Sunday, May 21, 2006

There is so much out there

No more Simpsons... Very little sneezing or coughing. The sofa is empty, the living room looks normal and ordinary school day is scheduled for tomorrow. All this good has come out of all the good wishes you have been sending this way. Thank you!

The twined mitten I posted of last time had a little pattern on top... Here the close up. You can get the idea how to do it by looking at the picture. (Probably was not clever at all to put it on top of the mitten where I'm sure the dog's tooth will catch it the first opportunity. Maybe I try to felt it a bit so that it will stick to the surface better.)

I learnt this technique last summer in Estonia in Nordic Knitting Symposium. I think is was called "roositud" which I have in my mind translated into "roosiminen". I have seen this before in weaving and embroidery but I don't know if this technique is anywhere else than in Estonia combined with knitting. You can use very short left over yarns and make good use of them. It is done while knitting but you can easily add this later on as well. This was the first time I tried this on anything usable or wearable so the pattern is plain and simple and really nothing much if you compare it to these...All of these gloves are patterned with the same method. See how detailed and intricate the patterns and of so many different colors. This technique was born of the respect and love of the material.

I often think that I have seen a lot in knitting. But then I come across with a new cast-on or a new way to shape a toe in a sock or a thumb gusset in a mitten or with something like this and I realize that I really have not seen that much. But I want to see and knit ... All of it. Everything. From everywhere. Even though it has become obvious to me that one life time is not enough.

13 comments:

  1. Fabulous gloves ,they remind me a little of Ukrainian Easter eggs. I too want to knit so much it will be impossible.At least Holly knits and she learns new techniques faster than her mother. Glad to hear the girls are better. angie.

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  2. Three lives probably wouldn't be enough. Alas!

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  3. Anonymous23:07

    Aaaaah, that's so beautiful!!!

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  4. The gloves are beautiful, but your work is just as awe inspiring. Praying you find time for all you want to do!!

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  5. Lene, I think you are right - felting may solve the problem of the coloured yarn sticking up above the body of the mitten! I am going to have to try your technique. Those gloves and mittens are beautiful. I find it so much fun to learn new techniques. It keeps a brain active!

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  6. Beautiful, thank you for reminding me of the roositud technique, I'd been wanting to try it out but I sort of forgot about it! I think that a litlte needle felting would secure the yarn very well to the mitten.

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  7. So beautiful - I agree, they remind me of Ukrainian eggs.
    That gives me an idea for something I wanted to include on my latest sweater - thanks!

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  8. Anonymous18:20

    Nancy Bush offers a class called "Nordic color - an inlay technique from Estonia" and this is the technique she teaches in that class.

    Nancy usually teaches at both Stitches West and Midwest every year.

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  9. You mittens are gorgeous in their simplicity. The gloves, did you make any of them or are they from your travel to Estona.
    Yes, I came to realize also that I could never finish everything I want to do in knitting. I am 56 and I pray that my hands do not get arthritis or something that will prevent me from knitting for another 30 years. In addition, I have come to believe in reincarnation, or at least I try to believe in it. In my next life I will knit all the things I couldnt get to in this life. In a subsequent life I will be a weaver. In yet another I will be a spinner. In yet another I will be a tailor/dressmaker.

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  10. Anonymous02:55

    They look wonderful - can you show me the underside of it so I can see what you did? Nosey parker that I am. Did you make the other ones? They are so lovely. Thought of you the other night with the Monsters winning Eurovision...:)

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  11. Anonymous17:34

    Wow, I love your colors. I will have to try this technique. All the other gloves and mittens are gorgeous as well.

    I saw Susanna's comment about Nancy Bush, but I am curious - where was the symposium that you attended?

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  12. I'm glad the kids are feeling better and the dog has returned.

    I love the mittens, though I'm a bit confused over the construction. I was assuming that you would be wrapping each strand, one over the other when you knit each stitch and would knit with the main colour for the body, and the second colour for the detail. It looks like it has been stranded over the knit stitches, almost like embroidery. Very interesting.

    I also look through all my knitting books and wonder when I'll have time to do it all.

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  13. Anonymous19:26

    I am learning sooo much from your blog! Beautiful pictures - beautiful work!! Thanks for posting.
    ~Linda in Virginia (USA)

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