Finishing out year and starting up the new one

I finished the White Clovers pullover. It went up and down several times as I tried to get the fit right in the shoulders and neck. Here it is finished as the designer has written the pattern, with a turtle neck:

Then I ripped it back again and finished it with a crew neck. I like the looks of the crew neck much better. The Vamsegarn has softened up nicely with wearing. I am really enjoying this sweater. I can see myself making more sweaters like this. It was fast to make in this worsted(almost aran) weight yarn and it fits beautifully.

I also finished knitting the Navy Felted Mittens from the book LVS 3, well they will be felted when I find time to put them in the washer. Our washer stays really busy with laundry around here because of our big family so finding time for felting can be difficult. Last weekend we were gone for four days. When all the suitcases were empty we had a pile the size of "Mount Washmore" as a friend calls it. I always feel like I should have more than one project to felt when I do it since it takes so much water. So maybe I should make some more mittens! Here they are before felting:


Lisa came home from Alaska for Christmas and was telling us about how cold it was up there. She has been buying extra clothes for layering to keep warm. I made her a pair of rag-wool socks while she was home. They are made with Raumaragg yarn, the yarn that the Norwegians use for ski socks. Lisa says that I can make more of these!


I also had picked out a nice sock weight yarn for her birthday in early January. I started knitting those just after her birthday and have one finished so far. Lisa has returned to Alaska so I will have to mail them when they are both finished.


It has been a productive knitting year. Now on to the next year!

Traveling Norway

I have a fun 2 weeks to spend in Norway. Internet connections are not always good because we are staying in small local hotels but tonight it seems to be working for now at least so I will try to upload some pictures. Click them for a closer look.

First our friendly sheep. They park themselves on the road over here. Drive carefully, everyone!The GPS was very helpful most of the time. We went up and down the mountains several times! It usually looked something like this.


Here is the road we traveled. Beautiful!

Educational Opportunity

I had the chance to set up a booth for Scandinavian Days in the small town of Story City, Iowa at the Son's of Norway lodge last month. It is an annual celebration that brings the whole town and many from surrounding towns out for fun and food.

I brought lots of great Norwegian knitting to show off. It was fun talking with people about their heritage. I heard so many say, "My grandmother(mother, aunt, etc.) has a sweater like this!" Knitting has been such a big part of the Norwegian culture and of course our ancestors brought it with them.

Sneak Peek

Do you like knee-hi socks? Cables, lace, ribs, stranded 2-color designs like the Norwegain star or even entrelac? You will love this book!

We are working on the translation and samples for a new book to be released at the TNNA trade show in June. Those who came to the Arnhild's Knitting Studio February retreat have already had a chance to see the book.

This is the 4th book in the LVS series. Bunad Strømper og Luer. Strømper is stocking and luer is hat. Bunad is the traditional national costumes of the different regions of Norway. There are 37 patterns in this book from all over Norway. Most are stockings but there are some interesting hats as well. And just so you know, most of these stockings say "Herre" which means they are for the men, not that we ladies will let that stop us from knitting them for ourselves!

The stocking I am making is #3 from Sogn. It has an all-over cable design. Click on the picture for a closer look if you like. This one is made with Rauma 2-ply Gammelserie.

The smaller ball in the top picture is a 1-ply Spælsaugarn from Rauma which we will be carrying. It will be used in the heels and toes along with the Gammelserie for reinforcement.

We will have lots of other new patterns available at the TNNA show too. I will have them for sale on my web site as soon after the show as I can.

The other LVS books and many other beautiful Norwegian patterns and yarns to go with them are all available at my web site www.denisesneedleworks.com

Annemor is Coming to Retreat!!

We just got the word that Annemor Sundbø is able to be a presenter at the next Arnhild's Knitting Studio Retreat! Annemor has preserved and recorded much of the valuable history of knitwear in Norway in her books.

