Knitting & Crochet Blog week :: Day Six

I'm going for the wild card today ;)

Do you have a particular knitting/crochet tool or piece of equipment that you love to use? Maybe it is an old bent pair of needles that used to belong to someone special, or a gorgeous rosewood hand-turned crochet hook that you just love the feel of?

I love needles. And these in red, metallic size 2,5 mm is my favorite. My favorite size when I knit socks ;) They have belonged to hubby's grandmother, so they've been knitted with a lot. You can see that the red paint is starting to fade on the tips.

The red needles have always been the one I would look for when I should cast on for a pair of socks. But lately they have gotten some competition from these Harmony Wood needles, also in size 2,5 mm :) It's Skew I'm knitting.

Click here to see other blogs tagged with knitcroblo6, blogging about this same topic for Knitting and Crochet Blog week. And here to see other tagged with knitcroblowc.

And I managed to finish this pair of fingerless mitts yesterday. They become a little thight for me, so my sister got them.
Pattern: Lepidoptera Mitt.
Yarn: 36 g grey Viking Baby Ull.
Needles: 2,75 mm

52 books in 52 weeks update

I love books! I've been readig books since I learned how to read, and there's no better way to spend some hours than with a good book and disappear into another world! So when I found the 52 books in 52 weeks group on Ravelry, I thought I'd make a list of the books I read and see if I manage to read 52 books in a year. And it's seems like I have no problem so far ;) I might even manage to do the reading 200+ books in 2010 challenge ;)

I've highlighted my favourite books :)

45 - Dead to the World (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 4) - Charlaine Harris
46 - Dead as a Doornail (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 5) - Charlaine Harris
47 - The girls - Lori Lansens

48 - Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6) - Charlaine Harris
49 - I Evigendt - Siri Fjellvang Tobiassen

All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7) - Charlaine Harris
53 - Hva er angst - Paul Moxnes
54 - I, Coriander - Sally Gardner



55 - Fire and Ice - Julie Garwood
56 - Whispering to witches - Anna Dale
57 - Sjakk matt (Polarnetter #13) - Ellinor Rafaelsen
58 - Heksens tid - Árni Thórarinsson
59 - The hunt for Atlantis - Andy McDermott




60 - Bride Flight - Marieke Van Der Pol

Right now I've started to read "Nihal from the Land of the Wind".
What have you read lately?

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week :: Day Five

Where do you like to indulge in your craft? Is your favourite arm chair your little knitting cubby area, or do you prefer to ‘knit in public’? Do you like to crochet in the great outdoors, perhaps, or knit in the bath, or at the pub?

This is my place in the living room. Here I have all I need except for my yarn stash. I guess hubby would freak out if I should have that too in reach *lol* If you click the picture you can see the notes I've made ;)
(Sorry about the mess, but I guess all creative people have it a little messy, don't they..?)

I also knit outdoors when I can. To bad the winter is so long here - it's not fun to knit whit frozen fingers... I'm not that brave yet that I'll bring my knitting with me at the doctor/dentis waiting room. But I guess I should try to knit in the car, but sitting in the middle in the back with kids on each sides, dosn't invite for pointy needles...

Click here to see other blogs tagged with knitcroblo3, blogging about this same topic for Knitting and Crochet Blog week.

I always seem to forget how painful it is....

....and I always end up like this :(
Dirty and with huge blisters. The one on my thumb broke and hurts like he**.

And the reason..? I'll give you a hint.

I've sharpend all the colour pencils ;)

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week :: Day Four

Is there a skill related to your hobby that you hope to learn one day? Maybe you’re a crocheter who’d also like to knit? Maybe you’d like to learn to knit continental, knit backwards, try cables or attempt stranded colourwork.

1. Oregon Myrtlewood Drop Spindle, 2. Spindle Bouquet, 3. Merino Tencel blends on spindles,
4. The Victorian Myrtlewood Top Whorl Drop Spindle, 5. Hello Yarn "Peat" - Lego Spindle Spun,
6. Spindle Spininng on a Kundert, 7. DSCN2471 My Drop Spindle Collection,
8. Emily Spindle by Adam Mielke, 9. Spindle spinning progress,
10. Bosworth Spindles, 11. 3G Woodworks spindle w/ SCF fibre,
12. 130 grams Merino/Nylon fibre, spindle-spun

There's still a lot to learn when it comes to knitting. Like knitting backwards, entrelac and double knitting. But the skill I want to learn right now is to spin my own yarn :) I have the old spinning wheel hubby bought for me at a local second hand shop two years ago, but I haven't got around to buy some new bobbins for it yet. I'll have to see if I can find some similar to the one that is on. But it's old and the flyer (?) is hold in place with a leather strap. I'll have to get hubby to see if there is any way to fasten a new one without damaging this old thing :)
So I guess I'll have to strat with a drop spindle. Anyone of you have some great ones to recommend?

