Born to knit

Hat Parade

I´ve been working hard trying to put my patterns together. So far I´ve got three mitten patterns (so far only in Swedish) done. 

Last weekend I tried my luck at a Christmas Craft Bazaar and I sold better than expected.

The mitten Signe, at the front in black and white, is my bestseller.

Signe is also my own personal favourite. I like Signe so much that I decided to make a a hat to match the mittens. If you take a close look you can see that I was knitting on the Signe hat at the bazaar.

And here she is, finished and blocked:

The pattern works well on a hat, too.

Because Ludvig loves to pose for the camera he asked if he could model the Signe hat.

I didn´t have the heart to say no.

No front teeth.

Then we decided to take pictures of some of the other hats that I´ve made.

This is a fair isle hat that I put together myself using traditional patterns a few years ago.

It was great for learning how to construct a fair isle pattern and how to do the decreases on top.

I remember working on this hat for nearly two weeks, ripping out several times and trying again.

And because I love pink I have of course made myself a pink fair isle hat.

It´s felted and very warm.

Ludvig didn´t mind modelling the pink hat. He even thought it was the best one out of the three.

But he couldn´t wear it to school, because the other boys would tease him.

Isn´t that a shame?

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

Finally a proverb that seems to be true.

Because lately I have been on the receiving end. 

A few weeks ago my friend Berit phoned me up to tell me that her mother was having a clear-out.

And among the stuff she was clearing out Berit had found a couple of old knitting magazines from 

the 40´s.

– Now I just want to ask before we throw them away if perhaps you´d like them, Johanne? The covers are a bit torn.

– Sorry, can you repeat that? Do I want what? 

Turned out that there was nothing wrong with my hearing. And tell you what, Berit could have saved herself a bob or two by not bothering with that phone call. 

A week later she came to visit, bringing her precious gift.

And here they are:

Great, huh?

In my opinion the 1940´s was the Golden age of Knitting.

 

Oh, how I wish I could have lived back then.

 

And I´ve always wanted a knitted dress!

Well, sometimes I do ask myself if it is the actual knitted garment I want – or just the wasp waist?

Okay, so we don´t actually own a boat, but I would still be prepared to knit my dear husband a sweater to be worn while painting boats.

But can you believe that the only thing that he will allow me to knit for him is – wait for it – socks...

Berit, thank you so much. I shall treasure these magazines always.

Hang on though – there´s more.

The other week when I stepped through the door I found a small packet on the hall mat.

My daughter Elise pronounced, after squeezing it expertly, that there must be yarn inside.

I was convinced she was wrong, because (believe it or not) I hadn´t ordered any. Lately.

But Elise was right. There was indeed a skein inside. Probably wool, in a natural grey.

But nothing else. No note. No sender on the packet. Not anything to provide me with a clue.

Except for the handwriting that I didn´t recognize.

So, dear generous giver. 

If you read this blog, please allow me to express my most heartfelt thanks to you!

Now, if you´ve been waiting patiently for an update on my "Kakel Spektal"-sweater. Here we go:

I´ve cast on for the body. I´ve knitted a few rounds. I´ve run into a wee bit of a problem.

 See.

See the edge. 

It´s rolling. 

Now what to do?

I´ll have to see what happens after washing and blocking and pressing. 

Though, I can tell you now that cursing has no effect what so ever.

I could also pick up stitches along the cast on edge and knit a facing.

Or maybe I´ll just sew it on to my jeans?  That ought to keep it from rolling, don´t you think?