• Everyday Knitting: Treasures from a Rag Pile.
  ISBN 82-994657-1-0 (Translated by Amy Lightfoot.)
• Setesdal Sweaters: The History of the Norwegian Lice Pattern.
  ISBN 82-994657-2-9 and (translated by Amy Lightfoot)
• Invisible Threads in Knitting.
  (Translated by Carol Huebscher Rhoades) ISBN 82-994657-3-7

I hope you can join us in February 2010.

Knitting Needles - Pewter Buttons and Clasps

The Norwegian sweaters that I have been making lately usually take pretty small needles because of the fine yarns. I had found that these sizes were often not available at local craft stores. Rauma carries a full line of PT needles in a wide variety of sizes and types. I have added some of them to my online store. I am hoping to expand the available sizes in the near future but for now I have the ones most commonly used.

Here is what they look like. The circulars are very smooth for fast knitting with soft flexible cables. The double pointed needles come in a set of 5 and have a slightly grippier feel.














I also have a nice selection of Norwegian Pewter Buttons and Clasps. These are the real thing from a factory in Norway. Unfortunately, the factory we have gotten them from has ceased production. We are in contact with a different supplier and hope to have arrangements made with them soon. These are some of my favorites. You can see all of them on the Buttons and Clasps page.

I will need to pick buttons for the Man's Norwegian Cardigan that I have been making for my husband. I think maybe the ships would look good on it. He might like that.

Headed to Michigan

We leave tomorrow morning! I am going to assist Arnhild with some classes at Threadbear Fiber Arts Studio in Lansing, Michigan this weekend. I have heard a lot about this fabulous store and I am looking forward to seeing it.

I will be taking along the sleeves of the Norwegian Star sweater to work on as we travel. I am never sure how much knitting I will actually have time for so we will see how far I get. I am taking my camera and will ask Rob, the owner of Threadbear if it is okay to post pictures of our visit. I will be back Tuesday to fill orders and hopefully can update my blog then.

Arnhild and I have been very busy trying to get as much done as we can before we go. She will be leaving from Chicago to head to Norway as we come back from Michigan. It will be her extended Christmas visit.

I will be in charge of her business while she is gone. We are busy taking registrations for the Arnhild's Knitting Studio Retreat which is held the end of February. We are also setting up the advertising and other details of the Arnhild's Knitting Studio Fiber Arts School which starts knitting classes on February 10, 2009. Watch for details on www.arnhild.com.

See you all later!

Soctoberfest

This month is Socktoberfest again. Everyone is knitting socks for the winter. Or at least I and a bunch of sock enthusiasts are. I have joined a group of people who are trying to finish up the second sock of a pair. There are 3 on my list that I would really like to get finished soon. Winter is coming, the days are getting cooler and I have already started wearing my wool socks some. Of course today is not one of those days -- it is 77 degrees!

My take-along knitting project lately has been this Magi Sock. I finally finished it the other day and I now am started on the second sock. This basic sock has a ribbed cuff and stockinette foot. There is a free pattern on my web site called Magi Socks named for the yarn that they are made of. I tried to give easy to understand instructions so even a beginner could make these.
I used Magi yarn and size 2 needles and get a gauge of about 8.5 sts/inch. I think I would like to try this yarn with a smaller needle next time to see what it looks like. This is already knit tighter than they suggested gauge on the yarn wrapper but it still seems just a little bit loose. I like my socks to have a nice tight knit so they wear well. Magi yarn is from Rauma in Norway.


This pair is also my own design but the pattern is not completely written yet. This is Tofutsies yarn on size 1 needles. This yarn makes a spiraling stripe design on its own. The individual colors are blended into completely different colors and I feel that you lose the beauty of those colors. You can see that at the top of the sock. I found a stitch pattern that broke up the striping and keeps the colors separated a bit more. I really like how they came out and I will probably write up the pattern when they are finished.

