going out. The last weeks of the fading summer have been dominated by the Toasty Toes sock exchange chez sheepandnocity.

Don't be fooled by the poor progress on the picture (and the green grass...) Both socks are knitted up to the desired cuff lengths. I am merely contemplating a cute hem or a clever cast-off.
The picture, however, was taken to compare a sock knitted with alternating bits of the skein (right side) to one knitted up just straight (left side). The former (advised) method in order to avoid pooling did not appeal to me. On the other hand, my sockpal said she is not very much for self-striping yarn. Are these stripes? Hard to deny... I do hope, she doesn't mind. I really did not see them coming - and they are not to avoid without terrible pooling effects. Sigh.

In other news, purely knitting related for now, there is has been a s-w-e-a-t-e-r on the needles!

I knitted an hourglass sweater from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts pattern book. The yarn was some silk blend, almost as requested for in the book. Only difference: in opposition to the Noro Iro (for approx. US$20/100g) the yarn did only cost me 13US$ per 100g. Okay, it's "only" Tussah silk but it knitted up very nicely. No picture of the finished sweater because I still haven't grafted under the arms and I cannot stop the body's hem from curling upwards. Damn...

Next big project will be a scarf. I already have some wonderful Alpaca lace yarn (Dicentra Design) from Teyani's Crown Mountain Farm.
I originally chose the yarn to knit an Icarus scarf. I felt, looking at the picture in the IK that the name Icarus calls for a more dramatic colour. Not quite singe-black maybe but a hot burning fiery sun colour. Paprika it is. What do you think?

Only problem remaining to get me started is the inexplicable disappearance of my IK summer 2006 issue.

The one with the pattern! I have not the slightest idea where it could be.
But the time searching for it is better spend adding the finishing touches to my Toasty Toes socks. They will have to leave very soon!

Where's Waldo Willy?

2006-08-16T23:19:00.000Z

Here comes my Toasty Toes update just one day after Amanda posted the recent developments. Well.. better timing next week. Hopefully. It's not much anyway.
First, I was opting for Toasty Toes yarn from Interlacement yarns but couldn't manage to win an ebay auction (Hey you other Toasty Toe-ers. Did YOU outbid me all the time?!)
But I found a worthy replacement and my yarn of choice arrived. I chose some delicious and very soft sock yarn in the heavier weight range with not only merino but also Kid Mohair content:

Kid Mohair/Merino Sock Yarn from Crown Mountain Farms.
Pretty, huh? Now I have to brood over a suitable pattern for this yarn. The variegated colourway and the weight call for plain stockinette, of course. But I am still thinking of a way to spice them up. Like with little seed stitch ribs for example. Any ideas?

And well, the title of the post. It's of course referring to one of the Summer of Amazing Lace challenges. But again, I don't really make/made it into the challenge. So don't look for anything knitted.

[I couldn't resist another mouse over effect]

No, this not a hitherto unclassified Icelandic Koala-look-a-like species. It's poor Willy! Don't ask how he ended up in this tree! But the important thing is that he got rescued after only a couple of minutes miaowing (thanks to prick-eared cat mom who filtered his desperate cries for help through window glass, radio sound and diesel engine noise). He really needed a rest after this adventure. And so did his saviour who could only reach him while standing on his toes on the last rung of the ladder. (Yes, we do have some surprisingly high trees in Iceland.)

And the kids? They had their adventure yesterday. Fishing inside the window to pull Willy out by grabbing his legs, they climbed on the camping table that serves as Willy's stepping stone. Surprisingly, it is not sturdy enough for a couple of children... It flipped over (bended legs = kaputt) and off they ran.
When we got hold of them later, we told them that their behaviour had been a bit over the top lately: breaking a table, let aside the pounding in the flower beds and fishing and pulling through the window. Their rather indicting reply was that one of them got a bloody lip when falling down from OUR table. So!?
I was speechless. Is it just me or would you expect an appology, too? MY parents told me to act responsible for my wrong doings - even though it was a hard lesson to walk over to the neighbours, all quivering and ashamed, to say my appologies and probably hand over some flowers and chocolate. I think I really need children on my own or I will eventually turn into a bitchy kid-hating cat lady v-e-r-y soon. Garçon, a slice of tolerance, please!

Schnapszahl

2006-08-13T13:40:00.000Z

I want a boy for my birthday
He doesn't have to be too smart
Just as long as he loves me
And keeps me in his heart
I want a boy to comfort me
And treat me tenderly
Oh yeah yeah yeah yeah
I want a boy to love
......................................--The Smiths

Events
1913 - Invention of stainless steel by Harry Brearley.
1961 - Berlin Wall: The German Democratic Republic closes the border between the eastern and western sectors of Berlin, to thwart its inhabitants' attempts to escape to the West.
2004 - Adam Curry's first Daily Source Code is created, launching podcasting.

Births
1871 - Karl Liebknecht, German socialist and co-founder of the Communist Party of Germany*
1899 - Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock, English film director (d. 1980)
1926 - Fidel Castro, Cuban revolutionary and politician*

Deaths
1910 - Florence Nightingale, English nurse (b. 1820)
1913 - August Bebel, German social democrat and one of the founders of the Social Democratic Party of Germany*
1946 - H. G. Wells, English writer (b. 1866)

Other
International Lefthanders Day

* See a theme there, me and the lefties?

You guessed it by now, another important event took place on this day. It's my birthday!
I was planning for weeks to celebrate my birthday at a concert with Morrissey! I was so excited. But then my sister came for visit. And her boyfriend. Who just said Morri..-who? Somehow this ignorant remark, only excusable considering his age, melted my brain. Presumably I nodded to the suggestion of spending the weekend outside Reykjavik and travelling around Iceland instead. They wouldn't take advantage of my temporary unconsciousness that followed this blasphemic confession, wouldn't they?
Well, here you go. Among other things we went to see Jökulsárlón, a glacier lagoon. One of my birthday presents was a tripod. (Hopefully very helpful when taking pictures of my knit projects in the future) That's why I can give you a picture of the whole group, me on my first day of being 33 and the culprits who traded Morrissey for thousand year old ice cubes!

See the funny amphibian vehicles that drive/float/swim/sail around the lagoon.

Even cooler maybe that they still have these funny pens with floating boats inside. I haven't seen one of these in ages! - Finally, we are entering the gladder parts of this post.

Because it it says knitting here somewhere I'll show you a gorgeous parcel from Sundara Yarns, the Petal collection. I'm in love with this yarn!

[mouse over]

Willy says hi and thanks for all the sympathy regarding the kiddo's maltreatment terror. He lets you know he's a survivor and able to manage "the dive" now, a grand jump indoors through a window where even tiny arms cannot reach him (you bet they tried! ;-))

Too hot for knitting!

2006-08-03T22:31:00.000Z

Well, so it was yesterday. Sitting outside in the sun made my hands sweat! I had to put down the woolen sock but was not in the mood to pick up the supposedly cooler bamboo yarn. I defenitely missed a call there because today everything was back to normal: rain, rain, RAIN!

However, strolling through town I stopped at an open-air photo exibition displaying historical photographs of some remarkable places in Reykjavik. This one was a special eye catcher while enjoying tropical temperatures.

[Arnarhóll, early 20th century]

[Arnarhóll, early 21st century]

How much fun to capture a moment almost as rare as horses downtown these days. No, I don't mean sunglasses, a sleeveless top or shorts. It's the bike!

This is how I feel...

2006-07-30T22:53:00.000Z

How convinient to have a mood-double*.
I am back from my small vacation which was very nice (pictures to come) and relaxing. Therefore no excuse on the stressed-out theme nor any other excuse for not blogging (let aside the blog-reading!). I have no idea what causes my fatigue, it would be very far fetched to claim exhaustion. Since I don't even want to think about - maybe we can agree on calling it laziness?

There are some socks on the needles. Really weird socks.

To the left you see the beginning of a socks knit in Regia bamboo yarn. [note to myself: a) remove the weed bin before photo shoot and b) check picture before uploading] I thought they would make nice summer socks. I chose an arbitrary cable pattern to resemble bamboo, smart eh? Unfortunately, the bamboo yarn knits up (and looks) excactly like cotton yarn, which I don't really like to knit with. At least, when knitting socks (and honestly, do I knit anything else?) it has not enough stretch. It feels nice, though.
The right side shows a Trekking yarn in a very peculiar colour combination (The colour is No. 1673 and untraceable online, therefore no link). It reminds me of mint and strawberry fudge. This would be the moment to remind my secret pals from the Yarn Aboard II and Toasty Toes swap of my colour preferences: no matter what I say/said, I'm up to change my opinion on colour any given day, so don't give a damn ;-)
I love this weird colour combination, although I have no idea what to combine it with when actually wearing the socks.

*In contrast to me, Willy the cat has a good reason for being exhausted. When we came home from our trip, the little one skulked in the hedge beside our house. Outside! A place where a 12 week-old kitten definitely shouldn't be in the middle of the night and nobody is at home. Our catsitter carelessly forgot to close a window and Willy dropped 2,5 m deep to finally find himself in unknown territory. This was only the beginning of the adventure.
Next day, three kids from the neighbourhood curiously 'investigated' our garden and peered into the windows. I thought this behaviour to be quite annoying after a while and shooed them off. Later in the evening they knocked at the door and asked if we own the cute little kitten they had been playing with the day before. Okay - so the kiddos were formally introduced to Willy and 'played' with him for some while. He is cute, he is so well behaved, no claws, no biting just purring - of course they fell in love with him. Resulting in daily visits from then on. Several daily visits! Culminating in knocking on the door 10 a.m. on a Saturday and after ignoring, ~~knocking~~ hammering on the sleeping room's window and shouting they want to play with the cat. While they are snatching him from the garden and playing with MY cat I don't even have to worry about rain. They just take him into their house and close the door behind him. That really made me furious.
Today, they only asked three times, each time arming themselves against my refusal to hand out the kitten with man power: finally six kids between 6 and 8 begged with big eyes to be allowed to 'play' with Willy (what translates to carrying him around like a doll, not the good old chasing-hunting games he would prefer). I'm a devastated cat mom! And probably to all the children in the neighbourhood the ill-tempered cat lady now. Gosh!

All-purpose lace (challenge #4) ...almost...

2006-07-15T09:41:00.000Z

I thought I was for a change on time for this challenge. Well, not quite. What do Rachel and Theresa say: "If you bound off your lace RIGHT NOW - what could it be used for?I" and "Please exercise due diligence when dealing with many tiny unbound stitches". Unfortunately, my teammate DFS (Diamond Fantasy scarf) showed expeditious development and had to be unleashed already.
However, we are both happy to show you what kind of adventures are awaiting a young lace scarf on his first steps into the big wide world. Travelling it will be!
First, check out the car. DFS tested out the ride on top of the car and while he, ~~nose~~ edges in the wind and rollicking shouting out 'Mama, I can surf on a car', lace-mama makes a note to herself, 'roof rack stays in garage'.

While DFS is making friends with travel companions ('Hi, camping stool, how are you?') it was obvious to me that his hearty hug was not only an emotionally strong one.

Yes, DFS, we are going to leave the car. What we are going to do? Uhm, fishing maybe?
Yes, the blue guy with all the holes to your right could be your cousin.
(HE's staying home, though,
hehehe.....mwahaaahaa)

Since nobody is throwing a pretty young but damp lace scarf into a cooling box together with dead fish, he has to dry properly after having his 'dip'.
DFS here admiring our new house tent. The suspense of building it up for the first time is almost killing him...

I think he could be of great support drying smoothly just over here.

Ah, I'm looking forward to our trip. Unfortunately, it had to be postponed for a week because the weather was too bad.

weather.yahoo.com, weather.com

No - please no sympathy NOW. That's actually the current weather situation, meaning good enough to leave town. BUT.. on the right picture you can see that this s in fact pretty much the average Icelandic summer weather!
Okay, I am off now for a week and in case you were seriously scared: Don't call the lace-rights activists. This was just a dry run.
No lace was physically harmed! I kindly offered unlimited refreshments after the photoshoot, while we discussed DFS talent for acting. This was followed by a light stretching excercise and some acupuncture treatment. I am confident, this will prevent any psychological damage in the long run and compensate for missing a real rainy outdoor adventure.

A lace, a gaze and a race

2006-07-07T19:32:00.000Z

Was that the Summer of Lace for me?

The Diamond Fantasy Scarf (design by Sivia Harding) is finished. At least almost, two ends need to be woven in.
And I haven't participated in ANY of the so very much entertaining assignments. I am ashamed of myself!
But I am sure, there will be another lace project in the future. This project was so much fun. I sense hints of a lace addiction.
And since I bound off I qualify for challenge #4 and might just move from the stands to join the fun actively.

Meanwhile, I am happily knitting up my Socks That Rock yarn in Cobalt Bloom. Here's a glimpse because at this stage of the project I am not giving away details. Only a peek. But aren't the colours gorgeous?

Last but not least, enter the new domain of technical tricks at sheepandnocity.
Today's lesson:

How to create a mouse-over effect

First of all, you need two pictures, preferably of the same size. They can only differ slightly to create only a tiny twinkling effect...

...create more motion with the mouse...

...or a David Copperfield illusion.

You will need include the following code into the HTML section of your post.

< img scr="picture_01.jpg" width="100" height="50" name="image_01"
onmouseover="image_01.src='picture_02.jpg';"
onmouseout="image_01.src='picture_01.jpg';" >

Afterwards, you have to adjust the different templates to your needs.
Starting with the "name", you don't really have to change something here. Just be aware, that the "01" works as a counter. If you include another mouseover command one day (in another post) you have to count up (image_02, image_03). Or simply chose another "name".

For the pictures you have to give the entire source path (in case you are uploading them in blogger, you can see the path there if you go to the "Edit HTML" mode.
Look for something that looks like this:

href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/ (...) /sock.jpg"

Copy the whole address of the pictures into the appropriate places.

< img scr="http:// (...) sock1.jpg" width="100" height="50" name="image_01"
onmouseover="image_01.src='http:// (...) sock2.jpg';"
onmouseout="image_01.src='http:// (...) sock1.jpg';" >

Take care to include the picture you want to have on mouseover on the right place.
At last, change the size of the pictures (width, height) according to your image.

Voilà!

(This one works with Blogger. If you use another blog software and this does not work, you might want to checkout for example this page and try the codes there.

Hand-knitted vs hand-made socks...

2006-06-30T19:51:00.000Z

[Mmmh? She is taking pictures...]

[...of socks! How exciting...]

