Kitty Selbu mittens

I finished the first mitten! This one went really fast. Maybe it was because I really wanted to see it finished? Now I know I will have at least one mitten to display at Arnhild's Retreat with the patterns that I have ordered for the retreat store.



Again, it is Terri Shea's Kitty Selbu pattern available through Ravelry. The yarn is Rauma Finullgarn. Finullgarn is a great yarn to work with for stranded projects. It sticks to itself a bit so the stitches stay more uniform than they would in a slippery yarn. It makes a beautiful project.

11 Mittens for 2011 - A Challenge

There is a group of knitters on Ravelry who have all taken up the challenge to knit or crochet 11 pair of mittens in 2011. Now, you might think we are all crazy but when next winter comes and your hands are cold, think of us with our beautiful mittens to keep our fingers warm. If you are really nice to us, we might share the warmth! A knitter always loves to have her work admired and appreciated!

I for one, love to knit mittens. You can tell that by the number of mittens I already have on the needles. As I was counting up UFMs (Un-Finished Mittens) my count kept going up as I found project after unfinished project. I think I was finally up to at least 6 pair that had been started at some point in the past year. I was told that I can't count the mittens that are already started as part of the challenge but if I have only knit one I could count the other one as half a pair and combine it with another half-pair.

I don't especially like to follow "rules" in knitting, especially rules like this where it doesn't "really" matter that much, right? Hey, life happens! If I commit to knit 11 pair or 111 and don't manage to do it, the world will not end! If there is one thing that I have learned from raising 8 children, it is that you have to be flexible!

So, on to the pictures! That is what you wanted to see, right? I know I love the pictures in a blog. Here are the mittens that I will be working on for this mitten challenge. I already finished knitting the Navy Felted mittens so those won't count but they were part of the UFM list when the challenge was announced. There are some that I don't have pictures of -- some plain charity mittens, and a pair of plain gloves. Oh, gloves count too as long as the fingertips are covered(no fingerless gloves).

First: The blue and white is a Latvian mitten in Lamullgarn. I think it is too tight so I may have to rip out to the red line at the top of the cuff and try it again. Now how do I count this one? Can I count it as 1 3/4 pair? See what I mean about the "rules?"



The pink one is from pattern AH103 in Strikkegarn. This one is almost finished then I need to make a second mitten. There is even a UFH (Un-Finished Hat?), hmmm, I don't think that abbreviation works very well. Anyway, there is an unfinished hat that matches these pink mittens. I really should try to finish the whole set this year.



Next: The teal and blue is a glove from Selbuvotter in Finullgarn. This is another one that was set aside because of fit issues. It is too big for me and needs to be ripped back to the top of the cuff and knit tighter. By the time I do that, I will have knit most of this one.



Lets hope these first 3 pair don't end up like these blue and white ones. They are pattern AH102 in Strikkegarn for Carl. Or at least one of them is for Carl. He is 8 now and the one on the right fits him fine but the one on the left (with the needles still attached) was knit tighter and will hardly fit over his hand and is about an inch shorter! I will be knitting 2 more mittens in the hopes that I can make a mate for each of these. I will donate the smaller pair somewhere. No sense ripping out an almost complete mitten!




Finally: Now this mitten doesn't count in the UFMs. I just started it this year. It is the new Kitty Selbu pattern from Terri Shea, author of Selbuvotter. She designed this pattern to help pay the vet bills when her daughter's kitty was very ill. It is knit in Finullgarn and I am really liking the pattern so far.



Hopefully, I can make the challenge and finish up these mittens plus enough others to make 11 pair. But if life intervenes, that's okay too. What is the saying? If life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Well, for me that means I will probably just make socks! Hey, they will keep your feet warm!

Wild Blue Horses and Norwegian Mittens

The Wild Blue Horses Cap is growing. You can start to make out the horses now. See the nose on the right and the mane on the left? Soon I start decreasing for the top of the cap. Then the rows get shorter and it starts to go faster.
Here is where I am on the sides that have the flowers.

I have also been working on some Norwegian mittens. The star mittens are from an Arnhild's Knitting Studio pattern, AH102 Child's Eight Pointed Star Mittens and Hat I made the first one to time how long it takes for me to knit them. We were trying to get an idea of how much class time would be required. So it took me about 6 hours. Some of that was while I was watching TV or tinking back to correct my mistakes. That will allow some time for students who might have the same problem or for questions and instructional time.

