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

Anybody Out There?

Well, at least it looks like I am wondering about that in the photo. After lock down it was lovely to see that the world is about the same.

And that I have enough yarn for several life times. LOL!

This scarf, or shawl if you want, is made from different petrol and turquoise colors.

With stripes of orange to divide them. I used a petrol mohair thread to go with all the colors except the orange, obviously.

I really like the outcome. And that I didn't buy any yarn. Or? Oh yes, I got some orange.

Not that I needed it. But hey - never stop buying yarn. Ever. That would be self punishment. Do not need that right now in these times.

This is simple garter stitch and a lovely and easy pattern. I called it sunrise. A new day, new hope and faith is essential in life.

These are great wearing - I know because I have knitted several of them. Check out my rainbow one here.

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Rauma Pt2, Sandnes Tynn Mohair, Mayflower Kid Silk
Needles: 5mm
Pattern: Horizon Shawl
My Ravelry Page: Sunrise

Hope is seeing light in spite of being surrounded by darkness

Desmund Tutu

Keeping Life Going

So many people have huge struggles. And somehow we always say that it is unfair that some have a hard life, while others seem to go clear of obsticals and adversity.

But then, most of us experience hard times, loss of loved ones, getting sick and unable and what not.

 I found the text on my newly knitted scarf summens up my way of dealing with hardships. That doesn't mean everything is easy. But I hold onto it. It keeps life going.

Norwegian text on the scarf.

The world is a harsh place but I find hope from my faith. 

So I knitted this bible verse from Romans 12.12 in norwegian: Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.

There is so much hope. And there is tribulation. And a way through it all praying. Not very complicated. 

I love knitting these scarves. I have already knitted two before with the blessing on them in different colors. 

Using magic loop with these gorgeous knitting needles called Chiaogoo twist it is a dream just seeing those letters emerge. 

A really genius pattern from which you can use any text you want. This time I used a thicker yarn as the text wasn't that long. 

It is quite heavy but it is nice to wear and warm. Knitting is also something that gives meaning and helps somehow. I have a lot of joy in combining the things that really keeps me going and my knitting. 

I hope you are ok and that you find hope in all the madness in the world. 

The Stich Story

Yarn: Rauma 3-tråds strikkegarn

Needles: 3.5mm

Pattern: Ticker Tape

My Ravelry Page: Sum Of All Things

Had To Try This

Sometimes yarn is speaking to me from my stash: Knit me, Knit me, Knit me. This may qualify as some kind of diagnosis but since we are not allowed to see people, yarn can be a good substitute for a hug and a conversation. LOL!!!

Anyway, I have all this Kauni rainbow lace lying around. And some orange mohair, which also started talking, so I ended up pairing the two. After all, I was a litte afraid of them starting a choir and make all the other skeins join them. That would have been ear damaging and possible hearing on the moon. Yes, I have a considerable amount of stash.

So, I joined these two and it was a fun knit. To see the rainbow yarn blend with the orange mohair was like stripe knitting in another way.

I end up giving the scarf away. I really like it but will never wear it. After all, I have some scarves from before.

Hope you are well and find some people or yarn to talk to.

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Kauni Lace, Ice yarn mohair
Needles: 3mm
Pattern: Århus
My Ravelry Page: Rainbow And Orange

Hattiness Through Easter

Excellent pattern for stranded knitting and a colorful hat. The turquoise was the first.

Nothing is more soothing than wool and needles. I joined a knit along during easter and knitted a hat i was really happy about. So, why stop at one hat? I ended up with three of them. One is for my sister in purple.

It was such a great knit. Not too small, not to big and enough concentration to keep my mind of things in the world.

I enjoyed knitting them soo much. And they are so warming and great to wear.

I loved the pattern for it. I could combine the colors I love the most in a pattern that made them a perfect match.

The pattern is free and is designed for Shetland Wool Week this year in september. I dream of going there.

All hats are of course knitted in Rauma Finull Pt2. All from my stash.

I am not sure if I am finished knitting these hats. I may have some scarves or shawls that could have a matching hat.

It is so important to do things that gives joy, rest and hope. Especially now when everything is so hard on so many people. Maybe someone deserves a hat, a phone call, a chocolate or a text.

In this country there are over one million people that consider them selves lonely. We can all do something about that. Think about what a simple text, a phone call can do today.

Sometimes the worst place you can be is in your own head

Unknown

For my sister - she loves purple.

Overcoming Fear With A Hat

I did not wear hats. I did not knit hats. But that is about to change. It is all about the right pattern and the perfect colors.

It was actually very nice to wear my new hat in the cold weather we are having. So, I have converted to a hat wearer without limits. And in bright colors.

An easy pattern and it didn't take long to knit either. I really enjoyed it.

