... for the baby. So I am still knitting. But frankly, I would rather have the baby out then knit just now. I heard someone saying once that the last weeks of pregnancy where longer thatn the whole 9 months put together and that is SO true. Especialy the second time around I guess. It doesn't help that I am in a super bad mood and when anyone tries to ask me how I feel I just bite their head off. I am very not pleasant to be around thees days... So I stay home in my comfy chair, knitting away on UFOs, WIPs and new projects. Here are some pictures of where I am!

                
this is where I sit and knit                  this is my view

Yesterday I did venture out for a couple of hours though. I took the car in too town to go to a new yarn store I have been meaning to go to for quite some time now. It is called Maska mera and the owner has a blog called Kristallklara . She sells mostly sock yarn and since I think I might like to knit more socks in the future I had an urge to go there and see if there was anything I liked. So I went, and I liked, and I bought...


It is made by an austrian company called Rellana as far as I can tell. It is very soft and I bought it in two different weights (as you can see). It 75% wool and 25% polyamid.

I did how ever feel I earned it since I finished the first of the travellers socks. It was a very close call with the yarn though. I have two balls of the yarn and when I cast of the first sock there was perhaps 15 m left of the first ball... just to add some excitment to my day . In other news regarding the socks I have located the second ball and hence found out what yarn I am using. It is a Marks & Kattens sock yarn. I think it is a little bit scratchy and I wont be buying it again. To my defence it was my first sock yarn and meant as a test round and the color is nice. Well, I will try to cast on the second sock today to get out of danger of the second sock syndrome.

       

When I was in town yesterday I also visited Nysta. I had read that they had a new yarn in store (also a sock yarn) Collinets Jitterbug to be exact. And what do you know, next thing I am walking out of there with two skeins and a copy of the latest issue of VK. Lets call it retail thereapy and pretend I was more pleasant to be around last night...



Other kniting endevours the last few days have been picking up a very old UFO. It s a sweater I blogged about a year ago. The pattern is called Puck and both the pattern and the yarn is from Östergörlands ullspinneri. I love the yarn and I think I will really like the finished sweater but the knitting... It takes for ever. The reason beeing it is knitted in two colors and you acctually knit each row TWICE. One time in each color. Besides this the pattern is formed by way of sliped stiches and yarnovers so it isn't really a straight forward knit.
Needles to say it took me a while to get in to the pattern again, but since I have some (alot) of time on my hands I managed to figure it out and so now I am zooming along... that is to say 'til I was about 10 cm past the armhole decreases and started to think that the top half looked a bit wide. I then started to try to count how many stiches I had on the needles (which is not very easy what whith YO, sliped stiches and two colors...). It took me about an hour to figure it out but once I did I realised I have 6 more stiches per row than I should have. NOT fun. My first thought was that I am not ripping back. I have no idé where to put a life line and just frogging it would mean that I have to cast on again (did I mention that every row is knit twice!!!). My general plan right now though is to stick with it and get a sweater that is slightly larger over the bust wich might not be such a bad thing after all. The question is -should I repeat the mistake on the back or should I make it according to the real pattern and get a smaller circomferenc (as I have learnt that tha back and front of a person is not acctually the exact halfs of a person). Any thoughts!? In the mean time I am knitting away on the front pretending nothing ever happend



Other than this (as if it isn't enough) I have cast on and off a pair of wrist warmers in the Malabrigo I bought reasently. They where a gift for a freind who had her hen night this last saturday. They turned out real well and I think there is enough yarn to make some for myself as well. I will try to get thees done as soon as posible because it is very cold right now. I'll let you now how it goes. The pattern is from Knitty and I used rosewood needles 4,5 mm.

   

I think I will leave you with this for today and I will just go and continue being introvert and grumpy in my own little world of pregant belly and yarn

So, still no baby and more time for me to go through my WIPs and finish things. I did just this a couple of days ago with the cardigan from Erica Knights "Baby bloom". The knitting was all done before the hollydays and then it has just been sitting there, watching me and every now and then giving me the evil eye for not finishing it... so with no further ado let me present

Lacy ribbon-tie cardigan from Erica Knights "Baby bloom"

