Sunday, February 25, 2018
Fast Lane
(Tittel: Fast Lane - Eminem)
I knitted too slow. And yes, it's true. I didn't have time enough. Or I prioritized something else. But one thing is for sure, I probably wouldn't have been fast enough. And in the big picture it doesn't matter. No matter how fast you try to be, you can never out run life. Life catches up to you at one point. "The only thing you can be absolutely sure of in life, is the only way out is death." And sometimes you're in the fast lane, sometimes you're in the slow lane. And this time it was the fast lane. That's life. That's death.
(Title: Fast Lane - Eminem)
Monday, February 19, 2018
These Days
Disse vinterdagene er fylt med snø, strikking, lesing og serietitting. Ikke så verst, med andre ord. Og denne uken er det vinterferie, så jeg regner med at det blir enda bedre tid til dette da. Sleng inn litt OL også, så blir det bra. Jeg har blitt med på Ravellenics på Ravelry, noe som innebærer å strikke ferdig flest mulig prosjekter mens OL pågår. Så langt har jeg fått ferdig en lue, to pannebånd og et par votter. Pannebåndene er etterligninger av pannebåndet det norske olympiske laget bruker. Bommet litt på blåfargen, siden jeg bruker lagergarn. Ble helt greie pannebånd uansett. Vottene er strikket i Finull fra Rauma, også fra lageret.
Har startet på Zweig av Caitlin Hunter. Har hatt lyst til å strikke den en stund. Jeg fant garn fra Madelinetosh og Primrose i lageret. Et morsomt mønster å strikke, og jeg håper jeg kan få den ferdig før OL er ferdig.
(Tittel: These Days - Rudimental, Jess Glynne, Macklemore)
These winter days filled with snow, knitting, reading and watching TV-series. Not too shabby, I would say. And the next week no working, so even more time to knit, read and watch TV-series. And that’s a good thing. I have joined the Ravellenics at Ravelry, which means I try to finish as many projects I can while the Olympics are going on. So far I have finished a hat, two headbands and a pair of mittens. The headbands are look-a-like to the Norwegian Olympics team, or almost since I used yarn from stash and didn’t have the right blue. Turned out ok, anyway and I got to use some stash. I used Rauma Finull from my stash for the mittens, and some leftover yarn from Karisma and Sisu for the head bands.
I have just started Zweig by Caitlin Hunter. I have wanted to knit it for a while and I found some yarn from Madelinetosh and Primrose in my stash. Really looking forward to finish it. Such a fun pattern to knit.
(Title: These Days - Rudimental, Jess Glynne, Macklemore)
Monday, February 12, 2018
I Had A Hat
Jeg har hatt en liten opptelling av forbruket så langt i 2018. I januar strikket jeg opp 884 g, eller 3154,3 m. Jeg kjøpte 100 g Finull til et par votter. Sånn er det når en faktisk mangler fargene på et par bestillingsvotter. Så langt i februar har jeg strikket 314 g, eller 936,6 m. Det har blitt 15 prosjekter så langt i 2018. Det hårete målet om 104 prosjekter i 2018 har fått en god start, og jeg er litt i forkant. Vet av erfaring at jeg alltid har en periode i løpet av året med mindre strikking, så det er greit å være i forkant. Med tanke på å slanke lageret med 18 kg, ligger jeg derimot på etterskudd. Jeg bør jo strikke opp 1,5 kg hver måned om det skal skje. Så i februar bør jeg strikke 2 kg. Får se om det skjer, da.
(Tittel: I Had A Hat - Dropkick Murphys)
Or many ... I've got a hang-up. Hats, mittens ... quick projects and I get to use yarn from my stash. I have some skeins, and both hats and mittens are projects where I can use single skeins. And I have some single skeins in my stash. Boston hat designed by Susie Haumann is my favorite. I have finished three, and I might even knit more of them. What I really like about the Boston hat is the cast on. The cast on makes the hat wearable on both sides, and it looks pretty too. Another thing is the decreasing on the top, which is such a nice one. And those two things make the Boston hat stand out from other rib-hats, I think. My two Boston-hats are knitted in yarn from stash, which have been in there for a long time. The blue one is knitted in Smart from Sandnes, and the purple is Drops alpaca.
