VivaPia

onsdag, maj 31, 2006

I'm a business woman!

So, my bag has gained so much fame and fortune that a friend of mine wanted me to make one to her. She doesn't like larger bags (less for me to knit) and wanted it in pure gray. Not blue-grayish, not green-grayish, but pastel-black, you know, black and white together. This is what I got for her:


While I was at marias garn (do I shop anywhere else?) I also got some Alpaca yarn from Garnstudio. I've felt some ache in my joints recently, so I thought that I would make something to warm my wrists.


Back to my friend. She really is amazing. She has her own business where she sells things like this:

I wanted this pinkish necklace, earrings and hairpin which I got as "payment" for the bag to knit. I also got these white-brown hairpins, which I love:

My pictures don't do them any justice at all, so please check out her webpage: Lavish Design!

Please don't tell her that I got the better part of the deal! I tried to pay her, but she thought this would make us even! :)

söndag, maj 28, 2006

FO: Starsky!

Here it is in all it's glory: Starsky!
Pattern: Knitty's Starsky.
Size: M
Yarn: one strand of wool and a thicker strand of alpaca from Marias garn
Needles: Lovely 6.0 mm rosenholtz needles
Modifications: I downsized the arms a bit, both in width and in length.
Start date: April 22 2006
Finish date: May128 2006

I loved to knit this, it was fun, speedy and I really like the result! This willn definitely be a favorite of mine. I know this because I've already been using it for two days before it even was finished!

Prisoner guard away!

M, who has been guarding me this weekend (and also helped me with my studies) has went home to his parents for Mother's day so I'll use this study break for some blogging! Ok, first up, secret pal, I'm studying for two boring-to-death courses that I should have taken several years ago: electronics (analogue and physics for semiconductors) and theory of signals. The first course is sort of ok, and the exam is on thursday, but the other one (which is on saturday) has been killing me! Fortunately, M wrote his master thesis within signals, so he's being so sweet and is helping me. I have to take these courses, otherwise I'll never get my master of electrical engineering, and I have to get that one to be hired as an PhD student. Right now, I've an employment on a project basis, and the project being my PhD. It's ok, better than being a student, but not as good as being a PhD student (my professor says I need a carrot to finish my degree, and probably it's true). Maybe I should say that the subject I'm doing my PhD in has nothing to do with analoguos electronics or signals, which makes me even less ncouraged to learn about it. Enough about school and work!

I've been knitting some actually. The Starsky itself is ready since yesterday, and I've been wearing it while studying :) You will get to see it as soon as the belt is finished too:

Right now, I'm using the Rambling Rose and my laptop-cover to ease the presure on my brain while studying. The laptop cover has been lying in the knitting-basket for ages, but I haven't sewn it together. I'll try to do this today, but it won't be finished because I'm planning to get some buttons to it.

The RR is getting taller, slowely but steadily. I've reached the first button hole, but that's it. 2 cm out of 15 cm of pure ribbing! But very easy to knit, p1, k1, p1, k1... well you all know how to rib! ;)

And while I had my camera ready, I got some pictures of M's new toy: an old veteran-TV that origianlly was bought for the world olympics in football 1958. It works, but only for a while, and only for one channel. Well, I think it's more beautiful than the big tv screens that you young people buy today!

Back to my books now so that I'll have lots of questions ready when M gets back home! Ciao!

torsdag, maj 25, 2006

Clay and cherry blossom

I'm supposed to be studying hard now, because I'll have the two last exams of my life (hopefully) next week, and my professor is sort of expecting that I will make them both since he's already hired me... Well, I think I've managed to study quite well today, and knitting in between onlykeeps me in a good mood.

My Starsky has passed the knitting stage, is up from the sink and lying flat drying now.

How can something so potentially beautiful look so ugly? Blää...

