tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-130966992024-03-13T23:16:15.427-07:00KnitLob's Lair - Louhittaren LuolaUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger609125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-49467722237327096392014-03-21T03:06:00.001-07:002014-03-21T03:49:30.000-07:00This Post Contains Disturbing ImagesWith a few good 'uns scattered about as well.<br />
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<i>(Insert here some lame and worn out excuses for not blogging. These may or may not include laziness, profound hatred for current computer and a dog.)</i><br />
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So, let's talk about knitting. Happens with some pointy sticks and thread, that much I do remember. The truth is, I have knitted very very little, and photographed even less. But there's a little something, and this time we have even photos. (No promises this'll happen again any time soon.)<br />
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First up, a tubular cowl, worked with size elebentymillion needles, in the most difficult stitch ever imagined: the almighty garter stitch. Cast on some 25 stitches, knit and knit and knit until you've finished 2 skeins of bulky superwash merino yarn. This took me two nights as the huge needles made my hands hurt. The end result is rather nice, though.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13304524253/" title="tuubi 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="tuubi 1" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3708/13304524253_2678053d5e.jpg" height="415" width="500" /></a>
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13304524043/" title="tuubi 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="tuubi 2" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3672/13304524043_8457cb6db7.jpg" height="500" width="374" /></a>
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Second <i>(I know, I know, just breath in.... and now out)</i> finished project is a set of a beanie and another tubular cowl.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13304373335/" title="setti 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="setti 1" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/13304373335_c7067ee006.jpg" height="500" width="417" /></a>
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Beanie worked top down in stockinette stitch with an über creative garter stitch brim. The cowl is worked in broken rib stitch with a garter selvedge. The yarn is called Semilla Cablé, which is tubular and cord-like in texture and interesting to work with. It doesn't yield much drape, though, so the cowl is rather stiff, but will hopefully relax after a few washes.<br />
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Next up <i>(just breathe</i>): yet another tubular cowl. And lo and behold, it's also grey.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13304802093/" title="huivi 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="huivi 2" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/13304802093_58b4c9b7c4.jpg" height="411" width="500" /></a>
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What made this an interesting project was the yarn. I used 1 ball of Katia Air Lux, which is a tubular viscose-merino blend with an incredible metallic sheen. Knitted in garter stitch worked diagonally (increasing in one edge and decreasing in the other), the end result looks almost like chainmail. This, unlike the previous two, is merely for accessorizing purposes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13305015374/" title="huivi 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="huivi 1" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2825/13305015374_34e7f98e6c.jpg" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />
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The final project today is another beanie. A pink one!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13304374225/" title="pipo 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="pipo 1" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3779/13304374225_10613a230d.jpg" height="500" width="341" /></a>
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I found this yarn, Fyberspates Vivacious DK, at a craft fair last fall, and knew it'd become a beanie for me. I love the colors, and it was fun to work with. The hat is worked with a double brim, which makes this one a very warm hat indeed. (I know I got the inspiration for this hat somewhere on ravelry, but can't figure it out. However, I've seen a beanie quite like this - let me know if this rings a bell!)<br />
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Now, I mentioned above that I haven't photographed a lot lately. I have, in fact, taken quite a few photos of others. But I hatehatehate the way I look in photos. You see, photographing is Very Serious Business.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13304737524/" title="pipo 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="pipo 3" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3820/13304737524_dd8da4bb47.jpg" height="500" width="348" /></a>
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Very, very serious indeed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13304373775/" title="pipo 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="pipo 2" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/13304373775_6b687815a0.jpg" height="500" width="393" /></a>
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Am happy with it, though :)
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/13304737354/" title="pipo 4 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="pipo 4" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/13304737354_85b809a611.jpg" height="500" width="439" /></a>
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So that's it for now. I'll dig out some WIPs - in a year or two I'll have something else finished!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-22071230116727981782013-07-02T23:12:00.000-07:002013-07-02T23:12:41.499-07:00365 Days Gone Just Like That<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/9198897902/" title="5 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="5" height="500" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3691/9198897902_76386557e1.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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So. It's been a while since my last post. Over a year, in fact. The reason for this silence is that there has been one post which I needed to write before I could think of posting anything else. And the reason for that one post occurred exactly one year ago.<br />
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On July 3rd, 2012 I learned that my best friend and closest colleague, Heli had passed away. It was an utter shock to me, as I had called her just a couple of hours before she died. I could not believe it when I received the message. And delivering the news to others was probably the most difficult task I've ever had to face.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/9198897768/" title="6 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="6" height="500" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5326/9198897768_105881ca92.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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This past year has not been very easy. So many things were left unfinished, so many plans vanished, so many projects together can never happen. So many conversations can not take place now. And yet, even if we knew each other for such a short time, only a few years, I am grateful for each moment we spent together. Heli was an exceptional person in so many ways. I've known very few people with such a big heart full of warmth and love for those around her. She is and was loved by so many, and I am truly privileged to have known her. She always had kind words for her friends, her students, and her colleagues, and even though she was by no means a saint, she lightened the room wherever she went. She was literally and figuratively full of color, in so many ways.<br />
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It's funny what things you remember of your loved ones. For example, Heli loved her wee garden. She had planted there peonies, dahlias, clematis, large yellow loosestrife, irises - all kinds of flowers. She also loved her two cats, they meant the world to her. She loved tea, but passionately hated rooibos. She loved rye bread and wild mushroom salad and a particular ice cream with toffee and cranberry flavor. She knitted socks with DPNs, from the top down, and wore nothing but handknit socks. She knitted colorful orange, red, and green shawls, and wore them constantly. She loved warm colors: blue was not her favorite, and she could not stand the combination of yellow and purple. She loved everything French and English. As a teacher she was truly inspiring, always the first to use new gadgets in the classroom, always eager to use new methods and show others her passion. She went the extra mile for her family, friends, colleagues and students. She was a lively person, but also incredibly patient and assiduous with those around her. I admired her ability to get along with everyone. I will miss her witty sense of humor, her bubbling laughter, her smiling eyes, her big heart.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/9196114201/" title="4 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="4" height="385" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5498/9196114201_dda7ceb771.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Heli's death has made me realize a few things. One moment she was there, planning her future, talking about her cats (a rather maddening habit of hers, and yet I'd give anything to hear the latest about her furry kids as she referred to them). And suddenly, she was gone, just like that. I wish I had done things differently, told her how much she meant to me, hugged her more, listened to her more, begged her to see her doctor earlier. I can never do that with her again. Her death taught me that those around us should hear and feel we love them as often as possible. And her death has also made me so thankful for all of my friends. I would never have survived this past year without their help.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/9198896956/" title="2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="2" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7312/9198896956_f3e584d478.jpg" width="333" /></a><br />
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Although this year has not been easy at times, life does go on, relentlessly, day after day and week after week. And life should go on. I do believe it is what Heli would have wanted - that one does not dwell endlessly in the past, but moves on, building on the memories and experiences with the loved ones who are not there anymore. After all, even though physically Heli is no longer here, she is still with us who remember her.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/9196113591/" title="1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="1" height="333" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5493/9196113591_ceb1e139b9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-48201705310675767252012-06-19T13:23:00.001-07:002012-06-19T13:23:32.673-07:00Found my spinning mojo lurking behind the spindleRecently, I have not felt the urge to spin. Remember the feeling when you just learned to spin? The manic <i>need </i>to spin? To see the next color emerge from the top? To see them on the bobbin, to just stare at the colors, all lined up, in perfect harmony? To see the bobbin full, and then to ply and then block the yarn and then merely to admire the finished yarn? That was gone for a long, <i>long</i> time. (Reason for this? See last post.)<br />
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But then, I drove 250 miles southeast to meet other spinners. Some of them had spinning wheels with them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7403534002/" title="schachtit by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="schachtit" height="607" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7078/7403534002_88ea86b58b_z.jpg" width="448" /></a><br />
That's seven (7!) Schacht wheels in one picture, three Ladybugs and four Matchless wheels. I don't think I've ever seen so many Schacht wheels in one gathering! There were about 30 of us, and of them 20 had their spinning wheels with them.<br />
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But a few spinners had chosen to bring their spindles instead. Sure, portable and pretty little tools they are, but I've never really been comfortable around one. There are issues with twist being uneven, and slight wobbling (both the spinner and the spindle wobble, sadly). In short, spindles were not my thing. Not until I tried the <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/trindleman?ref=pr_shop_more">trindle</a>. And the <a href="http://www.ringspindle.com/">Golding </a>spider spindle. And saw them being used to <a href="http://rosemaryknits.blogspot.fi/2008/06/tammy-rizzos-navajo-ply-on-fly.html">navajo-ply on the fly</a>.<br />