I have counted my projects and yarn use so far in 2018. In January I knitted 884 g from stash, or 3154,3 metros. I bought 100 g Finull for a pair of mittens. I didn't have the colours the receiver of wanted. So far in February I have knitted 314 g, or 936,6 metres. So far I have finished 15 projects in 2018. The goal of finishing 104 projects is within reach so far. I'm actually a bit in front, but I know I have some periods with less knitting, so it's only good. Destasthing my stash with 18 kg this year, I have to knit 1,5 kg every month. So far I'm a bit behind, you might say. I have to knit about 2 kg in February. But it's only one and a half month into the year, so I'm not giving up on that yet.
(Title: I Had A Hat - Dropkick Murphys)
Sunday, January 28, 2018
Optimism
Jeg har også strikket en hals. Mønsteret er Helen Stewarts og heter Land of Sweets. Meningen er at man skal kunne bruke mininøstene fra en adventskalender. Jeg brukte heller garn fra lageret, Tulliball Strå. Et enkelt og lett mønster å strikke, og siden Strå er lacegarn, så ble halsen tynn og myk. Dette er en gave, så jeg håper mottakeren setter pris på den. Har i grunnen nok garn igjen til en hals til meg selv også. Kan hende jeg strikker en til meg selv også. Likte mønsteret og uttrykket i lace-garnet. Jeg brukte 42 g på pinne 3 mm.
(Tittel: Optimism - Vijay lyver trio)
Is it optimism to knit a ton of hats? We do have only one head, and there is a limit how many times you can change hats too? Or? I think I might have to put some of the hats in the basket of gifts for next Christmas. Not a bad deal to have some gifts ready at this time. Right now I love knitting the hats from Marion Louise Rindsem's book. Another hat from her book, Stripelue, and I have used yarn from my stash again. I'm doing pretty good in using yarn from my stash. At least so far. I know it hasn't been a month into a new year yet, but hey, take the small victories. The hat weigh 56 g.
I have also finished a cowl. The pattern is Land of Sweets by Helen Stewart. The point is to use the miniskeins you get from an advent calendar. I used yarn from my stash instead, Tulliball Strå. It's an easy pattern to follow, and a fast knit. Since Strå is lace, the cowl turned out real light and soft. It's a gift, and I hope the receiver loves it. I love it too, and I might knit myself one in the same yarn since I have enough. I loved the way it turned out. I used only 42 g on needles 3 mm.
(Title: Optimism - Vijay lyver trio)
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
In A Funny Way
(Tittel: In A Funny Way - Mercury Rev)
Sometimes things has a way to work out in a different way you first thought of. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes it might not be for the better, but at least something you can live with. Not that I have so many unfortunate things happening in my life at the moment. Not that I'm complaining either. I love my average and predictable life. I guess it comes with age?! Anyway, a colleague lost his hat at work the other day. It was a Marius hat he bought during The World Championship in Skiing in Oslo. What does a knitter think? Of course a knitter thinks; Do I have enough yarn in my stash in the right colours. And I did. It would be weird if I didn't considering the size of my yarn stash. I used the diagram for a Marius sweater and I just made the hat. A quick knit. He was happy and had a new hat. I got to use up some of my stash, could add another FO to my list and it's always a pleasure knitting to someone knit worthy. The model is another colleague. Breaks at work need to be used for something decent too. Not that taking pictures after work in daylight is a possibility at this time of year.