Click here to see other blogs tagged with knitcroblo3, blogging about this same topic for Knitting and Crochet Blog week.

Mayflowers sock

I've been testknitting this sock for Allison, and I loved knitting this sock! The cables was so fun to knit.

It's a toe-up pattern and I was a bit scared that I had made the foot too long before I started the heel. Frogging cables do not seem like a plesant thing to do... But it fitted just perfect :)

Pattern: Mayflowers .
Yarn: I used 53 g of Lana Grossa Meilenweit Uni/Solid #1113. It's a 100 g ball of yarn, so I dont have enough for the left sock. If I don't find some similar white yarn in my stash ;) The flowers are knitted in some leftovers from these socks.
Needles: 2,25 mm.
Size: L

Knitting & Crochet Blog week :: Day Three

Write about a knitter whose work (whether because of project choice, photography, styling, scale of projects, stash, etc) you enjoy. If they have an enjoyable blog, you might find it a good opportunity to send a smile their way.

Here I have to say that my mum and my grandmother (my mum's mother) is the knitters who's work I enjoy the most! My mum have knitted sweaters, jackets and baby stuff for all of my kids. And my grandmother is still knitting at the age 87! Both the kids and I have gotten many great knitted and crochet things from her. She knits the most lovely lace tablecloths.

And my mum had her crochet this beautiful bedspread for hubby and me some years ago :)

When it comes to a knitter I don't know, it must be Anne from Knitspot. She knits the most beautiful things - and the speed of her needles!! Things seems to fly of her needles in no time ;) And her blog is a sight for sore eyes with all the beautiful pictures!

Click here to see other blogs tagged with knitcroblo3, blogging about this same topic for Knitting and Crochet Blog week.

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week :: Day Two

Blog about a pattern or project which you aspire to. Whether it happens to be because the skills needed are ones which you have not yet acquired, or just because it seems like a huge undertaking of time and dedication, most people feel they still have something to aspire to in their craft. If you don’t feel like you have any left of the mountain of learning yet to climb, say so!

Aran by Norah Gaughan

Sometimes I feel like I have knitted the most. I've knitted plain socks, socks with cables, socks in lace, socks in fair isle/selbu, sweaters both for kids and adults, hats, mittens in every shape and color, pants, dishclothes, toys, doll clothes, potholdes, scarfs and shawls. I have even crochet a curtain for the kitchen window and knitted some lace curtain ribbons ;) BUT I have not knitted or crochet a blanket yet. I do have four in my wip's at Ravelry, but I must confess that I haven't made a single stitch on them for months...

Aran by Norah Gaughan

A while ago I bought the book Comfort Knitting and Crochet: Afghans, and I fell in love with this blanket. It's just beautiful! It's not likely I'll knit this blanket any time soon, but I hope can snuggle under a blanket like this with a cup of tea and a good book sometime in the future :)

Click here to see other blogs tagged with knitcroblo2, blogging about this same topic for Knitting and Crochet Blog week.

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week :: Day One

Starting Out
How and when did you begin knitting/crocheting? was it a skill passed down through generations of your family, or something you learned from Knitting For Dummies? What or who made you pick up the needles/hook for the first time? Was it the celebrity knitting ‘trend’ or your great aunt Hilda?

I guess I'm from one of those families where "every" women knits or crochets ;) Both of my grandmothers knitted and crocheted. And I learned to knit and crochet at the same time as my cousins. Spending my summer holidays at my mother's mother she had the time to teach. But my mom have thought me a lot too.
I remember the joy of completing my first heel - and the type of heel is one I never knit today, I still find it complicated... I guess I was like many other kids, never finishing a project - until my mom had my little sister when I was 13. Then I knitted up a few jackets for her, and I used them for my kids when they was born ;) I don't have any pictures of them though...
Since then I didn't knit much until I had my first kid. Knitting him sweaters, trousers, hats and mittens. And for each kid it seems like I'm just knitting more and more. Not sure if it's a sign that I need to knit more to keep sane or not *lol*
Both of the girls can knit now and I'm thinking about teaching them to crochet too. My oldest boy have shown a bit interest, but have yet to sit down to learn.

And here's my latest FO - a pair of anklets. I've never knitted one before, but I guess they'll become handy when summer arrives ;) The yarn is made of corn (and a part nylon). It's not the best yarn I've knitted with, but the socks turned out very soft.
Pattern: Spring Fling socks.
Yarn: 51 g Maizy #1005. Seems like I have enough for another pair.
Needles: 2,5 mm.

World Book Day

Today is the World Book Day.
The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George's Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold. I haven't bought any books today, but we went a trip to the library yesterday and came home with a huge pile of books :)
So far I've read 13 books in April. That make 57 books total so far this year, and I think I'll manage to read 200 books, which is my goal.

Right now I'm reading "The hunt for Atlantis" by Andy McDermott which is a adventure/thriller kind of book



and "Heksenes tid" by Árni Þórarinsson. This is a crime book written by a Icelandic author.


