Knitting Puzzles Me

Well, not literally. Or - maybe how cables are created just by moving stitches around. That is really amazing. 

In a really stressful period I discovered jigsaw puzzles. I started out with 1.000 pieces. No need to be a chicken - or a cat for that matter. LOL! 

You can see the first puzzle here. It is totally absorbing to puzzle and I forget everything else. 

In addition to create with small pieces and see a wonderful image emerge from the pile of what seems hopeless, you empty the brain from all worries. 

Work in progress - 1.000 pieces and one cat.  

I have had this cat image lying around for quite some time. Now was the time to piece it together. 

It is like life: Sometimes I wonder about the hardship. Sometimes I wonder about the joy and wonderful things. Does it make sense? I found that every piece has its place. If it is dark or colorful, if it is a mix of everything. If one piece is missing the whole puzzle is not complete.

At the end this wonderful image comes together from all those tiny pieces. Like a whole life put together.

Enogh of that. The puzzle is from Heye and is called 9 Lives. If you want to give it a go.

I have the hardest time taking my puzzles apart. All that joyful puzzling. And I love the images of them - would not puzzle them otherwise. They end up in frames - there is a slight chance of not getting enough walls if this continues. LOL!

I puzzle them on the rabbet of the frame so I don't have to move it when it is finished. 

I had actually no idea where to put the 9 Lives. But it ended up next to my scarves. I think it looks fantastic colorful and it makes me happy before I go out and when I get in. The Dot The I scarf and Lifelines are both free pattern you can download here.

How do you to put your mind at rest? What do you find joyful in everyday life?

There is not one blade of grass, there is no color 

in this world that is not intended to make men rejoice 

John Calvin

Fresh air, bright colors and a coffee with some nice chocolate - it brings joy for many days. This photo is from when I knitted my scarf Dot The I in fun colors. You can see more here. 

 

I Wish You A Blessed New Year

Some of the wool that even became a sweater. And a lot of scarves. Joy beyond to be able to create.

Happy happy new year to you. Thank you ever so much for visiting my blog. For writing comments with love, encouragement and hope. For giving me a reason to still hold on to my blog although it mostly go against to stream. 

I discovered puzzles in 2020. My first since childhood.    

I really enjoy visits to other peoples blogs. It gives so much more than Instagram. 

A closer look. An honest view on crafting, life and a lot more. I thank you for that too.

2020 was yesterday. Time has passed so quick. And where did it go? 

That would be one of my thoughts for the new year: Why do I spent so much time worrying about what the future will hold? 

And why do I dwell in the past that is already over? 

Why don't I spent more time right here and right now? And really take in and appreciate life, people, faith, wool, creating, sunsets, fresh air and so much more? And why don't I give more of what I have to others? 

Our worldly culture is all about me, me and me. What is in it for me, we ask. I tell myself: Do not ever wait to give even the smallest thing, a smile, a home backed bread or whatever you have. That is pure joy. And it builds people up. I still remember the stuffed animal I got for christmas one year. 

Pure happiness to find a heart stone on a beach. 

Have no idea who sent it - but it meant the world right there and then. And the fact that I still cherish and remember that says a lot to me about what I can give to others. Do you agree?

 

New years solutions lasts normally no longer than a day. At least when it comes to eating chocolate. LOL! But this year I am determined. 

I have learned a huge loads about gratefulness in 2020. And even more about appreciation of life itself and the good times. 

All those little things during a day. A candlelight and a good book. A warm handknitted scarf. A hug from someone I love. 

A friendly face in a shop, along a walk or a message on the phone. Light in someone elses eyes. Hope. And just fill in the blank.

I wish for you to have a blessed year. That you will have minutes, days and months in wonder about how you enjoyed a small thing so much. 

That you will see all the good things in life. Even the hot water in the shower and a sunrise in orange. Happy new year 2021.

Worry weighs a person down;

an ecouraging word cheers a person up

Proverbs 12:25

Wonderful sunset in Fjellerup Denmark summer 2020.

Look At That Sky

Really, there are more things in life than wool and knitting. The creation is incomprehensible. But too many times we don't see it. We just walk past all those wonders. 

Always fun to have my name and year in my knit

When I needed photos of my latest scarf I noticed the sky. It was so amazing that I could almost not understand it. 

The light, the colors, the clouds and this heavenly light shining through. I was stunned. 

And thankful that we have not yet used botox and all other sick things to change what is really perfect.

Well, back to that knitting. It started as a stash dive. And ended up in the yarn shop. 

I most likely does... LOL! I liked the combination of the orange and cherise colors so I needed more yarn. It was just a mindless knit.

I used my free design Lifelines and I tend to use those scarves very much. 

I love knitting them and use all kind of color combinations in them.

No surprise in the yarn being Rauma Pt2. Last forever, keep me warm and has the best selection in colors there is in Norway. 

I think that is about it. I hope you see creation today - make a stop and really see it. And be thankful for it. It will amaze you. I promise. 

If you look at creation the way it is, it is explosively beautiful

Jaggi Vasudev

The Stitch Story

Yarn: Rauma Pt2

Needles: 2.5mm

Pattern: Lifelines

My Ravelry Page: Stash Stash Stash

First Time In Three Years

No, this is not some stupid idea about not eating chocolate in three years. That is never going to happen. LOL!

This is about knitting my first sweater in three years without knowing the outcome. The designer Kate Davies is brilliant. She has so many beautiful designs. And the sweater Seavaiger is no exception. I am so happy I did this.

All I knew when starting knitting was that I wanted the sweater to be big and cozy. I am a loose knitter and I simply just chose the right size and didn't mind about gauge. I knew it would be large but now how large. I also wanted to divide the sweater with color blocks. 