Well, I don't want to be without something to knit, so I went to Wincent this week and got some yarn for Rowan's Rambling Rose: 4 Ply cotton in the colour Orchid, but I think it looks more like cherry blossom (or whatever tree I got the branch from :) )


I've started to knit it in the round, because the needles are so small that it will take me forever if I have to knit purls every other row. So does anyone know how to dp steeks with cotton? I think that Mia or Marika once mentioned that she had just went back and forth with her sewing machine. Is that possible? I've also bought some extra yarn if I want to make the sleeves longer. Hopefully, there will be some fast progress on this one, but probably it wont...

lördag, maj 20, 2006

Love -again!


This is one of the beautiful sweaters in Debbie Bliss' new book Pure Silk. It is, apparently, knitted in pure silk. It's my dream sweater and all of the other patterns are equally beautiful! Love it, love it, love it! One day I will knit it, but my wallet is, oh, too thin to be able to purchase the yarn to me!

I also have to say Thank you! to my secret pal who sent me a really sweet e-card to wish me happy thursday! Thank you!

I'm knitting on the sleeves on Starsky. No more pictures of that now. I'm knitting them both at once, which is so smart! I always make some changes when I knit, like not increasing or decreasing as much as the pattern suggests, and since I'm so short I never make sleeves as long as they are supposed to be. So when I'm knitting them both at once I don't have to remember the changes I make! Lovely!

My last entry got strangely sick, that's why I couldn't include any links, so I have them here for you:
Forecast,the lovely sweater i want to knit. There's also a Forecast kal, where you can see more finished Forecasts.
Girl Who Knits, the lovely girl who has knitted forecast, and through whom i found out about Summer in Lace.

onsdag, maj 17, 2006

New idols and adventures!

When I was younger, my cousin was my idol (my elder sister claims that she was my idol, but that’s just in her dreams ;) ). My cousin had a room that was decorated in pink; she always had pink clothes, was good at drawing and always seemed to have her room cleaned (something I am very much in awe for). Idols change as you grow up, and nowadays I don’t want to copy the exact behaviour of my idols, only let them inspire me to be me.

Eunny has been a source of inspiration, but sometimes I get a notion of that I will never be as knowledgeable about the whole area of knitting as Eunny is. Someone who I “found” recently and whose knitting actually inspires me more in my every day knitting is the Girl who knits. She is mortal, just like me (and unlike Eunny) but everything she has been knitting is just beautiful! She has started on Rambling Rose from Rowan, and she is knitting Forecast from Knitty which is beautiful. I’m thinking of making it for myself when time’s right and the summer’s over.

Right now, the girl who knits has got me hooked on the Amazing Lace It’s sort of a lace KAL during the summer, but with challenges along the way. The first challenge is called “Meet the team” where all teams should present themselves. The team is me, the chosen pattern (which will be a secret until I present us properly), yarn and needles; heck, everything that together will form the lovely lace. I think it will be a fun adventure for us all, and I hope that the readers of this blog also will appreciate to read about how we tackle our challenges!

söndag, maj 14, 2006

Finished objects: Baby socks

I love tulips. My birthday is in March, so every year I get tulips from my mum. These are from my mum's garden and I figured I had to take a picture of them before they would get to old. I didn't get then for ny birthday, ofcourse, they are from last thursday when I went to my parents for dinner in the middle of week. :D I love the diversity of this boquet, pink, red, yellow a purple that doesn't show and some orange-yellow.

So, I have found out whose SP8 I am. I don't know how much I can say without him/her finding out that I'm the SP8, BUT I have to open my hart just a bit and maybe get some advice. The person has only three posts on his/hers blog including the SP8-questions! This means that I have very little to base my gifts on. I don't know what kind of person this is at all. Help!

Speaking of gifts, both of the baby socks are finished now:

First a pic
ture of the small socks with the top unfolded, as they are supposed to be:

And then the socks with the top folded down, which I think looks much better!


Pattern: Garnstudio's Drops' "Rätstickad toffla", found in swedish here.
Size: 6-9 months
Yarn: Frog Tree's, Alpaca wool sport weight, colour #000 (white), maybe 2 oz or 60 g. And Garnstudio's Alpaca colour 7139. Knitted with two threads.
Needles: crochet needle 2,75mm and
Modifications: Since I can't read crochet-instructions I just made the crochet parts according to what I remember from school .
Start date: May 8 2006
Finish date: May 14 2006

lördag, maj 13, 2006

Thrilled!