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(Not pointing any fingers here but this whole business is <a href="http://maarithannele.blogspot.fi/">ritvis</a>'s fault. Check out her blog - she is a true spindle master. I stood in awe just watching her spin.)<br />
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So when I got home, I dug out some BFL top from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/woolgatherings">Woolgatherings</a> and my trusty teaching spindle. And with trial and error I managed to spin and navajo-ply my single as I progressed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7403226514/" title="WG 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="WG 2" height="423" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8149/7403226514_d977bbe6d3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I take no credit for the yarn for when the fiber is so pretty, how can the end result be anything but gorgeous? And it was a joy to spin, smooth and easy to draft. That is, when the fiber was not caught accidentally by the single :D The best bit by far were the colors, though.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7403226040/" title="WG 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="WG 3" height="376" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8152/7403226040_c952a0cb41_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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I felt I had spun at least a pound of fiber onto my 1.2 oz (35 g) spindle. Turns out it was only 0.8 oz (or 23 grams) and rather pathetic 90 yards (or 81 m) of finished yarn. And it only took me four days! <i>(sigh) </i>And the skein did not look all that pretty.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7403226856/" title="WG 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="WG 1" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7403226856_5226786117_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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But when wound into a ball, the true colors emerge once more.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7403227370/" title="WG 4 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="WG 4" height="549" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7233/7403227370_821f4b77f3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
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The best bit was to be able to feel that urge to spin. I've missed it, the need to spin just a little bit more. The need to spin which overcomes the need to eat, sleep or powder one's nose. Re-discovering it was truly wonderful, and it makes me want to spin even more. And dye for spinning. And knit with hand-spun yarn. And then spin some more!<br />
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Happily I had some odd singles I had spun without much thought, so I plied them. It's a start anyway.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7403225384/" title="sw bfl sock yarn by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="sw bfl sock yarn" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5198/7403225384_24287c9131.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7403224348/" title="merino silk by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="merino silk" height="422" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7403224348_631e251e9b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7403223776/" title="merino silk 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="merino silk 2" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8010/7403223776_fb4fcfe393.jpg" width="473" /></a><br />
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Besides, I still have some 3.2 oz of that lovely BFL left. I think I will spin just a little before going to bed.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-32463341836430309122012-05-24T05:39:00.000-07:002012-05-24T12:05:51.065-07:007 years of (on and off) blogging!<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
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<tr><td><input name="on0" type="hidden" value="Options" />It has been 7 years and 2 days since I started blogging. And lately I have been more than lazy with this blogging business, but today, I have great news! My new spinning book is out and to celebrate, there is a book and fiber club available! Scroll down for more info about clubs :)<br />
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Let's talk about the book. (Photos, crappy, I know.)<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7261250518/" title="kirja 6 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="kirja 6" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8146/7261250518_8c5f489bb9.jpg" width="406" /></a> <br />
I signed the contract last fall and this winter was spent researching madly, writing compulsively and photographing until my hands hurt. But the end result is what I wanted: a clear, simple handbook for spinners of all levels.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7261250750/" title="kirja 5 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="kirja 5" height="346" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/7261250750_086132b707.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I think it turned out rather pretty too. (I was adamant the layout is clear and pretty. And I like it, a lot!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7261250980/" title="kirja 4 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="kirja 4" height="333" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7211/7261250980_ef9fc381f9.jpg" width="500" /></a> <br />
There are nearly 200 photographs in the book, and 130 of them are of techniques and tools. The first chapter introduces the spinner to short forward draw and longdraw using both a spindle and a spinning wheel. The first chapter is full of pictures, and my dear friend Heli was kind enough to shoot tech photos with me for days!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7261251428/" title="kirja 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="kirja 2" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7092/7261251428_6221a4db8a.jpg" width="406" /></a><br />
There is also a short introduction to fibers (which deserve a book in their own right to be frank). And finally a glossary of terms in English and Finnish.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/7261251624/" title="kirja 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img alt="kirja 1" height="500" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7220/7261251624_a6ea926c0b.jpg" width="495" /></a><br />
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I do hope the book is an answer to a real need: a modern introduction to spinning, from tools to fiber to colors. The last book about spinning in Finnish came out in 1983 and since then, there has been an avalanche of new techinques and materials. My book is not as thorough as I had hoped, but its nearly 200 pages is a start. Hopefully it will be the first of many spinning books to come!<br />
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<div style="color: purple;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Book and Fiber Club - choose "Book and Fiber" Option in the drop-down menu</b></span></div>
<i><b>Please note that there is a limited number of club packages available.
The book and fiber club is a one time offer, and once they're gone,
they're gone!</b></i><br />
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Includes:<br />
*1 <u>signed </u>copy of Kehrääjän käsikirja (Please note the book is entirely in Finnish)<br />
*1 dose of the special Book Club Fiber (100g of 100% superwash Cheviot)<br />
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<tr><td><input name="on0" type="hidden" value="Club and Shipping options" />Club and Shipping options</td></tr>
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<option value="Book and Fiber - To Finland">Book and Fiber - To Finland€45.00 EUR</option>
<option value="Book and Fiber - Elsewhere">Book and Fiber - Elsewhere€50.00 EUR</option>
<option value="Just Book - To Finland">Just Book - To Finland€32.00 EUR</option>
<option value="Just Book - Elsewhere">Just Book - Elsewhere€37.00 EUR</option>
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In Finnish:<br />
Klubissa tulee mukana yllärivillaa (100% superwash Cheviotia) yllärivärissä + yksi kappale kirjaa omistuskirjoituksella. Muistathan laittaa huomautuksen, millä nimellä kirjaan nimi tulee. Muuten omistuskirjoitus osoitetaan ostajan nimelle. Jos et halua omistuskirjoitusta niin mainitse sekin huomautuksissa.<br />
Klubeja on rajoitetusti, joten nopeat elävät :)<br />
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<br />
<input name="on0" type="hidden" value="Options" /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: purple;">Just the book - choose "Just Book" Option in the drop-down menu</span></b></span><br />
Includes:<br />
*1 <u>signed </u>copy of Kehrääjän käsikirja (Please note the book is entirely in Finnish)<br />
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<b>Note:</b>
Please write down the name of the recipient in the Notes to Seller box.
Otherwise, the book will be signed to the buyer. Also write down if you
do not wish to receive a signed copy. Also note that the book will be available through Knitlob's Lair in the future, but we received a limited number of books in the first shipment.<br />
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Tässä vaihtoehdossa tulee mukana vain kirja omistuskirjoituksella. Muistathan laittaa huomautuksen, millä nimellä kirjaan nimi tulee.
Muuten omistuskirjoitus osoitetaan ostajan nimelle. Jos et halua
omistuskirjoitusta niin mainitse sekin huomautuksissa.<br />
Kirjoja tulee Luolaan myöhemminkin, tämä ensimmäinen erä on kovin pieni mutta lisää on tulossa :)<br />
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All packages will be shipped on Monday. </td></tr>
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</form>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-50612355240310566062012-01-06T09:42:00.000-08:002012-01-06T10:24:44.387-08:00Flash Your Fiber StashI keep saying I've got nothing to spin. I use this as a lousy excuse to dye up some more fiber (although one needs no excuse for that).<br /><br />Finnish spinners on ravelry had this thing today, called Flash Your Stash. And then, I had an Epiphany. (Yup, 'tis a pun.)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6648045251/" title="flash your stash by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7170/6648045251_2254756b0f.jpg" alt="flash your stash" height="500" width="333" /></a><br />I can never, ever, ever <span style="font-style: italic;">(<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109045/">Priscilla</a>, anyone?)</span> use that excuse again. Ever. That pile of fiber is what I found in the first 3 bins in my den closet (right before <strike>a massive bag of yarn fell on m</strike> I gave up). There might be more, but I am frankly terrified of looking for it.<br /><br />And before you ask, yes, it is my personal stash. There is fiber I couldn't sell to anyone (for various reasons, most important of which is I was afraid I would not get the colors ever again). There are fibers dyed to test new colors and combinations. And finally, there are fibers which remind me of friends and events.<br /><br />Like this one.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6648040783/" title="merino-bamboo-silk mix 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7005/6648040783_fb0e542320.jpg" alt="merino-bamboo-silk mix 2" height="483" width="500" /></a><br />It's merino-bamboo-silk mix (perhaps it is a 50-25-25 mix), there's approximately 3.5 oz. (100g) of it, and when I saw this at Allspunup, I had to have it. I just had to, although the colors are not me <span style="font-style: italic;">per se</span>, but they're so bright and happy, they're like candy! And this is an important braid because it always reminds me of the days in Seattle, when I used to raid my friend Kristin's (of Allspunup) bins for fiber. This was one of them, and I still remember Kristin's face when she saw me holding this precious treasure I dug up. It was quite priceless.<br /><br />Kristin taught me most of what I know about spinning and fiber, and we used to stir them ol' dye pots together quite regularly for quite some time. Happy times they were. She was gracious enough to let me dye up fibers, practise and experiment. Some of those fibers are still in my stash, along with the ones she gave me. (I was doing the right thing, helping a friend in need. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.) And her fibers are so, so pretty. I wish I could mix colors the way she does, her eye for color is uncanny!<br /><br />Here's a collage of (some of) her fiber in my stash (click to enlarge & see details):<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6648145445/" title="My creation by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6648145445_1fb5f5bdfc_z.jpg" alt="My creation" height="640" width="385" /></a><br />1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648031729/">merino-silk 7</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648032987/">merino-silk (asu ice cave)</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648033229/">bfl 5</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648033457/">asu enchanted</a>, 5. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648036765/">asu polwarth</a>, 6. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648037433/">merino 5</a>, 7. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648038545/">merino-silk 5</a>, 8. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648039547/">merino-bamboo-silk mix 3</a>, 9. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648041017/">merino 4</a>, 10. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648040783/">merino-bamboo-silk mix 2</a>, 11. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648041447/">merino-silk asu ms crabtree</a>, 12. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648042057/">merino-silk 1</a>, 13. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648043639/">merino-bamboo-silk mix 1</a>, 14. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648038865/">merino-alpaca mix 1</a>, 15. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648035913/">asu goldwish wearing a tutu</a><br /><br />As mentioned, there are some fibers I dyed to test different color combinations. Some were a success, some <strike>fell into the category of dear-lord-what-is-this</strike> weren't. Some could not be sold because colors leaked. It happens (especially with very intense colors), and when it does, those tops will never be sold, but end up in my oopsie bin and I am, yet again, stuck with fiber. It is a tragedy, really.<br /><br />Here are some of the test batches and ones I just had to adopt.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6648186719/" title="adopted fibers by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7028/6648186719_33a40d2c68_b.jpg" alt="adopted fibers" height="1024" width="343" /></a><br />1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648030639/">bfl-silk 5</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648031181/">sw bfl 2</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648031449/">bfl-silk 4</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648032005/">bfl 6</a>, 5. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648032291/">bfl-mohair</a>, 6. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648032695/">merino-alpaca-silk 3</a>, 7. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648033763/">bfl-silk 3</a>, 8. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648034001/">merino-alpaca-silk 2</a>, 9. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648034327/">sw bfl</a>, 10. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648034625/">bfl 4</a>, 11. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648034951/">bfl 3</a>, 12. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648035279/">merino-alpaca-silk</a>, 13. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648036391/">bfl-silk-bling mix</a>, 14. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648037757/">pigeonroof merino-silk</a>, 15. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648038037/">merino 3</a>, 16. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648038293/">merino-alpaca mix 2</a>, 17. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648039173/">merino-silk 4</a>, 18. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648039829/">merino-silk 3</a>, 19. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648040123/">merino-silk 2</a>, 20. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648040393/">sw merino 1</a>, 21. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648041777/">merino 2</a>, 22. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648042699/">bfl-silk 2</a>, 23. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648043141/">bfl-silk 1</a>, 24. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648044001/">bfl 2</a>, 25. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648044313/">silk top</a>, 26. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648044627/">bfl 1</a>, 27. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648044955/">polwarth 1</a><br /><br />And because I have a problem and I keep hogging fibers, I have adopted fibers from other dyers too. (I have merely helped friends, for their stashes have overflowed with fiber and I, though it pains me, will do anything for friends. And I have no stash problems. Tucked away in the closet, no one will notice them.)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6648220923/" title="adopted fibers set 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6648220923_a26f259f71.jpg" alt="adopted fibers set 2" height="500" width="500" /></a><br />1. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648037757/">pigeonroof merino-silk</a>, 2. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648042303/">merino 1</a>, 3. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648037149/">merino-silk 6</a>, 4. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/33246803@N00/6648035583/">sw falkland</a><br /><br />If I'm being honest, I have a bit of a problem buying fiber on say, Etsy. The colors can be off by a mile, and after two very, very bad experiences with felted fiber, I've become rather timid when buying fiber online. These have landed in my stash merely after a friend has recommended the seller. And I think the bright, colorful Woolgatherings merino-silk would've landed in my basket even without recommendation. The colors are just perfect!<br /><br />You can see all of these on Flickr. I'll try to update them onto ravelry as well, but after editing all these pictures, and organizing all this wool, I think I will need to spin now!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-31895341028199874552012-01-01T03:00:00.001-08:002012-01-01T03:56:32.522-08:00Stuck in StockinetteHappy New Year everyone! I hope 2012 will be a better year than 2011, in every aspect. And what better start for a new year than a blog post about UFOs from the last! I have been hesitant to blog about UFOs as I can't take decent pictures of them - examples of that will follow -, but blogging about finished projects only produces .12 posts per year and it would be fun to post a bit more often. (One could always post pictures of recent purchases but one is ashamed to do so anymore, considering the Barn of Yarn already full of yarns to be knit.) The blog is, or I want it to be anyway, a journal about my projects, so UFOs have to be posted. I apologize for the pictures in advance.<br /><br />I set up the studio and photographed all UFOs I could find. Granted, I didn't search every nook and cranny of the Lair - these were found within 4 ft of my desk. It seems I am stuck in stockinette stitch.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6595941005/" title="väiski sweater 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7152/6595941005_6357e28d0c_z.jpg" alt="väiski sweater 2" height="640" width="415" /></a><br />This is one of my favorite sweaters made with my trusty knitting machine. Finally, I seem to have found the measurements and adjustments with which my knitting machine produces the garment I want. And I have learned to sew the seams and work the decreases 3 sts in, so the seams sew up nice and properly. I'm really happy with this one, especially the collar.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6595941597/" title="väiski sweater 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6595941597_1614926255.jpg" alt="väiski sweater 1" height="393" width="500" /></a><br />The bpdy was naturally knit in pieces, bottom up, but the collar was knit sideways, with short rows for shaping. The shawl collar is a wonderful way to display shawl pins and brooches (of which one seems to have collected a decent stash), so I think I might make another sweater like this one. I used less than 5 skeins (and less than 2000yds) of my Väinämöinen sock yarn, so the sweater is rather lightweight but still quite warm.<br /><br />I'd love to show you a picture of the sweater on me, but the reason I photograph with my trusty dress form is that I like to tweak and play with the flashes and my camera and take a million pictures of which perhaps three will end up here on the blog. That, and because my dress form has a waist line. Which I very clearly don't (damn Christmas, damn chocolate).<br /><br />Speaking of the holidays, I spent them knitting stockinette as well. I spun some bulkier yarns in October, and one of them ended up being a cap/hat/slouchy beret-esque thing.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6599377141/" title="merino cap 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6599377141_402c4b4a8b.jpg" alt="merino cap 2" height="500" width="408" /></a><br />My display head is rather small, 20" hats would look best with it, so this hat looks a lot more slouchier than it is. But it is slouchy nonetheless, for I find very tight-fitting hats rather umcomfortable. This handspun merino hat is rather thick, so I knit up another one with my Louhitar yarn, which is a lot more lightweight and perfect for spring:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6599377331/" title="louhitar cap 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6599377331_4e2c278965.jpg" alt="louhitar cap 1" height="500" width="366" /></a><br />And as I was on a roll and dug up some Reynolds Odyssey yarn in my stash, I made a third hat.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6611690549/" title="reynolds odyssey cap 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6611690549_1c165097b4.jpg" alt="reynolds odyssey cap 2" height="500" width="334" /></a><br />All of these are knit from the top down with a garter stitch edging. I used the One for All Cap pattern as a sort of a reference, increasing 8 sts on every other row until the cap was slightly larger than my head, then knit in stockinette until the hat nearly covered my ears, decreased about 20% stitches for the garter stitch band which was knit until nearly out of yarn.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6611690839/" title="reynolds odyssey cap 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6611690839_1b56631c84.jpg" alt="reynolds odyssey cap 1" height="474" width="500" /></a><br />All three were surprisingly quick to knit, and the results are rather lovely. Stockinette stitch shows really well the colors and stitches in handspun and marbled yarns, and the garter stitch edging is a fun way to use up bits of left-over yarns.<br /><br />(The reason why the hats are photographed with the display head is very similar to why I photograph sweaters with the dress form. The display has a distinctive and pretty chin. Just one of them. I, uh, don't.)<br /><br />The Louhitar cap yarn was left over from a larger project, a cardigan I finished for the November craft fair in Tampere.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6599376937/" title="louhitar cardi 1sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7003/6599376937_529a167ab0_z.jpg" alt="louhitar cardi 1sm" height="640" width="422" /></a><br />It is, again, just stockinette with garter stitch details, and the simplicity of it makes the colors really pop out.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6599415937/" title="louhitar cardi 3sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6599415937_2750be10fe.jpg" alt="louhitar cardi 3sm" height="500" width="333" /></a><br />The details for the cardi can be found <a href="http://ravel.me/Tuulia/ttsm1">on ravelry</a>.<br /><br />Colors really are very important this time of year, which is why stranded swatches have been on my needles not once, but twice.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6611691015/" title="swatches by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7020/6611691015_762f2905f9.jpg" alt="swatches" height="500" width="378" /></a><br />The grey and white one is knit with KnitPicks Palette, the other one with Geilsk Tynd Uld. I bought a set of #000 and #00 (1,5mm and 1,75mm) DPN's and the smaller size is perfect for the Tynd Uld, producing some 10sts per inch in stranded pattern.