Will you do ANYTHING for your child?

That's a good question. I think the answer, in my case, is YES! Why? Because I'm knitting her a scarf, a pink scarf AKA The Pink Monster. I thought I would never knit a scaf and I hate pink. Actually the process is made so much easier by the fact that my daughter absolutely loves it and can't wait to show it of to her friends at school. It also helps to listen to knitting podcasts, alternating between KnitCast and Cast-On, and that's just the beginning. There are a lot of new knitting podcasts out there.

p.s. I'm done 58 cm, little over one skein/ball of eyelash, so just over half way done.

Two in a row!

Blogging two days in a row! It is obvious that my computer time is not as much work related as before (at the moment).

At preschool (leikskóli) yesterday, Kamilla and I saw a beautiful, pink, furry scarf. She loved it. Kamilla turned pink overnight and wants to wear everything pink, it can be her rain suit, just as long as it is pink! So off we went to buy yarn. I didn't like the all-eyelash yarn version of the scarf we saw at school. Both it is not very warm but also it was too stretchy. I wanted a warmer, more consistent scarf so I am using one strand white SISU yarn and one strand eyelash yarn.



I'm knitting it with 4 mm needles and right from the start I got the feeling it was too tight. I experimented with 5 mm but was afraid the scarf wouldn't be as furry so I stuck with the 4 mm. I only got about 25 cm done the first night (and I was hoping it would be a 2 evening project). And those 25 cm are post stretching of the garter stitch (garðaprjón).

[útúrdúr] I wonder if garter means the same in English as garður means in Icelandic? Garður (of this I am about 90% sure) means the rows of hey that is raked when you are heying. [/útúrdúr]

I am including two more photos. One shows the real color better and the other shows the eyelash better.

Introducing Woodland Grace

I needed a portable project so I picked up Woodland Grace by Mill Hill.



Rósa has this kit as well and we decided to make it as a SAL (stitch-a-long) even if it is not a big project, but just for the fun of it. We decided to post pictures on Mondays. I had already sorted out the threads and put in few stitches. I went to my mom's house on Saturday and dad's on Sunday and put in another few stitches, only with one color thought. As luck would have it I ran out of thread when I had only one stitch left with it :( I've made one Buttoned and Beaded kit from Mill Hill before and then I did all the crosses first and then put in beads. Now I'm thinking to do one area at a time and finish both the crosses and the beading. Last time I started with the border but now I'm starting with the angel (the last one was also an angel). This kit I got for my birthday from a stitching friend of mine. I participated in a birthday gift exchange in Allt í kross. It was a lot of fun but I decided not to participate this year, I have enough on my plate right now.

For those who read this far, a little treat. Sunday update on my French village. Comming along, slowly but surely.

FO at last

Finally I finished the regia hat. I had no real incentive to finish it. The girls don't need it and I was having problem with the egde. The edge between the earflaps was cast on as I went, with only one thread. I basically just looped the yarn around the needle. I was too lazy to go and check my knitting book on how to do this properly. My faux-pas. I did the crochet edging that was required but it was still too loose. On my mother's suggestion I re-did the crochet and went higher up, took in extra row. It was still a little loose but got a lot better after I pressed it (ironed it).



It's made with Regia 6 ply sock yarn and the pattern can be found here (in Icelandic). Icelandic knitting terms can be translated with the word lists from Garnstudio.

The weather was actually quite nice so I went outside to take the picture. My older daughter was a very unwilling model at any rate. I have no idea what to do with it. I doubt I have any use for it in California and the girls already have good hats. Any ideas? I'm thinking about selling it. Is there anyone out there in the blogsphere who would be willing to pay 2000 kr. for it? Maybe $25 plus shipping? Ok, it's yours. If you think the price is outrageous, I'm sure we can work something out. It fits 2-6 year old (it stretches out well).

Here is the weekend update of the French Village:


I'm a little annoyed that I'm not at the 50% mark already. I only find time to work on it 2-3 times a week. It works up really quickly, I just need more time. When I'm at the 50% mark I will put it aside and start finishing projects I have laying around.

The knitting olympics

Right now, as I write, 4000 knitters are casting on for the Knitting olympics hosted by Yarn Harlot (who else!). There is even a team Icelandic, who Cassie and Sigga Sif are a proud memers of. I'm not a member of the team but I consider myself their nr. 1 supporter. Why am I not participating? At the moment I can add another thing to my agenda. I am turning in my dissertation and writing an article and then I will get ready to move. Its a big move. From Reykjavik, Iceland to Concord, California. The only thing I worry about (well, not the ONLY thing but a big thing) is - What do you knit in California? I don't see wool as being very practical, even if it warms in cold weather and cools in warm weather. Do I have to switch to cotton? There are always silks and hemp :o Could I knit socks, hats, mittens? I've checked and there are a few knitting stores in the Bay area so I guess I have to pay them a visit as soon as possible to find out what people do around there. The one that's closest is Fashion Knit in Walnut Creek, next city over.

The plan is as follows. On March 3rd, we'll fly to Boston, spend the weekend with my friend Berglind and her husband and son. Then we'll take Amtrak across the US! It's a big adventure (especially when you have 2 small kids) but it's something Clint has always wanted to do. From Chicago we'll take the California Zephyr, have a family room and first class service (I'm looking forward to that part).

Full Moon HD

Here is my version of Full Moon by Elizabeth's designs. It's pretty much the same as the original but stitched on a 28 ct. Summer Khaki Lugana (SK is the color, Lugana the fabric) and substituted two Weeks Dye Works for 3740 (purple) and 937 (dark green, trees).

Oh, yeah .. The camera was on the top of the fridge!

Silver Needle sale

Ok, so tomorrow is the big sale at the Silver Needle, everything is 20% off. I don't need anything but I've been looking at their store and you never know!

The sale starts at 8 AM CST. I figured out that would be 14:00 my time (2 PM). So anytime after that. Maybe I'll get supplies for things I already have and want to do. Maybe I'll get a chart or two, maybe some fabric. The list goes on and on :)

SBQ of the week

Stitching Blogger's Question

With the exception of your online stitching friends, do you have any
other stitching buddies?

Yes, I have a friend that stitches, but is not online. She inspired me to start stitching. Since about 90% of the population has the internet most 'real-life' stitching/knitting buddies are online as well.