Monday, December 15, 2014

Steeking Ursula



The last few busy days before the holidays are here. Even though it seems that, I am not doing extra, days just slip through my hands.
(I am including pictures from my walk the other day. They do not look like much now, but on that day, they were special. I normally walk the dogs during the dark hours - early morning - of the day but finally I was able to catch some daylight and all the bare birch trees just kept popping up against their subtle background. DAYLIGHT! The pictures were taken around noon...)
Dear Ursula is moving along. With a few mishaps and tinking, I finally reached the end of the body. I was so unhappy with the unevenness that I soaked the cardigan and then afterwards threw it into the washing machine for the spin circle (yes, spin only, never rinse, just spin with 1400). This is what I always do with my knits, I put them into very hot water, gently push them under the surface, let them soak at least until the water is cool. Straight from the sink, I throw the knit into the washing machine and spin all the water out, and every single time the outcome is beautiful. Lace always goes inside a mesh bag if it is knitted with delicate yarn.
After she was completely dry, she was looking so much better and I crocheted the neck opening and the fronts. Cutting was uneventful, careful snipping of the stitches.
I used green wool for the steeks so that I could see well where to cut. I don't think that any of the stitches have gone loose. It is amazing.
Now the front bands.
I am doing them little bit differently from the original, because I am considering adding a zipper to the front. I have not decided this yet; I will see how the cardigan feels once it is done.
I know this will change the feel and the look of the cardigan totally. If the fit is snug, I will install a zipper if I can find a good one. If it is loose (doubt it, it looks small), will add buttons. Or then not.

While Ursula was soaking and drying, I knitted and felted (in the washer) a pair of mittens. This is an old pattern, originally done many many years ago by Pirjo K. It is a very easy and clever knit and you can play with colors and leftovers. As you can see I left some beige areas, I was going to add some embroidery on them, but no matter how long I have been looking at them, I do not seem to come up with any idea. The mittens are very silent; they will not talk to me and tell me what they need. Obviously they need more time.

Wool with you,

Lene


11 comments:

  1. Your knitting is just so beautiful! If that Ursula was ever uneven in any way, it certainly isn't anymore, And I am intrigued by your method, especially the very hot water. I will try it with something small I've knit for myself first, I think ;)

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  2. Upean tasainen kirjoneule sinulla nurjalla puolen. Saati sitten oikealla.

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  3. Your birch trees are GORGEOUS, and your knitting, likewise. :-)

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  4. The birch trees are so lovely. Is the mitten pattern a published pattern somewhere? Inspired by you, one of my New Year knitting goals is to do some embroidery on knits - and these mittens would be a perfect canvas.

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  5. The mittens say embroidered trees to me.

    lovely knitting!

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  6. ursula is gorgeous!!! i must give your method a try....i'm always not pleased with my fair isle until the blocking is complete, and then often still not happy. maybe i just need more (MORE) practice. speak, mitts, speak! I want to see what you want on yourselves!

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  7. Beautiful stranding, Lene..........maybe some dark green stars on the mitts.

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  8. Patt09:15

    Ursula is coming along beautifully! There are times I wish that I could stay home all day and knit. I have visions of things like Ursula falling off of my needles effortlessly and all my family and friends in my warm woolies. Ah, such is my dreams. Beautiful pictures. Right now our sunrise is at noon and sunset at 4pm. Longer days are coming.

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  9. Maureen17:43

    She is just beautiful, Lene! Steeking scares the living daylights out of me, and yet you make it look amazingly effortless! It's on my list for the new year ahead...I'll be crossing my fingers and holding my breath with every snip of my scissors!
    The birch trees are so lovely - would you consider growing some on your newly knitted mittens? If not, perhaps something in your beautiful environment may inspire you as you walk or look out your window!
    Someone already asked this question, but do you have a source for the mitten pattern? I'm sure many of us would enjoy it...thanks so much!

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  10. Ursula is looking just gorgeous! Steeking seems like such an amazing process -- on my to-try list for 2015. Happy holidays to you and yours.

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  11. Beautiful!

    Merry Christmas :-)

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