#WIPCrackAway KAL

I have joined the WIPCrackAway KAL. 

Here are my WIPs that I'd like to finish:

I decided to start with the smaller one: Almost finished now!

How long is a tractor?

- or what's the shape of a knitted stitch?

My colleagues know I like to knit. So they showed me this photo in a magazine, a knitted dress, with tractors and traditional patterns, by Moods of Norway.

There's no way I'm going to knit (or wear!) a dress like this. But I could not get the tractors out of my head.

I searched for a chart, and found this (scroll down a bit to see the tractor chart. Perfect, I thought.

When copying the chart, I soon realised, I'd have to change the wheels. Otherwise, the tyre woud be flat, since knitted stitches are wider than they are tall. But I forgot to change the rest, so I think the tractor looks a bit long. I meant to make both tractors the same, but made a counting mistake on the second, so this one is shorter, and looks better, doesn't it?

Recognise the yarn? And the project? Not finished yet, too many pot holders to make...

Optimal number of wips?

What if I only could start a new project after finishing two wips? How long would it take to reduce the number of wips to one? Is it at all possible? Or desirable?

Sock sadness - and madness

Last year I was amazed by all the people who joined the 52 pair plunge, planning to knit 52 socks during the next year. At least two of my knit blogging friends have finished their 52 pairs: Erica and Pinneguri. Congratulations! And Annepålandet has joined for the next 12 months. Good luck!

My plan was less ambitious, two pairs of socks. And this is my progress - so obviously I didn't make it.


So, my ambition for the next 12 months is to finish this pair. I also want to try Pinneguri's new sock pattern.

Trying on my yellow birds!

It's such a fun knit!!

I'm so happy with the colours.

The purple is Wollmeise.

The contrasting colours are from Ninukka (etsy shop).

The fun has begun!

Yoke knitting and FIFA world cup!

I'm happy about the two week sweater challenge form Twist collective! I was procrastinating because I don't like to make corrugated ribbing, and needed a little push. As you can see, I've started with garter stitch in stead of the i-cord cast on in the pattern (I've tried i-cord cast on once, but was not very successful, so I need more practice before using it on a sweater).


PS I'm not that interested in football. But the rest of the family is. And if you can't beat them, join them. (And I can knit.)


PS2 Wow, England just scored a goal, I have to watch!

Mexican colour and craft - and Twist collective's two weeks sweater challenge

I've decided to join Twist collective's two weeks sweater challenge (ravelink). I'm not going to make a whole sweater, but I intend to finish this one. It's my version of Paper dolls (ravelink).


I wrote about the pattern and discussed the colours in an earlier post. Let's say I've been inspired by Mexican colours - I'll make the birds yellow on purple background, and use red and green for the rest of the pattern - at least that's what I think today.

And here some Mexican colour and craft to brighten up your day!!

Tapestry crochet

Latvian tunic

I've finally finished my "Latvian tunic". Latvian because I've used Latvian stars from various sources: mostly this mitten book and this fabuolous site .

The yarn is Mirasol from Du store alpakka, a super soft DK alpaca yarn. It's a lovely yarn, and it's nice to know that when you buy this yarn, you contribute to the Mirasol procject.

I'm not so happy with the yoke and the sleeves, I didn't have a pattern, and was (too) eager to get to the stranded part, which I'm very happy with. But altogether, it's ok.

Neck warmers - pattern update, finished object and work in progress

The Inside Loop magazine is now closed. My Amiga pattern is now updated and available as a free Ravelry download: download now. This one is made of Noro Kureyon Sock yarn.


I recently finished this shawl - a birthday present, not saying for whom because I'm not sure who's reading...

Design: Andrea's shawl from Throughtheloops

Yarn: Cascade Venezia Worsted (1 skein) and Mirasol Hacho (less than 1 skein)

Needles: 4 mm

New technique: Don't think so, but a nice practice in lace knitting, not too complicated, and not too much.

Modifications: Didn't have enough yarn of MC, only 1 skein, do I had to omit the picots of the edging and cast off after 2 or 3 rows.

Notes: It's such a lovely pattern, I'll definitely make it again, in a bigger version.

Roots by Tora Frøseth design - a work in progress. Nice pattern, easy to remember, nice use of short rows. Have to find some nice buttons.

Seminar knitting

I used to knit during classes, at school and in university. Nowadays I sometimes knit at conferences and seminars. This is the result of two days of seminar and a train trip:

It's a child version of my Scrap Gnomy , or Pointy Striped Color as Annie Modesitt called it in her book project 1000 faboulous hats. I love using left over yarn, and putting together colours. I'm quite happy with how they're turning out so far. They're going to be Christmas presents for two little sisters, I think.

I started the blue one when the pink reached the point where I wanted to change to double pointed needles. There is too much jingling with dpn's, I don't want to annoy people. And I don't want everybody's look on me when a needle falls to the floor...

There's another hat on the needles, too.

Can you guess what football team it is?

Annie Modesitt - one corset tank top and 1000 fabulous hats

I've been wanting to make Annie Modesitt's Corset Tank Top since I saw it on Flickr three years ago. I purchased the pattern last winter, but other projects have been coming in the way. Until now. This will be one of my summer projects.

Having finally started, I thought I'd have a look at the designer's blog. And I learned that she was in need of hat photos for a book project, 1000 fabulous hats. So I decided to try and help her out a little bit, and uploaded some of my hats. I don't know if my photos are good enough, but anyway, I tried, at least.

The deadline is July 1st, so hurry up if you have some hat photos you want to show!

Selbu modern for me

This is a wonderful pattern. I had not planned to make it right now, but I kept seeing one beautiful version after the other, and I just had to cast on. Knitting during a seminar yesterday made me get a long way:

I'm using my favourite yarns: Kauni Effektgarn (Rainbow) and Rauma Finnullgarn (Jubileumsgarn, with a little shimmer in it). I'm so looking forward to wearing this!

The pattern is wonderful, as I said, and it's free! Kate Gagnon designed it, you can find it on her blog. Ravelers can find it here.

Handball knitting

I started this project in the beginning of December, because I needed some stocking stitch knitting to calm my nerves during Norway's matches in the European Handball Championship. Now I have to try to finish the Happiness knot before tonight's match against Denmark.

I like the pattern, it's Armenius, from The Inside Loop's winter issue 2008, by Kai Mistry. I'm using a different yarn, Juvel by Idena, which is thinner than suggested in the pattern. My tension is 21sts/10 cm, in the pattern 17sts/10 cm. Following instuctions for size M, this should fit a ten year old boy, if my calculations are right.