<br /><br />As much as I love stranded knitting, it is a little bit slower than just plain old stockinette. And colorwork doesn't necessarily mean it has to be stranded knitting - mosaic knitting can be just as much fun. <a href="http://tuulia.blogspot.com/2011/02/confessions-of-knitter.html">Remember the cardi from nearly a year ago</a>? It has literally haunted me ever since, I wanted it to be finished, but the colors really bugged me. I took the body apart several times, tried different color combinations, but could not make them work. So finally I used the original colors, paid attention to the color sequencing and the striping and knit away. I finished the body in early 2011, and went on to work on the first sleeve, but the colors were murky, so I frogged the first sleeve a couple of weeks ago. Another round of careful knitting with colors, and this is what the cardigan looks like now:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6611715841/" title="faux fair isle cardi by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6611715841_bf006c7de3_z.jpg" alt="faux fair isle cardi" height="640" width="481" /></a><br />It could be better, the brown-orange-yellow contrasting yarn could pop up a bit more, but for now, I am relatively happy with it. And Kauni (or the Estonian wool yarns from Aade Long and Evilla) really works with patterns like these. I knit up a swatch with two solid colors and they just looked a bit dull. So Kauni it is, but perhaps I need to knit up another one with brighter colors, with more contrast. After I finish the second sleeve. Which would mean another trip to the stash, finding a third ball of the contrasting color. So it may be a while.<br /><br />Especially since I cast on for another pair of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sleeping-beauty-socks">Sleeping Beauty Socks</a>. (I have no excuses except for the fact that this hand dyed skein was just sitting there, literally, on my desk, and no digging in the stash was needed.)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6611691205/" title="sleeping beauty socks no 4 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6611691205_88e47140b6.jpg" alt="sleeping beauty socks no 4" height="500" width="344" /></a><br />I've made 3 pairs of these, one for myself and two for a friend who loved the pattern, so casting on was easy as I have the lace pattern memorized. The only difference to the earlier pairs is that this is knit with 68 sts and I've added two purl stitches to the large chart in the pattern. (The eyelet panels are then worked with 2 purl stitches on either side of them.) I want to finish them soon, for the color is really pretty and I can't wait for being able to wear them. And I promise I will photograph them on my feet (if they fit, the foot is a bit narrow)!<br /><br />Till then, again, Happy New Year everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-9277429465475156552011-12-24T00:52:00.000-08:002011-12-24T00:56:11.835-08:00Merry Christmas everyone!<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6563270785/" title="joulu 2011 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7006/6563270785_56fef4742a_z.jpg" alt="joulu 2011" height="640" width="427" /></a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-39859204931814540712011-11-01T03:42:00.000-07:002011-11-01T04:12:47.360-07:00Some News (Including a New Pattern!)Although the blog has been silent for so long, the Lair is buzzing with activity. In late July, Mr HairyFeet and I bought a house, so packing and moving has eaten up my time quite well. There are news regarding the Lair, some yarn news as well, patterns to write etc. All will be revealed eventually!<br /><br />I haven't had time for much else, but I squeezed in some spinning time with Jeremy. I love to spin fingering weight yarns (that's what I'll end up with if I spin on auto-pilot, as a friend once called it when she is spinning in her comfort zone). But they take a lot of time to spin, and knit, and it would be fun to spin heavier weight yarns every now and then, if for nothing else then to just know and get comfortable with how it's done.<br /><br />So I dug up my fiber stash and the slowest whorl I could find and spun some singles.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302105108/" title="villiviini bling by Louhitar, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302105108/" title="villiviini bling by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6236/6302105108_16dcbce164_z.jpg" alt="villiviini bling" height="626" width="640" /></a></span><br /><br />My first attempt was a Bfl-silk-firestar blend that went oops in the dye pot. It ended up being worsted-weight yarn, when navajo-plied. I love the colors and I just had to knit the yarn into a scarf, but must wait until there's proper light for it to be photographed.<br /><br />The second attempt was a dark teal BFL-silk-firestar blend, which ended up being navajo-plied to bulky weight yarn. (I think there is some 150 yds of yarn in this 6 oz skein.)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302104916/" title="tumma valaan laulu bling by Louhitar, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302104916/" title="tumma valaan laulu bling by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/6302104916_b9e3790748_z.jpg" alt="tumma valaan laulu bling" height="628" width="500" /></a><br /><br />My biggest problem has been balanced, full-bodied two-ply yarn. So I dug out some merino and went nuts with it. I am not a fan of merino, the staple length is too short for my taste and it somehow feels a little, well, "dead" to my hand. So it didn't matter, if the yarn turned out to be horrible.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302104750/" title="merino ja valas by Louhitar, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302104750/" title="merino ja valas by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6302104750_96a93cff1b_z.jpg" alt="merino ja valas" height="626" width="500" /></a><br />I still don't like merino, but I guess the yarn turned out ok. Another bulky weight yarn, as was the next attempt (Friends in Fiber pink and purple BFL-silk, pictured far left below):<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6301577893/" title="veltto ja vetelä by Louhitar, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6301577893/" title="veltto ja vetelä by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6301577893_f0fcd0f94c_z.jpg" alt="veltto ja vetelä" height="426" width="640" /></a><br /><br />I already knitted one scarf (another Baktus) with the red and purple and grey skein, but I want to knit them all! I don't knit with large needles too often, they make my wrists and knuckles hurt, but every now and then it's quite refreshing to finish something in a few hours. Baktus is a great pattern for handspun, it shows the colors so well and it's super-easy too. I'm also thinking one of these heavy-weight yarns might become the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/wham-bam-thank-you-lamb-neckwarmer">Wham Bam Thank You Lamb Cowl</a>. The clever <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quincy">Quincy </a>is also on my list of to-knit for the winter.<br /><br />Speaking of which, the cold weather is here.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302105454/" title="lehtiä by Louhitar, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302105454/" title="lehtiä by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6217/6302105454_1bd60789db_z.jpg" alt="lehtiä" height="426" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302105570/" title="risu by Louhitar, on Flickr"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6302105570/" title="risu by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6118/6302105570_9f2eb62024_z.jpg" alt="risu" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />Perfect for staying indoors and knitting!<br /><br />And finally, some pattern news. Remember the socks I posted in July? Well, the Northern Pike (Hauenleukasukat) pattern is available in English (on ravelry) and Finnish (on ravelry and Titityy). My apologies for using the same old pictures!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6087670033/" title="hauenleuka 1sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6087670033_e1904ec994.jpg" alt="hauenleuka 1sm" height="500" width="329" /></a><br />The socks were named after the stitch pattern, which reminded me of the story of Väinämöinen, one of the main characters of Finnish national epic, Kalevala. Väinämöinen made his kantele, a stringed instrument, using the jawbone of the Northern Pike. The socks are worked toe-up with easy patterning in the instep, heel and cuff, finished with a simple 1x1 rib.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6087669829/" title="hauenleuka 6sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6087669829_0b0bd0d664.jpg" alt="hauenleuka 6sm" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yarn</span><br />Knitlob's Lair Väinämöinen (100g = 400m, 75% wool, 25% nylon), 1 skein.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Needles and Notions</span><br />2 mm (US #0), cable needle, stitch markers (2).<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gauge</span><br />34 sts & 48 rows = 4" / 10 cm in stockinette stitch.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sizes</span><br />Length of foot:<br />8½ (9½; 10; 10½; 11) inches or 22,5 (24; 25; 26,5; 28) cm.<br />Finished circumference of foot: approx. 8" / 20 cm.<br /><br />Click the buy now button to purchase through ravelry (both English and Finnish pattern available in the same link) or click <a href="http://www.titityy.fi/fi/tuotteet/neuleohjeet/louhittaren-luola/hauenleuat">here to purchase the pattern through Titityy online shop! </a><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/knitlobs-lair-designs/81393"><img src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />A lot of effort went to the pattern editing, and I do hope it is now error-free. If you do find errors in the pattern, please let me know! Enjoy and happy knitting :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-25103894255450606962011-08-27T23:44:00.000-07:002011-08-28T04:55:20.480-07:00Back in the SaddleSo yeah, summer. Don't know where it went. Anyhow, it's Fall now, and it's not eleventy million degrees anymore and one can finally knit. And spin. Neither or which one has done this summer, one has entertained guests. With champagne. Good times.
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<br />Said guests got a chance to take out all the boxes in the Infamous Barn of Yarn.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6088236298/" title="aitan aarteet 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6088236298_46d8d5b8a5.jpg" alt="aitan aarteet 2" height="333" width="500" /></a>
<br />I believe treasures were found. (Bags were screened before guests exited premises.)
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<br />Ahem. Knitting. A while back, a friend gifted me BrooklynTweed's lovely Brigdewater Shawl pattern via ravelry, and I had some KniPicks Shadow in Basalt just waiting to become a warm, comfy, big shawl.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6087670429/" title="bridgewater 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6076/6087670429_b9489f8657.jpg" alt="bridgewater 1" height="500" width="285" /></a>
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<br />It is warm, very warm. The shawl is knitted into a huge square, each side measured some 60" after blocking. Folded in half, the diagonal measures some 84". And it is warm, I used 4 skeins (so nearly 7 oz or 200g) of yarn for it.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6087670587/" title="bridgewater 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6087670587_f30652d665.jpg" alt="bridgewater 2" height="500" width="333" /></a>
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<br />I love the simplicity of the shawl. It is elegant, somehow old-fashioned, and at the same time practical, and very, very beautiful.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6088216678/" title="bridgewater 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6183/6088216678_203ff85425.jpg" alt="bridgewater 3" height="500" width="331" /></a>
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<br />The shawl is perfect for the Fall mornings, when the morning dew sprinkles the cobwebs and the air fills with chilly mist.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6087690885/" title="verkko 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/6087690885_745fc2a86e.jpg" alt="verkko 3" height="500" width="379" /></a>
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<br />And the idea of picking up your knitting (and casting on for a dozen projects - in one night) seems like the sensible thing to do. One look in the sock drawer and its dreary, worn and saggy inhabitants is enough to convince a knitter to cast on for many, many pairs of socks. And a merry accident in the dye pot yields the skein that will eventually become one of the many (many, many) pairs of socks.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6088216136/" title="wine by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6088216136_88edb227ce.jpg" alt="wine" height="500" width="333" /></a>
<br />Yes, eventually.