Pattern: My very own boring 2K2P rib. Toe-up, short row heel
Yarn:......Trekking XXL, dyed with Kool-Aid
Needles: 2,5 mm dpn bamboo

Nothing exciting except for the fact that I dyed the yarn MYSELF - woohoo!
The Trekking yarn came in a 100 g skein and I somehow managed to wrap it the wrong way. (Don't look at me like this!)
The result was green, blue, purple stripes in one half of the skein, and blue, blue, purple stripes on the other. What am I supposed to do? Knit two different socks? Well, this girl knows how to split a yarn: two green stripy feet for me.

My appologies for the bad light but unfortunately - no blue skies!

I'm feeling blue

2006-06-30T19:10:00.000Z

I know, you don't want to hear my complains. A notice, though. This post is backdated because it was originally composed for the last day of June aka Project Spectrum's months blue.
The everlasting sporadic internet encounters made it impossible.
But here you go.

Blue is not really my colour. Specially in clothes, the only thing you'll find me wearing will be jeans and m-a-y-b-e an old inherite T-shirt when painting.
On the look-out for blue colour in my life I could have only shown you my bath room. No, you don't want to see it, it's old and ugly.
I was planning a a-blue-sky-a-day picture collage. Unfortunately, June was a very rainy months. So rainy that when the sun finally showed, I had forgotten about my plan. Sigh.

Would you call this one blue?..................

But I saw a nice meme-thing over here and immidiately liked the idea. Kind of consuming blue, the blue book meme.
It works like that:
1. Grab the nearest book with a blue cover.
2. Open the book to page 86.
3. Find the first full paragraph.
4. Post the text in your journal along with these instructions.
5. Don't search around and look for the coolest book you can find, just the closest blue book.

Since my German shelf is the nearest, I have to open the German translation of Umberto Eco's Focault's Pendulum. But the "paragraph" is a blast! Since it is a page full of dialogue, my paragraph is only a single line:

"Wir sind von Dummen umzingelt!"
(we are surrounded by morons)

Ever so true...
Because it is about blue, I thought the picture would be appropriate, too and I also decided to take the idea of the nearest blue thing a bit further. My nearest book shelf is a very sophisticated BILLY and BENNO arrangement and not only holds books but also CDs and DVDs. Blue ones, too.

But what to do with them? I could...

Count the DVD's episodes

"3"
Choose the according track number from the CD and post this title.

"Glücklich und dumm" (Happy and stupid)
Magically reveal some coherence with the book's paragraph!
Google the CD track's and the DVD's title and post the third result.

Scheidungsrate auf neuem Rekordwert von 46,4 Prozent
(divorce rate hits new record at 46,6 %)

Okay, I admit. This is entirely stupid. But it was fun anyway.
And then I remembered: I had worked on the perfect connecting PS project. Dyed some yarn in May little bit of green, knitted in June (lots of blue) and anticipated wear in July (hints of purple).
A knitted item? Socks - what else?

Details in the sock post.

Lost between seasons

2006-06-29T22:14:00.000Z

Spring is here again!
I got the yarn from the DYE-O-RAMA swap.

I am a very happy pal in the WTF-section. Look what my pal Polly Atomic send out to me. B-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l bright, fruity yellow-orangy yarn. I love it! Thank you so much! You cannot see that it is also wonderfully soft and smells yummy from the bath flakes she included. I adore the pretty card she included, too. See the fastening of the envelope? So cute!
Polly also has started a blog recently, go over and pay her a visit.
This swap was seriously fun! Eventhough, it might not have sounded so on my side all the time. I have to thank the Dye-O-Rama crowd, first of all my Dye-O-Rama-Mama Noelle, for this idea. I would never have started dyeing my own yarn if it wouldn't have been with the opportunity to send out the crappy first attempts to someone else ;-)

So, one swap down, next to come. Did I say 'spring' earlier? Well, after all, the days are getting shorter again, meaning winter is approaching soon. Ha! I am prepared. Somewhere out there is someone who will knit some wonderful warm socks to keep my toes toasty. And so will I do for someone in return. I am so looking forward. A big WooHoo for Amanda's Toasty Toes swap!

Another post post

2006-06-27T23:43:00.000Z

Waiting for my sockapaloooza socks to arrive as well as the DYE-O-RAMA swap yarn, the sight of the postman approaching with a parcel was not that surprising.

What is in there?

Surprising, however, it was neither of the expected parcels but a lovely surprise from Jenn! Can you believe, she send not only one but TWO skeins of Socks That Rock yarn! One in the gorgeous colourway Ruby and one in Cobalt Bloom. She also added some cute greeting cards with a knit theme. And as if this is not enough, she included many, many Kool-Aid sachets. Yippieh! Off to more dyeing adventures! Customs showed no interest this time, maybe they marked me down as the oddball who drinks gazillion liters of unhealthy strangely coloured soft drinks.
It is so much fun to get a parcel with yarn! And at long last, am I not the only one in this house who enjoys receiving yarn deliveries.

[don't miss the mouse-over effect]

And another bonus point of this surprise parcel: the sockapaloooza socks and the DYE-O-RAMA yarn are still to come!

Now it is my turn to send out parcels. Some while ago, I asked you to help me to overcome my homesickness. I am very grateful for all your comments, I really enjoyed reading them. Common agreement on German qualities seems to be the beer and the cordiality. Probably one goes hand in hand with the other sometimes ;-)
First, I am announcing Tiffany as a winner in the freestyle category, congratulations! But second, overwhelmed by the amount of heart-warming feedback, I decided to draw two winners from the rest of you.
A little transperancy on the very scientific drawing procedure...

Congratulations go out to Laursink and Liz! I sent each of you an email so keep an eye on your spam folder. Thanks everybody for taking part!

PS. I promise, the next post will be kitten-free!

Team spirit

2006-06-23T13:31:00.000Z

Woohoo, my internet connection is working again. Alas, only 16% of the speed I should have (and pay for). But what the heck. This is still about 500 times faster than the connection I had since Monday and even that was infintely faster than the connection all the week before that - because there was none!

My thanks go out to all the participants of my little contest. I had some - HA! - many very nice comments already and I do feel very sorry about not having been able to reply to you yet. Also, the blogger system doesn't make it easy to track back people, therefore please be patient with me.

Now to the real content of this post. Remember the Summer of The Amazing Lace? I'm a joiner, did you know? How.. I brazenly ignored the two first challenges. I am feeling a bit ashamed because the hosts, Theresa and Rachel, are putting so much effort in this knitalong and get across such good summer and adventurous spirit. But how could I ever compete with so many hilarious contributions!?

I found a way! I'm going the cutie factor. And for quantity. Meet my teammateS:

See, the kitten picture in the last post as just a warm-up. A couple of days later, I am happy to introduce my own cute trouble-maker! The little one came to us with the name Leó but some prefer to call him Adenauer or Rudi Völler*, which I completely refuse to agree to!
*"Because he looks just like hime" - Help!! Opticians over here! Or what are these guys bringing in the straitjackets called again?
Oh well, you want to know something about my Amazing lace team mate.
Its the Diamond Fantasy Scarf from Sivia Harding, which I chose with recommendation from Kris aka strikker. Thank you, Kris! [check out her finished scarf here!]

The amazingly curious and normally hyperactive little lion cub soon approved my choice of yarn. For my first serious lace project I wisely chose sock weight: the incredibly colourful and soft but springy Cherry Tree Hill yarn I got from Becca in Amanda's Yarn Aboard swap. Thanks again, Becca! The whole Amazing Lace team over here is very happy thanks to your wonderful gift!
Apparently, a third teammate was just the right decision. After the scarf and I even crossed oceans, only to find at least one teammember completely unmodified, the support on four paws seems to make all the difference. Teammember Diamond is having a stretch at the moment. Pictures of the blocked scarf later because otherwise it would already be time to part from the rlace partner under the challenge's conditions.

Fitting to the CTH colourway Champlain Sunset I feel like sharing the sunset from Midsummerday with you. Woah, it is getting darker from now on!

Bad Karma for Dye-O-Rama

2006-06-12T16:58:00.000Z

It's the last day of DYE-O-RAMA and just on spot I sent out my yarn today. I planned to do so earlier because it has to travel a long distance - but the obstacles!
I meantioned the Kool-aid desaster. The sachets I bought on ebay where almost confiscated by custom officials here. I still don't know excactly what the problem was. Okay, they made a funny noise in the envelope. Anthrax, drugs? The concern of protecting Icelandic children from funny-coloured pooh? Anyway, just before last weekend, the Kool-Aid made it to my doorstep and so did the undyed yarn.
My pal stated she would be very happy with sef-striping yarn but not in the same colour way. Sigh.. not that easy with the selection I got here.

or like this

I was surprised to find out that even when dyeing only a part of a skein, there was not nearly enough colour in one sachet to dye the yarn in saturated colours or at least evenly. Loads of white spots all over the place. Could it be that the superwash quality of my yarn caused this effect? But if, why not in the sample threads? Furthermore in contrast to this theory is the black cherry result. It is fabulously red and juicy but therefore doesn't fit to the other colours/stripes. [double sigh]
To make a long and desperate story short, I will better show you the results. [shiver]

This tangled mess reminds me painfully of batik print. The style of blouses my more alternative teachers liked to wear around the time, trendsetter or fashion victim Nena was attending singing lessons in the humble premisies that were also my elementary school.

As mentioned before, I like the black cherry red, but the rest? I was/am not in the mental condition yet to try any over-dying yet. Rest in peace, little skein.

Next was the plan to create a midnightsun colourway.
That was before I found out that I don't really have orange because Tropical something was more brownish than orange. And one of the blues was not as dark blue as hoped for either... And what is the green doing there anyway?

In the end, the combination blue-green-purple is not that horrible in my opinion (which might have to do with all the handling, rewinding and the ability to aquire taste after all). Also, the yarn, Trekking, is very nice. BUT, idiot as I am, I wrapped the yarn in a wrong way! The green stripes are only in the first (or last) half of the skein, the rest is only blue and purple. Lesson learned!

Last attempt was strawberry/apple striped yarn (Take strawberry and apple colours and rack your brain to not include the word strawberry in the name for the colourway!) The result looked again kind of unpleasant in the skein with all the undyed white spots. Desperately, I decided to knit a swatch and lo and behold it is not that bad. I even like how it looks now but I kind of have to. I can imagine it being a fresh and girly Jaywalker for example.

I am afraid, however, that it is not according to my pals colour preferences. But then, she said she is open to anything and I really did my best. No yarn, no colour left for another attempt and I am afraid, I couldn't do better/try harder anyway :-(

To add some cuteness factor to this post I'll give you some kittens I visited over the weekend. Friends of me seem to really enjoy upgrading their family. Not long ago, they had a daughter (who is already grown out of this sweater [scroll down]). Now they are into breeding Norwegian Forest cats and those cuties are only two weeks old.

Say with me: AAHH!

Is there more to Germany than yarn?

2006-06-12T16:10:00.000Z

Well, I'm back from my vacation as became already clear in the last post.
I was planning to put up a collage with the iconic sights I visited during my trip. Talking about planning, here it is. However, I or blogger/blogspot are incapable of including the time-consuming mouseover effects I added to the whole thing. After a couple of days tinkering with CSS commands, I gave in. If you are curious (aka know what the pictures show) click on the image to be transfered to a stand-alone version.

Because some readers were wondering... I am originally from Germany but live in Iceland. Thus,it is only natural to consider my my holidays a trip back home. Strangely enough, only after a few days, I found myself thinking that I am going back home to Iceland soon.
What an emotional confusion! Good for you is that I was thinking about a contest (read: giving away yarn!) in this context.
What do you have to do to join the party? Okay, simple as that. Tell me something funny, charming, likeable maybe even ridiculous about Germany or The Germans in general, or a particular story/event/feature that comes in your mind. If you can, try to avoid stereotypes (is it possible ? ;-)) - uups, do I sound like a teacher? Or like a German?

[haha]

This is a selfish contest, I need some refreshment on why to feel home in Germany.
What is in it for you? German sock yarn, of course!

In this box, fresh from Germany, is some Trekking, different sorts of Regia (Canadian colours - so much for the German theme, but also bamboo sock yarn!), Opal and Meilenweit, some of them are summerly cotton blends. And there is more than you can see here.

The "contest" is as easy as this:
Leave a comment here, telling me something admirable about Germany. It can be a keyword or a whole story, about people, nature, art, music, literature, (yarn shops!?), whatever. I want to read something that makes me smile or laugh or cry or best of all homesick.
Because drawing a winner will be completely biased, I decided to announce a random winner as well. If you don't want to make me to be homesick (which is in fact a nice gesture as well - not to make me sad, I mean ;-)) but want to win some yarn anyway, leave me a comment as well. Just write you want to be in the drawing.
Still with me? Okay,
a) there will be one winner, who qualifies by heart-rending argumentation and
b) another winner, who is randomly picked from all comments.
Therefore, the ones with German topics double their chances to pick something from my sock yarn stash (which will be flashed in its enterity exclusively to them. Hehe)
You have time until Sunday, 25 June. Now, go ahead and good luck!

Let the party begin

2006-06-09T15:58:00.000Z

"I hope, we have a little bit lucky."
Lothar Matthäus

I'm afraid I'm falling for football madness right now.

Pattern: my own, simple 2K2P ribbing
Yarn:.... Lana Grossa Meilenweit Teamcolor 'Germany'
Needles: 2,25 mm dpn rosewood

During my trip to Germany I started these socks. The are for my sister's boyfriend, the two of them hosting a kick off party tonight (BBQ in the garden, no, I'm NOT jealous! I'm happy that I don't have to wear a raincoat over my t-shirt, sweater and fleece jacket) When my sister received her surprise socks, she really liked them. Unfortunately, she is highly sensitive to wool and can only wear them with protective cotton socks underneath. Thus, it was not ideal to send them out in spring. But her boyfriend got over-excited about the idea to have handknit socks. Almost as if he had never heard of this concept of clothes before. However, to lift up his mood (my sister is the football fanatic, he has to suffer) I decided to knit him a pair of fan-socks to support the German team. They/he will need some cheering.
Knitted in three German federal states and finished in Iceland they made their way back just in time to join the kick off tonight.

I have to admit that I am not very happy with the yarn. I have knitted the German stripes and Rainbow stripes from Regia before and both yarns are the better choice. First, I think Regia has the nicer touch but that is probably just me. Undoubtly though, Regia does a far better job dying their yarn. Their stripes are clear, saturated, even. Lana Grossa's stripes are rather pale, blurry, freckled and even have undyed spots. Well, you don't really see it down on the feet, but I know it is there. And since both yarns are pricewise in the same category (in Germany at least), I do think, Regia offers better quality here.