These will fit Carl so I will finish them for him. They are made of the very sturdy Rauma Strikkegarn. It is a really hard wearing yarn.



These plain navy mittens are also Norwegian mittens. They are the Tovede Votter (felted mittens) from the Rauma LVS-3 book. The yarn is Rauma Vamsegarn, a heavy worsted/aran weight. I made the men's size because I have long hands and I want to really felt these down for some really warm mittens. They were really fast to make on big needles. Just one more thumb to go. Great quick project. Hmmm, maybe I should make more for Christmas presents. You won't tell will you?

Wild Horses Couldn't Drag Me Away

You know that saying, right? Well, in this case the Wild Blue Horses dragged me away to knit this fabulous 5-sided cap. Here is the designer's picture of it:


And here is my progress so far. It is going pretty well, I think. The colors look different in my photo because of different lighting but they are the same colors as the original.

The design is by Cynthia Wasner of Norsk Needlework. She also has a sweater and mittens with this design and several other sets that are also quite fun. I have been trying to get all of her patterns listed on my web site but it is going a bit slowly. I did get this pattern up though and you can find it here. Watch for more of her designs to be posted soon.

The cap is made of Rauma Finullgarn and there are 3 blues and white in it. Two of the sides have horses facing to the front and the other 3 sides are flowers. It takes some flipping of the graphs as you work around but they are easy to follow and it is fun to see the design develop.

Hopefully, I can stick with this project and get it done quickly. There are lots of UFOs (Un-Finished Objects) that need my attention soon. Our temperatures are dropping and winter is in the air. I have a daughter who is in Alaska and they are already well below zero so she needs more warm woolies. Another daughter is traveling with a theatrical show around the US and Canada. She spent the past couple of years in the South US where it is warm all year so there will be some warm knits on her Christmas list too I'm sure. Lots of knitting to keep me busy!

Start-itis

I have it bad......I started another project. No, the pink AH103 mittens are not finished yet.

These are going to be the Annemor #15 gloves from Terri Shea's book Selbuvotter. The yarn is Rauma Finullgarn colors #438 and 4705.

People have asked if they can substitute Finullgarn in these patterns for the Rauma Gammelserie that is suggested. The 2 yarns are slightly different in gauge. It is looking like the hand may be a little big for me. I think I could have knit it slightly tighter. The tension above the thumb opening seems looser than the lower part of the hand. Maybe I should start the second one and try knitting it a bit tighter before I finish all the fingers.

Retreat 2010 Photos

What a fabulous weekend! It was the last weekend of the Olympics so we had to celebrate that. This is our Olympic display. Aren't those sweaters gorgeous! The Norwegian ski team was not doing well in the Olympics, so there was some disappointment but overall, it was a great weekend for the 15th annual Arnhild's Knitting Studio Retreat.

We packed up Brunhild (she is on the left here), and her more delicate sister and all the shelving, sweaters and Rauma yarns that we could pack into 3 minivans and a Suburban and we set up a Denise's Needleworks store at the hotel. Everyone loved it!


Our featured teacher, Annemor Sundbø, was wonderful. She is so willing to share her knowledge of Norwegian knitting history. We all fell in love with this woman who has preserved so much of the history from her rag pile. We are so glad she could come and share that with us.

Before the retreat, I was able to get my Margrethe sweater mostly finished. There were still some facings to tack down inside. This one attracted a lot of attention. I think several people took home patterns and yarn for this sweater. The facings won't get finished any time soon though. Sarah, the owner of Blue Heron Knittery in Decorah, Iowa decided she really liked it too so it went home with her to go on display in her shop. Say hello for me if you visit there!


I love the rack of sweaters that we put together every year. Wouldn't you love to have this many beautiful sweaters in your closet?


There were many beautiful sweaters made and worn by our guests too. Here is a "sweater spotting" picture for you. Click on the picture for a closer look.

Currently Knitting - August 17, 2009

My knitting has been frustrating me lately. I have been ripping at least as much as I have knit I think. This is Rauma 1272 Margrethe. It is a lovely pullover sweater that I started in June. I worked on the hem and bottom border while we were at TNNA. The yellow recommended in this pattern has been discontinued so I have had to make a substitution for it. There is also a green in the pattern that doesn't look green at all on the cover picture so I have substituted a dark gold for that one. You can see how little of that there is. Click on the picture and you will see that there is also one row of a lavendar. Surprise!

This first picture shows the first yellow that I tried. I actually farther along than this when I finally decided that the yellow and gray were just too close in value. You couldn't make out the fan patterns at all. So, rriiiiiiipppppp it went back to the border!