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<br />Speaking of dyeing, the dye pot and I spent the month of July together and churned out some 100 lbs of yarn. Will type up a proper post about the colorways and yarns and retailers soon (and by soon I do not mean by Christmas, as I intend to blog a bit more frequently now that there is something to show). One of my retailers organized a sock yarn club in July/August, and I wanted to design a sock pattern for the club.
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<br />I have a confession to make: I hoard stitch pattern books. Most of the pattern collections go unnoticed here, but a stitch pattern book is always a must have. My favorite stitch pattern books are Japanese, simply for the elegance and ingenuity of the stitch patterns seen only in Japanese books. I spend considerable amounts of time browsing stitch pattern books (hence this house has been vacuumed only a handful of times since the turn of the century). And sometimes there is a stitch pattern that <span style="font-style: italic;">demands</span> to be knitted into something pretty.
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<br />The stitch pattern that embellishes the Hauenleukasukat (lit. Jaw of Northern Pike - there's a story behind the name, of which later) is one of these stitch patterns that grew into an obsession.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6087669829/" title="hauenleuka 6sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6087669829_0b0bd0d664.jpg" alt="hauenleuka 6sm" height="500" width="333" /></a>
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<br />The stitch pattern is found on the foot, the leg and even the heel.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6087669607/" title="hauenleuka 4sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6198/6087669607_18d129bf7b.jpg" alt="hauenleuka 4sm" height="354" width="500" /></a>
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<br />The English version of the pattern will be available in October. Will obviously notify everyone of this in the blog when the pattern is out.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/6087670033/" title="hauenleuka 1sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6087670033_e1904ec994.jpg" alt="hauenleuka 1sm" height="500" width="329" /></a>
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<br />In other news, there is a new member in the family, and he requires knits, too.
<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5888166159/" title="käpälät by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/5888166159_d4c120a6e8_m.jpg" alt="käpälät" height="240" width="195" /></a>
<br />(I should clarify: that's the hand of my nephew. I realized the text was more than misleading, sorry about that!)
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<br />So I must keep my needles busy, which hopefully means more blog posts very soon. Til then, happy knitting everyone!
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-61583434021557510732011-06-09T10:06:00.000-07:002011-06-09T10:20:03.587-07:00Exciting News!You may have noticed the lack of new knits here lately. There are several reasons for it (other projects, translated books, etc), but the biggest reason of all is that there are tons of new patterns coming out soon. There will also be translated patterns (Liuhu and One Skein Bolero will be next).<br /><br />The one that has taken up a big chunk of my time lately is an exciting new project called Playground Knits!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5815765262/" title="playground knits sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/5815765262_41cd03150d.jpg" alt="playground knits sm" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br />The idea came from Tiina in Titityy, the yarns were provided by BC Garn and the patterns were designed by my talented colleagues: <a href="http://100-rain.blogspot.com/">Veera</a>, <a href="http://villavoimala.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post.html">Tiina</a>, <a href="http://www.madebymyself.blogspot.com/">Mari </a>and <a href="http://50villapeikkoa.blogspot.com/">Suvi</a>! I have two designs in the eBook which will be published soon in both English and Finnish.<br /><br />I was thrilled to be part of this project: it was the first time I designed knitwear for kids and I certainly learned a lot. I also discovered how hard photography is (nearly made me hate the sun), especially with kids, and also how much fun it is working with other designers. We all have our own style and way of doing things, and I felt I learned a lot by cooperating and writing with others. I wish to thank Tiina for asking me to be part of this project, and all of the other designers for being part of an eBook which, I believe, will be an answer to the most dire need of kids' knits. Details will soon follow!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-12714587681043378942011-06-07T02:32:00.001-07:002011-06-07T02:57:40.779-07:00One Skein Bolero Pattern<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5807391023/" title="yvi 1sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/5807391023_0b79619fe0.jpg" alt="yvi 1sm" height="500" width="205" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5807391347/" title="yvi 3sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/5807391347_b5e9a70574.jpg" alt="yvi 3sm" height="500" width="244" /></a><br /><br />Remember <a href="http://tuulia.blogspot.com/2010/09/long-time-no-see.html">the one skein bolero</a>? I know, it has been a long time, I finished the first version over a year ago. I promised the pattern would be out "soon" after the first pictures, but it took a very long time (and a relatively sharp learning curve) to be able to write up this pattern. I knitted the second version in December with a mohair blend, and there was even a third version with beads and handspun angora blend yarn.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5807957084/" title="YVI XS 5sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5115/5807957084_9c39c8a81d_m.jpg" alt="YVI XS 5sm" height="240" width="160" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5807956956/" title="yvi 6sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5807956956_71d92aa063_m.jpg" alt="yvi 6sm" height="240" width="201" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5807390883/" title="yvi 7sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2744/5807390883_869f68d82a_m.jpg" alt="yvi 7sm" height="240" width="229" /></a><br /><br />The bolero features Haapsalu style lace and a Shetland lace border, and it's all mixed with the Tailored Sweater method. Making lace work with the method was a little tricky, which is why there are charts for all sizes. The lace is charted with 7-stitch nupps, but the nupps can be replaced with one knit stitch or a bead. All of these versions, with the two optional bind off methods and different sleeve lengths are pictured in the pattern.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5807390625/" title="YVI bolero 5 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5279/5807390625_f312b67a32_m.jpg" alt="YVI bolero 5" height="240" width="205" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sizes</span><br />XS/S (M, L/XL, XXL).<br />Back width:<br />13(13.5, 14, 15) inches or33 (34, 36, 38) cm.<br />Chest circumference:<br />34(40, 45, 49) inches or 86(101, 114, 124) cm.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5807391219/" title="yvi 2sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/5807391219_4296229f02_m.jpg" alt="yvi 2sm" height="160" width="240" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Yarn</span><br />Fingering weight 2-ply wool yarn, approx. 320(350, 400, 450) yds or 290(315, 350, 405) m for short sleeved bolero. For long sleeves, you will need an additional 200 yds or 180 m.<br />As the bolero is knitted from the top down, you can make the sleeves and the body longer than instructed. The amount of yarn given is an approximation only - you may need more (or less) yarn for your bolero. Always make sure you have enough yarn of the same<br />dye lot to finish your project.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Needles</span><br />US #5 (4 mm) circular needle 24” or longer.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Gauge</span><br />20 sts and 20 rows per 4 inches / 10 cm<br />(5 stitches and 5 rows per inch) in stitch pattern.<br /><br />This bolero is knitted from the top down using The Tailored Sweater Method. No previous knowledge of the method is necessary to knit the bolero, but basic knowledge of how to knit from the top down is very useful with this project. This bolero is recommended for advanced knitters.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5807957504/" title="preview by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/5807957504_5e1abe63f6.jpg" alt="preview" height="353" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Get your copy through<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/one-skein-bolero"> the pattern page on ravelry</a> or follow the link below:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/knitlobs-lair-designs/67745"><img src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br />A lot of effort went to the pattern editing, and I do hope it is now error-free. If you do find errors in the pattern, please let me know! Enjoy and happy knitting :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-68787440409655701202011-05-27T03:48:00.000-07:002011-05-27T03:56:13.429-07:00Colors!A skein drying is a solemn sight in the morning sun.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5764184141/" title="vyyhti by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3544/5764184141_8f1b60b954.jpg" width="391" height="500" alt="vyyhti"></a><br /><br />And it all gets better when the skein joins its 84 pals in a box of inspiration!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5764184789/" title="inspisloora by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2692/5764184789_1cb97df1e3.jpg" width="500" height="334" alt="inspisloora"></a><br /><br />I've done some serious dyeing (and I'm not even finished yet). These 17 shades are just the tip of the iceberg, but I wanted to show them since the box was such a happy sight, when I took it outside just to look at all the colors. The yarn is a lovely Aran weight wool yarn. My Hedda cap is knitted of this yarn and it's very soft, yet durable. It takes colors well, and knits up fast with #8 needles. It may land in my shop, eventually, but for now, let's just enjoy the colors!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5764200495/" title="inspisloora2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5222/5764200495_fc3a1401a4.jpg" width="500" height="293" alt="inspisloora2"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-63007997345770958422011-05-26T10:49:00.000-07:002011-05-26T11:23:28.532-07:00Engulfed in LaceThis week I have done some light reading.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5762358654/" title="dragon bookmark by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2396/5762358654_e56ab90d41.jpg" width="391" height="500" alt="dragon bookmark"></a><br /><br />Done some lace knitting.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5762359226/" title="lace 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/5762359226_3d16060f86.jpg" width="500" height="394" alt="lace 1"></a><br /><br />Knitted some lace too.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5762570562/" title="shawlero by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/5762570562_652a8fed29.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="shawlero"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Tuulia/surprisingly-successful-wee-lace-shawlero">Photographed lace</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5750955641/" title="BofS takaa sm by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/5750955641_933b530cc0.jpg" width="222" height="500" alt="BofS takaa sm"></a><br /><br />And dreamt of lace.