The colors match a shawl I knitted as well. So, I am really happy about my Shetland Wool Week hat.

In fact, I have started another one in bright colors. How I wish that I one day could attend that event.

I used only stash. And the colors are picked from a photo. At first I thought the hat was too big.

But it suits perfect without beeing too tight or anything. I like the baggy look on it as well.

It is a small project and then big enough to not get boring and the outcome is magical.

Just in time for easter, a storm that is coming and cold weather.

Knitting is such a wonderful diversion from totally negative news right now. I will do more of that: Knit more - cut out the news and live life as it is. Fear is taking over so many of us now. That is never positive in the long run.

Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world

Ralph Waldo Emerson

The Knit Story
Yarn: Rauma Finull Pt2
Needles: 2.5 and 2.75mm
Pattern: Katie´s kep
My Ravelry Page: Mind Off things 

Knit A Photo

 Is it possible to knit a photo? Or knit the colors from it? Yes, is the answer. I joined a knit along (KAL) for the Shetland Wool week hat. You find the free pattern here. 

All who participate upload a photo. Then all knitters chose someone elses photo and use colors found in that photo.

It is so much fun. I chose this wonderful photo with a boat in red and orange against a turquoise sky. Not really a surprising color choice - but I simply have to knit in the colors I love. I use Rauma Finull2 for the hat. I dropped a pattern repeat as this yarn is thicker than the original used.

What a fantastic idea. The KAL is hosted by Tori Seierstad on Facebook. I literally jumped out of Corona madness and into my yarn stash to find those colors. The hat is gorgeous and I can't stop knitting.

And what is even more fun - to see the hats of those who use my photo. Very exciting and excellent for keeping my mind on something knitting related in bright colors.

Overthinking is one of the biggest causes for unhappiness

Keep your mind off things that don´t help you think positive

Matt Mayberry

Never Stop Knitting

Always enough projects to enjoy.

As long as there are arms, needles, yarn and colors I will knit. I tend to always have a lot of projects lying around. In these times where one should stay indoor for a very long period it is lovely to let the needles fuel my creativity.

I always knit what I like and what gives joy. Nothing else. Right now I am a little crazy about Stephen Wests Garter Breeze. I have already knitted one and is right into my second. A very fun knit and a great stash buster or color boost. Will show you my first one as soon as I get the photos taken.

 This is from the first Garter Breeze:

The second is of course turquoise with a bright red icord. Going to be very nice, I think. A great mindless knit. Stephen West is genius. 

Garter Breeze in turquoise and with a bright red icord.

There is always more projects... This is the Horisont Shawl in finull and mohair. I just use stash for this project. Also a great mindless knit. Colors of the sea and the color of sunrise.

This Rosendal jacket is a long term project which has been lying around for too long. Trying to knit some on it and hope it will be finished some day. A lot of pattern but it is going to be very nice. I love this old pattern from the 90s.

My third Ticker Tape is also coming around. I love that there are only 36 stitches in one row. That makes it grow fast - if I knit on it that is... You could have a look on my other ones here on my blog.

I hope you are safe and well. And that the days will be as good as they can in these days. Nothing else to do than to stay calm and take care. And knit. And eat chocolate. Oh, and drink coffee.

Color Is Life Giving

After I started using bright colors, and colors I like and enjoy, I have been a happier person. 

The scarf goes with everything.

I am so grateful that I have all those wonderful colors to choose from in my favorite yarn, Finull Pt2 from Rauma.

I got so excited to see the outcome of rainbow colors mixed with a white mohair.

I really love this scarf and it is so soft and nice to wear. And it goes with everything I wear.

At first I thought it got too big - but being long and narrow it is just fine. Wrapped around my neck the colors goes perfect together.

Do you ever have that feeling: You have read a book, knitted a scarf of tasted something for the first time?

And then wish you haven't so you could do it again for the first time?

Well, this is one of those scarves I wish I could knit again. It was so much fun and I enjoyed every stitch of it. What a blessing.

Pom pom maker is essential.

A straight forward garter stitch knit.

The colors are spit spliced so only two ends that I could use for attaching the pom poms.

I made them color by color so they would stand out more.

A pom pom maker was essential for that job.

The pattern is sold as a kit - but you can get it in a book as well. I like brighter colors that are used in the kit and save money as well.

Gosh, I will wear this to bed. LOL!!!

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Rauma Finull Pt2
Needle: 5mm
Pattern: Horizon shawl, Århus sjal
My Ravelry Page: Rainbow in the horizon

Isn't is funny how day by day nothing changes. 

But when you look back everything is different.

C. S. Lewis

Wrapped around my neck the colors works so nice together.

Felt For Mittens

Sometimes it is really important that things are matching. Like scarves and mittens. And shoes...
I mean, I could not wear my new favorite scarf without having mittens in the same colors, right?  