Color blocks used to divide body.

It is a clever idea to do that - because you do not want to have your bust going from the neck to the lower body... Not that it does - but visible impression. LOL! 

When using stripes to divide the body in this way you have a better look to it.

So I found some orange and took a chance. I did not know where to put the stripes just found a spot and changed the colors. And was I surprised - it came out exactly as I wanted it. 

The design is so genius because of the short rows on the shoulders and the tight sleeves. 

Although the sweater is big it fits so good and is perfect inside a jacket. And it is so comfy and nice to wear. 

I used Rauma Finull Pt2 for it apart from the orange yarn that comes from the local museum, Sjølingstad Uldvarefabrik. 

They have their own yarn - you should check it out.

I am really stunned by the accomplishment of Kate Davies. Hit by a stroke 36 years old - and now she designs so many wonderful garments. Listen and watch her telling her story here. It truly is amazing.

                                              Strenght shows, not only in the ability to persist, 

                                                               but the ability to start over

Unknown

The Stitch Story 
Yarn: Rauma Finull Pt2, Sjølingstad 2-tråds
Needles: 2.5mm
Design: Seavaiger
My Ravelry Page: By The Sea

Simply Knitted With Love

Me and my sister hand in hand - knitted together thread by thread.

Knitting is so much more than threads of wool and needles. It is also stitches that connects us beyond borders and between hearts.

My sister and I manage to meet this wonderful warm summer. 

And before that - I grabbed my needles and knitted sisters scarves. 

Her favorite color is purple and mine is turquoise. 

Very happy that those two colors match so well. I knitted two scarves in Finull with the two colors. 

I started her scarf in purple and mine in turquoise so they would have a slight difference. 

And we both enjoy them so much. Living in different countries is hard now. 

But the memories and the scarves keeps us warm. 

I will long for the day when the world is a little better so we can meet again. I love you my sister.

It is no secret that I am a big fan of this design. Just have to admit straight away that I now have knitted 13 of them. Some have been given away. I mean, I would need a lot of space for all my scarves... LOL! It is an easy knit and yet there are some things that goes on all the time. 

The color options are unlimited and the effect is great. Need I say more? You could have a look on the one knitted in orange and green. Yes, it really is possible. And yes, that was before I started being myself in undyed hair...

A sister is a gift to the heart. 

A friend to the spirit

And a golden thread to the meaning of life

Unknown

The Stitch Story

Yarn: Rauma Finull Pt2

Needles: 2.5mm

Pattern: Red Katana

My Ravelry Page: Big Sister, Little Sister

If you have had problems commenting on my blog: Due to loads of spam I had to turn most of it off a little while (Google get a grip!!!). It is now as normal. Thank you for your comment - it means a lot to me. 

Light Pink Breeze

 Who would have thought that this summer is perfect for wool? When a cold breeze is imminent a pink breeze is important. I actually knitted this in march. 

This is my first breeze from designer Stephen West. My next turquoise one is a lot better. Because when I knitted the icord on this pink breeze it got too tight and I had to block it hard to even get it a little better. At least I learned that knitting icord on a breeze, bigger needles are necessary. 

I knitted it with a 2.75mm needle, picked up stitches with a 3.75mm needle and knitted the icord with a 3.5mm needles. That about covers it...

I started this breeze with a very light pink shade. But ended up unraveling it. It was too pale and not a match after all. I ended up with an orange that goes with the pink colors.

Actually quite satisfied with it. These scarves, or shawls if you like, are great wearing or using around the shoulders. But I must admit that I like the turquoise better.

Those colors are just the best. I would knit everything in those shades if I could. So why don't I?

Well, thats a whole other blog post. In these times it is super important to not be boring and not trying new things.

We have to look perfect no matter what. Gosh, am I the only one getting extremely tired of that? This endless flow of it in social media?

Anyway, I have a pink breeze. I love knitting garter stitch and Stephen West has a lot of great design in it.

He really is creative and always finds simply solutions on short rows, picking up stitches and so on. The cold wind can just come - I am ready. LOL!

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Rauma Finull Pt2
Needles: 2.75 - 3.75mm
Pattern: Garter Breeze
My Ravelry Page: Smooth And Pink 

You were born to be real, not to be perfect

Unknown

Does A Breeze Have A Color?

If it is in garter stitch and have been passing my knitting needles it does. In this case it is turquoise with a little red. This is a Stephen West design, Garter Breeze.

He is genius with garter stitch and short rows. There are no picking up wraps when you knit garter stitch. And I love that. In this case there would be a million of them. Or something like that.

However, there is a quite long i-cord bind off. But it is so worth it. It works quickly after starting on it. I had to use a bigger needle to avoid the i-cord to be too tight. Learned that the hard way knitting the first one of these...

I really enjoy knitting this design. It is easy, garter and have just enough to look out for.

I really enjoyed looking at all the color combinations on Ravely.

It is no surprise that my new scarf, shawl or wrap if you want is knitted in Rauma FinullPt2.

I never get tired of that yarn and their color selection which is the best ever in Norwegian history.

Knitting in these days are such a blessing. The world has gone even madder and the fact that yarn, wool and knitting needles are the same are like soothing medicine.

I love that it has been so since the first knitters started their work. We need to keep finding good things in life despite the craziness and chaos.

And knitting is one of them - at least for me. And after all, it is not bad to get a turquoise breeze out of it.

Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, 

and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit either

Elizabet Zimmermann

The Stitch Story

Yarn: Rauma FinullPt2

Needles: 2.75mm, 3.5mm for i-cord bind off

Pattern: Garter Breeze

My Ravelry Page: Turquoise Breeze