Knitting done

I finished the knitting on the raglan cardigan as our cat had her kittens. It was very exciting and the knitting helped to calm me down. The thing is that our cats (3) are outside cats. They basically live in the garage. The first kitten was born on the garage floor and thankfully Clint went to check on the cat because she wanted to go underneath the freezer. She actually had the second kitten behind the freezer. We put her in the bathtub and she calmed down and had the rest of the kittens (6 in total).

The cotton is definately less forgiven than the wool. My stitches are quite uneven compared to when I knit with wool. I went to Joann's yesterday to pick up darning needles and buttons (and sock needles and DIY fleece blanket and and and). So now I can actually finish the sweater.

Sweater

I really like the sweater pattern I'm knitting. First of all, it is a top-down raglan pattern. Which is something I've never done before and it is always fun to to new things. Secondly, it is all knit on the same pair of needles, there is no need to use dpns for the sleeves since they are also knit top-down. After each sleeve is completed it needs to be sewn up and then stitches for the underarm are picked up, so the sewing part is done while the sweater is being knit, which makes the finishing even easier (only to weave in ends). The band for the buttons/button holes is knit as the main body is knit (k4 at each end) so you dont have to pick up stitches and do it afterwards.

I also like the yarn a lot. It is Rowan All Seasons Cotton (60% Cotton, 40% acrylic), which feels remarkably like 'apaskinn' or faux-suede. I like to knit with it, it has a nice texture. I also like the color a lot. I don't even know what it is called and I think it is discontinued. This photo shows it a a purple but it is browner than that (yes, brown).

Not now

I can't really post now. Couple of days ago I had half a post but had to leave the computer and lost it. Now Ása Sóley has been really sick, a nasty ear infection accompanied by a lot of vomitting. I have so much to talk about. But it has to wait. Now I'm going to bed, even if it is early (9:30).

Woodland Grace update

I am supposed to update on Mondays but it is still a Sunday. It is Monday already in Iceland, does that count?

I made an album on this WIP here: http://www.pbase.com/rajons/wg and here are the highlights:

I missed one so here is a update from March 8th, when I was on the train (could explain why it is fussy, lol).



I didn't work on it much but managed to get this much done and here is today's update:



Ok, so as I said before, I lost all my marbles. He he. No, at least I don't think so but I lost all my beads and one of the red colors as well. So I didn't know what to do about it. First I was going to order the beads I needed. But then I discovered that it would cost me the same as the kit costs to begin with, plus I needed that one color, so I just ordered the kit online. There really is no loss for me (or at least that's what I convinced myself) since I got the kit for my birthday. At least I'm not paying for it twice.

Getting situated

I haven't gotten situated craft-wise here. I don't have my so-called stash. I'm not really a stash person, more one-project at a time kind o'gal. But I do have a stash. Not a lot of yarn but more of cross stitch stash, like the entire DMC color palette and some patterns. Also, the lighting in here is not very good. I need a floor lamp (and preferably a daylight bulb). I checked ikea.com and my old floor lamp is only $10. I checked other items and it seems that they are more or less half the price they are in Iceland (all the same product) and they are considered cheap in Iceland.

I'm here!

So I'm here after about a week long journey. I'm glad to be here and I see that my worries about being able to knit were needless. The temperature gets around freezing point at night and since the heating is not as good as in Iceland it gets really cold in the house. The heating is not on constantly either because it is expensive. I'm also starting to see the point of the wrist warmers, he he.

I've been here visiting before, in November, February and April/May and it has never been so cold as it is now.

I saw a yarn store in Boston (actually Cambridge). It's called Woolcott and co. It wasn't opened yet (we were there on a Sunday). I was drooling at the windows though. This is my biggest regret during the trip, to have missed the knitting store. I felt real bad about it actually. Finally a REAL yarn shop and I couldn't even enter it (let a lone buy anything). I did however buy Last minute gifts in Barnes and Noble. That helped ease the pain ;) It's a book I've wanted for quite some time but desided not to get it until I was in America to avoid customs.

I'm still getting into the swing of things here. We go to bed super early because of the time difference so there is not a lot of knittin/stitching time. I brought one knitting project and one stitching project. The knitting project is the one I mentioned earlier (baby jacked, neck down raglan) and the stitching project is the Mill Hill kit, of which I have managed to loose all of the beads :(

Sick or packing or both

I've been sick lately and we are flying out to Boston tomorrow! It has not been easy - packing, who needs packing ;)

I started a sweater last Sunday. I wanted to blog about it but I'll have to do it later. It was in MagKnit and I liked it because it is raglan knit from top down (and I've never tried that before) and it is knit with size 5.5 mm needles (quick knit).

