Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Katariina forever

The winter is tightening its grip, the temperature is way down (- 14 C) and some parts of Finland were hit by a snow storm again yesterday. There are houses without electricity and some roads have been closed which is quite extraordinary since we are so u s e d to having snow. - 14 C (colder at nights) feels quite crisp again and turns noses red. Wooly long johns, sweaters, hats, socks and double layer of mittens are required for months on. Think about knitting motivation! Plus days are getting really short, it gets dark early which means that there is lots of time to pull one's feet up in front of the fire and let the needles click. Few more weeks and I'll be sipping gloegg instead of hot chocolate or tea.

Unfinished Katariina was indeed standing in front of some boards onto which I pin all sorts of inspiring stuff. There are color charts for yarn and wool, post cards, clippings from magazines that I find interesting, some of my drawings and small items from friends, maybe poems or just words etc but never to do lists or sorts. I rearrange the wall every now and then and try to find anything that would stir up my imagination or amuse me or fascinate me. At the moment there is also motivation for Katariina and I'm so ready to unpin them and have something new...

Here a detail of Katariina again. I know this is dragging (since September 12th) and getting a bit boring now. I thought last week that I would not post before she is all done but after giving her her other sleeve and that only taking hours I realize this might take a while yet.

And it does not help Katariina one bit that I'm engaging myself with this. This is a glove and a half mitten to be. Since it is not much at the moment you get to see only the detail.

I don't dare to start anything big and interesting before Katariina is done. Would be such a shame to drop her into UFO basket so close to being done.

PS. Paula - onnittelu with t in the end (onnittelut) would be perfect!

28 comments:

  1. What a perfect little flower!

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  2. What a pretty flower

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  3. Anonymous18:16

    Brrr! Just thinking about -14C makes me shiver! It never gets even close to that cold here. Stay warm and finish Katariina! She'll be so lovely to wear.

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  4. Anonymous18:22

    I think Katariina just gets more beautiful everytime you show it. I hope you'll get the inpiration to finish it!

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  5. Anonymous18:29

    Lene, *never* bored visiting and getting to see whatever it is you're working on, *ever*.
    It's all beautiful and inspiring.

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  6. Anonymous19:09

    Boring is not a word I would use for your posts. :)
    Please, don't give up on Katariina now. It's just one sleeve missing, right?
    BTW, what kind of drink is gloegg?

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  7. Persevere. You are at the most interesting bit of the work on Katariina. The pay off will be huge.

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  8. Anonymous19:20

    Never bored - you are a great inspiration to many of us, me included. Katariina is lovely!

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  9. Anonymous20:04

    I love your embroidery, it's sooo beautiful. I found in a book about old clothing a picture of an old Finnish leather glover with embroidery very much like yours. It was beautiful too, and made me wish I would dare to try it out. Your embroidery is such an inspiration!

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  10. Anonymous21:15

    How did you begin embroidering? I love how it looks, but I haven't yet taken the time to sit down and try it.

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  11. Your blog is never boring and I always am very happy when you have posted! I know I will be in for a treat for my soul! What time of day does the sun come up and then go down this time of year?
    I have told so many folk about your 'frost flowers'. We never get cold enough so quickly to have them develop, but I was amazed by them - thank you!

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  12. The winter chill is setting in here, too. I love your posts, and never find them boring! :0)

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  13. Thank You for sharing about your wall. ~bonnie

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  14. Anonymous23:47

    Those embroidered flowers are so inspiring. I am looking forward to seeing Katariina finished. It is a long knit but it will be worth it in the end.

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  15. Anonymous01:01

    Some Swedish friends gave me gloegg once--it was very good! I will stop complaining now about the weather because it's really not that cold here, compared to where you are. Yesterday we had perfect weather for celebrating Hallowe'en, and we had lots of little trick or treaters at the door. My dog wanted to go out on the porch and inspect all their costumes, in a friendly way of course.

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  16. Anonymous02:26

    Sounds like you could use a little of the hot Florida sunshine we are having. Your Katariina is just fabulous! Knit on with confidence.

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  17. Living in Australia, I just can't imagine -14 degrees. The coldest I've ever experienced was 0. And that was in Chicago!
    That first image is a beautiful composition. The mottled red of Karariina as the background and the lovely flower shape in the foreground..just beautiful!
    Like Francesca, I'm curious to know what gloegg is too.

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  18. the flower looks good enough to eat!

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  19. Ah Lene, you're making such fast progress on Katariina it's inspiring to watch it blooming before our eyes.

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  20. Anonymous06:08

    Katariina may be dragging in your mind, but she is never boring to us.

    Gloegg: A Swedish spiced-wine punch that incorporates brandy. It is served hot with almonds and raisins added to each glass (using the Google define: function). Sounds like just the thing for a cold night!

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  21. Kiitos paljon Lene for helping me learn Suomalainen.
    (did I say that right?) :)
    It may take me the rest of my life, but I will try.

    Katariina is so very Beautiful!
    I just love your embroidery.

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  22. Katariina is never boring! Your process is quite interesting! Sometimes reading of other's processes help enhance our own, it's been more than a pleasure! Stay warm & keep knitting.

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  23. Oh My! Katriina is not getting boring for me - it is nice to follow your progress.

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  24. Anonymous19:38

    Nothing boring at all about your lovely embroidery! :) That flower is so sweet...

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  25. Anonymous20:38

    Katariina is never boring!

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  26. Anonymous22:11

    Like the character of the historical Katariina, your Katariina will need a little time in Finnish hands to bloom. Press forward! I love reading about her and all your new projects.

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  27. Anonymous23:55

    I, too, love your wonderful approach to trying new (to me) things with your yarn. Absolutely beautiful.

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  28. Anonymous20:44

    Lene
    How is "uu" pronounced? Are ther 2 separate vowel sounds? Or is it like in English, where adding a second vowel results in a different, but single, vowel sound? (for example, in English, "got" --> "goat").

    (NOT that I know how to pronounce ANY Finish)

    I love seeing the Kateriina pictures!
    Margie

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