Pattern: Lacy ribbon-tie cardigan from Erica Knights "Baby bloom"
Yarn: Rowan, wool cotton, color SH900, just under 500 gr
Yarn Source: Wincent, Stockholm
Needles: 3.75mm and 4mm stright needles
Comments: The pattern was easy to follow and should have been a pretty quick knit. For me however it was not. It took almost 8 months from cast on to finished sweater. I reallly like to work with the wool cotton yarn although it tends to split if I am not carfull or kniting to tight. For finishing up I used mattres stich on the shoulder seems, and under the arms and for the side seems. When setting in the sleev I used backstich witch turned out really well I think. I didn't block it before seeming but that was mainly just because I wanted it done...I do think I will get good use out of it even without a pregnant belly under it. So all in all I am very pleased with it

some more pics

     


Since last I posted I have also managed to knit a baby hat from the leftover yarn of the baby dress. Links and specs about the yarn are in the privious post so just go ther for more detail

Quick baby hat

So, beeing home with a lot of time on my hands and waiting for baby #2 I tend to get some knitting done! (Or a lot of knitting...) I finished the babydress and then I also managed to locate my button stash so now both the dress and cardigan are ready to go!!!
Here are some pics and some more info

Cotton baby dress

Pic taken without flash, this is more true to color


Pic taken with flash, shows the somewhat pearly sheen of the yarn

Pattern: Nina Sagulin, Nysta 
Yarn: Eko cotton, Atelje Huskroken , col # B095, I used aprox 125 gr for size 3 months
Yarn source: Nysta
Needles: 2,5 mm
Comments: The pattern was easy to follow and I already stated that I LOVE this yarn. I like the look of the finished dress a lot, it has sort of a vintage feel to it. It was a very quick and easy knit and that suited me just fine since it makes it easy to put down and pick up when ever the toddler needs some attention (or his dad for that matter). I can really recomend this pattern to anyone and I can see myself knitting it again, maybe as a gift since it is quick and all.
 
Garnstudio baby cardigan

Focus on the nice shellbuttons! Bought in Kuala Lumpur under guidence from fellow knitter Lyn

Pattern: Garnstudio
Yarn: Drops alpaca (no color #, sorry) almost 2 balls of each color, knitted for 6-9 months
Yarn source: Ljungqvists garn
Needles: 3 mm
Comments: I like that the cardi is knitted from side to side using short-row-shaping to get neckline and striping. I also like how this only leaves two seems for finishing (under the arms). The yarn is also nice to work with and very soft. I hope it will come to good use.

I will also inclued some pictures of the feather and fan scarf I made for myself befor christmas (or acctually a little before, during and after...). I googled feather and fan to get the pattern and it was another quick and easy knit (as all my knitting is right now it seems like!).

    


Finaly a winter wonderland picture taken today. I acctually ventured outside for a nice walk in the perfect winter weather. We didn't go very far or very fast but it was nice to get some fresh air.

So here I go again... I can't really claim that this is a "long over due update" so I'll just call it a new start and see if I do better this time around and if I don't, well, then maybe blogging just isn't for me!? We will have to see

So, what have I been up to since this summer? Mostly I have been sleeping or at least that's what it feels like. It has a very nice and natural cause in that we are going to have a new member of our family VERY soon if all goes well.
Due date is 16 of February but you never know, babies tend to have their own idé on when to show up. My personal opinion is that any day would be fine, but having a 2 year old toddler I also know that children NEVER listen to what their parents say

I have also managed some knitting during the fall. Mostly small, quick and easy projects since my attention span is somewhat shorter than usual. I started out with 3 pairs of warm socks for the ruggrat, he has never worn any of the piars, he hates them and start running as soon as they are brought out. Needles to say I haven't been knitting anything else for him after that.

Then I went in to some sort of "feather-and-fan" craze and knit up 4 scarfs for friends and family for christmas and while I was at it I made one for my self as well. I knit them up in Idena lux mohair yarn and I must say I really enjoyed the knitting and I love the finished product as well (as did the recipients of the gifts).

This is what one of the scarfs looked like wraped up and ready to be given away. Unfortunatly I didn't take any pictures of the rest of the scarfs but they where made in different colors according to the recipients taste.

Another quick knit was the hat I made for myself after new year.

It is the pattern Shedir from Knitty, special breast cancer awareness issue, but I used some tweed yarn from my stash insted of Calmer as is used in the pattern. Because of this I had to make som adjustments to the pattern but it was no biggi and I like the finished hat a lot.