I got a warm feeling, a chill through my spine, a tendency of a tear in my eye of movement, and then, just a bubbling laughter! Are these signs of me going crazy or just a normal reaction to finding this in the comments:
Anonymous said...
I'm here and ready to begin spoiling!
I've got a secret friend out there! I have been occupied by checking my inbox to see if I've gotten the info of the person who I will have me as secret pal and been thinking of possible gifts to send him/her so I almost forgot that someone will actually be my secret pal too! I'm just amazed that I've got this really thrilling feeling. Have a perfect weekend, secret pal, cause you certainly made mine just by showing up!

fredag, maj 12, 2006

Problems of a busy knitter

The new number of Interweave Knits laid on my doorstep when I came home this wednesday. I'd been to an end-of-the-semester-dinner for some younger students and went to sleep before even eyeing through it. Then yesterday after work, I went to my parents for dinner and on the train to get there, I finally got some time to check out the patterns. I actually like the top on the front cover the best and I'm thinking of knitting it. Ofcourse, i have to look through all patterns again, and maybe I'll find something more interesting then. :)

I've had so little knitting time lately so I wonder how I even will be able to finish the second baby sock! And with Starsky going on and me dreaming of Rowan's Rambling Rose, I don't know what to do!

Has anyone else ever had this same feeling: so many projects waiting to be done and so little time??

Some of the participants of Secret Pal 8 have already started to send cards and emails to their SPs and I don't even know who my Secret pal is yet. I'll try to have patience, but I'm just eager to start this!!

tisdag, maj 09, 2006

From babies to Marilyn

This is how it looks, the baby sock I've made so far. I think it looks quite cute, but compared to the sock in the picture, it's a bit long. That's why I've folded the top, it looks better when it's not that long! I'm using what I've got left of Frog Tree's alpaca yarn from the deep V argyle vest, and I think it's a bit thicker then the recommended alpaca from Garnstudio. The bluish edging is in alpaca from Garnstudio though.



I hope I'll get the next one done before the baby comes. But the first baby is always a bit slow to "get out", right?

I've been thinking about my next project. I know that I'm not even halfway with Starsky, but nonetheless, I'm dreaming of that perfect knit that is fun while working on it and will make me look fabolous. I want it to be feminine and show off the best of my body, which sort of goes hand in hand, but it's not easy to achieve. Do you have any suggestions of how I will make myself look like Marilyn?

You are Maryiln Monroe
A classic tortured beautyYou're the dream girl of many menYet they never seem to treat you right

måndag, maj 08, 2006

Lat det swinge, lat de rock'n roll....

A guy at my department (who I am very fond of) are supposed to have his first baby by the middle of May. I think it's nice to give people gifts when you're not expected to do so and this is why I thought I could knit these baby socks* to the little one! I have some alpaca lying around, these seem very easy to knit, so why not? Sometimes I get a feeling of that when you're giving someone a present, it's almost like asking for a present in return when it's your birthday or whatever the occasion is. This is why I like this idea even more, because i'm not planning to have any kids in the near future and hence, I can not expect to get. Can't wait to get home and start to work on them!


*OK, very far fetched, but the title of this entry is because of the Norweigan duo "Bobbysocks" who had a hit (?) where they sang "lat de swinge..."

lördag, maj 06, 2006

Starsky on the go

The largest piece, the back is done. So... two fronts, two sleeves and one neck/front-line left! The pattern is seen from the reverse :) just not to bore you with it until the Starsky is ready.
I think it's quite hard to keep track on where to start in the pattern after the shaping for the sleeves. And it gets even harder with the neckline. Lucky me, there are not much of it.

I want to thank all of you who left such nice comments on my Ferragamo bag. I know that I made it in a colour that maybe isn't everone's favourite, but at least some of you appreciated the coolness in it!! And Olga, your guess that I live in Norway is qite close, but I live in Sweden!