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5762358964/" title="lace 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2534/5762358964_fd2e91629a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="lace 2"></a><br /><br />Dyed for lace.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5762570168/" title="tussah silk by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/5762570168_7f9e28360c.jpg" width="500" height="358" alt="tussah silk"></a><br /><br />Might even spin for lace.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5758668942/" title="may club2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2352/5758668942_e5dc5f804e.jpg" width="373" height="500" alt="may club2"></a><br /><br />You could say, then, that I have had lace on my mind lately. It's perfect for summer, lightweight and airy, especially if you use silk yarn. And I have fallen in love with silk! The color, the drape, everything about it makes me want to just use lace and destash my wool immediately. (Then I dyed some wool-silk-bling blend and came to my senses. Phew!)<br /><br />The project that started it all was a marriage between a shawl and a bolero, hence the name shawlero. I love the construction and was surprised to see how well it worked - I did have my doubts. There will be many more shawlero designs, I'm sure. The back looks a lot like a shawl, but there are no "how do I wear this to show the lace" issues or "my sleeves are drowning in the punch bowl again" issues. I have had those issues with traditional shawls, especially rectangular shawls. This time I won't have sleeves smelling of punch (and hence indicating slight intoxication of the wearer as that never happens, never!), or weird lumps of lace gathered in a wild fashion around my shoulders in the hopes that it won't look completely horrible. I love lace shawls, I really do, but they're not the most practical accessories to wear, especially to parties with large punch bowls.<br /><br />I must return to my reading, so I will leave you with a selection of fresh new flowers )or soon to be flowers) around the Lair.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5761815899/" title="omena1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/5761815899_1d9ceb036e.jpg" width="500" height="418" alt="omena1"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5761816547/" title="orvokit1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3201/5761816547_83195fda1d.jpg" width="500" height="487" alt="orvokit1"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5762532894/" title="phalaenopsis 210511 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2490/5762532894_56542dbefb.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="phalaenopsis 210511"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-61057203286792598702011-05-05T00:20:00.000-07:002011-05-05T01:15:27.922-07:00New Fiber Club!There is a new fiber club at the Lair, just in time for your summer spinning!<br /><br />You will receive one (1) package of The Lair's own custom blend of 60% BFL, 20% silk and 20% Firestar weighing approximately 100g or 3.5oz. This blend is supersoft, easy to spin and full of bright colors! The BFL will provide durability and softness, the silk and glittery Firestar add a nice touch of elegance, drape and shine. The club packages will ship out on Monday, May 16th. There will be a limited amount of these custom-dyed tops, so order yours now! The club package is 25€ (including shipping).<br /><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br /><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><br /><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="UHTWEVU6JTDXJ"><br /><input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/WEBSCR-640-20110429-1/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/WEBSCR-640-20110429-1/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1"><br /></form><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Klubissa saat yhden paketin Luolan omaa 60% BFL, 20% silkki, 20% Firestar -sekoitusta! Paketissa on yksi noin 100g topsi tätä ihanan pehmeää ja ilmavaa kuitua. Klubin paketit lähetetään maanantaina 16. toukokuuta. Klubitopseja on rajallinen määrä joten tilaa omasi nyt! Klubipaketin hinta on 25€ (sis. postit).<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" >How to Order</span></span><br />To order, click the Paypal button below. You will be directed to Paypal for processing of your order, and you can pay with your credit card - no Paypal account is required. Please note: if this purchase is a gift, please fill out the "special instructions to merchant" selection at check-out with details of the recipient adress and your message to the recipient.<br /><br />As always, if you have any questions, please contact me at tuulia . salmela (at) gmail . com! Thank you for your support and happy spinning!<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Tilataksesi klubipaketin, klikkaa ylläolevaa painiketta, joka ohjaa sinut Paypaliin. Voit maksaa tilauksesi Paypalissa luottokortilla, Paypal-tiliä ei tarvita. Huomaa: Jos tilauksesi on lahja, täytä kohta "special instructions to merchant" maksaessasi, laita mukaan saajan nimi, osoite ja viestisi saajalle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Klubeissa on rajallinen määrä paikkoja, joten toimi nopeasti! </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kysyttävää tai kommentoitavaa? Laita viestiä osoitteella tuulia . salmela (at) gmail . com!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kiitos ja ihania kehruuhetkiä!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br /><input name="cmd" value="_s-xclick" type="hidden"><br /><input name="hosted_button_id" value="TBZ77QYQXGTDL" type="hidden"></form></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-54325398761758705532011-04-17T09:35:00.000-07:002011-04-17T09:42:49.615-07:00Election DayToday marks one of the most important elections in the history of Finland, so this post will be brief as I am about to watch the results show and knit (dishcloths, nothing very exciting). But I couldn't wait any longer, I had to show you this small stitched project I just finished today.<br /><br />This is what I finished stitching on Friday:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5627465127/" title="arbre aux oiseaux 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5261/5627465127_f101156522.jpg" alt="arbre aux oiseaux 1" width="500" height="356" /></a><br /><br />The fabric is 32ct linen from the Lair, the design is L'arbre aux Oiseaux by Jardin Privé. I had to stitch it, the sheep are way too cute. I think the shape of the stitched design would show well in a round object, and as I was lucky and got some cardboard for finishing, and a fellow stitcher gave me some ideas as to how to do it, I finished it into this:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5627465411/" title="arbre aux oiseaux 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5187/5627465411_1a7edb41fa.jpg" alt="arbre aux oiseaux 3" width="500" height="488" /></a><br /><br />I have no idea what that is called, but it is now on the wall in our living room. I think it is quite cute. Here's the closeup of the design:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5627464845/" title="arbre aux oiseaux 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5627464845_77fb43355f.jpg" alt="arbre aux oiseaux 2" width="500" height="389" /></a><br /><br />That's all for now, hopefully I have the finished Gingko shawl to show you sometime next week!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-118153068007426742011-04-14T12:55:00.001-07:002011-04-14T12:57:50.280-07:00It's About Time!<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tuulia">The Lair etsy shop</a> has just been updated with yarn, silk and wool! Expect another update early tomorrow morning (or later today), the South American combed tops will be added then. The blog will be updated once all the fiber has been updated in the shop :)<br /><br />Thank you for looking! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-14817513227662577202011-04-13T04:13:00.000-07:002011-04-13T04:52:07.340-07:00New Lessons in PhotographyI got my new lens over a week ago, and it is wonderful! (For the camera enthusiasts out there, it's a <a href="http://www.the-digital-picture.com/reviews/Canon-EF-24-70mm-f-2.8-L-USM-Lens-Review.aspx">Canon EF 24-70mm/2.8L USM lens</a>.) So now I have no reason to blame the equipment for the poor quality of pictures - the culprit can be found in the bathroom mirror. The 24-70mm lens is a very, very good lens, but also not a very forgiving one. You make a mistake in the settings, and it shows. This led to some serious navel-gazing and, eventually, I learned a few new tricks. (Such as, "hey, my camera has an 'M' setting - wonder what that is".) But along the way, I rediscovered some old truths.<br /><br />One, burgundy is a very tricky color to photograph.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5615530463/" title="bfl silk 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5269/5615530463_8e22db7117.jpg" alt="bfl silk 2" width="415" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Also, single-ply yarn is always very, very pretty.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5615530545/" title="bfl silk 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5615530545_11f30b4d42.jpg" alt="bfl silk 1" width="477" height="500" /></a><br /><br />And fun to knit with!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5616111624/" title="bfl silk 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5026/5616111624_bee2c2846e.jpg" alt="bfl silk 3" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />The fiber is 70% BFL 30% silk, and it was the February club fiber in the Little Bit of Luxury Fiber Club. I managed to squeeze out some 550 yards or 500m out of the 6 oz (150g) of fiber I had. The top was gradation dyed, one end being darker burgundy than the other. But in between there are tiny specs of burgundy, and I didn't pluck them out, which resulted in a slightly striped yarn. I like the result a lot, and hopefully this'll become a nice shawl (the pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ginkgo-shoulderette-shawl">Gingko</a>).<br /><br />The second truth I learned was that dark teal is nearly impossible to photograph correctly. I managed to do it though, with serious tweaking of the settings. (These pictures are SOOC, I've only cropped them and added the copyright notice.)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5594118475/" title="hedda 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5594118475_9e925871e7.jpg" alt="hedda 2" width="394" height="500" /></a><br /><br />The pattern is the amazingly cute cap/beret pattern <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hedda-4">Hedda</a> by the incredibly talented designer, Vilma. I used some 200 yards of Aran weight yarn which will be introduced in the Lair in detail a little bit later. I wanted to test how it takes dye and what it is like to knit with, and the results are very nice. The yarn is 100% wool, has a lovely texture to it, and it's quite soft, too. I'm thinking of a cardigan in this lovely yarn (the only thing holding me back is the fact that it requires quite large needles and they make my hands hurt).<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5594118563/" title="hedda 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5594118563_f0a3b63b05.jpg" alt="hedda 1" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />I knitted the slouchy version of Hedda, but didn't block it too vigorously and thus got a snug cap. But I don't mind at all, I think it looks quite lovely!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5594704692/" title="hedda 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/5594704692_584fef6cc6.jpg" alt="hedda 3" width="430" height="500" /></a><br /><br />That's all for now! Stay tuned, the etsy shop update is coming up next.