Friday, October 10, 2008

Another wool weekend

We had a drop of snow yesterday! For a short while the world had a lovely lace blanket. The morning yesterday was very cold, near –10 ºC, and the crisp, clean air and the beautiful sunrise was truly the highlight of my day. Today is grey, rainy and warm.

So I left the rust in the yoke of the BlueBeige Dress as some of you advised – thank you. I completed the yoke and as always, got worried of the outcome and had to take the needles off and wet block the yoke to see the fit. As you can see in this first picture, the piping looks a bit loose, it pops up badly. I have knit this kind of piping many times and I could not believe that again I had forgot that I should have knit it with smaller needle size. With blocking it turned out quite nice. I like the purl row there in the piping as there are purls in the pattern too. But the more I looked at the yoke, the more I became convinced that I should change the main colour into off white. This beige/offwhite variegated yarn was a bad choice and it would make the yoke look muddy. Right now I am waiting for the yarn and the yoke is on hold and it will be next week before I can continue the dress. (Thank you for reminding - I do have the book, Knitting from the Top.)

I cast on for two lace projects last weekend and neither of them have had much of my attention.

The smaller one has grown some. This is Orchid Scarf by Anne Hanson. I like the edging of the scarf and did three repeats instead of two. I just might start another scarf and repeat the edging only. The yarn is ISTEX Einband colour 9936. This is a lovely colour but knitting this fresh and newborn green is so off the season here that it hurts my eyes. Every few rows I stop and think that I should start over with another colour. This green would be perfect to knit in the spring or early summer, not in the late fall.

The other lace shawl is also Anne’s, it is Simurgh, but I am not sure of the yarn choice there either. Usually I love lace yarn but for some reason it now feels a bit too fiddly. It could be that I have not knit lace lately and I just need some getting used to.

While I am waiting for the yarn for the dress, I am thinking of another dress or sweater in the meantime. I love to knit scarves and shawls but it is sweaters that make my wool dance. When the hands feed the fabric on the circular needles, it feels almost like waltzing.

I wish you a good weekend!

Lene

PS. I noticed just that I have been blogging for more than three years now. I thank you all for reading.

20 comments:

  1. Those are just beautiful as always. I enjoy reading about your world, thank you for sharing.

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  2. Lene, thank YOU for blogging these 3 years! Reading your words have been such a pleasure and delight for me.
    From my view (monitor) the yoke is positively lovely but I also realize when you're looking at a project up close and personal it can be different.. colour-wise.
    The lace is beautiful.

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  3. Anonymous17:36

    Lene, Thanks for keeping such a wonderful blog for the past 3 years. Love your posts----all the beautiful lake and scenery pictures, and of course, hearing about your latest knitting and crafting projects. Anne's Simurgh pattern is in my stash too. Haven't started it yet though because I've got too many other projects on the needles. What yarn are you thinking of using?

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  4. Anonymous17:53

    Dear Lene,
    I dont find the colours muddy but subtle. Still, up close and personal it may be a different matter, but when I see the pictures in the previous post the colours sing (the rust was inspired).

    Trust your own instinct. Love your blog.

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  5. Anonymous19:58

    Dear Lene,
    Thank you for blogging these 3 yaers.Love your blog.

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  6. Anonymous19:59

    Lene, Thank you for hanging in there with your blog through the seasons and years.

    Your blog is a feast for eyes, mind, and soul. When you stopped blogging for awhile I grieved the loss. I don't often comment anymore but it's a joy to see your exquisite little creatures again and the creative products of your hands.

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  7. I wish I have found your lovely and thought-full blog three years ago...I am very glad I found it this year!
    Thank you :)

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  8. Wool weekend...my kind of good time! Hooray for your blog years. I find something so special here. A big thank you! I am thrilled to read about your busy fingers. The snow flakes around your home has inspired you and put a twinkle in your eyes. Your work is lovely and I am sorry I have been so busy lately to be behind in my visits here...what a delight to find so much to see and enjoy. merci!

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  9. I have enjoyed your blog for the past year and a half. I really enjoy your pictures, stories, and knitting. Thank you

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  10. Happy blogiversary, Lene!

    I enjoy your blog, especially because your seasons are the reverse of mine (in Australia).

    If you're taking photos for colour inspiration, did you know about this palette generator? It takes a photo which you upload and presents you with a palette based on the colours:

    http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/colors.php

    Wishing you many more years of blogging; I missed you during your absence, too :)

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  11. Anonymous06:36

    Happy blogiversary, Lene.
    I started reading after the Yarn Harlot mentioned your being kind enough to translate a pattern which was written in Finnish....
    I really enjoy your sense of color and form.
    Margie in Maryland

    PS to moorecat: THANKS for the link - it's a lot of fun!

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  12. Anonymous09:57

    When you have time, could you please tell us how you do the lovely piping?

    The last three years have been filled with joy, beauty and grace....all because of your blog. Many thanks,
    Ann

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  13. Anonymous12:31

    Congratulations for three blogging years! And thanks for all the beautiful photos and insight into your wonderful creativity.

    The current blog has been especially encouraging to me, a new knitter. I realize now that I'm not the only one who will start a project, not be happy with the color and/or yarn choice, and rip it off the needles to start again. Sometimes I think I'm just too picky or that I don't have a clue to what I am doing. But reading that you do the same makes me realize that it's just part of the knitting process.

    Happy knitting!

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  14. Happy blogiversary :)
    I think the yoke is beautiful. But I also think the colour will show off better with off white.

    have a great weekend!

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  15. Anonymous12:49

    Lene: Just beautiful projects. I am so glad to have found your blog - it's the first one I check. I enjoy reading your design and knitting processes. I love your photography and learning about your life in Finland. Congratulations on three years and thanks so much for sharing. :)

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  16. I just love to see what you are working on and your insights while you are knitting them. Wow! Three years of blogging! I am so new to this (since this past June). Thank you for sharing your world with us.

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  17. Anonymous17:45

    As always you never fail to inspire with such lovely words and delicate stitches. My own knitting muse has been sleeping, but I feel her beginning to awaken to the crispness of autumn air. Thank you for sharing your corner of the world.

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  18. Congratulations on your three years, Lene, and here's to many more!

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  19. The colours in that yoke are AMAZING!!! Great choices.

    - Julie

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  20. I've been (silently) enjoying your blog for a couple of years. Now it's time to nominate you for an award! Thank you for the inspiring reading.

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