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.

Now and then

These pictures are taken exactly one month apart. Can you believe it? It went from 25% done to 40% done.

New stuff

Because the foundation of my new Garnaflækja group I've been looking at knitting blogs a lot last week. I've been stumbling onto some cool stuff I haven't seen before. Like the ScienceKnit webring - something to look at if you want to know what scientists are knitting. I even registered myself, as you can see to the left.

I also found a knitting podcast, called KnitCast. I downloaded some of the shows and already listened to interviews with Yarn Harlot and Amy Singer, founder of Knitty. It's a lot of fun hearing their actual voice and I learned some new information. For instance that Amy Singer has couple of new, exciting books coming up. She also talked about how Knitty came to be. I had the idea, after listening to Stephanie's (AKA Yarn Harlot) to get her bookbookbook1 to read on our trip to/across US. I would have bought it long time ago but I never read anymore.

Meme

Ok, I'll be 'memm'. Linda tagged me.

Four jobs I have had in my life.

1. Receptionist at the Microbiolical Department at the Landspitali Hospital
2. Aluminium worker
3. Production planning (Aluminium factory)
4. Doctorial student

Four Movies I could Watch Over and Over Again

1. Tremors
2. NL's Christmas Vacation
3. Canadian Bacon
4. Nemo

Four Places I have Lived

1. Reykjavik, Iceland
2. Rivers, Manitoba
3. Bordeaux, France
4. Copenhagen, Danmark (but only for total of 9 weeks)

Four TV Shows I Love to Watch

1. House
2. CSI
3. Desperate Housewives
4. My Name Is Earl

Four Places I Have Been on Vacation

1. Malaysia
2. Japan
3. Thailand
4. Basque Country, Spain
Actually the first 3 were in the same trip and it wasn't really vacation except for Thailand because we were on a study trip and visited various businesses.

Four Websites I visit Daily

1. netidentity.com
2. sonja.richter.org/dagbok
3. google.com
4. litlaskvis1.blogspot.com/

Four of My Favorite Foods

1. Lamb
2. Chicken Clint makes
3. sushi
4. Burritos (but only original, not Icelandic cut-corners burritos)

Four Albums I can't Live Without

1. Turandot, Puccini
2. Barber of Sevilla, Rossini
3. Pink Panther, Henry Mancini
4. Jólaplatan með saxafóninum og orgelinu sem ég á og man ekkert hvað heitir né hve flytjandin er.

Four Places I'd Rather Be

1. Alone knitting/stitching
2. Wine Country (any where)
3. Swimming
4. California

Four Bloggers I Am Tagging

1. Cassie
2. Sveina
3. Sigga Sif
4. Stína stuð

Belated and a brand new photo

I finally took a picture of my sweater ornament I made. It's from the book Weekend knitting. I actually made the sweater itself last fall. Then it sat in my bag for few months. I never even took a picture of it since I wanted to iron it first (goes to show how much I iron, he he).





Then, before Christmas, I decided enough was enough and took out the sweater, made the little flower decoration and put in a cord. Still I never took a picture of it but hung it in the front door window. Then, Christmas was over, I took down the ornament but still didn't take a picture. I had it in the car one day (it's permantent place will be hanging down from the rear-view mirror) then took it down to photograph. Went to my mom's and left the camera there! So finally it's here.

Also here is the progress photo of the French Village. No uploading on pbase but I can link to the photo itself. Here is a link to how it look 2 weeks ago. You can click the photo for a larger image.





I went to my dad's summerhouse with my brothers and sister. It was a lot of fun AND I got time to work on my pattern. I also finished a pair of mittens for my brother but took no picture :( They were black (natural black) Lopi mittens with a skull pattern in duplicate stitch.

The night before we left (at about 1 AM) I founded an Icelandic knitting group. Finally we can talk about knitting us Icies. The group is called Garnaflækja, it means either a 'yarn tangle' or 'tangled up intestine' depending on your preference. I encourage any Icelandic speaking knitter/crocheter to join (and it's free!).

SBQ

Today's SBQ is:

Have you had a happy dance yet this year? If so, tell us about it!
(Or just point to the entry that talks about it.) If not, when do you
predict it will be?

No, none yet. Next happy dance will probably be mittens I've already made but need to finish. The Beginner whitework ornament from TW has also been stitched but I have to add beads. I have only worked on the French Village this year but only got perhaps 5+ hours work done. So not a lot of activity on this front. The baby has been awake in the evenings and other work has been taking up my whole.