See here? The black stripe on the right in the more nightblue area is an obvious flaw in the dying process. Also, the light spots are no reflections from flash or sunlight, they are just there and you can probably also see the red spots in the yellow stripe. I'm not pleased.
The yardage is also poor.
I decided to cut some amount of yellow out in order to keep the flag stripe running over the span. Knitting up small men size socks (~43) with a rather short cuff, I ran out of yarn and had to puzzle out how to do the toe. In the end, I had only about one and a half yellow and one black stripe left. And loads of strands to weave in!!! That's not a grown-up men's pair of socks and not a relaxing knit either.

But as they say, German football style is clumsy and dogged rather than elegant or laid-back, too.

Summer!

2006-05-22T19:00:00.000Z

Summer in Germany!
While it was silent around here, I enjoyed my first week of holidays in Germany. I am happily reunited with my camera and there are LOADS of pictures to come. For now, I was busy enough updating the posts-on-hold and creating the flower collage above. The weather is not all that great, hardly reaching 20°C / 70°F with wind and rainfall almost every day. But still, only 3°C / 40°F back home in Iceland. Brrr...
My appologies go out to everybody, who should have received an answer to a comment, a longer email or an email at all. I am hardly ever connected to the internet at my parent's house and I am going to travel now for another week. Yippieh!
However..... I can announce a contest coming soon. Under the above mentioned keywords like Germany and summer and given the fact that this is still meant to be a blog about knitting, those who assume the contest might have something to do with just these keywords, summer, yarn or Germany might be right.
Please come back for more details later.

Dying experiences, Part II

2006-05-22T18:28:00.000Z

My thanks go out to all of you who had so wonderful tips on dyeing with natural ingredients. I will definitely try the one or other, beet root for example keeps sticking in my mind. But for now I moved on to food colour. No Kool-aid here and it will probably never reach here! I tried to by some sachets on ebay...
No. - no trying there: I did buy some Kool-aid on ebay, but it got confiscated by customs for now. Have to sort this problem out later.
In the meantime I have to use what's available. The picture shows Reyner's food colour, a British product, and sósulitur, an Icelandic product to colour gravy or more enhance its colour to a dark yummy brown. I only used the Reyner's but wanted to show you what's available round here.

I opted for simple stripes, and tied up the skein:
*Lanett superwash 100% merino light yellow
*50 g only because this is still the experiment chapter of my dying career)
The plan was to have stripes in yellow, orange and red, whereby orange was meant to be the main colour.
I mixed three Sisu-glasses (isn't it a crime that IKEA stopped selling those!?) with water, vinegar and food colour. Each three table spoons for red and yellow pure and 2:1 yellow to red for the orange.
I soaked the skein in in vinegar water before this time. Then everything went into the microwave (2 min zip, 2 min rest) 3x.

The dye liquid did not clear completely and I washed and rinsed the yarn for about 15 minutes. 15 minutes without making any progress concerning the colour bleeding. Is this normal? I gave up for this time because I was so curious how it would look like when dry.

Well... The yellow is fine. The red and orange is not, simply because they are not there. So, the final result does not look at all like intended (red-orange-yellow stripes) but is nice anyway.

Does it reminds you of the Gryffindor house colours, too?

Ruby leaves

2006-05-22T06:18:00.000Z

Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks by Mona Schmidt in InterweaveKnits Winter 2005
Yarn:.....Socks That Rock (Blue Moon Fiber Arts) colourway Ruby
Needles: 2,5 mm dpn bamboo

The Pattern is fun to knit and really intuitive, the yarn is absolutely georgeous = I love everything about this project, including wearing them!

They were also my fastest socks: CO 5 May 2006, BO 13 May 2006, posted.. well, a little bit later.

Ottawa

2006-05-15T18:57:00.000Z

Pattern: my own
Yarn:.... Regia Canadian Fashion colour 4733, 'Ottawa'
Needles: 2,25 mm dpn rosewood

These socks are rather short, with a twisted ribbing cuff, a short row heel and a simple left side/right side leaning decrease toe. Really nothing special except for the colourway. Hurray for the Canadian colours! The colour combination is often somewhat unexpected, nontheless nice and the long stripe repeats are just enough for my short term memory to gorget what comes next. Very entertaining.
I tried to find the inspiration behind the colour combination as I did so successfully for Vancouver (and mama-of-purl even better for Alberta!) but...
Hey, anybody from Ottawa? Is the thing you want to show off most really the Hard Rock Café? It is really prominent in the search results for Ottawa and somehow the only thing that matches the colour other than this 'typical' white water rafter. (I'll spare you the burgers, fries and mustard!)

I still like the colours, though. On the plus side: After knitting the brown stripes, I am longing for a knit project in chocolate! Well... chocolate coloured yarn. It ill not be socks. It might be a sweater or top. We'll see.
And because the hunt on nature inspiration was so dissappointing this time, I'll leave you with a quote on one of the dominant colours.

There are painters who transform the sun to a yellow spot, but there are others who with the help of their art and their intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun.
Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973)

Virtual reality

2006-05-12T11:52:00.000Z

Because everything still looks like this around here, I cannot really come to terms with the idea to celebrate green this month. I really need to indulge a little longer on the blossoming season.
Also, I am still having very sporadic encounters with digital cameras (but good news: my own was fixed by Canon supports and will be back in my hands next week!) but no problem. I proudly present stash pictures, meaning pictures from my stash, well.. you know what I mean.

Back in March, you remember the red and pink month, I stumbled across this piece of art downtown. Some might say, only the sculpture is art and the unauthorized 'lost & found' installement, showcasing the red scarf, is mere disrespect. But I liked it, and the poor naked man did not look that pathetic anymore, next to a mount of snow advertising snowscouter excitements (which you can obviosly not see on the picture. Back then, I opted for a sunny spring picture)

On my April stroll in search of orange and yellow, I was surprised by the display of one of the yarn shops in Reykjavik. Could it be that they knew about Project Spectrum? Probably not... Nonetheless, they obviously had easter-blossom-yellowish theme in mind, too.

Not much later, I had the chance to actually enter the shop when doing a little guided yarn shopping tour in Reykjavik. How come? Well, Maggie came all the way from Canada to check out Icelandic yarn. Who's Maggie? Maggie is obviously an avid knitter and knit blog reader and was the first virtual knitter I ever met in real life. She appears to be a very nice person, though I might not entirely vouch for her sanity: She decided to spend eight looong weeks here in Iceland for a work placement. Well... a great liking for Icelandic horses and, as I gathered, long time acquaintance with Lopi wool might make it easier. Talking about wool, Maggie is no girl for small potatoes. Her project while being in Iceland (besides getting used to patriotic phrases as "you can drink the water from the tap, it's the best in the world") will be a lopapeysa! Apparently, knitting a patterned yoke in the round is not tricky enough, and thus, she opted for the hooded cardigan version. Woohoo!
Unfortunately, she is located on the other side of this island and so I have to do like you and keep track of her knitting progress - and other adventures (hint: cute horse pictures!) - by following her blog.

Ready for another virtual-reality experience? Seperated by I don't know how many thousand miles, two knitters are wearing the same socks. Isn't that cool? I made these oddly striped ankle socks from a 150g monster skein a while ago and my blog friend Wanda was the only one, who seemed to develop some liking for the unusual colour combination. [click here for a déjà vu picture] Is it still so? Don't I detect a trace of scepticism between the lines, Wanda?

When I will be done with my last exam tomorrow - and have cleared up my study mess! (the really curious might want to enlarge the picture for a peek into my papers) - I will return with a post, possibly featuring one or more of the following topics:

adventures in dyeing
trials in lace knitting (I'm joining the amazing lace, unofficially for now, for certain reasons to be revealed later)
my ~~life~~ knitting in green (does anybody remember Elfine's socks?)

Areas of conflict

2006-05-10T17:06:00.000Z

With all the shaking, rattling and noise going on at home, I had completely forgotten about the constructions carried out over at the university. Imagine my surprise when reading the first sentence of this mail!

Wanted: advocate for my so far loyal sock yarn stash

2006-05-09T11:57:00.000Z

It is far better to be silent than merely to increase the quantity of bad ~~yarn~~ books.
Voltaire (1694 - 1778)

Everything about knitting this sock is so fast that even the pictures become blurry.

One sock down..

and the other in progress.

See - despite the blurriness - how the little sheep stitch marker matches the yarn?
It's the April sheep from Katie's Project Spectrum's stitch marker club and eventhough it's too late to join now a few of them are available in her etsy shop.)

Obviously, there is something really special going on there between me, my needles, the wonderful Socks That Rock yarn and the fun embossed leaves pattern from Mona Schmidt. I ask you: a sock in three days in the high tide of reading for exams?
I don't really know yet what kind of relationship we are going to develop, the STR and I. Sure, it's just natural to have a crush on this yarn, but will it become more than a fling? I'm all about to engage with this tempting, luscious beauty but I hear a low voice inside my head uttering concern.

Right you are, the yarn is divine and softer than anything you ever knit with. And yes, I agree, those colours are gorgeous and every single florid stitch makes you smile, which is kind of a priceless thing. But talking about price, oho.. listen... sure, quality has its price. Let's not argue on that one. But explain to me, why - WHY! - you are willing to spend more than twice as much on yarn you are knitting up in double speed ! ? ! ? All over sudden, sock yarn that has always been good enough for you before seems merely pale in comparison. Ha! Consider: You will, budget in mind, end up being left with only a quarter of the sock knitting time you are used to! Try to live with that!

Still dazed by the complex beauty of my precious new sock yarn, I can't find the nerve to argue with this little killjoy voice.
Have.To.Enjoy.My.Scarce.Knitting.Time.

My humble 0,165%

2006-05-07T22:27:00.000Z

I did my share to reach the 100% goal:
The Sockapaloooza socks are finished and heading towards their destination. (If I may drop a hint, they are crossing some big water by now. Hehe...)

I can't express how grateful I am that Alison put all this work and effort into this third mega sock exchange again. I enjoyed it so much! Many thanks go also out to my sock sister Ashley, who was not only supportive in sock matters (I should let my socks posing with books more often!)
Unfortunately, I missed out on a lot of socks in progress while I was unconnected for almost a months in all. And then the parade of finished socks hit right into the end-of-term-stress. But what I saw was gorgeous and I lost count on how many socks are surely heading into my direction because I think I cannot live without them anymore.

Blogging without pictures is not much fun. But asking friends to take pictures of your knitting, would only earn you odd glances.
With exams almost done, Soackapalooozas off the needles and Ottawa socks long finished (post with pictures to come there, they are so long finished that they are in the laundry bin again)... I could cast on for a new pair. Yippieh!
Yarn choices were either the beautiful Cherry Tree Hill yarn I got from Becca (thank you, thank you!) in my radio box or some gifted Socks That Rock from Amanda. You can imagine that this is a tough one.

Cast on choice numero uno was Cherry Tree Hill (Champlain Sunset) and found out that this is yarn I don't want to have on my feet. Not that it's not soft enough or anything alike! Pah.. but the colours are so nicely variegated and there is some crispiness to the yarn - I cannot step on it. No way. I decided to carefully unravel the few inches I already knit in a seed stich rib pattern (no picture evidence of course) and now I am opting for something in lace. Any ideas for a lace project in sock yarn? I tried Branching out first which worked fine but it only takes 1/3 of the yardage I have. I want something bigger!
Postponing the CTH until inspiration hits me (I here my call for the Summer of Amzing Lace!), the STR were next in row. Embossed leaves from Interweave Winter 2005 is the pattern choice. I have no words to praise the yarn, so buttery, so soft. It glides over my needles so fast, I am sure little little knitting elves are included in the deal. The pattern might be a bit too delicate for STR yarn because it is heavier than the sock yarn I usually use and that would be approbiate for the leave-lacey design. But it looks nice anyway (you have to be patient) and I don't have to do the maths to make them fit to my giant feet.
I am supposed to read while knitting and the intuitive pattern would make that an easy task. But not the yarn. Such a vibrant colour and then all the red and pink and rusty freckles here and there. Thank you, Amanda, you chose a perfect colour for me! I can't stop looking at it! And sock number one is almost done!

No happenings in the the Dye-O-Rama business so far. I haven't ransacked the kitchen for another natural dye approach and the striped coffee & curry yarn is undergoing a UV-endurance test. But: Hello dye pal! Thank you for your comment! I didn't quite get the thing with typing in the preferences for the dying project - because it appears they were only meant for matching up but not sent to the pals (at least I have no information on the preferences of my pal. Maybe it will be beet root and coffee then!)
Mine are, well.. I would love some bright colours like red, orange and green, I am for solids as well as stripes or variegated. I do not care too much for blue and not at all for barbie pink but if you can 'justify' your choice with a nice inspiration (I love blue skies and the sea and all sorts of flowers) I will not be able to reject those colourways either. I also learned my lesson in the Sockapaloooza: crying over socks that couldn't be for me because I made the blue issue clear. They were so gorgeous that I had regrets on my stated preferences immediately. In essence: it's all up to you and I will like it!

Bye, bye pomi, pomi goodbye!

2006-05-04T16:15:00.000Z

edit June 2006: Finally a picture of the finished socks. Thank you, good old old-fashioned camera. Thank you, brand new high-tech scanner!

Pattern: Pomatomus from knitty Winter 2005
Yarn: ......Lanett superwash 100% merino (SandnesGarn, Norway),
...................colourway 4028 Dark Bittersweet
Needles: 2,5 mm dpns bamboo

Knitting the Pomatomus pattern from knitty was such fun! Well, after the pattern and I decided to be friends at last. I think it was the first sock pattern EVER that I knitted 100% according to the instructions. Thanks to my sock pals measurements.
But hey, these inch measurements freaked me out ;-) It is possible to give them in decimal code, isn't it? "7/8" ...wow... Why does this make me think of tarts rather than linear dimensions.
I had to help myself with a chart to make sure that I was on the right track!

I hope they are going to live a happy life with their new owner. Hardest part of parting with them was not having a camera. Both, for the evidence that I am not sending half knitted pairs and for taking a memory shot for myself. Hopefully, they will appear somewhere (hint: my pal owns a blog!) and I can go and visit there. And maybe ~~steal~~ borrow a picture there for my personal sock records. For now an old progress shot has to serve this purpose.

Coffee & curry

2006-04-28T23:41:00.000Z

What shall I say... After 15 days without internet (due to the fact that the telephone company connected our line to a distribution box that was out of function. Nice one!) here's the next blow. This time, the HUGE and scary escavator bit the cable in parts. (And I'm sure you don't want to know that the same happened to the water pipes, yes, the sewage as well. Trust me, you don't want to know!) It's a comfort, to be able to handle things like personal hygiene and blogging somewhere else.
By now, the trench is that deep and wide that I literally have to climb over the fence to the neighbour's garden to be able to reach the street again. Kind of thrilling, both in a rural-archaic way and in the attempt to bring home two huge filled bags from the spermarket.