In late October we also had an extra ultrasound made of my bump to try to see what type of baby we are going to have this time and they said it will be a girl (but you can never be 100% sure and all that). This information made me go and buy pink yarn, of course. A very good reason to by yarn I would say! This yarn was promply knit up in a babycaridgan.

Pattern from Garnstudio and yarn, as sugested in the pattern, drops alpaca. It is knit from side to side and the only seems you do are the ones under the arms. The shaping and stripes are created with short row shaping. Very fun to knit and I like the cardigan as well. Now it only needs some buttons and maybe a hat to go with it. I am thinking of doing a smaller version of Tychus from Knitty. We will see.

Since the pink yarn disapered so quickly I had to do some more yarn shopping to keep my hands busy while waiting for the baby. This was done a little over a week ago and some of it is already nearing it's completion.

This is a cotton dress, Pattern from Nysta, yarn is Eko cotton from Ateljé Huskroken color # B095. It has an almost pearly sheen to it and it is really nice to knit with. Those who know me will know that this says alot about the yarn since I normaly hate knitting with cotton. I am more of a wool person but for this yarn I will make an exception. It is VERY, VERY nice!

Luckily I also bought 3 skeins of another color for a sweater and hat also in baby sice...

And while in the store I was attacted by a skein of Malabrigo merino wool. It woulden't let me go so I had to take it home. I have no idé what so ever for this yarn but I think that petting it every now and then will do for now. So soft, so soft....

I have also tried felting for the first time. I knitted some fuzzyfeet last easter!!! and felted them a couple of months ago.

I am pretty pleased although they didn't really felt evenly so one is slightly bigger than the other.

I also felted a bag-thingie-maybe-laptop-cover that I knitted from some unplied yarn or "pre-yarn" (thats the name it goes under here in Sweden anyway). It was fun to knit with at first but in the end I just knitted it to use up all the yarn that I had. If I can find some nice clasps for it I think it will become the new home of my laptop, eventually... 

And then, last but in no way least is a cardigan from Baby bloom for, you guessed it, me and my bump.

I have knit all the pices but not put them together and very soon my bump will be gone (or not really gone. I am not a Hollywood mum and I don't plan of going on a diet and workout regime after delivery so I guess I have a little more time but, it was really started with the intention of me acctually wearing it during my pregnancy...). I will try to stich it together, tomorrow, some day, soon, oh, I don't know...

so, this s a short summery of my knitting adventures in pregnancy land. I realise the information about each object is quite sketchy at best and if you want to know more just let me know and I (think) I can give you more details, maybe even in another post...

I must confess, I am a blogg slacker. But here I am and blogging from a new house. We moved in 3 weeks ago so there haven't been much knitting going on. This is also my excuse for not updating this place...
This will be a very short post just to get back in to it and I will try to be back soon again and then hopefully with some knitting content or at least som pics of our new place  
See you!

We have now sold our apertment and are looking at moving out in the middle of June. I can't wait until we do and have already started decorating our new HOUSE (feels very big and grown up and very, very , very scary.... but fun!!!). A will have his own room and there is a garden that I have no idea what to do with and there will be loads of space for storing yarn and knitting books so all in all, I can't wait!!!
Since we got the showing of our place out of the way at the begining of the week I have managed to get some knitting done this time. I have even managed to finish the hat for my dear hubby (let's call him DH shall we ;o). It has a bit of a flair to it but you can't tell when it is worn by someone that has a slightly larger head than mr Bear.

 

                                    
                                     "nu bidde det natter..."
                                     quote from the Swedish movie Ronja Rövardotter, 
                                     not possible to translate, sorry

With the hat of the needles and A's cable sweater coming along nicely I felt I needed something more to do so I have been to Marias garn and invested in some yarn that will hopefully become a scarf or shawl for a friend. I am very sure she won't read this blog since she is not a knitter and further more doesn't know I keep this blog, so I will go on to show you what I am planning to do
This is the pattern I am thinking of using (comments are very welcome) and here are the materials

                                    
                                    bag of goodies


                                    
                                     unveiled

The big cone is alpaca from Indecita and the pink spool is a silk yarn from Warp & Weft and then some bling for extra effect here and there through out the scarf. What say yee? Think it will work? I will probably do a swatch this time and I will cast on asap and keep you posted on how it goes.
I will also show you what else I "found" at Marias garn

Just made an entry and then managed to delet it, no fun 

The short story is this; not much knitting going on since we are in the middle of selling our apartment. We have had a public showing today as is the custom here in Sweden and then there is one more showing tomorrow. So no time to knit for me...