Both are very exciting. I needed a break from all the fantasy and urban fantasy I've been reading this year. And the Sookie Stackhouse series is so far my favorite. I have book 8-10 again to read, but I'm saving them for a while ;)
So what are you reading??

Soaking up some sun

There was a time (years ago) when baking bread once a week was a thing I enjoyed... But now when I have four hungry wolves a load of three breads last two, maybe three days if I'm lucky... So baking bread have gone from a relaxing joy to a need I have to do whether I like it or not.
Yesterday the last end of the last bread went with the kids as their school lunch, so I had to make a dough after I had sent them off to school. I had planed to make a second dough, but the weather got so great so Endre and I headed out instead :) I guess I have to save money so we can buy a stove that has hot air so I can bake six bread at once.

We've had degrees below 0 during the night and in the morning the last couple of days. Yesterday we had -5 C in the morning. The sun is warming, but Endre still need to wear wool underneath his rainsuit.

I'm soaking up the sun (and are geting freckles) while I knit or read a book :)
The knitting is a pair of Lepidoptera Mitt and the book is "The hunt for Atlantis" - very exciting!

Last weekend we had a big snowfall, so the world is again covered in white with not a track to be seen. Only my own footprints after I went looking for pussy willows ;)

I only found one little willow tree with pussy willow on, the moose have eaten all the tops of the others...

Vanilla socks & some fuzzy monsters

I had not heard of the term "vanilla socks" until I saw it on the 52 ppiii forum a while ago. And the word “vanilla” is used to mean anything plain,ordinary,simple. I've just knitted 3 pairs of vanilla socks :) They are all knitted on 2,5 mm needles, with 64 st, but they have different ribs. They are all knitted in yarn from Tama's etsy store.

Neopolitian socks
k2, p2 rib.

Strawberry & Cream socks
k1 through the back loop, p1 rib.

Blue & green socks
k1, p1 rib.

I bet a lot of you have some (ugly) fun fur yarns laying around..? I do - in different colours and brands. I'm not sure why I have bought some of it, but I have gotten some in swaps and gifts, so it's not all bought in some crazy, brain dead moment *lol*
Anyway, I didn't know how to use it up so I found out the kids could make pompom monsters of it ;) So I cut out the paper rings, dugged out the yarn and we got to work. Endre got bored after a few minutes... So I had to finish it.

They turned out quite cute after they got eyes on, but and it's a big but. They shed alot of fur. I guess fun fur is not the right type of yarn to make pompoms with... So the fuzzy monsters have to live outside in the playhouse ;)

Test knitting :)

I'm SO glad it's Friday! With the kids starting school again on Thursday and we having to be up at 6.15 in the mornings again, I've been so tired this week... It's strange what a week or so with sleeping in in the mornings can do to the routines *sigh*
To those of you wondering if we have gotten our water back - we have not :( Hubby have been trying to defrost it the last couple of days without any result.

At the moment I have 5 pairs of socks on my needles. 3 pairs is almost done, they are some simple stockinett st to knit on while the kids are playing outdoors ;) But the one above is a beautiful pair of cable socks I'm testknitting. Can't wait to have them done!

And getting a package when the weekend begins is great :) I got this fron Jenda in Sweden. We've swaped books and yarn in a swap over at Ravelry. I have this book in my to read queue, so I'm looking forward to start reading it soon. Right now I'm reading book 5, Dead as a Doornail in the Southern Vampire Mysteries. I'm really enjoying this series, and it's so much better than the tv serie! So far book 4, Dead to the World is my favourite :)
I'm almost done with The Girls by Lori Lansens - a beautiful, funny and tragic book about conjoined twins Rose and Ruby Darlen. They are linked at the side of the head, with separate brains and bodies. So if you don't know what to read next, this book is one you should look at!

Have a great weekend! I'll be knitting on my cable socks to try to finish it and I guess we're heading out in the forest if the weather stays good - what's your plans for the weekend??

Easter

We've had a dream Easter here in the north of Norway! In Norway Easter is all about being outdoors skiing or hiking. So how great the weather have been is crucial on how great the Easter have been ;) So we can't complain! The temperatures have been over 10 C some days, and the snow is melting fast. But with very low temperatures by night (down to -14 C some nights) the snow have been quite hard to walk on.

I even brought my knitting with me in the forest the other day. It's a sock if you wondered ;)

Due to the hard snow, the sledding conditions have been perfect! And the steeper hills the better. You can see more pictures in our hiking blog :)

And I really hope spring is here to stay now. We already have the mud and have seen a couple of butterflies :) But I guess we still have some snow coming during Pentecost. It's called "Pinseria" - it's a cold weather period that usually comes around Pentecost. And we also have "Reinkalvria". From old times it's the time when the reindeers give birth to their calves. I guess the snow is helping the calves to become strong and healty.