I feel like in this Asterix comic (Asterix and the Great Divide). You know, the one where the village is seperated by a trench and in the end they fill it with water and everbody lives happily ever after (except Troubadix, of course). I should work on re-uniting with the neighbours across the street by taking some showers and doing loads of laundry.

But I think, you are already as tired of the constructions as I am.
Let's see yarn! Or even better, let's see some pictures about having fun with yarn.
Last weekend, when I fooled myself into believing that I had plenty of time for idle yarn experiments, and I signed up for DYE-O-RAMA yarn swap. Having never ever dyed a thing, I registered at the WTF am I doing here group.

Friday night, before 10 p.m. and confronted with this sight, I decided it is time to enhance my level of experience.
What is a girl to do when the shops are closed and the next Kool-Aid stockist is a 5 hours flight away?
Look around in your kitchen. Sigga Sif dyed a fantastic latte-coloured yarn the other day - with coffee! I ventured on self-striping yarn (performing some meticulous measurements according to this post) . Due to the fact that I had only some leftovers of white Lanett superwash and being honest, because I was too lazy to unwind a whole skein, this will only be a dye swatch.
And well, 'stripes' demand for another colour. What fits to coffee and probably Project Spectrum's colours for April and happens to linger in my kitchen Friday night? Curry!

To make a long and exciting process short:
I added vinegar to both 'dye' liquids, and the yarn of course (Dry. Not so good. Note to myself, to soak it next time before)

And off they go into the microwave.

I zapped for a few minutes, peeked into the cups, zapped the microwave for some minutes more and decided....

...it was done! - Cooling down now

Okay, after pouring the water out, it didn't look like so much fun anymore! Curry is kind of not recommendable as a natural dye. At least from an aesthetical point of view.

Next we have a piece of evidence of the drying process, and the snow, and a close-up of the colour result.

And...

Isn't this the cutest little hank of yarn?

And this the cutest little centre-pull ball?

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to knit the yarn yet to see if the stripes appear as planned. The needles are are occupied with two SockapalOOOza socks in their final rows (and many other projects, I admit) And then, besides all the excitement and pride of having dyed my first wool I am not soo excited to see the outcome. I have measured the yarn, dyed it in portions: it will just be striped in the colours I see. Nothing magical from here on ;-)
It was so much fun however.
For the dye-o-rama, I'm thinking about using up all the bad stain causing ingredients I have here in the house. Who needs Kool-Aid if you've got ink, curry, red wine, saffron, carrot juice, coffee, tea. No, I'm kidding. I might even try my hands on acid dye. But that's a decision that can well be postponed for some while. Dyeing rocks!

My life in orange

2006-04-25T21:53:00.000Z

Deadlines:

3 days to exam 1
6 days to term paper (long)
7 days to Sockapaloooza
8 days to term paper (short)
11 days to exam 2 (yes, on a Saturday!)

I am feeling only slightly busy at the moment and most of all: I shouldn't be doing this right now! However, writing papers on a PC with internet connection is too tempting.
Today, I am sharing another peek out of my kitchen window with you.

You can probably imagine the noise. Distracting, disturbing - not even the coffee break with one or two rows yoga-knitting on my Pomi socks is fun right now.
I wouldn't bore you with another construction site picture if it wouldn't be for the Project Spectrum coherence.

How funny: two huge orange service cars from 'Iceland Telecom' (their corporate colours are usually blue and white). Where have they been when we had trouble and were not connected for 15 days!

There is not much progress on the yarn front these days (see above reasons). So I am only half disstressed as I would be under normal conditions. Because? My new camera is broken! Well, new like in 'Christmas gift 2005'. And broken like in 'if my period of warranty has run out I can throw it ~~at the lazy, noisy constructors outside~~ in the bin' because remote diagnostics suggest to exchange the motherboard, what turns out to cost more than a new cam.
Okay, eventhough the two of us have to part for a long time (shipping it to Canon Support) or forever, this place is not doomed to be pictureless.
First piece of evidence is artsy picture below that hints towards my card project for the Project Spectrum Postcard Swap.

If you are NOT my swap partner for April then feel free to click on the picture for the card. Except you are a real buddy and want to keep the suspense until the card arrives at my swapee.

Since I regard my already taken but yet unpublished pictures as kind of a stash all over sudden, I have to point out this for you.

Amanda from clothesknit.com finally came to her senses and about-faced from the self-torturing idea to reduce one's stash (Sock Yarn Addicts Club). Instead she frowardly encourages us all to celebrate our stash as shown above. Very cool! Go there and add some more to the list of reasons to embrace your stash.

But now to my picture stash. Last week, actually on the 'first day of summer', I undertook the adventure of going on a cycle tour in Iceland. I know, there are people who seem to enjoy it so much that they spend entire holidays on such a ~~nonsense~~ challenge, but not me. I enjoy cycling, but look at the road conditions.

It seems to me that the choice of cycle paths ranges between these two extrems

good roads = high traffic, including monster trucks where the driver is that used to his self-claimed right of way that I don't want to mess around with these guys on a bike.

bad roads = no traffic, but: literally rocks to knock over. And while glanzing at the ground before your front tire, it is impossible to enjoy the natural scenery.

Of course.. it is possible to find nice lanes to cycle on. If you want to. But before I really, really spend time on finding out about them, let's just recall the weather conditions here.
Wind, check. Storm, check. Hurricane, check.
Rain, check. Hail, check. Snow, check.
(Add the wind classifications again to the snow and you get the picture!)

Just yesterday, we woke up to gaze at 5 cm of fresh snow in the morning. In the afternoon, due to mild wind and 'burning' sunshine all had melted and the neighbour's children were playing 'picknick and camping' in the garden. In the evening there was a thick layer of snow again. What's wrong with this island? It's officially summer now!

[Stop raging - go back to your paper!]

Happy Easter!

2006-04-23T11:41:00.000Z

Yes, I know. Easter was last weekend but back then I couldn't show you my Easter eggs. Or show you anything, coming to this. Now, I am happily connected to the internet again, and here you go.

There is still no knitting group around here but a painting-easter-eggs group is kind of a start. We had a great time, splashing in colours. Of course rather of singular nature, the easter egg painting, and I have to admit that doing it once a year is really enough for me. Maybe I got someone interested in dyeing, though. But I will come back to that later.

The eastereggs were first coated in whole with some special dye (that can also be used for dyeing wool I am told) and then furhter decorated, according to taste. I failed to take pictures of the pretty eggs some of the others made (cute little easter bunnies and birds or stunning graphic designs).
Here's one of mine. True to Project Spectrum, because Lolly apparently has thought this project well through and figured that April, Easter and orange and yellow go really well together.

Almost in time the daffodils almost show their pretty faces.

Why 'in time'? Because they are called Osterglocke in German and Páskalilja in Icelandic, both relating to the Easter holidays of course. (Check out how the 'real' Easterlily looks like here - sigh - I would so wish that something merely remotely close to such noblesse would grow here.. but.. Iceland and gardening...)

Okay, ready for knitting?
Just for the record the progress on my Pomatomi socks.

The longer it takes, the more I fall in love with the twisted stitches. I was racking my little brain to come up with a pattern in this style myself, but now Hedera is out. I might as well just give this one a try first. Maybe I will be out-twisted afterwards anyway.
I also knitted alon on ome tiny projects that cannot be revealed yet and casted on for a Project Spectrum project. Get this? Project Spectrum project. This reminds me about one of my favourite word constructions in Icelandic: Bílaleigubíll. For the explanation. leiga means 'to rent' and bíll is a car. So, when the idea of a taxi spread over here, it was called 'a rented car'. Later, when the idea of hired cars was introduced, someone must have come up with this strange expression Bílaleigubíll which translates car-rent-a-car or something like that. Of course, as always with language those, who use the expression by heart don't even realise its awkwardness. So it's all my pleasure to smile about it.

But back to the project. It is going to be another Spherey in bright orange.
See how the book matches? I am done with the body now but I'm afraid, the arms and legs will have to be green, if I designate Spherey 2 to Project Spectrum entirely.

Other things, not last and foremost not least: I received my Project Spectrum postcard for March from Kim some while ago. She went for a state theme which was perfect for the colour red because their 'national' bird is the Cardinal. What a shame that I had never heard of this cute little fellow before, look here. Thank you very much, Kim!
(Picture of the card later, my NEW digital cam just gave up and I hope it is not a serious problem!)

And last: I joined the
More on this in one of the next posts.

Drilling down the house

2006-04-07T14:22:00.000Z

Obviously, I could have also called this post 'under construction'. However, the mock text to Talking Head's Burning down the house that sticks in my head for hours now seems to describe an enduring theme. It is bothersome to be without electricity and cold water during daytime, though strangly enough the hot water (Hey Ashley, ~80C/176F right out of the tap!) is working all day long. But: it is utterly devastating to be without telephone and hence the possibility to go online for several days now!

When escaping the building site around/within my house, I found out that my little habourage at the university is letting me down as well. Today was spring term's last lecture day. This does not mean that summer holidays are about to begin. Ha, in -5C/23F! But, why not use even this Friday afternoon to start construction work inside the university buildings.
Hmmm... healthy odours of paint thinner, drilling and hammering noises...
I'm off to reconnoitre calmer whereabouts!

A glorious messy post

2006-04-04T22:12:00.000Z

The following might be the most chaotic and overloaded post but you know how it is - or with Goethe: excuse my long letter, I only had little time.

Spring is when life's alive in everything.

Some flowers didn't survive the last snow blow and others fell victom to pipe relocations in the garden (among other things for a faster inernet connection!). Fortunately, there are some left to celebrate the month April in Project Spectrum colours yellow and orange.

On 1st of April I started a(NOTHER!) pair of socks in the recently introduced colourway Ottawa. They do remind me of the Easter holidays, probably because their yellow looks like all the little chicks we used to have for decoration. The brown stripe looked so deliciously like chocolate on the needles that I think I have to start a brown project soon. A huge one. A sweater?

After I scared you last time with morbid pictures of the wildlife in my neighbourhood, this weekend featured some happier creatures.
I give you the Icelandic sheep...

... and some Icelandic horses. Aren't they cute?

However, they were really scared because there was a serious fire just accross the street.

Well, you can't really see something because it just isn't a spectacular forest fire. Far from that.. it's only grass and moss but the area covered with fire was twice the size of Reykjavik and the surrounding suburbs!
To cool me and you down another picture before we are back to knitting content.

Yesterday night, a parcel arrived here with yarn aboard! Thank you, Becca! I am so very happy with everything you send!

Not only did she sent exceptionally beautiful yarn, Cherry Tree Hill, in a lovely and sizzling variation of reds. No no, there's so much more! Socks to wear while I am knitting - very clever - and who wouldn't like socks that display lighthouses and are somehow a picture postcard! And take a look at the cute sock purse and the little socks to protect needle tips. You cannot imagine how thrilled I am about the little sheep you see on the left side. It is this kind of toy you throw in water and it will grow within a couple of hours to some glibby monster size sheep. Happy childhood memories... I am a lucky girl!

Can you stand more yarn pictures?
Somehow I never came around posting a picture of some rocking yarn (Socks that Rock) I got from Amanda (thank you so much again!)

And here's another picture of some yarn I'll soon have to say goodbye to. Hard to part but I can always scroll back to this post, which featured Cherry Tree Hill, Socks That Rock, Lorna's Laces and Regia. Woohoo...

Socksicle

2006-04-03T22:10:00.000Z

I do not post to often these days but apparently I have a good excuse: I'm knitting instead!
See, another pair of socks done!

Pattern: Jaywalker from Grumperina, bigger size (CO 84 st)
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Socks, bittersweet
Needles: 2.5 mm dpn, bamboo

Wait... Underestimating the chilly wind, I discovered a new way of blocking! Freezing socks in form!

As you can see, they do fit. [Dear sock pal, if you see this picture, don't worry! I do NOT have duck feet! Don't adjust your pattern in accordance to this picture. I am about to attend a class on how to use my digital cam. It's about time..] Knitting with LL's was great. The yarn is incredibly soft, forgiving, has a nice stitch texture and such a beautiful shine. Moreover, the bittersweet colourway is gorgeous! They even sizzles a bit but most of all they are a late contribution to this

Even obstacles in the knitting process only make one stronger. For me, I learned that I cannot only save one or two dropped or wrong-way cabled stitches but drop the stitches of an entire needle for a re-do. Very nice.

Another one? I know you want it. Look at the little sheep that not in the slightest fullfil any other purpose here than posing in all their cuteness. [mouse-over for close-up]

If you don't know these cute stitch markers already then go here. Katie was very busy designing unnaturally coloured sheep this time (well.. talking about the green one above) and started a Project Spectrum Sheep Club. Meaning, you will get a sheep in each month's colour if you join. Fabulous idea!

Apocalypse now!

2006-03-27T21:54:00.000Z

[Warning: NO knitting content in this post!]

What kind of a day is that? You come home and your street looks like an obstacle course.

The detour leads you to a scary spot where you encounter this!

I don't think that birdflue has eventually hit Iceland but it is a dead bird. Dangling down on only one claw. Sure, I came to learn by now that living creatures have to die. But like that?
While I was aiming for the right angle to take this morbid picture I was stalked by a cat.

Again, not a 'normal' cat, of course. But one that was displaying a spot of raw flesh on its cheek. Something obviously had bitten a chunk off this poor fellow. Ugh!

Just fitting to this poe-esque scenario, I learned as soon as I came home that science fiction author Stanislaw Lem has died today at the age of 84. I wouldn't call myself a big fan of science fiction per se and I haven't even read any of his books. However, he is partly responsible for one of my great passions (beside knitting) and that is radio plays. Way back, when I still lived in Berlin, somebody extremely clever had the idea to publicly celebrate radio plays (Hörspielkino unterm Sternenhimmel). The location was a planetarium and during the 'show' you could lie down in your seat and watch the (artificial) night sky. Don't think 'perfect' until I tell you what audio play I listened to. It was Stanislaw Lem's Mondnacht which is not only the first real audible working play I ever heard (meaning that the plot works according to the medium and wouldn't do so in a book or movie). Moreover, it was also such an incredible experience in this atmosphere beneeth the stars that just provided for an extra-shiver. So, in honour of Stanislaw Lem I will put these little buttons here today. You will now what to do - or not...

(~14 MB each!) My appologies, it is not like it ought to be in Polish but true to my memory in German ;-)

edit: I decided to take away the link to the audio files now. Leave me a comment if you are interested (in a trade of audio files perhaps?)

Seriously going astray

2006-03-26T21:42:00.000Z

Before I really understand how this could happen so fast there is another pair of finished socks.
Strange enough, they also have nothing to do with either of my current a-longs. They are neither red nor pink nor sizzling and not at all Sockapaloooza socks. What happened? Well, don't ask me!