Since I am now too tired to do the full entry again I will give you some pics and then get back soon instead. If you click on the pictures they are linked to my Flickr account and you will have some more details there.

                 
Sweater for A                                                         in action



I call this series "Mum's little helper"

          



        






With this I bid you a good night and happy knitting!

Anyone presently residing in Sweden can tell you that this is the winter that never stoped and that this year could be the one when we finally have "snow in June". At our house we also have cold(es) inside. I was the one that started it all about 2 weeks ago with a runny nose, body aches and a fever. Then I got a little better and went to work for a couple of days only to get a chest cough and fever again. And now the husband and son are down too. They are of course much worse off than I am...
The upside of this is that I have had some quality knitting time (although this might end now that I have two sick guys to take care of ).
I currently have three projects on the needles, a sweater for the son, a pirate hat for his dad (so they can go out and play in matching outfits) and finally a sweater for me.

and now for some pics


        

this is a childrens sweater from Yllet. I am using a tweedy, Italian yarn (you can see the lable in one of the pictures) and it is really nice to knit with. It is soft and behaves well when doing the cables. I am knitting on needles 3,5 mm for the ribbing and 4 mm for the body. So far I haven´t had any problems with the pattern but I know some that have. The good thing is she has already finished hers so I may be able to get some help if I get stuck.




Here we have the pirate hat from Hello yarn. For this I am using a 2 ply wool yarn that I found at the craft fair last week. If you look closely at the picture you can just make out that I am knitting with the yarn doubled up. Needle size: 3 mm


     

Finaly, My sweater. It is a mistake rib pattern knitted in two colours. The pattern and yarn comes from Östergötlands Ullspinneri and the yarn is to die for, all I can say is I LOVE IT, it is by far the softest 100% wool yarn I have ever felt, soooooo nice.
It is very good that I like the yarn so much because this sweater will take a while to finish. The reason beeing that you knit each row twice, once in each colour. So you see it is acctually two sweaters in one!!! This will also give me a lot of time to deside which side of the fabric I want as the right side. I am currently leaning towards using the side you see to the left above but I do like the more colourfull side as well. I might just try to find a way to seem it together so that you can use it both ways. Tips on how to do this are most welcome!

Well, this was a long post but I think that will be it for now. I have a little sick cuddly bear to take care of. I will try to post again soon and show you some of my finished projects as well.

 

Have had a nice and relaxed weekend. Went to Sy festivalen (a craft fair) yesterday together with my mum. Did some shopping as you can see here

I am very pleased with the swift (is that the right word for garnvinda?). I really needed one.
The yarn will be turned in to a Pirate hat for my husband (pattern from Hello yarn). I made one as my olympic projet but I didn't swatch (!) and the yarn I used was too thin so it ended up on our son instead.

In use

With matching mittens

It workd just as well but now I want to do one for the originaly intended recipient too.
The olympic hat-mitten set was finished on time and I chose it because I wanted to try a fair isle project. It was a lot of fun and not as hard as I had anticipated. Having said that I do not hold the yarn in diffrent hands. I am a continental knitter and it worked really well for me to carry the main colour over my second finger and the contrasting colour over my second and third finger. I will definitly do more "colour projects" in the future.

So, got the picture and ready to go. The "thing" in the picture is a Lace Wrap from VOUGEknitting, fall issue 2005. I have knitted it on size 5 mm needles and with two strands of yarn. One is Drops Alpaca in colour 3720 and the other is a verigated wool yarn from Ullcentrum. Don't know the colour code on that one.
I do like the patern and how the colours come out, but it has taken forever to do it and I am getting quite bored with it by now. However, I did finish the main part of it yesterday and now I only have to do the borders on each side of the wrap. I started one side yestarday and after about 10 rows I ripped it right out. Hated the pattern, very much, very, very much even. I now have no clue as to what to do with it so I am going to put it at the bottom of my stach and wait. Hopefully I will have a bright ide sooner or later or someone else will, but for now its bye, bye "big pink thing"  and here is a farewell shot of it