A Board for Artisans

Perhaps you want to know what kind of board I use for blocking.

For a long time I used a homemade board made of particleboard, cork, foam rubber and a plaid fabric. It worked pretty well for lack of better.

But one day I thought that there must be something better out there. I started to search on the web and I found this, the perfect board for every knitter and stitcher!

Size 51'' x 33''

The lining is water and heat resistant so you can press and steam on the board. And you can pin on it. It's perfect for blocking and for layout. The board folds in half and is portable. This is a unique tool for all who create with fabric and yarn. 

Very versatile!

Sew E-Z Board

Soon a new Cardigan

All parts are knitted and blocked and it's time to do the seaming. Often it's something I really look

 forward to but sometimes I do postpone it for some time...

It depends on the garment.

It's a while since I knitted a cardigan. To sew a sleeve cap is often a little challenge. Now I'll really see if the gauge was correct all the way.

When swatching the number of stitches are almost always okay but almost never the rows.

And even though it's taken into account it can still change a little during the work.

I've made a couple of small changes of the pattern so I hope that the sewing will need just a little adjustment.

Soon I'll have a new cardigan!

Often I've been thinking that taking a class in tailoring and pattern making would be really useful. Knitting and the knitted fabric with it's elasticity is great to work with but more knowledge in how to get the perfect fit should be awesome.

'Avril' in more colors

The yarn for the necklaces has finally become necklaces!

Here in the other colors.

All necklaces are gifts to my friends.

It was both quick and easy to make this necklace.

I have some leftover yarn which will be enough for a necklace for me. But I think I'll make it in another design.

A Nice Ring

I love jewelry! Sometimes I wear big ones and sometimes small ones, it depends on the occasion. Mostly I follow the golden rule 'Less is more'. But glitz and glamor is fun!

There is so much to choose from to any price.

When I find something that I really like, I want to keep it for a long, long time. Then it is good with good quality to a good price.

Jewelry in stainless steel are durable. The lustrous finish will last longer than that of jewelry in soft metals.

Ring ROSS 

EDBLAD

'Avril' Necklace

It's so fun to crochet! It feels like something new even though I crocheted a lot of table cloths and panholders when I was a teenager. Today I feel more like making things to wear.

The necklace is easy to make and inspires to more.

I sewed the ends together insteads of leaving it open. It feels more wearable like this.

More colors, more necklaces!



A Warming Triangle

When I created my blog my thought was that I should have a maximum of 3-4 projects going on so they could be finished in a reasonable time. But it seems like I have difficulties in holding on to that.
For the moment I have 3 knits, 1 crochet and 1 cross stitch embroidery advancing at different rates.
Moreover I feel like starting sewing as well...

This shawl in a classic Shetland lace pattern, I made for a friend a couple of years ago. You find the pattern 'Shetland Triangle' in the book Wrap Style and on Ravelry.

The shawl is made in Japanese silk. I bought the yarn many years ago at the yarn shop Menita in Helsinki.

Silk is so beautiful with its lustre and drape but it needs a gentle handling.

There's no limit to how many warming wraps you can have. Elegant, casual, classic, sporty, chic, you name it.

They are so useful!

I really like this pattern and this time I'm going to knit it in this yarn in silk and merino wool.

Silkbloom Fino from BC GARN.

I bought the yarn at Svalan, a nice yarn and craft shop here in town.

My fourth ongoing knitting project..., with a pattern that is surprisingly simple and fun to knit.

Crochet Necklace

Now I've started to make the necklace. As almost always when buying yarn I buy one or two extra balls, I bought extra yarn to make the laces longer.

The necklace is a gift to a friend. She is like me, a bit larger and taller than a japanese woman.

The bouclé yarn of unknown fiber gives the necklace a robust look. I'm using crochet hook 8 mm.

Crochet techniques used in this pattern are chain stitch, slip stitch and puff stitch. The collar consists of three laces attached to one another to make one long rope to twist around the neck.

Description of the symbols: 

An open oval ring = chain stitch

A filled oval ring = slip stitch

A half moon with a small line above, 8 inside and two chain stitches to the right = a puff stitch in the second chain stitch from the crochet hook, (yarn over, retrieve the yarn through the same stitch) 8 times, yarn over and pull through all stitches on the hook, close with a slip stitch.

What I'm thinking about now is whether to make the necklace as the pattern says or in another way. 

Crochet in Japanese

About 3 years ago, in 2009, I attended the '10th Nordic Knitting Symposium' in Japan. I came home with new experiences and more knowledge. I also came home with yarns, needles, crochet hooks, pattern books and a few materials packs with yarn and pattern for simple projects like necklaces.
I found these packs recently when I sorted up among my yarns and all needlework related stuff. It's really nice to know where everything is so now, with everthing in such a great order, I feel like crocheting in Japanese!
One of the lectures in this symposium was about reading a japanese knitting pattern. We learned that it's possible, without knowing the language, to read a japanese knitting and crochet pattern.
The Japanese people are efficient, careful and adept at simplifying and using symbols.

Clear & Simple Crochet Symbols
Amazon and yesasia have a similar book.

Yarn for a necklace, bought at Avril in Kyoto.

Nicely packed!

And here is the pattern!

Live Smartly On What You Have

This book was written in 1936 but is still relevant today.

It's a book for women with advice about how to, despite limited finances, live a life with style, ease and gaiety.

This wise and charming little book provides tips about how to create the perfect wardrobe and how to, with simple means, create a nice and cosy home and how to find pleasures and to have fun for little money. Here you also find advice that may be a little outdated for todays women but it still might be worth thinking about.

Read it with a smile!

It can be easy to feel rich!

Orchids on Your Budget, Marjorie Hillis