Pattern: Rib and Cable Socks by Nancy Bush in InterweaveKnits Fall 2005
Yarn: Regia Canadian Fashion colour 4727, 'Vancouver'
Needles: 2,5 mm dpn bamboo

This is the fourth pair I am knitting in the Rib and Cable pattern - not a word to waste on this topic! Regia yarn is also an old-time-favourite of mine, so no point there either.
But... these socks are not modelled because they are too big. That's okay because they are not for me. The happy (or not so - I'll come to this later) recipient i my sister. Yes, she would like to have a pair of hand-knitted socks (she doesn't know how to knit herself). There have been some clarifying phone calls on terms of fiber, colour and pattern preferences. The result was warm, thick, soft, huuuge socks, probably closer to legwarmers. For colour preferences my dear sister mentioned neutrals such as sand, off-white, caramel... 'Pattern' was not requested at all.
WHY did I knit these socks for her!? How did it happen that the Vancouver skein shouted at me to be knit into socks for my sister? I mean, I know that she will probably not appreciate the bright green and blue stripes. There is also not a teeny-weeny connection to Vancouver. And to make it all even more mysterious: I don't even feel a glimpse of guilt or uncertainty about these socks. Very strange.. I will find out, though. Probably, her disgusted screams (when she opens the parcel) will carry till here.

I was wondering about the name Vancouver for this yarn. Honestly, how do they come up with the fancy colourway names in the first place? And then, green, blue, yellow stripes?
Well, it was time for some research.

That is Vancouver's city flag. Looking familiar? And these city views?

I am soo surprised that the yarn actually has something to do with the name.
I have another skein called Ottawa somewhere in my stash and I am very excited to find out where the inspiration for that name came from in 'real life'.

Pomi - pomo - pomposities

2006-03-26T20:17:00.000Z

The Sockapaloooza socks are troubling me this time. My pal wants something fun.
I was dead sure about the yarn (LL Irving Park) first, but couldn't find a suitable pattern. Lots of you commented on my attempt on the challenging Pomatomi ages ago. Thank you very much!
The result: this yarn and this pattern = big no no! What is a clever girl to do? No, don't abandon the pattern (which really has proven to be an ordeal) and knit something fun with the beauteous Lorna's Laces Irving Park. But: change the yarn! [*smite my forhead*] I casted on with Lanett's supersoft merino ull in a stunning red and everything looks fine. Don't you agree?

Because it's still Project Spectrum's red month (jaja, and pink, I know, can't we just forget that part?) and sunshine I will offer another picture.
I'm in love with this sock!
However, I cannot stop pondering about it being a rather austere beauty than actually shouting something fun!

Have you seen the HUGE amount of people that joined Project Spectrum? It is simply incredible what kind of great and creative ideas people come up with. I feel dull. Red yarn and taking pictures, that's just about my restricted ken. Somebody even made buttons for each month's colour. (you can find them here)

I thought, I will simply focus on detecting the red and pink things in my everyday life (and there should be plenty because red is my favourite colour) - but - others obviously had this idea long before me [Sigh] and that's why I jump on the bandwagon with delay and answer to Margene's meme. My contribution is a little collage which I in a sudden arty attack call 'On an empty stomach'. All those things brighten my day on my morning stroll around the house, well, at least if my eyes happen to be open.
Somehow the collage gives me the creeps because it looks so chaotic and unprofessional. But then, that's me...

Lastly, a glimpse of the flags (= embassies or representations) I pass by on the short walk from my work place to the bus station. The Japanese unfortunately do not flag (don't they know it's Project Spectrum's red months!?) and the Chinese are a bit out of the way. I wouldn't boast with the global scope of my little world if it wouldn't be for the connection to the next post, which is dedicated to another pair of socks.

Trekking approved

2006-03-23T20:58:00.000Z

Before they angrily start to kick my ass... may I introduce my first socks made from Trekking yarn? Don't be distracted by the green grass below my feet. The picture is quite old and by today we are powdered in snow again.

Pattern: My basic sock pattern, toe-up, short-row heel, long 2k2p ribbing for the cuff
Yarn: Trekking XXL (Atelier Zitron), colour 110
Needles: 2,25mm dpns rosewood(!)

Do you think they qualify for the

I knitted these toe-up for I was not sure what to expect from the 100g skein. The socks are rather long, though far from knee-high and I have a tiny rest to use for knitted toys or alike. The yarn is a delight, the random stripes blend very nicely. Julia, who apparently reads tags more carefully than I, asked about changing between two skeins as recommended for haindpainted yarns. Well, I didn't do. Most obviously, because I do not have another skein of this colourway (though I wish I would but that can be helped). Apart from that, I thought the stripes do a pretty good job just striping up as they do, no need to force an interruption. I attempted to write to the manufacturer Atelier Zitron in order to ask them about this advice but they have no online service whatsoever. Their self-appointed contact person at one stores I mailed about that kindly and almost eagerly offered help in becoming a retailer for this yarn. However, when I insisted on having the advice clarified she fell silent. Well.. I still do love this yarn!
It is fuzzy but not too much, has a nice shine for wool and also knits up with a good texture and good grip, if you know wat I mean. By now I can even tell you that it wears most comfortably.
Go and get some!
My favourite online yarn supplier Marianne does not only stock Trekking but also luxurious rosewood needles in US sizes. It doesn't say so on the page but she does. Just drop her a line, the customer service is smashing. Eventhough the page is only in German, I am sure she can handle any English emails and she does ship international. I would also be happy to act as mediator, just let me know.

My book is my castle

2006-03-15T17:09:00.000Z

'Soon' or even 'tomorrow' - did I really promise that?
Anyway, I'm back. Thank you all so very much for your condolences! I tried and try to answer them but you all know the blogger problem with anonymised comments. After all, I thought you more want to be assured that your virtual hugs and comforting words mattered to me than getting personal feedback. Be assured, it helped a lot! Thanks again.

Currently, I am spending literally whole days (as in 'from 8:15 am to 10:00 pm') in Landsbókasafn Ísland or 'The National Library of Iceland' (which seems to have a disturbing impact on my vocabulary) - and why not take you there?

The modern architecture of this building resembles a fortress, complete with a real moat. The intention of this is most probably the idea that books (=knowledge, history, culture, education) are more valuable goods than for example gold and arms to keep safe in such a place. At least I like this idea and Iceland has no other castles or fortresses to compete with this one.

Because it is also a little Project Spectrum-ish and I am badly behind on this one, I'll show you a little more.

an example of the wellness factor

don't miss the raven's flight [mouseover]

My desk, complete with a project spectrum related snack and...

Yes, a knitting project! Don't get the wrong impression. It's only lying there for a homy feeling, not that I would have the time for it other than when commuting. (It's a blind flight: they are going to be ANOTHER pair of Rib and Cable socks in the Regia Canadian colourway Vancouver once they are grown-up.)
I promised some colourful pictures and had really second thoughts about showing cheerful knitting pics while I am so painfully short of time for knitting myself. But what the heck, we all enjoy a peak.

Welcome my first Lorna's Laces sock ever! Singular, for now. The fun with LL has been extremely long lasting, considering that I operated on these sock/s already last year. The project is however a delight.

The fabulous wool in the sizzling colourway 'Bittersweet' was a generous gift from Amanda (wait until you see her next strike!) and the pattern is Jaywalker, of course. (The unregularity on the sole is another attempt to strengthen the sole with slipped stitches)
I decided to avoid pooling on this one, adopting the omnipresent advice to knit with two skeins. Well, I just happend to have them ready after all my first swatches with different patterns and needle sizes. Since somebody was asked how I do this, here is a picture inside out.

In this case, I'll swapped skeins randomly, well, checking them for identical colour sequels before I swapped. The idle strand is weaved in all the way up, carrying it inside the work or outside alterning every row. When changing, I make sure to twist the new thread around the old to avoid holes.

At last, the obligatory note on the weather report. Wondering about the sunny pictures? So do I! European readers, check out Icelandair if you have a little time (and a little more pocket money!) to spend for they offer cheap flights to Iceland, announcing them as 'escaping the snow'! Apparently, ICEland (or I should say Reykjavik) is the only part of Europe that is not covered in snow. Anyone from the Faroers?

Shaken

2006-03-06T22:50:00.000Z

Though literally shaken today*, this was not the reason for my absence from the virtual world. We have been shaken over here by the somehow expected but nonetheless very painful loss of a family member. Time is spend mourning and being able to spend comfort takes a lot of my energy.
However, to sink in petrified grief will not do justice to the lively, amiable, energetic and always optimistic person we miss now. Therefore, I will be back tomorrow with a cheer- and colourful post.
I am looking forward to taking on my blog roll again, see you all...

*We experienced a little earthquake this afternoon. Luckily, with the epicentre being more than 15 km away and not very high on Richtersscale (4,6), it had the same impact as if an excavator would bump into the garden's wall (which happened not so long ago).
Readers with a nerdy interest in seismic activity should follow the link by clicking the picture.

Pallid pictures

2006-02-18T18:50:00.000Z

My camera is definitely more on the dark/cold colour side these days. Maybe I am choosing the wrong motives for the training shots? (hear this.. 'training shots'! The Olympic spirit seems to rub off on me just by following the terrific reports in some blogs.)

Probably that's the explanation for the not-so-happy look of my feet on this picture. I can assure you, the colours are more vibrant in real life. Because some people asked: the yarn is Trekking XXL and the colourway is 'called' 110. As you can probably see, I do not mind irregular striping but running out of yarn. That's why I chose to knit up the 100g skein both, from center and outside, resulting in reversed colour sequels. - They are no nation colour socks ;-)

Next on the knitting list is of course the Sockapalooza project whereas I do not intend to finish them too soon. I couldn't stand not to be able to send them away for MONTHS! Nonetheless, I did some swatching...

It looks like I am going to be very lucky. The measurements my pal sent me are met in this combination of stitch numbers and needle size (the rosewood dpn's 2,25mm!). Look, there's no sign of pooling and what a neat little short row heel.

Plain stockinette stitch is of course not what I am aiming for. My little knitting antennas almost unconsciously directed me into the direction of the Pomatomus pattern from knitty.com's winter issue. Struggling along I found out that many other knitters are not afraid of this pattern as well. Well, it looks gorgeous, even in my rather off-colour picture if I may say so.

This pattern - read 'piquant' in the instructions! - is however a bitch to knit up. Even though I soon understood the pattern's construction and do not have to sneak a peek onto the chart anymore, I have to take a look at e-v-e-r-y single stitch I knit. If I should decide to keep on with this pattern, dear sockpal, be aware that this is far more attention for a project than I have ever spend before. Not that the Lorna's Laces wouldn't be worth it.. yes, and you, and you, dear sockpal! ..but it is quite a change and challenge for me. Besides a certain reluctance to really keep on with the pattern for the above reason, I am also not sure if it goes with the yarn. It is rather sharply accentuated and geometric, which I really really like. But is it perfect for the chosen dreamy colours?
Help me out.

I'll leave you with another demonstration of the training shots that seem to adjust my camera's colour preferences.

[Hafnarfjörður habour]

Restrained sizzling

2006-02-17T19:55:00.000Z

This picture shows the progress by the middle of the week.

I just completed the second foot and heel and would also like to show some rather interesting experiments* concerning my sockapaloooza socks... if it wouldn't be for the fact that this household is facing SERIOUS computer troubles. If it is not the lack of internet connection then it is the sporadic break down of the one or other computer and the self-imposed ban to transfer a-n-y files.
Therefore, pictures to follow later.

*interesting as in 'uhh, well... Sure, I do like your new boyfriend. He seems to be very interesting...'

Little daffodils

2006-02-11T08:43:00.000Z

Look, aren't the little daffodils adorable? To think they should come out of the
earth!
in Lady Chatterley's Lover by D.H. Lawrence

.. or out of the flowerpot.. Good thinking to save the bulbs the other day and granting them a warmer home. They rewarded me with turning into cute mini-daffodils (they'd grown to normal size last spring!]

While the whole knitting universe goes crazy out there, my weekend is going to be very relaxed, starting like this: Choxie for breakfast! Additionally, there's the excitement of the Yarn Aboard! box kick off. Thanks, Amanda.

And yes, I will be there anywhere, somehow...

I found this button among trillions of other beautiful buttons for every imaginable knitting affiliation here.

'to agnise'*

2006-02-09T22:31:00.000Z

Passing idle time on the airport I find myself
a) thinking that it seems to make much more sense to ease waiting with knitting than squandering money on slot machines - in spite of not being the one whom they cheer for.
b) wondering if, would it be ever necessary to identify my body by dint of my clothing, the one or other observant visitor of this blog would be able to do so. (Mittens, socks, anyone?)
Yeah, that's me on an airport. Feeling slightly nervous and somewhat morbid... You don't want to know what I am musing about when I am actually in a plane - or worse - in the air!
So much for justification of the above picture.
What is hidden in all the blurriness: I casted on for a new sock. Of course it is not the Sockapaloooza sock for my sock pal. I wouldn't dare to begin THEM in such an unceremoniously manner! But prepared for all eventualities, I happened to have a parcel from Germany in my metropolitan luggage: sock yarn and a new set of dpns. As you can see on the modest progress on the picture, it made sense to cast on. And why not, there are other socks beside the sockapalooza sock, like for example the Red Hot Sizzling Socks.
Red? you might ask.
I can hear the Hot? uttered in disbelief and finally followed by a doubtful whisper ....sizzling?
I was also dissapointed at first. The yarn (Trekking XXL) looked much more promising and red in the skein than it turned out in the sock. Until I saw it in bright light!

Check this out!
Woohoo!
Feel it sizzling?
And see the needles? They are made of rosewood and arrived here thanks to my favourite online yarn (and supplies) seller Marianne. (2,25mm, the European answer for tackling Lorna's laces sock weight)
Introducing the noble art of knitting... But stylishness has its price. Though delightful to look at and touch them, knitting with these beauties only works in slow motion. Doh! Apparently someone thought it would be clever to apply a non-slip coating. Luckily, it seems to wear off quite fast. However, in simple stockinette stitch a certain progress can be observed within reasonable speed.

No achievements on the sockapaloooza front other than having maybe decided in favour of this yarn:
Lorna's Laces 'Irving Park'

The name quite naturally inspires associations that are either way rather bookish and/or relate to the park theme. I see a mansion, your ladyship jaunts through colourful flowerbeds, the handsome son of the house recites poetry on the terrace and unseemly flirting with the maidens who are fixing the lady's delicate stockings. But maybe Miss Marple is just around the corner, about to intrude into the putative calmness only to discover unexpected misdeed...