What would people think? What would people say? LOL!! I am only joking. 

I couldn't care less about what people think. I am far beyond that wearing a colorful scarf in this country...

So, I decided I wanted a new pair of mittens in those wonderful colors. In stripes as in the scarf.

I found a pattern for stranded mittens and simply knitted them without pattern and on thicker needles.

Simply to felt them afterwards and to have a thumb gusset. I think that is the best for my hands.

I used the same yarn and the same stripe pattern as in my scarf. Although I am not fond of knitting mittens this was a quick knit. And fairly easy.

Had to felt them two times in the machine to get them felted enough. Felting can be a little tricky. Better to do it twice than end up with baby mittens...

I love wearing both my mittens and the scarf. I simply get happy and smile.

So don't ever underestimate the effect of knitting somthing you love in the colors that makes you happy. No matter what people think or say.

2 things:

If it makes you happy, do it

If it doesn't, then don't

Unknown

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Finull Pt2
Needles: 2.75mm for rib, 3mm for body
Pattern: Modyfied from Eventyrlauv
My Ravelry Page: Fun mittens

Look At Those Colors

That feeling inside that is pulsating in pure happiness. It is exactly how I felt wearing my new scarf for the first time. It is liberating to use the colors I love.

I have had so much fun knitting this that I just wanted to knit one more. Knitting stripes somehow brings out addictive behaviour. LOL!!!

One pattern repeat from beginning to my finger.

Remember the scarf I told about in my previous post? The one with what seemed like a random striped scarf but is not?

I am still astonished by how a pattern can come out like this. I simply took the ten colors I wanted and put them in the order I found best.

Then just varied how many rows I knitted from each color. and in different order. Then repeated the pattern a litte over four times.

The pattern is also listed in my blog post. As I like system this i perfect.

And it still get that random look but not with the frustration about not finding out how to do it.

I have spit spliced every color change - no way I was going to weave in a million ends.

When finished there are only two ends to weave in. Spit splicing is the best knitting technique I have ever learned. Since I knit in wool it works every time. For super wash as well.

I used about 300 grams from my stash. I am knitting mittens I can use with the scarf.

Knitting gives me so much joy - it is a red thread trough life. And this scarf is making me wonder why we are so afraid of being who we are. What would your scarf look like if you chose your favorite colors and just didn't care about what other people would think?

The Stitch Story
Yarn: Rauma Finull Pt2
Needles: 2.5mm
Pattern: Lifelines, Stripe pattern
My Ravelry page: This Is Fun

Think big and don't listen to people who tell you it can't be done 

Life is too short to think small

Tim Ferriss

Looks random but is not. I repeated a pattern a little over four times in the scarf.

Whatever, System Is A Good Thing

I have been called all kinds of things because I like systems. Amongst them nerd and freak. People have a charming way of telling other people they have some negative thing about them.

This is my protest to that.

This is my scarf of many colors in a system that makes it so fantastic that I almost started dancing.

At least I tried. But I stumbled in the yarn skeins... LOL!!!

Anyway, I love bright colors and putting them together so that each one looks good apart and together.

Knitting with stash yarn can be quite a challenge - I am not very good in just knitting with what comes to mind then and there.

I need a system. A pattern. So I finally found a way of doing just that.

Kaffe Fasset taught me this.

If you look at his way of knitting in different colors he almost always has a pattern - even though it does not look like it.

And that is the most fun of it: It looks like random knitting but it is not.

I found ten colors in Finull Pt2 placed them in order and made a pattern for the knitting.

I had my Lifelines scarf as the main pattern.

You can download it for free here.

When I knit like this it seems like there are no system. And it makes great harmony in the colors and the way they work together.

So people can call me what they want - I love this and it gives me great joy.

This is how I do it (feel free to do the same).
I knit the colors in this order with color code for each one of the ten:
10 rows dark turquoise (4605) 
10 rows light turquoise (4705) 
4 rows magenta (4886) 
4 rows light purple (4088) 
2 rows dark purple (4042) 
10 rows orange (4205) 
8 rows green (4018) 
8 rows red (424) 
4 rows light pink (4686) 
12 rows light blue (4406) 
10 rows light purple 
8 rows light pink 
4 rows light blue 
2 rows light purple 
12 rows dark turquoise 
4 rows green 
4 rows light pink 
12 rows orange 
8 rows light turquoise 
4 rows red 
2 rows dark purple 
2 rows light purple 
4 rows magenta 
10 rows light blue 
6 rows green 
12 rows light pink 
4 rows magenta 
8 rows orange 

That is the pattern for the colors. I think I end up with about four repeats for my scarf planned to be 2.5 meters long. So, here it is: A lot of fun. I could knit around the clock... 

Great, is it not?