(Title: In A Funny Way - Mercury Rev)
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Blue Lights
(Tittel: Blue Lights - Jorja Smith)
Some days are more beautiful than others. Even though it's in the middle of the winter and a lot of snow outside. The sun shining at the snow makes an incredible light. Even a summer-lover like me, loves such a beautiful winter day like this. I enjoyed it, though without skis like the rest of the population in Oslo, but I was at least outside. The sweater is Blåfjellyoke by Skeindeer Knits. The pattern is soon to be released, probably in February. It was a fast knit. I used PT as main colour and Finull for the contrast colours. I like the rustic look that yarn gives the pattern. Photos by Monstermønster.
(Title: Blue Lights - Jorja Smith)
Monday, January 22, 2018
Formidable Cool
Jakka er Hoodie Shawl Cardigan av Susanne Sommer, og jeg har strikket den i Hedgehog Fibres. Utrolig nok i garn jeg kjøpte på Fanø Strikkefestival i september. Det garnet rakk ikke en gang å bli lagret i stashet på Ravelry, før jeg strikket med det. Nesten ikke lagergarn i det hele tatt. Ok, restene er lagergarn. Og nok rester til en genser til. Mønsteret har en morsom oppbygging, siden du starter som om du strikker et sjal. Lett oppskrift å følge, og jeg liker jakka veldig godt. Kan hende jeg kommer til å strikke en til. Må bare kvinne meg opp til all vrangstrikkinga. Den strikkes nemlig fram og tilbake.
(Tittel: Formidable Cool - Wolf Alice)
Yes, it's a cool thing of Monstermønster to bring her camera to take pictures of my finished objects yet another time. It's cool she takes great pictures. And it's cool I get to put up the cool pictures on my blog. It's not always that cool to be in front of the camera, but I have reached the age where I don't really care too much about what other people think about me and if I'm cool or not. Most likely not. I think the Sunday walkers thought the idea of taking off your winter jacket in the snow to take pictures of the sweater might have been a bit strange. But at least it didn't snow this time. I'm really looking forward to the spring and the summer.
The jacket is the Hoodie Shawl Cardigan by Susanne Sommer, and I have used Hedgehog Fibres. Amazingly enough the yarn was bought in September at the Fanø knitting festival. I didn't even manage to put the yarn in my stash at Ravelry before I used it. Hardly yarn from my stash. But the rest of the yarn have to go to the stash. Ok, I have enough yarn to make anothe rjacket. The pattern has a different construction of a jacket. You start knitting as though you would knit a shawl. The pattern is well written and I liked the jacket real much. Actually I might knit another one. I just have to build up some motivation. The jacket is knitted back and forth.
(Title: Formidable Cool - Wolf Alice)
Thursday, January 18, 2018
Supplies
(Tittel: Supplies - Justin Timberlake)
Yes, don't we all need some extra supplies in the form of accessories made out of wool? It's never enough, right? I might have a slightly hang-up. It doesn't really feel like it, but the five finished projects so far are hats and socks. I knit other things as well. I thought I loved knitting sweaters and knitted most sweaters. It doesn't show so far. I'll show some sweaters. Later! I promise. Right now I have finished another hat, a pattern from the book Luer by Marion Louise Rindsem. The hat is called Frk Blom, but I made mine in a darker color combination and called my hat Miss Black. I have used yarn from my stash. I have also used yarn from my stash to another pair of Vanilla socks in Fabel from Drops. I think I'm really good in using yarn from mys stash at the time. But the projects I've finished so far don't weigh that much. I can't say my stash has shrunk a lot during the first weeks of 2018. If it should I would probably have to knit a blanket using my arms with 10 threads or something. But who would want a project like that? But I have used about 300 g of my stash, not too bad. Not a lot, but better than having bought yarn. I choose to call it a great start, and I'm optimistic and I'm going to use a lot more of my stash. Yes, I was supposed to finish some WIPs as well. I will, I just have to finish up some other things first...
