Sunday, November 04, 2007

The Closing Scene of the Nutcracker

I woke up to the telephone this morning. I picked up the phone and as I was chatting to dear friends from far-away I was looking at this... What a way to start Sunday!
The temperature had dipped way down, it was -12 C when I looked at the thermometer and the lake was suddenly frozen. The sun is about to say good buy for the winter so seeing her today feels a bit bittersweet.I had to go down to the lake to see if there was ice flowers scattered on the ice, but did not see them but there was some lace by mother nature.

I finished the Nutcracker already earlier this week. I was having lots of difficulties in the end and I'm not yet sure about it all in all. But anyway, it was knit with Grignasco Tango with 3 mm needles. I almost always choose smaller needles that are recommended, I like my knits to be firm but not hard and stiff. I'm not sure how much I used but it must have been close to 500 grams, little more or less. I bought the yarn when I was in Helsinki earlier this fall. The recipient is having a cold so I could not make her to come outside for a photoshoot and I had to take the pictures inside. But here it is...

This b/w is a detail of a sleeve - my favourite part. I'm sorry that I could not get a better one of this but although the recipient was in a fairly good mood while photoshooting I do not dare to ask her to do it again!And the final picture, this shows how she feels about the sweater and that is what really counts!

42 comments:

  1. Wow that came out great. The cable detail down the inside was inspired. I like the neckline with just the red contrast. Big collars make me feel like I can't breathe. I can't even wear turtlenecks anymore. What froze to make that beautiful lacey ice? Was it just some standing water?

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  2. Stunning photography...stunning knitting. Its come out really well and I think the red just picks it up nicely.

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  3. Anonymous14:53

    As always your work is superb!!! Nutcraker fit just well to your dear recipient!!! Hope her cold will not be too long!!!
    Romantic, nostalgic, so nice pictures... that should be rough not to see the sun in winter...

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  4. The photos touched me so soundly, as most of your photos do.. I feel I must have ancestral memories in my mind...
    Nutcracker is a beautiful sweater, love the detail on the sleeves and up the sides, the sweet simple neckline and seeing her smile.
    Hope she feels better soon!

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  5. The ice is so intriguing and the sun so beautiful.
    You have created another wonderful sweater design and it's nice to see the big smile on your daughters face.

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  6. Beautiful! I love how you did the cables on the side - it's very subtle and beautiful. Love it!

    Tana
    www.tanapageler.com/life

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  7. Its beautiful!

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  8. Very pretty. I love the understated detailing of the neck & cables. Great fit, too.

    And oh, the contrast of climates. We are finally feeling a little autumnal here -- 50 F when the kids went out to get the paper this morning; they were barefoot but their feet got cold. Not so much of a call for handknits here.

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  9. Sunshine inside and out. Lovely!!

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  10. Anonymous17:50

    A perfect example that LESS IS MORE. Nutcracker is, as is all your work, perfection. Thanks for sharing

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  11. Your nature pictures are spectacular as always!

    I like the cabeling but I am also intrigued by the double rolled neckline. The extra hint of color looks very nice and it looks cozy too.

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  12. Thank you for the wonderful sunrise photos. Mother Nature makes beautiful lace. Nutcracker is wonderful and I especially like the detail on the neck of just a peek of the red!

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  13. Nutcracker is beautiful, with lovely details. And your nature pictures are lovely. We have -2 now here in Espoo, and there is snow on the ground (okay, not more than a few mm, but still, it's snow!)

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  14. Anonymous18:52

    Lovely as always and just in time, too. Your pictures share your emotions beautifully as does your daughter's smile. Healing wishes sent her way. May you all be warm, creative and healthy in the coming winter season.

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  15. Anonymous19:10

    beautiful! I like it very much, Lene

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  16. Gorgeous! I love the subtle hint of red at the neckline.

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  17. Just lovely. I love your attention to details - the red contrast, the beautiful cable, the perfect fit.

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  18. Anonymous22:07

    I think this is my favorite of your self-designed patterns. The elegant cable up the sides and the casually rolled neckline are surprisingly compatible. Beautiful work, as usual. :-)

    It seems to me that you live in a truly magical place. Those photos are really awe-inspiring!

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  19. It's beautiful! I love that cable detail, it's such a gorgeous detail.

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  20. Anonymous22:16

    Looks great! Thanks for sharing!

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  21. Anonymous01:44

    That came out SO nice! It's really beautiful, and I love the photographs.

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  22. Anonymous09:53

    Just another admirer of your knitting, and again you have created a beautiful sweater with just the right amount of detail. I wish that you sold your patterns as I would love to knit this one. Irene in Wpg.

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  23. Anonymous16:21

    The Nutcracker is so beautiful. I love that you chose to put the pattern detail in subtle places. It's like winter - at first grey and plain but if you take the time to look there is beautiful pattern, texture and color.

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  24. What a beautiful sweater, matched to your daughter's lovely smile. You have a wonderful imagination and it shows in the patterning. I really like the little bit on the sleeve.

    I don't have ice lace yet, soon, I think.

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  25. Anonymous17:27

    It's beautiful! I love the cables and the way they're almost hidden!

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  26. Anonymous23:29

    The sweater is beautiful, and your daughter looks very happy wearing it. The red at the bottom, and inside the neck edge, really pulls it together, I think. Here we have had a very warm autumn, with just a bit of early morning frost. Many of the trees still have not dropped their leaves.

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  27. It's perfect! :)

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  28. Beautiful work on Nutcracker! So if you knit on smaller needles, you must basically re-design the pattern, right? How do you calculate the amount of yarn, since I would think you'd need more than the pattern calls for? My head is hurting just thinking of the mathematics involved in your style of knitting! I wish I could do something like that.

    I love the picture of the "lace".

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  29. it's lovely and so is the recipient!

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  30. Nutcracker is lovely, as is the recipient!! I too enjoy your nature photos, and your exquisite knitting and designing. A treeasure to stop by

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  31. Gosh that sweater looks so warm and soft. Beautiful details, too.

    Love the lace by Mother Nature....

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  32. It's absolutely lovely!

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  33. Anonymous06:52

    Lene, The double-roll neckline in the two colors that are on the bottom of the sweater really makes the sweater look balanced. At least I think so!! No snow yet! Happy knitting. Jeanie

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  34. Oh, Wow. That's awesome!

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  35. Your sweater is gorgeous. But, I stopped by to express my sorrow at the school shooting in Finland. It is very understandable that all of Finland would feel involved, in some way or another. A school shooting in my state still has everyone reeling--and it happened a year ago. I am keeping your country in my thoughts.

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  36. Anonymous09:16

    Understated but full of fine craftmanship. Great pics!
    Keep warm up there!
    Greetings from (southern) Germany,
    Ulrike

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  37. Anonymous19:12

    Your jersey is just beautiful - it is so simple but so perfect, I love it. Your photos are amazing as always - lovely

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  38. Lovely photos and a lovely sweater! And your daughter has the dancer's figure for wearing that sweater, too.

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  39. That is a very cute sweater, no wonder she liked it. Job well done!

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  40. Nice sweater, you did a very good job on the fit. The lake is also very impressive, at least to a Floridian.

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  41. Anonymous01:10

    The Nutcracker is beautiful, but we miss you! Hope we get another fix of your creativity soon--and that all goes well with you.

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  42. I am smitten with the Nutcracker sweater . . . I have looked at all of the photos at least 3 times (well, maybe 7, should we count life's pleasures!). What beautiful inspiration!

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