Back in real life again, I have almost finished the Child's Placket Neck Pullover.

I should mention that a revised version of the pattern is available (originally from 'Last Minute Knitted Gifts')

*L. agnoscere: to recognise, to realise, to acknowledge, to be fully aware ...
..of writing a rather ludicrous post

Welcome, dear Sockpal!

2006-02-05T20:54:00.000Z

I am so happy about the next round of SockapalOOOza!
Everybody got his/her sock exchange partner now and I was surprised to find out that I already 'read' my sendout-sockpal [Hint?] - out of over 600 participants!

But stop! This post is exclusively for my sockpal.

- Welcome -

Because: after receiving my instructions, I realised that it is possible to write those instructions in one, two sentences [Hint?] - and still say as much as I did in an essay. So, dear sockpal, don't be confused by the flood of words that reached you. Now I'm delivering hard facts. If you click on the following links, you will find the lengths of my feet, the circumference of my ball and the one of my span and still another probably helpful measurement. And again, I probably sounded far more complicated than I really am!
All these measurements are in centimetre and in case you need to convert them, I find this page quite helpful.

Please do excuse the more than crappy quality of the pictures. It was quite some struggle to take them. Of course I intended to take them outside, in bright daylight, but unfortunately it started to rain... what made it slightly difficult to jump around on socks, while adjusting the measure tape and taking a picture at the same time. Good for me, I was too busy to check if any neighbours peaked through the curtains. Hence, the rest of the pictures was taken inside (after changing socks), with flashlight, because within minutes it had started to snow and dark clouds covered the sky. Iceland might have only two seasons (dark and bright) but it sure has plenty of 'weather'!

1/12 done

2006-01-31T15:43:00.000Z

I wouldn't be the one to announce spring in end of January..

.. but something else does!

Though this does not mean that winter is over, the Peaceful Palms Knitalong comes to an end now. Thanks, nona, for hosting this season's highlight.
I accomplished not what I aimed for but something else instead: I 'designed' my very own fingerless mittens AND wrote a pattern - for you. Check out this post for more information and download link!

Otherwise, knitting is on a steady uprise here. Maybe triggered by the news report on knitting being hip in NY, people finally believe and feel obliged. (That's how it is: if somehing is approved by the Americans then it is cool here, too) Look what I spotted in the bus the other day. A girl knitting in public. Not a very transportable project, but a h-u-g-e blanket in garter stitch. Funny though, she knitted all rows as purl rows. Since I have never seen Icelanders knitting, I don't know if it is the common practice or just an individual's peculiarity.
It seems that some extra energy of 'going with the flow' went into my knitting and I proudly present another finished object.

These are the Angora Baby Booties from 'Last-Minute Knitted gifts. Not in angora but in mohair, even a rather expensive one from Colinette yarns. A purchase that lingered in my stash for too long after I gave up the idea to knit a lace shawl in mohair yarn - without having ever knitted lace before and without a pattern! Boy.. stupid me. The Baby Booties however worked fine.

And while you still dwell upon the booties, I casted on for another baby knit. They are so rewarding! Not alone do they knit up fast and look incredibly cute, they are also a nice giveaway because the recipient does not have a say ;-) This one is going to turn into the Child's Placket Neck Pullover from the same book.

I'm all into small projects at the moment (has it ever been different?). Eris is on rest for some time now and there she will remain. More urgent for now is to onuer some socks. Both, already started ones and future socks to come (shh... Sockapaloooza!, Red Hot Sizzling Socks!) I also seriously have to join another Knitalong.
Why? you might cry out and try to slap me before I can hit the 'join' button. Well, have a look:

I got mail! My blog-friend Wanda awarded me with a 'little prize'. So her words. This is generousity beyond conveivability! I am drowning now in a selection of the most wonderful yarns (and candy!) While Wanda providently included some patterns, this is by far not enough to deal with all the yarn. Delicious! They are scheduled now for comprehensive one-by-one meetings for me to listen to them what they want to become. What's your skein? Thank you so much Wanda!

Coughing fish?

2006-01-31T15:40:00.000Z

Remember how I unvented gloves with little bridges between the fingers? I was and still am very pleased with the result. So very much indeed that I found myself knitting another pair and another pair and another pair... Finally, I decided despite the fun I have knitting with Noro, that it is time now to have other knitters have there own go and for me to move on with some other knitting.

Here you go: Kolenya.pdf (~ 550 KB)

[I have some problems with my server. If you are not able to download the file from here, please leave a comment, not anonymous! - and I am happy to send you the file via email]

Kolenya? you ask Well, I thought it is only fair to give them a proper name, better than 'glottens'. On the picture to the right they reminded me so much of a deep-sea fish and hence browsing names for such species I stumbled across this.

Kolenya: Miwok name for coughing fish

Intrigued by the sort-of similiarity to Kureyon it had to be this one. But also the 'explanation' is worth it! More or less common is probably the name Miwok but what the heck is a coughing fish!? You may enlighten me if you can, but I also feel quite content relying on my imagination.

Kolenya is a very simple and fast knit and best of all a one skein project. Ideal to just try out Noro Kureyon (or Noro Silk Garden) or destash.
Eventhough the 'bridges' are crocheted, they do not require any skills. Why? Because I do not know how to crochet myself and just used a crochet hook for twisting and knotting the yarn in a way a knitting needle wouldn't do. In the end it is all about making a garment out of a single, long thread, isn't it?

Of course, this is a free pattern, meaning: feel free to send me your comments and suggestions and let me know about problems and mistakes.
It would be great if you leave me a comment when you are using the pattern, I would love to see your version. And who knows, maybe there will be a gallery one day.
Have fun and happy knitting!

sort-of achievements

2006-01-24T23:01:00.000Z

What an unusual sight:

Yes. Me. Sewing.
It was time to get some curtains. Imagine a ground floor lodging with reasonably big windows. Imagine a latitude with problemtic lightening conditions: either you are vegetating in artificial light for the bigger part of the day, or (in the season they call summer here) you are trying to keep the sunlight out in order to catch some sleep. (okay, slightly exaggerated)

A rather strange compromise are these freshly purchased curtains from IKEA. Sounds easy.. You wish! Of course they had to be shortened, but the self-appointed design authority of this realm also ordered that they had to be a tiny bit narrower. Well...
I could cope with all of that, the tiresome curtain discussion, customising odd coloured pinkish-faded IKEA ready-to-go curtains nobody seemed to like anymore - but this was too much: Mr Good-taste-in-curtains peaked over my shoulder while I was sewing and c-o-m-m-e-n-t-e-d. And he was right! He taught me a technique that improved the outcome of my sewing enormously! I was simply stunned. The result are now some pretty neat curtains in a colourway that neither fits the room nor our taste but we have a good laugh looking at them (and they fulfil their purpose). Finally, I came closer to achieving one resolution for this year, and not only pulled I out the sewing machine, I even learned something new. From a person least expected but most loved and cherished. Can it be better?

Without further ado here the meme that has hit me twice (by Dorothee and Amanda). Go on, girls, and who else bothered to read until here. See my 4's

4 jobs you have had in your life

Stock-taking assistant in a DIY store

Press relations contact for a an energy stock exchange (vacation replacement...)

Teaching wine-classes in an adult education centre (that sounds like a hard job, huh?)

Programmer for intranet applications

4 movies you could watch over & over

Sense and Sensibility

Brot und Tulpen (Pane e tulipane)

Some like it hot

The Big Lebowski

4 places you have lived

Berlin, Germany

Cottbus, Germany

Leipzig, Germany

Reykjavik, Iceland

4 TV shows you love to watch

Northern Exposure

The Office

Yes, Minister/Yes, Prime Minister

Lost

4 places you have been on vacation

Great Britain

La Corse (Corsica)

'Scandinavia', such as Gotland (Sweden) and Bergen (Norway) as the places I liked most

Westfjords, Iceland

4 websites you visit daily

hi.is (University of Iceland)

Der Spiegel online

BBC Radio

Bloglines

4 of your favorite foods

Chocolate (have to agree with Amanda on this one)

(My) home-made Pizza

(Mr. Sheepandnocity's) Fish and shrimps curry

ALL food prepared on camping stove or fire place after a long hiking day

4 places you would rather be right now

on vacation...

'home' (if I would know where this is I would probably just go there)

on a sailing boat in the Caribbean

or infront of a cozy fire place

Since this meme is all over, I am not going to tag anyone.
Need some cooling?

Dogs'n socks

2006-01-18T20:57:00.000Z

Weather like this calls for warm clothes. Hence, my urge to finish some of the winter items. Additional motivation came from nona's Peaceful Palms KAL. Not that I participated very actively and for the record: the five tipless finger's I knit after nona's brilliant instructions for gloves, respectively fingers on straight needles are still 'lost' - really, lost!
No further dwelling in failures for now. Iit's all about cherishing achievements - et voilà the Nordic mittens are finished.

Unfortunately, I am not able to track down the pattern anymore. I made a copy from a book years ago and couldn't possibly think of the need to have reference information handy for blogging purposes. How short-minded! This mysterios unreferenced copy got lost halfway through the second mitten anyway, so no luck there.
The same somehow applies to the yarn: It is just some (very) scratchy wool. I suspect it to be Peer Gynt from Sandnes Garn. I for my part had even problems knitting with it. Uch, scratchy! But the recipicient chose it himself in as far as I could see full awareness of the lacking softness. It did not soften up after gentle hand wash and because the complaint was that the mittens were a tiny bit too long (>1 cm) but not too wide, I was challenged by the recipicient 'to wash them smaller'. Well, challenge accepted: They took a joyride in the washing machine with spin cycle and everything. Out they came not only in perfect size and softer but also perfectly 'blocked'.
That's a finishing technique I could get used to!
(The picture is taken before - you don't think I through any handknitted stuff in the washing machine without documenting it before!)

Anybody remembering the Icelandic 'sweater' for dogs? (the latter should stand in inverted commas as well...)
I thought I had met a VIP dog when I came across 'Lappi' the other day. But then, at least six bus stops later, the same sweater made it's way through piles of snow - and apparently the same dog. Could it be? When I saw another coloured but same tiny-sized dog in the same fashionable wool coat the next day again, the penny dropped. So this was the most popular holiday knit over here! After getting used to the sight, I have to admit now that they look kind of cute on those mini-dogs.

Touching the subject dog already, it is probably more or less common knowledge that the Chinese year (going to start soon, 29 Jan) is the year of the dog. It appears that the current knitting year seems to continue(?) being the year of the sock. [Woohoo - this rhymes]

This will definitely be true over here. And elsewhere? Of course, there is no need to announce the next round the sock KAL/swap, Sockapaloooza hosted by the goddess of socks Alison from the blue blog. You all have heard about that one, isn't it?
Another sockalong I found (thanks to Amanda from clothesknit) is the Red Hot Socks (initiated by Becky from Knitting Interrupted), which combines fabulously two of my favourite 'things' (the colour red and ...socks!) How could I resist!?
I think, the (current) Jaywalkers almost fit the bill, but there are some more red socks in the pipeline already.

And then, there is of course the Jaywalker KAL, still running!

I'll leave you with some snowy pictures and the breaking news, that the spotless white, beautiful, airy, 40cm deep snow layer is about to dissolve in rain at the moment. Which creates a terrible mess of ugly mud all over and almost enables wild water rafting in some of the hilly parts on my daily trails. Not for long, though: it is going to freeze over later. That's NOT how I like winter. So, enjoy with me the snow as long as it lasts.

Socks? They come in pairs...

2006-01-15T23:49:00.000Z

Isn't it?
This is not about the second sock syndrom, quite the opposite.
I've been in trouble for some while with my beautiful Lorna's Laces sock yarn. I complained before, 2,5 mm dpns do not work, nor do the 2 mm. This yarn is obviously made for US sizes, sigh.
See my sad attempts:
15 November 2005: Matahari socks by craftoholic (2 mm dpn)

5 Januar 2006: simple ribbing 3k1p after a tubular cast-on adventure, previously seen here

I was desperate. But then I saw the light. Respectively, remembered the good old saying never change a winning team. Well, here they are, my favourite sock teams.
Rib and Cable from Nancy Bush

And now Jaywalker from Grumperina.

[Excuse the crappy indoor/flashlight picture]

Not only does this pattern work with the 2,5 mm dpns, (which also speeds up the knitting!) - no! I was finally reassured after seeing the wonderful tigerish picot edge socksover at Amelia Raitte. Aren't those socks amazing? I am a little proud of myself for thinking about using the picot edging from November as a starting point for Jaywalkers as well. They will turn out great.

All this unusual enthusiasm comes probably a bit surprising, specially after this rather long absence from blogging. Hehe, it's all because there are finished objects to report here on sheepandnocity. Not today, be patient. I am fighting some serious hardware problems. But in all, 2006, after some troublesomeness in the beginning, seems to be an amiable year. Not only in terms of knitting.

But for those, interested in knitting news: Even here in Iceland the rumour spread that there is a new trend. Knitting! Ha! More precisely, the report was about a new (?) knit store/café in New York. A seriously hot place where people hang out for knitting and chatting together. With knitting classes for women AND men! Well, how exciting.. But it is, because they mention that this might be a good idea for Reykjavik as well. Since it is so hip and chic (of course, the usual quotes of Julia Roberts, Uma Thurman and alike knitting on the set) it is nothing the fashionable Icelanders will resist for much longer. You can see the short report (~20 sec) on the state's TV website. Just click here.

The show is over

2006-01-09T21:10:00.000Z

Finally, Christmas* is over and so is my little contest - time to announce the results.
Boy, was this contest fun! - and - Gee, am I certain to not host another one too soon! Or at least only a scientific one like 'guess the diameter of this lint' or 'estimate how many skeins of xxx I need to span the distance from my doorstep to the nearest corner shop'. It was really hard to decide in favour of a winner because everybody really sent in hilarious pictures.

However... my congratulations go to Katie from Straying Power! I cannot link to A winning post nor even point out a favourite for she is blessed (or cursed?) to spend the Christmas season in a sort of illuminated Bibleland, so it seems. Quantity meets quality in her countless posts and you will be torn between the decision to find these illuminations amazing or preposterous. Loads of pictures, go there and enjoy!
[btw, has anybody seen the Brick Testament?]

As promised, another beneficiary will not have to rely on my taste in excrescences, but my mixing skills.

[mouseover]

In result, Kira from Knitting or something like it will too be ~~purloining my PRECIOUS~~ heartily invited to choose a skein of sock yarn.

Thanks again to all participants, it has been great entertainment for me and hopefully for you, too.

But it hasn't only been spying time here at sheepandnocity. Boldly ignoring my new year's resolutions, I casted on for another project. Any idea what this is?