(Title: Supplies - Justin Timberlake)
Sunday, January 14, 2018
The Truest Stars We Know
(Tittel: The Truest Stars We Know - Iron & Wine)
So, who is that really? The star in you life? The true stars are the people who make us feel good about us selves and I have to say I have some stars in my life. People who make me feel good and makes me feel happy, people I really love spending time with. One of those people celebrated her birthday yesterday, and it's such a pleasure being there and being able to take part of it. Makes totally sense I dived into my stash and made a hat after the pattern called Star by Marion Louise Randsem. Incredible well-written pattern and I love the top of the hat. The pattern is from the book Luer (hats) by Marion Louise Randsem. I used leftovers from alpaca from Drops, and I managed to finish it in two evenings.
(Title: The Truest Stars We Know - Iron & Wine)
Sunday, January 07, 2018
Rainbow
Wednesday, January 03, 2018
Better Life
I fjor hadde jeg disse planene:
2017:
* Strikke 104 prosjekter
* Strikke 10 kg fra garnlageret
* Klare å holde oversikt over hva jeg har strikket gjennom året ved å føre inn på Ravelry
* Klare å holde oversikt over hva jeg har kjøpt inn av garn gjennom året på Ravelry.
Jeg strikket 65 prosjekter, eller egentlig noen flere. Jeg var faktisk ikke så flink til å holde oversikt på Ravelry over alt jeg strikket. Jeg strikket opp over 10 kg, men ikke alt kom fra lageret. Strikket en del bestillinger, og til de prosjektene måtte jeg kjøpe inn garn. Jeg holdt heller ikke helt oversikt over alt garn jeg kjøpte på Ravelry. Garn jeg kjøpte i Rhinebeck og garn jeg fikk fra julekalenderen er ikke på Ravelry enda. Og siden jeg ikke la inn alle prosjekter jeg strikket, så ble heller ikke garnlager-føringa riktig. En del forbedringspunkter der, altså.
I år er planene slik:
2018:
* Strikke 104 prosjekter
* Strikke 18 gensere
* Strikke 10 kg fra lageret
* Klare å holde oversikt over hva jeg har strikket gjennom året ved å føre alle prosjektene inn på Ravelry.
* Klare å holde oversikt over hva jeg har kjøpt av garn og brukt av garn på Ravelry.
* Avslutte 2018 med et prosjekt på pinnene.
Så gjenstår det å se om jeg klarer det, da. Må ha litt hårete mål. Det er da det er gøy. Jeg har også meldt meg på UFO-samstrikk inne i gruppa til Strikketerapi på Ravelry. Så langt har jeg fått ferdig et sokkepar. Ikke gamle UFOen siden jeg startet rett før jul. Men det hjelper å få ferdig prosjekter. Neste prosjekt ut er et par Selbuvotter. Jeg husker egentlig ikke helt når jeg startet på dem heller. Datoen på prosjektsiden på Ravelry er bare en tilfeldig dato.
(Tittel: Better Life - Pink)
It's the time of year when you think this year is the year where everything is going to get better. This year is the year when I can turn my life around. It goes for me too. My plans for 2018 aren't that different from the ones I had for 2017.
Last year my plans looked like this:
2017:
* Knit 2014 projects
* Knit 10 kg from my yarn stash
* Keeping a list at Ravelry of everything I knit throughout the year.
* Keeping a list of all the yarn I buy and receive throughout the yar at Ravelry.
I knitted 65 projects, or actually I knitted more, but I wasn't really that good in keeping my list of knitted projects updated on Ravelry. The projects I knitted weighed more than 10 kg, but not al the yarn I used came from my stash. I knitted some orders as well, and for those projects I had to buy yarn. I wasn't really good in getting all my yarn purchases registered on Ravelry either. The yarn I bought in Rhinebeck and the yarn that was in my advent calendar is still not up on Ravelry. And since I didn't put all the projects I knitted on Ravelry, my yarn stash isn't correct either. A lot of space for improvement there.
This year my plans look like this:
2018:
* Knite 104 projects
* Knit 18 sweaters
* Knit 10 kg from my yarn stash
* Make sure to put up all the projects I knit through the year up at Ravelry.
* Make sure to put all the yarn I buy at Ravelry.