Maybe you've also understood that I'll be one lucky person's secret pal this summer! I hope I can come up with something nice for the person and, ofcourse, that someone will send me maybe... a nice card? I don't ask for much. (who am I kidding?) I haven't seen a button for Secret Pal 8, but maybe someone will make one soon.

fredag, maj 05, 2006

Secret Pal 8 - my first!

I've joined Secret Pal 8. Below follows a description of me that shows a much more boring side of me than I'd like to show! Well, well...

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
What I like? Wool, cotton, alpaca. These I like and I don't play favourites with yarn, they are equally suited for different things. I don't like synthetic yarn. I've knitted with bulky multicoloured yarn but realised that it's not for me either.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
-Their original packages if still existing, or loose in my yarn-basket.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
-I've been knitting since last summer, say 9 months? I still think I'm quite advanced, anyone who disagrees can leave a comment. :)

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
-Nope.

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
-I don't like scented candles, for other things I like fresh and/or sweet scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
-Guilty as charged. Chocolate. Chocolate with orangecrisps. Chocolate with caramel. If you're from Suisse, I'm addicted to Ragusa . If you're from Great Britain, I also love Cadbury's milk chocolate mix. Well, you all get the picture.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
-I've made some mosaic, but it's unfortunately on hold now. I don't spin. I'd like to know how to and I'd like to learn how to weave.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
-A little bit of everything. Depeche Mode, french chansons, Yeah Yeah Yeah's, swedish pop/rock, well anything that's not boring to listen to. ;) My computer plays anything!

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?
-Favorite colour: RED! Haven't knitted anything in red though. I actually like most colours, and can't come up with any colour I don't like... Maybe I can say that I like bright colours, and more pale/pastel. But I don't like "ordinary" colours. Whatever that is...

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
-No pets. I live with my boyfriend.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
-I prefer scarves among the 4 mentioned above. The others are ok, but not any favourites.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
-Sweaters and cardigans for me.

13. What are you knitting right now?
-Starsky and Norweigan stockings.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
-Yes.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
-Circular. I think I'll sound like a snob now, but I just bought needles in rosenholz and I love them. Before I preferred bamboo.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
-No, and my boyfriend has actually asked me why I don't buy any.

17. How did you learn to knit?
-At school when I was maybe 10, and then from internet when I picked it up again last summer.

18. How old is your oldest UFO?
-2 months?

19. What is your favorite holiday?
-Christmas.

20. Is there anything that you collect?
-No.

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
-Interweave Knits. I've subscribed to Vogue too but haven't received any yet. I've seen a book about Bohus-knitting (at Maria's yarn) but I don't remember the name of it... What I need is a good reference book about differnt techniques, not patterns, but techniques so that I could move up from intermediate to advanced!

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
-Lace. And everything else I don't know. Oh, I don't even know enough to specify!

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
-I wouldn't say I am. I've started my first sock but haven't reached the heel yet.
I'm a swedish 37, which I think is an American 6½?

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)
-March/9

måndag, maj 01, 2006

FO: Ferragamo bag


I feel quite pleased with myself. It is ready, enfin!
Viva Ferragamo! Viva Pia!

Pattern: Kates Beta-pattern for the Ferragamo bag, found here. Pattern for the curlicues can be found here.
Size: One size, BIG
Yarn: Garnstudio's Muskat, color 20 (yellow), 550 g = 11 skeins. Knitted with two threads for the bag and one for the curlicues.
Needles: Unknown brand, 5,5 mm round needle for the bag and 5,0 mm needles for the curlicues.
Modification: Well, since the pattern wasn't quite finished, alterations were done all the time, and the top is all my version.
Notes: I've also used leather, rivets and a riveted-locker for the top and fabric and a zipper for the inside.

I've been working hard on this one. Yesterday morning I sat down on the floor to work with all the cool tools in my bathrobe. (That's why I show some unimpropriate leg in the picture.) There are so many things that have to be measured all the time, and while you can rip and reknit while knitting, working with leather doesn't allow that kind of alterations.

Here are some photos of the details of the bag. First I was thinking of ditching the curlicues because they look a bit strange, but I'm so glad I didn't do that! They are gorgeous!


And one more picture of me and the finished bag:


I'm off to new adventures now, see ya!