What about another contest? ...Okay, just kidding. This is a close-up of Corded, a purse designed by Grumperina and featured in one of the last Magknit issues. What funny 'yarn' (Noro Daria).

To make up for the bad, bad unauthorised cast-on I am about to tackle a fish skin project. To be honest, so far only the skin and scissors have met. The plan is to stitch this little fish (fish out of fish skin: how subtle..) on the Sophie bag. Being kind of an ~~idiot~~ amateur in sewing, I don't dare to start perforating the skin because: I don't know what stitch would be appropriate, if and how to insert some filling and last but not least I am still uncertain about the colour combination. NOT the fish and the bag - don't confuse me! But the thread for the stitching. Contrasting or matching? Looks like some time should be spend on surfing crafty blogs. And of course your suggestions are welcome, too.

* I was willing to add something on the whole Christmas thing, incorporating pagan Yule lads, elves and the three Magi, but have to postpone it to another time (next year?)

A new year?

2006-01-05T18:06:00.000Z

I proudly present the first finished object in 2006!

This little creature's design is called 'Spherey' and can be found in Jess Hutch's booklet. I guess he would look a little bit better in solid colours. His cheerful smile however doesn't even fade when placed in snow. Tough little guy. And so cute!
Well... the only other human being he was exposed to so far called him Kinderschreck [which in my dictionary is translated with bugbear] and was seriously questioning my sense of responsibility: sending this off to a 6 months old baby. Pswah!
My reservations go however with the arms and legs made out of Knitpicks yarn. Not mashine washable - okay. But the fuzzyness!
Want to see my version of fuzzy feet?

After only wearing them 3-4 times. Wow. But it only matters if I look at them. They are still warm, soft and comfy.

Otherwise, the year 2006 proceeds fast and I guess it will be a tumultuous one. This thing about new years resolutions.. I couldn't feel so much new the first days - as eating the leftover food and holding onto the remains of the New year's eve's wine bottle... However, in a calm moment I sat down and in the company of my smoking snowman spent time brooding about time and life. Uhh.. maybe that's a bit over the top.
Thus reflecting, I then realised that my last year probably has been the worst I ever had. Comes as a suprise? Well, of course this does not apply to the topic here, the blog and most of all the ever so cheerful, encouraging, supportive and funny knitting community. Thank you all!

So what's on the schedule for this year?
For knitting I hope to conquer some UFO's and the ability to keep to only a handful of projects. I also want to knit several larger pieces, but I am pretty sure that I will have problems fiinishing even one (remember Eris?)
Another dream of me is to pursue more excursions into other crafts. On the not so exciting but on the viable side is the improvement of my sewing skills. Then, I would like to experiment with fur/leather. I already have the fish skin (which I count as leather somehow). But I am thinking of sheep skin as well. Last December the commercial skin production was terminated out of profitability (IKEA's LUDDE is probably produced by children in the Far East already). I know a girl who does the tanning in an ecological way and I would be very interested to learn that.

And else..

I will graduate this year and hope that for the first time I will be able to find a real full-time occupation that is neither just another job to finance studying nor one of the so-called traineeships (you know, playing working: having stress, sporting unlimited availibility and even responsibility for NO money - 'trainees in rage')
I wish I would have the time to join an interactive online game like World of WarCraft or something alike. But before I regret having no time for it, there might be the possibility that I do not like it anyway - not being a PC gamer at all.
I have to try to be not so afraid of life and remember that hesitation only costs my time.
I would like to make a friend, who is less then 2380 km far away.
I want to become a mother.

Fireworks

2005-12-31T16:29:00.000Z

While people equiping themselves for the big bang tonight in the revolution outlet - where else!
And while others are playing around with fireworks for some days now, I will keep to my own kind of fireworks for the eye.
Lorna's Laces. There is some problem though with this lucious yarn. Not that I mind pooling, not at all in colours like that. The problem is however the gauge. If I knit with my 2mm dpns the fabric is too sturdy, with 2,5mm it feels to loose. Am I starting to understand the US quarter sizes now? Following the problems with the fabric's sturdiness is also the pattern choice. Well, I will just play around a little longer. At the moment I am thinking about some simple ribs, maybe 3k1p or something like that and will learn the last thing for this year: the tubular cast on, ingeniously presented by Anna in a pictorial tutorial.

I hope you all have a delightful way to cross over into 2006 and best wishes for a happy new year from here!

An everlasting grin

2005-12-30T22:03:00.000Z

What could be better than knitting myself a little smiling friend who makes me smile as well. I am very pleased with Jess Hutch's pattern (from her booklet). It is clearly written and - being for toys - leaves of course a lot of freedom on yarn and colour substitutes. This little guy is made of sock scraps. The head/body (?) consits of yellow-orange variegated Trekking yarn I got from Judy in the sock scrap swap (Thanks again, Judy!) and the arms and legs will be knitted in my recent Knitpick's Sock Garden leftovers. But once he is done, it is time to say goodbye to the little fellow. He is about to go on a journey to smile at somebody else.

About the contest: I know, the deadline is approaching.
BUT - a little Christmas elf just whispered in my ear that Christmas is not over until the 6th January. So true. I had so much fun so far seeing what you all digged up on tacky tasteless Christmas decorations or related incidents that I decided to give it a bit more time. Even if you might think it is unfair or you are sooo impatiently awaiting to be announced the winner of the sock yarn - Ha! It's my contest, I can do whatever I want. Hehe...
I'll give you a little sum up of what has amused me so far and maybe there's more dropping in the next days.
For now, I'll leave you with a little sum up of the findings that have amused me so far (random order). I'm afraid all this tackiness is addictive - check out those clipart-dividers! Okay, have fun, entertain yourself and best wishes for all your new year's celebration!

Elli's collection of theme decorated houses. She picked the nutcracker which I like very much, being very familiar with this kind of Christmas decoration from Erzgebirge in Thüringen. Be sure to check out the other houses, e.g. the Polar Express and the Nativity theme.

Katie has kept me busy a whole week now staring at her pictures and wondering about her neighbourhood ;-) She did not only categorize them but also included a little philosophy. Looking at those feels like travelling to another ~~planet~~ country.

Lolly found funny outdoor as well as indoor decoration. The latter one seems to be a singular excrescence, unfortunately it isn't...

Amanda's Santa obviously met with an accident. This picture proves professisionalism: spotting the motive, jumping out of the car and nestling to an iron fence to take it. That's the spirit!

Kira also understands how to impress with a careful collection of tasteless decorations. The convention of unrelated but most horrorible Christmas(?) figures is still haunting me in my dreams. There are fortunately also some harmless creatures like the omnipresent inflatables - but this time a giant snow globe version. Great!

Last but not least,Jenn's romping Teddybears. Very cool - I mean the embodiment of tackiness. Must not show it to any toy around here - they might start marching of to the next circus.

I hope I haven't forgotten anyone - appologies and let me know! Remember new deadline: 6th January 2006.

Not easy to digest

2005-12-27T22:02:00.000Z

Nobody is excpecting this anymore, I guess. Knitting content!
A finished project even. I present another pair of Rib and Cable Socks (á la Nancy Bush) I should say almost finished, for you can still see the yet unwoven threads tangling down.

Details on these socks:
Yarn: Knitpick's Sock Landscape in Redwood Forest.
I reversed the pattern into a toe-up version. Following this, the socks feature a short-row heel. All nothing special. I am pleased though how I managed to cast off with the perfect tension. (I switched from 2,5mm dpns to 3mm dpns halway along the calf and casted of with a 5mm needle.)

I wish to say the holiday's were a calm and peaceful time but they weren't. Not calm for the reason that there were at least two family duties each day. Lunch, coffee, tea, dinner and so on.. Very pleasant gatherings in general, but since it is not my family (and not my language) it was kind of exhausting. The not-peaceful-part refers to the excellent food. I'm still busy digesting, it seems.. uh..my stomach.

To keep the post short, here's a beauty that crossed my way on one of the visitations. The Icelanders! After Keiko* now they killed Rudolph, too!!

Edit: On the contest - I was really expecting that people find the one or other same tacky decoration, over-illuminated houses, strange Santa figures and so on - but this!? Check out Lolly's finding, it is such a laugh! (scroll down)

* The Keiko affair.. let me explain. The famous 'killer' whale from the movie Free Willy, named Keiko, spent his retirement years in a fjord in Iceland. Apparently, it was kind of a tourist attraction (whale watching success, 100% guaranteed) At the same time, a passionate debate set in on the topic of whale hunting. Iceland decided - against the world's protest - to reuptake whale hunting. The only funny thing that ever emerged from this was a hilarious T-shirt that said:

If we would have Flipper we would eat him too!

Now it's Rudolph..

Hoho...

2005-12-24T14:02:00.000Z

Santa is sober again, right in time for the celebrations. Christmas begins here tonight (24th) at 6 p.m. It is time now to wrap the last parcels and to get dolled up for the evening festivities.

Merry Christmas - Gleðileg jól!

Jólaöl

2005-12-23T23:44:00.000Z

Yes, 'Christmas beer' in large amounts is probably what this guy had.

And talking about drunken Santa, Amanda happened to observe another victim of Christmas' spirit.
Kira's latest post features many pictures of amazingly decorated houses. I think I should point out though that you have to scroll to underneath the ginger bread one to reach the contesters. ;-) A warning: you need strong nerves for the creepy figures her neighbours arranged!

There will be some knitting on this blog again. I promise.

High noon

2005-12-22T21:49:00.000Z

With a slight delay - caused by the sun or rather the absence of it yesterday - here the peak of it's altitude. From now on there's only improvement. I'm so glad to have overcome another winter's dreary darkness!

The deer's dance

2005-12-21T19:33:00.000Z

I'm not sure how widespread is the fact that the Icelandic population only consits of a paltry 350.000 people. Not a known fact is however that they - up to this day - managed to polute their own country with over 4.000.000 Christmas cards! 4 millions! Which makes almost 12 per head. Of course this perfuntory calculation inlcudes the vast number of children, who naturally do not send out those. The average seniour in the TV news was just about to send out 50 cards when interviewed and expected to receive many more.
Since I am somehow involved in this madness, there has been no time for knitting. My arms turn into uncontrollable limps after a 10 hour work day and my neck and shoulders are so tense that I can barely move. Photographing, that is what I am still able to do.

[Let your mouse move over the picture below]

Though this moving version of Rudolph definitely qualifies for "Christmas excrescences" it looks actually quite nice. At least when it brightens up the shortest day of the year. I might withdraw from this statement once the sun has gained some power again.

I want to remind you of the CONTEST!
I am proudly presenting a discovery from Jenn, a hilarious gathering of romping teddies. You have to see this!

Santa Claus is coming to town

2005-12-15T19:35:00.000Z

Santa Claus illuminated by the electrical burglar alarm? Well, he is a bit early...
[If you click on the picture, you'll see him better = not so blurry]

Admittedly this one is not so cool. It is merely a reminder.
I'm sure you can do better! So be on the look-out, a camera might come in handy, too - I'm waiting.

My appologies for not updating on my knitting. The simple reason is, there has been none. But this arrived:

How long I longed for this book... I'm so excited to see the fabulous hourglass-sweater, woohoo.
The skeins are just another reminder of the contest.
Here are in short the rules again:

A picture of a tacky Christmas installation or a funny moment (I liked the description from Katie of Santa's rest. Too bad she couldn't take a picture of him)
and
a) it must be local (photographed by you, no web findings) and
b) it has to make me ~~gasp in embarrassment~~ me smile
c) you will only have time until next year! (Deadline 31.12.2005)

Good luck!

Burn, motherfucker Frosty, burn

2005-12-13T20:49:00.000Z

In case you wondered where I had been - the headline for the last week/s was EXAM time. No knitting, no surfing, no blogging, no nothing.. Consequently, there is no knitting to show.
Okay, almost.. After submitting all my papers last Friday night, I was rewarded again with a mini-holiday aka a weekend in a 'summerhouse'. Beware, this sounds more pompous than it is. In fact, all unions own several huts all over the country and since virtually every Icelander is member to (at least one) union (I think it must be the highest per head quota in the world) you have almost unlimited access to subsidised holiday destinations. Very nice. And also, the Icelanders mainly spend their summer there. Quite understandable for the weather conditions we had the two times now: Rain, icy rain.. okay, you've heard that before.. but all equals to nothing else to do then hang out in the jacuzzi, or watching movies, or knitting and so on. However, in the aftermath of my exam stress, I did not even bother to bring a knitting project along! But when the decision fell for a 'Lord of the Ring' night, ALL three parts, extended versions, - I almost freaked. Not for the movie part, but the idea to spend 10-12 hours of TV watching without knitting!? GASP! Fortunately I found a hank of Knitpicks sock yarn deep down in my bag from the last weekend trip when I was overambitiously equipped with five or six projects. Naturally, I always carry dpns with me!

You can clearly see the evidence for my burn-out: I casted on for ANOTHER pair of Rib and Cable socks by Nancy Bush. Toe-up this time, no more challenge than this. (And no, I did not knit all the time, otherwise at least one sock should be finished, right?)

But now for the interactive part!
Christmas arrived somewhat early here due to some extra care taking of my parents. Last year the Christmas parcel made it all the way to Rio de Janeiro, where it rested some while in the shade of Sugar Loaf Mountain (probably for the chocolate items to get a nice roast). It finally arrived in late February, being closer to an agglomeration than a single shippment. Whatever.. This year, the Christmas elves obviously had a map and everything went fine. Except my Christmas attitude - I already opened it.
Look:

Sock yarn! Actually no gift, more the 'filling material' I had shipped to my parents. For example from Marianne and her fabulous Opal-Shop. International shipping, EXTREMELY nice contact, pay her a visit!

Though I am an avid sock knitter, I have problems imagining myself knitting so many socks in ~~a life-time~~ the near future. What to do? Obviously, sharing it is. For a good karma and so.. and on selfish grounds for I enjoy watching YOU knitting socks so much.

Am I trying to confuse you now with stupid, senseless pictures?
No - I gave the above some thought and came up with a sort of contest.

+ + + CONTEST + + + CONTEST + + + CONTEST + + +

The idea was to have you show me some ludicrous pictures of Christmas excrescences. Like this one, where a giant inflated snowman fondles a gas heater!

But then I thought about the occasional click I get from India, Egypt, Mongolia, Saudi Arabia... and who am I to limit the scope to (pseudo-)religious symbols.
You will also qualify with a picture of something ridicilous from your neighbourhood. A strange garden ornament, a funny sign of a shop, some cryptic monument, just anything but

a) it must be local (photographed by you, no web findings) and

b) it has to make me ~~gasp in embarrassment~~ me smile

c) you will only have time until next year! (Deadline 31.12.2005)

And best of all, my sick sense of humour or taste in follies shouldn't stop you from participating and winning - there will be a randomly chosen winner as well!
Now, do not hesitate and take part! Leave me a comment when you posted something on your blog. If you don't have a blog, leave a commetn for sending me a picture via email - There is no excuse! Spread the word, I'd love to see many droll pictures.