* End 2018 with one projects on the needles.
Big goals, I know. But it's no fun if you don't have high expectations. I have also signed up on a UFO-kal at a Norwegian podcast forum at Ravelry. Helps me to keep focus in finishing up things. So far I finished a pair of socks. Not the oldest UFO since I started the project right before Christmas, but nice to finish the first project of the year anyway. Next up is a pair of mittens, I don't even remember when I started knitting the pair. The date on the project page at Ravelry is just a random date.
(Title: Better Life - Pink)
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Happy New Year
Antall meter som er strikket i år er 32 216,3 meter. Det utgjør 10,849 g. Det hadde vært fint om alt garnet kom fra lageret, men det gjør det ikke. Jeg har ikke hatt en opptelling av lageret, men jeg vet uten å telle at garnlageret er større nå enn for et år siden. Mye av skylden for det har handlingen i Rhinebeck, men jeg angrer ingenting.
Litt usikker på hva jeg har brukt mest, for det er flere ting jeg har brukt mye. Blant annet har jeg brukt So Faded-genseren min mye. Det samme med Florence Cowl. Hitofude har også blitt brukt en god del. Jeg har vel i grunnen snart nok gensere tilå bruke en ny hver uke, men hvem teller?
Og så en stor takk til Merete, Monstermønster, som har tatt de fleste prosjektbildene mine. Det er alltid morsomt å henge med deg, og tusen takk for at du gidder å ta bilder for meg. Selv om jeg må innrømme at jeg noen ganger lurer litt på hvor gale vi egentlig er. Bilder av tykke ullgensere midt på sommeren i varmen, og av sokker og bomullsgenser ute i kulda på vinteren. Men bra bilder blir det, og gøy er det.
And a huge thanks to Merete, Monstermønster, who have taken most of my project photos. It's always a lot of fun being around you, and thank you for sticking out with me and taking photos. Even if I have to admit I sometimes wonder how crazy we are. Photos of woolen sweaters at summer in the heat and of socks and cotton sweaters out in the cold. But good photos and it's fun.
Årets tur og opplevelse er selvfølgelig turen til New York City og Rhinebeck Wool and Sheep Festival. For en opplevelse. Jeg har skrevet masse om det, og jeg lever på det enda. Atmosfæren, folka og selvfølgelig alt garnet ... Jeg har allerede begynt å spare for å kunne oppleve det hele en gang til.
Trip of the year is of course the trip to New York City and Rhinebeck Wool and Sheep Festival. What an experience! I have written a lot about the trip, and I still live for the memories. The atmosphere, the people and of course all the yarn ... I have already started to save up for another trip to experience it once more.
Årets erfaring er vel at det kan absolutt være smart med prøvelapp. Jeg strikket en genser av Katie Davies beregnet på meg, men den endte opp med å passe sønnen på 12. Vet ikke helt om jeg klarer å huske dette i 2018, men jeg er alltid optimistisk og kanskje denne gangen ...
The lesson of the year might be to make a swatch. I knitted a sweater by Katie Davies for me, but it ended up fitting my son at 12 years old. I don't know if I actually remember this in 2018, but maybe this time ...
Årets kjappeste strikk er Clara's Cape av Helen Steward. Den strikket jeg på 1 time og 37 minutter. Måtte sjekke, siden hun utfordret meg til å ta tiden på hvor fort jeg kunne strikke den.
The fastest knit of the year is Clara's Cape by Helen Steward. I used 1 hour and 37 minutes. I had to time myself since she challenged me to check how fast I could knit it.
Så alt i alt har 2017 vært en godt år med mange gode opplevelser med venner og nye bekjente. Jeg satser på at 2018 vil inneholde enda flere gode opplevelser og nye bekjentskap.
So all in all 2017 has been a good year with lots of great experiences with friends and new friends. I count on 2018 to contain even more great experiences with friends and new friends.


