Now this is a Finullgarn sweater, so that was a LOT of knitting on very small needles!!

For this second try I chose a much lighter yellow. Ahhhhh, that's better! It had been moving right along until this past couple of weeks when I have not had as much time for it. I can't read and knit on this one! TV is okay, when I have the time for that.


I have been working more on this pair of socks than on the sweater. The yarn is my favorite teals and blues hand-dyed by Ray at Knitivity. He calls it Turquoise Fade. You will find it toward the middle of the page here.

I am using instructions from Wendy Johnson's Socks from the Toe-Up. I tried Judy Becker's Magic Cast on with the double point needles that I usually use for socks and found that it is nearly impossible to do. I was working in the car while we were traveling to and from Wisconsin so I didn't have much choice along for circular needles. I did have a couple of needles though which were only slightly different sizes so I grabbed the closest two circulars and tried it again. So far, so good.

They were working so I continued on using the Magic Loop technique with the Hiya Hiya needle I had. I don't usually enjoy knitting socks with one circular this way but this needle was particularly cooperative and was slightly smaller than my double points. I liked the knit that I was getting with them so I continued on.

I now have 2 socks up to the ribbing. I like my ribbing to be tightly knit so I was working along in my usual tight mode and decided I should try the socks on again before I finished the rib. Guess what? They were too tight! So again.....rriiiiiipppp when the knitting!

They are back on the needles again and almost finished now. Let's hope I remember to take the finished item photo too!

Berries Cardigan Pattern is ready!

Thanks to Terri Shea's beautiful design and finishing work this is a gorgeous sweater. I knit the body and sleeves for her and she did the rest. Now the pattern is ready so you can make your own!

Here is the link to the pattern ordering information on Terri's web site spinningwheel.net

The yarn is Rauma Finullgarn colors #487, 488 and 417
Gauge: 30 sts to 4" over stranded stockinette

Such a beautiful sweater! I think I would like to make one for myself. Terri gets to keep this one. It wasn't my size. :)

Berries Cardigan has moved on to its new home

I sent it off a couple of weeks ago to Terri Shea. The knitting was done and she will do the finishing. I am looking forward to seeing the finished results when she gets it photographed for the new pattern!

Keep and eye on Terri's blog www.spinningwheel.net for further developments.

Berries Cardigan Sleeve

My camera is broken. It wasn't saving things very well and then ds, Philip, dropped it. Now the flash doesn't work either so the pictures are coming out very dark or over flashed. So no pictures for a while probably until I can get a new camera.

I am working my way down the first sleeve of the Berries Cardigan. This week has been very busy again so I am not getting as far as I would like with this knitting project. Arnhild is not going to be back from Norway until the end of the month so I will still be taking care of her business as I start school with my first grader and transport the older 2 to their activities. I have started making lists of the things that I have to get done each day so I don't forget something important. So far, so good. I have been checking everything off the list except the knitting--oops! I really need to find more time for that!

Moving right along....

Anyone know that song from the Muppet Movie? My older kids loved the Muppets. We have been introducing the younger ones to them through the DVD's. Good wholesome fun!

I feel like this Berries Cardigan had been moving right along until last week. Then I got super busy with preparations for school, meetings that are starting up and a dozen other things that had to be attended to.

The body is finished now!!!! I started on the first sleeve but haven't gotten very far with it yet.

Here is another snippet for you.

Where, oh where?

have I been? Sorry, I haven't posted in quite a while. I don't usually go this long without something to post about.

I have been working faithfully on the sweater for Terri Shea. I have gotten to the front neck decreases and will soon be to the shoulders.

I was hoping to give you another peek at it but ... my camera died. That is the other reason that haven't posted recently. I think it is time for a new camera.

For now I will give you the picture I had before of the sweater. It is much longer now with lots and lots of the berries ... so use your imagination and you will be able to see what it looks like now.

Sample Knitting for a New Terri Shea Pattern

So,

Terri Shea asked me to knit a sample sweater for a new line of Selbu inspired patterns she is designing. Her design ideas were so beautiful that I was intrigued.

They will use Finullgarn which is the fingering weight of the Norwegian yarns from Rauma. It makes a nice lightweight sweater. I have fallen in love with all of the Rauma yarns so I couldn't say no.

Saturday a box of yarn arrived on my doorstep. Here is the beginning of the sweater. Isn't it gorgeous?