Partly sunny

2005-12-02T16:55:00.000Z

Is this what the weather forecast has in mind when they say 'partly sunny'? No photoshopping, just a strangly glowing sun(set - if you want to call it that around 2:30 pm).

As ususal I tend to underestimate the work load at the end of the year. There's the term's end with the always completely surprising number of exams and study papers. As if that wouldn't be enough, there's the growing amount of Christmas post, which does help financing my studies considerably, but also blows up my day job up into a 10h/d range. No time for knitting, well almost no time. At least no big progresses on anything.
Eris is steadily but v-e-r-y slowly growing. I added one entire skein to the finished collar. Problem now is that I don't know wether I really like how the collar's top looks like. The instructions, though very clear, left me puzzled about how the different increases work together to form a straight line down the tip. Of course the whole sweater depends by its design on the collar. There is no way to decide later that I'll just knit the collar again. I don't know what to do. Rip it again? I can't even decide, if I dislike the part so much that it's worth it - let aside the fact that I don't know if it would turn out different next time. Maybe, what I call fuzzyness is the design after all?

On socks, I added a few lines to the Elfine's, turning the heel soon. [The tights are now so necessary that I even wear them inside. No walking on snow for some while I guess. Bloody wintertime!]

Then there's something that should have made its way into the New-vember. Well, too late. What you see here is fish skin. A dyed lax skin and I think the other is called 'leopard fish' (don't nail me down on this!)

Fish skin products, such as purses, wallets and other stuff are quite popular here. I thought I can do it myself. After purchasing the skin, I have these two little contradicting voices whispering
a) I can't do this, I don't even have a proper sewing machine and thus no sewing knowledge.
b) Everything I try out for the first time usually works fine, I just shouldnt try to repeat it 'properly'.
I will keep you informed.

Last but not LEAST, my yarn from the sock scrap swap arrived! Thanks go out again to Katie, who organised this swap and of course to Judy, who was my 'swapper'. I think it only took so long because the postman had to carry so much. What a load of scraps! Look!

I am still wondering how Judy is able to knit socks without yarn. I mean, she almost send entire skeins but she affirms that she knit socks from these very skeins. Have to take her word for it. It is beautiful stuff. A lot of yarn that I haven't tried yet like the Trekking and some cotton blends and I really like the colours. Thank you so much, Judy!
In case the 'scraps' are not enough for ankle socks, I think I will knit something from this booklet. Woohoo.. knitted toys, I'm all into that. Pretty nerdish to knit toy robots, but I like it. (order this booklet from Jess Hutch, who seems to be not only a funny, gifted designer but is also a very friendly person to communicate with.)

Snowwalking

2005-11-28T00:01:00.000Z

Pattern: Jaywalker Socks by Grumperina
(in Magknits September 2005)
Yarn: Opal handpainted, colour 'schwarz-rot-gold'
Needles: 2,5 mm dpn bamboo

This pattern was developed by Grumperina for her sockapal-2-za pal. It was so very interesting to see her documenting the whole process - I had to knit these socks, too. What is more, for the first time, I actually had the yarn in stock the pattern called for. Not that I really care for that, but it looked like fated.
I followed the pattern instructions very closely (knitting the bigger size) and have to say that it is very well written and easy to follow. I am still not happy with the cuff ribbing, though. But I had no other idea and was too eager to go on with the increase/decrease knitting for doing my own research for a better solution. However, do not care about my animosity. I usually have problems with cuffs and ribbings and if you look close, the cuff looks just perfect in Grumperina's pictures.

Want another picture? Look how nice the biased areas embrace the heel. And the heel! Of course, I couldn't stick 100% to the pattern and changed the slip stitch heel into an alternated slip stitch heel (eye of partridge). I had only knit this one in solid colours so far - gosh, I missed all the fun!

Otherwise: I adore the fit of this sock. It has a lovely snug fit that almost reminds me of support stockings. No, wait, they are not that tight. Just perfectly cosy for someone who doesn't like saggy socks. The pattern seems to be perfect for variegated yarn, I haven't seen any strange pooling in the gallery of already finished socks!

I think I don't have to convince anybody to try this pattern: there is already a knit-along. Go there and join!

And yes, that's snow I'm standing on.

First candle

2005-11-27T10:09:00.000Z

First candle today.
Also, it is still New-vember and obliging I tried another new thing. Making stitch markers.

I knew from the beginning that this is nothing for me. Not at least because I lack all the material for it. But when I found this this cute little miniture Christmas tree ball (IKEA) I had to do something stupid: A very unpractical stitchmarker. Maybe the world's most unfunctionable stitch marker. The ball is very sensitive, the wire stands out viciously, ready to tear the yarn...

A happy first advent to everybody and I wish you a all a nice and peaceful (and productive) Christmas season!

[a glimpse of sunrise, 10 a.m.]

Glottens?

2005-11-21T20:18:00.000Z

Thank you all for your support on my relaxing weekend. It worked! The weather, though, let's not talk about the weather. I had been slightly interested to see the landscape, maybe even go for some hiking.. [cough] but there was no way to leave the house. Snow, rain, icy rain - you name it - horizontal, vertical.. uhh! But this is were the 'jacuzzi' thing comes into the game. Almost every Icelandic summerhouse has one (specially in geothermal areas of course). We boldly stripped naked on the patio at least twice a day, tip-toed through the snow and layed simmering in the hot water.

And now the knitting part.
Call me insane but I took four projects with me (for two days!). Moreover, I also had a skein of Noro Kureyon with me, with the intention to work out something in order to have warm hands and peaceful palms. Pretty, precious Noro. I casted on for some glove/mittens = glottens and hardly touched any other knitting. But I am so pleased with this project.

The dramatic 'sunset' picture shows the colours surprisingly accurate. They are so pretty! [critics from the summerhouse roommate: 'Uh.. they don't match!']

I was even more impressed by my efficiency. Look!

Afraid to run out of yarn, I spared the thumbs for last to fit their lengths according to the left overs.
The finished gloves are just the size I wanted them to be and I had 10 cm left. na.. not really left. It left me with the tedious (but fast!) job of weaving in a 5cm thread. Very satisfying.

They are basically gloves without fingers. I wanted however something more closed then just open mittens - I always feel a little naked (and cold) between the fingers. On the other hand, I was too lazy to knit short fingers. Yes, mainly too lazy, but I also assumed it would look and feel a bit clumsy with the thick Noro yarn anyway. So here my idea: I crocheted little bridges between the fingers. Really cool, it turned out excactly how I imagined it. What a delight.

[excuse the blurry picture!]

This strange time/relativity thing

2005-11-18T13:47:00.000Z

It has been a bit quite here for I am really busy with.. well.. everything. I don't know, it seems I am stuck in a time sucking hole. Have to get out!
And that's excactly what I am going to try this weekend. I am going to spend the weekend at a completely remote place without internet, telephone, TV a.s.o. I do hope though they got electricity!
The good thing: I will calm down for a while, have time for reading and knitting, and be able to recharge my batteries. I am running pretty low these days.
The bad thing: I will fall more behind with all the catching up on emails and blogs and feel even more guilty when I come home.
No pressure, huh? ;-)

I'll leave you with some pictures of the finished jaywalker socks (which are going to get there real post later)

What a fun pattern! I really enjoyed knitting them.
Since the needles were free then I allowed myself to cast on for a new pair. Yumm, yumm, Lorna's Laces! What a nice yarn! It is so soft and has such a nice shine. Definitley not a knitting while watching TV yarn - I can't get my eyes off it! I knitted in the bus, though. And the ignorant (or shy?) other commuters didn't ask at all what it was. Though I overheared some old ladies talking about knitting Christmas gifts for their granddaughters. Shouldn't they be interested in such beautiful yarn. Specially, since one cannot buy it here? Strange.. I would have asked.

So pretty!

The pattern I am following right is called "Mata Hari Socks" from craftoholic. Unfortunatley, the PDF link to the pattern is not working, that's why I have to imagine how it works from the given pictures. But go there anyway and check out the hilarious knitted Oktoberfest set!

To my Sock Scrap Pal: I did not forget to mention your parcel, it still hasn't arrived :-( You are not by any chance from the Pitcairn Island? [scroll down to 'by post'!] Oh, no, it's me who lives at the back of beyond. We'll just have to wait a little longer.

Boys only

2005-11-12T20:50:00.000Z

There's a party going on in my house. And I'm not invited!
It's considered to be a 'boys only' event, and in fact only a gathering of five guys in their mid/end thirties (right, we call ourselves still 'girls')
I was allowed to join the dinner part, which was quite sophisticated. Provided by a former smutje (ship's cook) and I have to say, I'm wondering if they award stars to ships.

Excellent dinner! Roasted lamb, as so common here, but of an outstanding quality.
The picture only shows you the amount that was served for five people (I didn't count, you know, the boy's thing)
I am also impressed by the wide selection of home-brewed stuff.

Here some beer.

There is also some blueberry wine (from 98! According to the picker/brewer an excellent berry year ;-)) and rhubarb wine. I'd never tasted something like this before. Delicious! Finally, a nice idea what to do with this awful weed that grows here (other than the obligatory rhubarb pies, the rhubarb jam...)

And following the occupation of almost every corner of the house by the noisy guys, I will spend my evening with knitting.
Maybe finishing the Jaywalker socks (and having the needles free to eventually cast on Lorna's Laces socks) or trying to find the concentration for the collar of Eris. (Did I mention the singing and guitar playing?) I so need a SnB Reykjavik! be sure to drop me a line if you ever pass by!

Warm hands...

2005-11-10T15:18:00.000Z

Time for that!

I got helpful tips and links from you in the comments or by checking the participant's blogs (warm hands and peaceful palms) and here I am. Almost finishing the second Norwegian mitten. The result is not as professional as I aimed for. But they are not for me. In contrast to being even more the perfectionist in this case usually, I know the beneficiary will not care at all. Will not notice! Not even that they are handmade, I guess. Well... nerds!

Since I felt like cheating, participating with the same mittens for two KAL and at the same time absolutely amazed by nona's i-cord finger gloves, I had to start a pair, too. They will however be fingertipless i-cord gloves. And believe me, it's hard to type after crushing my finger in the stitch holder. All for the vanity of showing progress pictures.

Wondering about the dark pictures? It is awfully dull and dim these days. Due to rain, I couldn't really go outside. And even when I did first, I needed a flash there, too. It was around 3 pm! Where's the snow? I prefer chilly but bright days!

A new meme is circulating, well hardly new anymore if it hits here. For the credits, I was tagged by Wanda and Dorothee and the intellectual property rights for this meme are Carolyn's.

What is your all time favourite yarn to knit with?

This one is impossible to answer. I haven't knitted with too many different yarns so far.
I very much liked knitting with Debbie Bliss baby cashmerino, which is sooo soft, has a beautiful drape and is machine washable! Regia yarn has been my favourite sock yarn for a long time, but I am beginning to be unfaithful. Lanett yarn (100% merino but superwash) is my favourite so far for solid socks.

Your favourite needles?

My sock dpns! All ... 23 of them. Yes, strange number. I tend to loose them, between the seats in busses or trains. Or they break..

In general, I definitely prefer bamboo needles for all sizes and prefer kniting in the round. I don't care for brands. I don't care for straight needles. But being a gadget person, I am highly interested to try these cool Denise needle sets one day.

The worst thing you've ever knit?

There is a hat in my UFO pile that consists of fun fur and cotton. Looks like an old lady with a hair net. Not nice, I never finished it, got too afraid. Another bad knit is a mohair lace scarf I started. Without pattern, without ever having knit lace before. Obviously this was a bad idea and condemned to fail. Worst thing, it seems impossible to unravel the (very pretty, colourful and expensive) Colinette yarn.

Your most favourite knit pattern? (maybe you don't like wearing it...but it was the most fun to knit)

Not a real 'pattern' more a technique, but this sweater was the most favourite knit so far. Believe it not: my very first project, after learning the basics of knit and purl with a few meters of acrylic yarn. Of course I had to pay for jumping into such a project without background knowledge. Oh, you are not supposed to wash wool in the washing machine? What about a dryer? [Sigh] Wondering about the sturdiness of the sweater? It is probably fit for a 8 year old, though it wasn't thought to be. Anyway, I am so proud of this peace and it was sooo much fun to knit that it survived 15 years and seven moves now, without being worn!
On patterns I enjoyed most the very recent discovery that there are patterns for socks! To mention some, I specially like the Rib and Cable socks from Interweave knits.

Most valuable knitting technique?

Hard to say. Definitely all ways of fixing flaws and finishing techniques (I used to fasten the threads with knots!). Also coming to the conclusion that I don't need to unvent everything has been very valuable. Almost everything is written down somewhere or has ben tried out by another knitter. I learned to recognise and accept help and I am much more organised now. That's a good technique for almost everything.

Best knit book or magazine?

My bible for techniques is 'Knitter's Handbook' from Montse Stanley, which I purchased about 18 months ago and which led me to take knitting 'serious'. My favourite knitting magazines for inspiration are Interweave Knits and knitty of course.

Your favourite knit-a-long?

I haven't completed a KAL so far, only participated in the Sockapal-2-za, which was just incredible! Inspiring, fun, supporting - loved it!

Your favourite knitblogs?

Uh - tricky, there are so many. I started with reading the blue blog and Knit and Tonic and try to follow now a list of ~50 of 'favourites'. You can find some of them in the sidebar.

Your favourite knitwear designer?

I have no clue about designs. Most often I don't even care for the designers name (shame on me). However, I adore the designs of Anna Bell, though I have never knitted one. On local grounds, I like a lot of the stuff of Vedís Jónsdóttir. She is not exclusively designing knitwear (remember the dog?), but her textile designs are plain, simple and beautiful - just like the preconception of Scandinavian design.

The knit item you wear the most? (how about a picture of it!)

Socks! And my favourite hat, both versions. You won't believe, I already lost the second version of it! It was not so bad this time, since it was only a 'copy'. I like the idea somehow that now maybe two people are running around here with my knitdesign on their heads. Who knows..

I couldn't really find anyone who hasn't been tagged yet. My suggestion is that the silent readers of my blog, some of them leaving very exciting spots on my ClustrMap, consider themself tagged and leave me a comment so that I know where to find the answer. Okay?

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And finally a message to everybody, who's wondering why I don't answer emails: my email-client is not working properly these days. I can hardly open my messages, let aside type answers. Hopefully, this problem disappears in no time.