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-90994948565787108832011-04-01T12:11:00.000-07:002011-04-01T12:24:47.342-07:00Sparkling Wine with WoolLast weekend I packed my car with over 40 lbs of wool and headed south to the 4th knitting retreat. I have no pictures of the retreat, unfortunately, but you can imagine what happens when you combine 50 knitters (and 27 spinning wheels!), sparkling wine, sleep-deprivation and candy. (Hence, no pictures.) I came back on Monday (after nearly buying a spinnery) and since then, I've spent the last 4 days under my blanket, in my bed, shivering in bouts of fever.<br /><br />I managed to spin a little, and I chose Allspunup's absolutely wonderful 85% BFL 15% silk blend.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5579797951/" title="asu bfl silk by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5299/5579797951_153853c8ee.jpg" alt="asu bfl silk" width="365" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Spun into fluffy 2-ply, I managed to get some 500yds out of the 4 oz of fiber. It was truly lovely to spin with, and I can't wait to knit it.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5579798483/" title="asu bfl silk 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5028/5579798483_06c6e2e6f9.jpg" alt="asu bfl silk 2" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />I got started on a second ASU braid, this time a merino-silk-blend.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5580385486/" title="ASU alpaca merino silk by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5230/5580385486_a7742b0542.jpg" alt="ASU alpaca merino silk" width="338" height="500" /></a><br /><br />I didn't get too far, since Jeremy is quite popular with the ladies, but I passed the time quite pleasantly with the aforementioned candy and beverages.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5579798693/" title="ASU alpaca merino silk 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5579798693_f3355e1f8b.jpg" alt="ASU alpaca merino silk 2" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />And Jeremy came back home with his own little herd of sheep. (A gift from a friend, they are adorable! Shirley is in fact a swap gift, the rest came in a set with another Shirley, but the other Shirley was too much for Jezza and couldn't fit on the bar!)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5579798309/" title="shaun and the sheep by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5260/5579798309_a140cbe9a6.jpg" alt="shaun and the sheep" width="500" height="380" /></a><br /><br />I have some wool left over from the retreat, and they will land on my etsy shop sometime next week. As soon as I get over this fever and as soon as my new lens arrives, you'll see pictures of them when I update the shop. 'Til then, stay tuned - the shop update will be announced here in the blog!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-39224146312817614382011-03-04T01:35:00.000-08:002011-03-04T01:43:08.542-08:00AddictionI am quickly developing an addiction. To Finnsheep wool. To rustic, durable, warm, beautiful Finnsheep wool.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5496679794/" title="ilo pilvi 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5496679794_068fd94ccc.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="ilo pilvi 2" /></a><br /><br />These must be on my needles. Now.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5496680104/" title="ilo pilvi 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5296/5496680104_882dd8f2e7.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="ilo pilvi 1" /></a><br /><br />The yarn is local natural-colored Finnsheep yarn which I dyed yesterday. It reminds me of Kauni and Estonian wool, but it is not as coarse. This is also slightly thicker. And oh boy how well it takes color! The colors are Sunflower Yellow, Orange, Deep Turquoise, Grass Green and Brown. I have a project in mind already, but I must finish a cardigan first. I've knitted and re-knitted it probably 3 times already, and I am almost sick of it. But now there's an incentive to finish it - I must knit these next.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-70302463085021957092011-02-15T22:53:00.000-08:002011-02-15T23:40:21.003-08:00Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques by Margaret RadcliffeI promised this review on The Essential Guide to Color Knitting Techniques by Margaret Radcliffe (Storey Publishing 2008) a long time ago, but it took me some time to really get to know this book. It truly is a wealth of information - an instant classic in my opinion.<br /><br />I have been looking for a book like this for some time now. It seems most of knitting patterns out today concentrate on using one color throughout the work, with different textures (such as lace or cables) being the focal point of a knitted garment. However, the possibilities of using color in knitting are not very widely explored. There are some designers who use colors very vividly and in an inspiring manner, but most knitting patterns with color concentrate on relatively simple stranded knitting, some even use clever mosaic or geometric techniques. And perhaps the color knitting techniques have been overlooked, as there are so many variegated, self-striping, handpainted and hand-dyed yarns out there. Colorful knitting is easy to achieve if you just have some variegated yarns at hand. But I always felt the wildly colored or textured yarns, while fun, were somehow difficult to use. And with the possibilities of hand-knitting, why not take very basic yarns, in simplest of solid colorways and use them in a bold and refreshing way? This is exactly where this book comes in.<br /><br />What I look for in a book, first and foremost, are the pictures. I enjoy browsing through books for inspiration, and good pictures are what I look for in a book (especially in a knitting book). And this book may not be the most aesthetic book there is, but considering how color knitting as a subject can quickly lead to a book looking like a cat hawked it up, it is very clear and easy to browse. And the colors used for swatches are bright and clear - always a plus.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5449774447/" title="essential guide to color knitting 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5211/5449774447_d03fc68cc5.jpg" alt="essential guide to color knitting 1" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />The book covers a remarkably wide range of subjects, from basic color theory to stripes, multicolor yarns, stranded knitting, pattern stitches and even...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5449774257/" title="essential guide to color knitting 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5449774257_1e90c59bae.jpg" alt="essential guide to color knitting 2" width="500" height="334" /></a><br />Radcliffe has certainly made even intarsia sound like a fun thing to try. (Not that I would, yikes.)<br /><br />The pattern stitches section covers a wide range of different stitch patterns. Some are knitted with two or more colors, but the section on multicolor yarns even shows what to do with yarns prone to pooling. The pattern stitches are familiar to owners of the Walker books, but if you're interested in color knitting (and who wouldn't be), this is a great collection of all of these clever stitches together, and in full color.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5449773745/" title="essential guide to color knitting 6 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/5449773745_f51d2a462a.jpg" alt="essential guide to color knitting 6" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />The best thing about this book, by far, are the techniques. Even with the simplest of stripes, there are clear illustrations on how to hide jogs in circular knitting.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5450382794/" title="essential guide to color knitting 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/5450382794_933c8113ff.jpg" alt="essential guide to color knitting 3" width="500" height="333" /></a><br /><br />The section on multicolor yarns concentrates on how to display patterns in variegated and self-striping yarns. Even textured and handspun yarns are discussed to show variations in stitch patterns and color display (for example in marbled yarns). And finally, the author introduces geometry - mitered squares, circles, octagons etc.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5449773971/" title="essential guide to color knitting 4 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5300/5449773971_ee9f642ae8.jpg" alt="essential guide to color knitting 4" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />No book on color knitting would be complete without a stranded section. This book discusses stranded knitting, but it's rather straightforward and the approach is very practical. Holding yarns in stranded knitting is shown for both Continental and English knitters, and even a brief sample is shown to display the importance of yarn dominance. And even long floats are covered (I was happy to find my favorite technique among these on p. 157)! Each section ends with a couple of patterns, for the knitter who wants detailed instructions for trying out different techniques. Most of the patterns are small, quick projects such as socks, scarves and purses, which I think is a good and quick way of introducing a knitter to a technique.<br /><br />And finally, the final technique section is "Other Techniques" which include helix knitting, shadow knitting, mosaic knitting, twined knitting, double knitting and entrelac. Every technique is well illustrated and clearly described, although some of them could be even more widely discussed. But all in all, there is very little extra I would add to this book - it truly is the essential book on the subject. The last two sections of the book are Finishing Touches and Design Workshop, the first of which can never be over-emphasized. Finishing, in my opinion, is what makes or breaks a garment, and I was happy to see this taken into consideration in the book. This interesting section covers neat edges, cast-ons and bind-offs, finishing trims, blocking tips etc.<br /><br />I would say this book is truly the book to have if you are interested in color knitting. I found this incredibly inspiring (as the pictures of my last two knitting projects show clearly). I am glad I got my copy and I can certainly recommend this for any fellow knitter. I know this will be a go-to book on color knitting in the future.<br /><br />Disclaimer: I bought this book with my own monies through <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Guide-Color-Knitting-Techniques/dp/1603420401/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297841981&sr=1-1-spell">Amazon. </a>Storey Publishing has no idea who I am, and this is not a paid advertisement, but opinions of a knitter who likes this book a lot. You may disagree with my opinion, and if you do - please let me know! I'd like to hear what others have thought of this book.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-32565155437083209792011-02-14T04:48:00.000-08:002011-02-14T05:05:21.569-08:00So This Is the Life of a Knitter?I started blogging nearly 6 years ago. At that time, I only had a miserable little point-and-shoot, and no photo editing software. I learned very, very quickly to make my photos look relatively decent.<br /><br />Then, inevitably, I bought a DSLR. I still have it, and use it for all my photographing needs. It's an ancient 400D, but works well for my needs with the nifty fifty (50mm f/1.8) lens. But this time of year, especially, is so very hard for shooting nice pictures - there just isn't enough light, or there's plenty of hard, bright sunlight combined with bright white snow. Neither are very good for taking pictures.<br /><br />So last weekend, on a whim, I went and bought a studio lighting set. And I have since then discovered a whole new world. The combination of lighting, my camera and the wee lens is quickly becoming an adventure, which will probably take me years to learn.