The third pair of socks is one that I think I started last fall, just before Socktoberfest. I am not quite sure why I didn't get them finished then. These are made in Trekking ProNatura Bamboo yarn on size 1 needles. I really like the yarn. I think they will be very comfortable to wear. The pattern is Dublin Bay Socks. It has an easy lace design down the sides of the leg.

So, I have some great small projects and a nice large project to work on right now. Winter is coming I'm sure. It always does here in Iowa! They say it might be a really cold one again like last year and with the cost of fuels all going up it is probably better to wrap ourselves in wool to keep warm instead of turning up the thermostat, right?

More Norwegian Knitting

After sending the Berries Cardigan to Terri I picked up this Man's Norwegian Cardigan again. It has gone much faster than the Berries! Partly because it is 6 rows to the inch instead of 11 and partly because the "lice" pattern is very simple and fast to knit.

Here is where I am now:


I have started the V-neck shaping and the larger patterns at the shoulders.

This is fun!!!

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.

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?

TNNA 2008

I have been very slow to report about our trip to The National Needle Arts Association trade show. I went with Arnhild from Arnhild's Knitting Studio and her other helper Linda. They are still setting things up in this picture. It was exhausting but great fun! We have been very busy since then trying to fill all of the orders.

The day we set up was very hot and humid in Columbus, Ohio. I remember hearing or seeing it was about 96 degrees. Hauling things in and getting it all set up was miserable in that heat! We finally managed it quite nicely though and then we retreated to our hotel to rest up for the opening of the show the next morning.

After 3 days of the show we had to pack it all up again in the heat. I wasn't quite as bad though because they didn't open the big doors behind us until the end of the day. The convention hall stayed a lot cooler. It took us about 3 hours to disassemble and pack everything up and then we were out of there looking for a good meal and a cool place to relax!

I also went looking on the internet for reports of the flooding situation back in Iowa to make sure we would be able to travel home safely. Fortunately, we didn't have a problem then, but later in the week interstate 80 was closed due to flooding near Iowa City. My heart goes out to the many, many people who's homes were flooded with muddy river water.

I had a great time meeting people at the show. There were so many people there whom I had read about but had never imagined being able to meet in person. Book authors, pattern designers, magazine editors, yarn company owners, lots of yarn shop owners, etc. It was wonderful to be able to say hello to them and get to know them a little bit.

We had a great show, though it was a little slow the first 2 days. The orders were very good there and we have had more orders since we got home. We also have about a dozen new stores which will be carrying some of the Rauma Yarns and Patterns. Check out your local yarn shop and see if they have it!

Arnhild and I have been very busy printing up more patterns and translations and packing the orders that we had on hand. There will be a large order coming from Rauma in Norway soon. Then there will be yarn to send out for the back orders too. We have gotten so many orders within the past week that we may need another order from Rauma very soon! Business is good!

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!

Toddler Cable Sweater in River Jeans cotton

I haven't posted in a while because I have been busy trying to get this little toddler sweater knit up for the TNNA trade show next month. This pattern is newly translated into English by Arnhild and will be available as soon as it arrives from Norway.

I am making the size 2-4 for display at the show. We don't have a lot of the yarn on hand yet either but there was enough for this size and it will be faster to knit up than a larger size. I wish it would fit Carl though because it is really going to be a nice sweater.

The River Jeans yarn is 100% cotton and remarkably soft. I have enjoyed working with it. Many cotton yarns make my hands hurt or feel rough but this one doesn't.

This is a great yarn for summer tops too I think. We also have a new tank top and cardigan pattern that is translated and being knit up. There are so many things that River Jeans could be used for. I just wish that it came in more colors!

Pattern -- PT 795-River Jeans Cabled Pullover for Children and Men
Yarn -- River Jeans 100% cotton


Tomorrow we start playing with all of the yarn and sample models to decide how we are going to display them for TNNA. We have lots of new things to show! I hope we can fit it all in the car! I am looking forward to meeting store owners and pattern designers from all over the US.