Cabled Vamsegarn/Finullgarn Cardigan

It's finished! I found the perfect buttons too!

This sweater has taken a lot longer to make than I thought it would. I got interrupted a lot with other projects while working on it. Then I got bored and really didn't want to do the sewing up parts.

I really don't like the sewing up. That's why many years ago I taught myself how to make seamless sweaters!

This will be a great winter sweater. It is a bulky weight but made with a strand of a worsted and a strand of a fingering weight. That is how it gets those beautiful subtle stripes. Can you see them?

I was hoping to get a picture of me wearing it but I didn't have anyone to help me with that. I needed to take it to Arnhild's so it could be packed with the display stuff. We are getting closer and closer.

Pattern: 2090RVF
Yarns: Vamsegarn and Finullgarn This one is the medium size and I had one ball of Vamsegarn that I didn't use.
Needles: Sizes US8 and US11

Hubby and I spent yesterday cleaning out the store room. It was mostly kids clothes, computer parts and wedding gifts (that we haven't used in 30 years of marriage). We had brought back a bunch of stuff from our college grad daughter, Jessie, which needed a home. I have been trying to get the kids clothes sorted for a long time now but I could only reach part of them for fear of toppling the towers of computer parts! I really should have taken pictures.

Well, we filled up our Suburban with things to donate and the room looks much better now. No, I didn't get DH to give up very much of the computer stuff but we did whittle it down a little bit and we at least got things moved around so I could get to the clothes that I needed to sort. Now there is just one box of clothes for Carl to grow into and several boxes of things that we are storing for Jessie while she is between apartments.

Now we need to start working on the collections of toys that have accumulated after almost 27 years and 8 children! We have so much which could be blessing someone else!

Finally Making Progress

It seems like this sweater has taken forever to knit! I would knit a ways and discover that I had forgotten to change the second strand to the next color.

If it wasn't that I would find a cable that was crossed wrong. I actually had the right front knit all the way to the shoulder when I discovered that one. I had to rip a bunch of it because some of the stitches were already bound off for the neckline curve. Then I dropped the 6 stitches of the cables down about 20 rows to fix the cable. I am getting rather good at that now!

At this point the body is knit and ready for the shoulder finish, so I started the first sleeve last night. I still have to remember to count the 9 rows of each of the different browns while crossing cables every 4 rows and increasing 2 stitches every 12 rows! See why it gets messed up sometimes?

I think the sleeves will move along more quickly though. Hopefully I will have a finished sweater soon!

Pattern -- Rauma 2090RVF Short Cabled Cardigan and Hat

Yarn -- Rauma Vamsegarn & Rauma Finullgarn

Rauma Sweater progress

Last week I was going to show you my progress on the hat and sweater set that I am making for Arnhild to take to the TNNA trade show. I didn't find the time to get it posted though. So here is where I was last week and where I am now. The sweater is going really fast!

The hat is finished. The sweater is now about 27 centimeters or 10.5 inches. The cables are looking really nice. There are 4 cables across the center back and 2 on each front. This will be a heavy sweater which will be really nice for the cold Iowa winters.

I also started a traditional Norwegian sweater during Arnhild's sweater class at the Blue Heron Knittery. Arnhild would like to have this one as a model to use for a while but eventually DH, Jeff, will get it.

You can see that this one is not going quite as fast! It is a much finer yarn (Strikkegarn) and size 3 needles for the ribbing. There are also a lot more stitches on this one. The ribbing on the blue sweater had 122 stitches, this one is 277! I think I have just a couple more rows of ribbing to go. Then I get to change to size 4 needles and start working with 2 colors.

The yarns are natural black and cream colors which are beautiful together. I have always admired these sweaters with the stars on the shoulders. It will be a very handsome sweater. I have a lot of knitting to go though.

Blue Heron Knittery

Arnhild and I made a visit to Decorah this past weekend. I was able to sit in on Arnhild's Norwegian Sweater classes at the Blue Heron Knittery. Sarah has a beautiful shop on West Water Street. I just had to share some pictures of it with you.

I didn't get a photo of the outside of the shop though. I will have to go back for that! Downtown Decorah is beautiful with l0ts of historic architecture. The Blue Heron is on a corner and has lots of decorative work and a tower on the building. Sarah has done a beautiful job with the inside of the building. She removed a false ceiling to expose the original stamped tin ceiling and replaced the hardwood flooring. Well, as they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

We had a great time learning how to make some of the beautiful sweaters you see here in the pictures. Thanks Sarah for being such a gracious hostess!