<br /><br />I can say for a fact, though, that in the first 15 minutes of shooting, using my learning technique of <span style="font-style: italic;">oops, wait a minute, let's try again and oh no</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">nononono</span>, I learned more than I have in years. And I am happy with the results.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5444422245/" title="FFI by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5444422245_410fab2f22.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="FFI" /></a><br /><br />Now, I must say, I am by no means a proper photographer. I still use my DSLR very much like a point-and-shoot. I won't take pictures with the full auto setting, but have very little understanding of how good photos are taken. So I apologize for my pictures have looked horrible in the past, and they certainly will continue to look horrible in the future. There are so many things wrong with my photos, even the one above, that it will take me years to learn even the basic things about photography. Or let me put it this way: my camera and my lens and all of the equipment I have are capable of taking very good pictures; it's me who needs to learn how to use them properly. And that will take time, lots of it. But I can say one thing: I love learning this new stuff. I never knew that blogging would eventually lead me to learn new things about this wonderful world of photography. So, I started blogging about knitting, and now I am a knitter blogging about photography! Who knew this would happen? :)<br /><br />Happy Valentine's Day everyone!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-53321448775010249232011-02-04T02:21:00.000-08:002011-02-04T02:44:45.759-08:00Confessions of a KnitterMost knitwear designers would have you believe that the road from an idea to an actual knitting pattern is relatively short and narrow: first you draw a sketch, then knit up a swatch, then proceed to charting, sizing, writing, knitting and some more knitting. I can tell you this doesn't happen here at the Lair. That is exactly why I don't consider myself a designer so much. Especially on a day like today. In what follows is a short narrative to how things can go so very, very wrong.<br /><br />First, you need an idea. It may be based on anything: the yarn you want to use, a colorway you have seen, a garment in a store. Or you may stumble* on a stitch pattern so intriguing it must be used immediately.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">*Quite literally, too. Who said leaving your Walker books in a pile right in the middle of the living room floor was a good idea?? Ouch!</span><br /><br />So you have the general idea, but not much more than that. Then it hits, this faint memory of a yarn bought years ago. Naturally it is stored in the back corner of your storage room, so you go scavenging through some 300 lbs of yarn until said yarn is found. You even remembered what colors you bought (although quantities may have remained a mystery, thus introducing you to some unexpected problems with the intended colorway). And since you parade around the northern hemisphere telling people how they must (must!) swatch (always!), you take your own advice and vigorously knit up a swatch. Proudly, the newly-finished swatch is given a thorough bath and laid flat to dry. And then it's already 3am and it's time for bed anyway.<br /><br />Next morning, the fourth gallon of coffee finally jump-starts the brain into proper knitting mode and you dig up the yarn you will use. Oddly, you may need to search for it, as you most definitely left it on the kitchen table, and somehow it ended up behind the couch. (Again! I think the gnomes had another party.) And you look at the great balls of yarn, feeling mighty proud of yourself, and think: "Why yes, I think they <span style="font-style: italic;">will</span> go together." And clickety clack, off you go knitting happily away.<br /><br />And it looks good, at first.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5415038757/" title="FFI 3 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5092/5415038757_d9d7e06829.jpg" alt="FFI 3" width="333" height="500" /></a><br /><br />And you knit away some more. Several hours later, you look at it and wonder what happened. You even ask your spouse to give an opinion. He says, quite kindly, that it brings back some fond memories of the 70s.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5415649506/" title="FFI 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5294/5415649506_84f11a572c.jpg" alt="FFI 1" width="500" height="345" /></a><br /><br />I think I need some really pretty colors this time. And this time I do believe they will go together. Otherwise I will develop a serious substance problem.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5415649288/" title="silke tweed cardi by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5099/5415649288_f6d4f48188.jpg" alt="silke tweed cardi" width="366" height="500" /></a><br /><br />Now, if you'll excuse me, it's 5pm somewhere and I need to erase the seventies out of my brain. Now.<br /><br />PS. Happy New Year everyone! (Yes, I'm only a month late, but we here at the Lair have concentrated on knitting and not blogging. And frogging. See above.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-2107970860884457412010-12-24T01:05:00.001-08:002010-12-24T01:05:40.205-08:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5287114207/" title="merry christmas by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5290/5287114207_47f2e926aa_z.jpg" width="474" height="640" alt="merry christmas" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-26113796161505671422010-12-10T06:40:00.000-08:002010-12-10T08:20:09.864-08:00First Ever Fiber Club at the Lair!And there's two of them! See below for the club descriptions and payment options.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" >The Little Bit of Luxury Fiber Club</span><br />You will receive three (3) packages in the months of January, February and March of 2011. Packages will ship out on the 15th of each month. Each package will contain approximately 150g or 5oz. of fiber. There will be one batt, custom-made for this club only, and two tops of fiber. Both will naturally be of very high quality with vibrant colors! The fiber selection for this club will include soft, but easy to spin fibers. The fibers are suitable for socks, shawls, hats and other accessories.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Klubissa saat kolme (3) kuitulähetystä: yhden tammikuussa, yhden helmikuussa ja yhden maaliskuussa. Villapaketit lähetetään joka kuun 15. päivä, ja jokainen paketti sisältää noin 150g kuitua. Yksi paketeista on karstattu batti, vain tätä klubia varten tehty sekoitus kuituja - kaksi muuta pakettia sisältävät topseja. Molemmat ovat ensiluokkaisia kuituja ja täynnä ihania, hehkuvia värejä! Klubin kuiduissa on mukana helposti kehrättäviä, pehmeitä kuituja, jotka käyvät ihanasti pehmeisiin asusteisiin.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5104579404/" title="IMG_5971 - Copy by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1198/5104579404_a16c817561_m.jpg" alt="IMG_5971 - Copy" width="198" height="240" /></a></span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" >The Heavenly Fiber Club</span><br />You will receive three (3) packages in the months of January, February and March of 2011. Packages will ship out on the 15th of each month. Each package will contain approximately 150g or 5oz. of fiber. There will be one batt, custom-made for this club only, and two tops of fiber. Both will naturally be of very high quality with vibrant colors! The fiber selection for this club will include soft, easy to spin and super-luxurious fibers (merino, angora, cashmere, silk etc.). The fibers are suitable for warm shawls, hats and other accessories.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Klubissa saat kolme (3) kuitulähetystä: yhden tammikuussa, yhden helmikuussa ja yhden maaliskuussa. Villapaketit lähetetään joka kuun 15. päivä, ja jokainen paketti sisältää noin 150g kuitua. Yksi paketeista on karstattu batti, vain tätä klubia varten tehty sekoitus kuituja - kaksi muuta pakettia sisältävät topseja. Molemmat ovat ensiluokkaisia kuituja ja täynnä ihania, hehkuvia värejä! Klubin kuiduissa on mukana helposti kehrättäviä, pehmeitä luksuskuituja, jotka käyvät ihanasti pehmeisiin asusteisiin.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/4606068638/" title="dyed wool 4 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1317/4606068638_08fe9aefb5_m.jpg" alt="dyed wool 4" width="240" height="220" /></a></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" >How to Order</span><br />Depending on where you wish the fiber to be shipped, choose the EU or non-EU option at the drop down menu below. You will be directed to Paypal for processing of your order, and you can pay with your credit card - no Paypal account is required. Please note: if this purchase is a gift, please fill out the "special instructions to merchant" selection at check-out with details of the recipient adress and your message to the recipient.<br /><br />As always, if you have any questions, please contact me at tuulia . salmela (at) gmail . com!<br />The number of spots for the clubs is limited, and the signups will close on December 31st, 2010.<br />Thank you for your support and happy spinning!<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /><form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post"><br /><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><br /><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="TBZ77QYQXGTDL"><br /><table><br /><tr><td><input type="hidden" name="on0" value="Knitlob's Lair Fiber Club Options">Knitlob's Lair Fiber Club Options</td></tr><tr><td><select name="os0"><br /> <option value="Little Bit of Luxury Fiber Club - EU">Little Bit of Luxury Fiber Club - EU €70.00</option><br /> <option value="Little Bit of Luxury Fiber Club - non-EU">Little Bit of Luxury Fiber Club - non-EU €85.00</option><br /> <option value="Heavenly Fiber Club - EU">Heavenly Fiber Club - EU €100.00</option><br /> <option value="Heavenly Fiber Club - non-EU">Heavenly Fiber Club - non-EU €115.00</option><br /></select> </td></tr><br /></table><br /><input type="hidden" name="currency_code" value="EUR"><br /><input type="image" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_buynowCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"><br /><img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /><br /></form><br /><br />Valitse ylläolevasta valikosta joko Little Bit of Luxury Fiber Club - EU- tai Heavenly Fiber Club - EU -vaihtoehto. Voit maksaa tilauksesi Paypalissa luottokortilla, Paypal-tiliä ei tarvita. Huomaa: Jos tilauksesi on lahja, täytä kohta "special instructions to merchant" maksaessasi, laita mukaan saajan nimi, osoite ja viestisi saajalle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Klubeissa on rajallinen määrä paikkoja, joten toimi nopeasti! Ilmoittautuminen klubeihin sulkeutuu vuoden viimeisenä päivänä.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kysyttävää tai kommentoitavaa? Laita viestiä osoitteella tuulia . salmela (at) gmail . com!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Kiitos ja ihania kehruuhetkiä!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/4617806145/" title="bfl-silkki 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4043/4617806145_64d848d30b_m.jpg" alt="bfl-silkki 2" width="240" height="234" /></a></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13096699.post-78301606552331664922010-12-09T03:06:00.000-08:002010-12-09T03:06:00.898-08:00Concerning SocksFor someone who has such a stash of sock yarns, and who also wears only handknit socks, you don't see me knitting socks too often. In fact, I won't pick up a sock knitting project until my socks are all worn out and in desperate need of darning - or all dirty. It's been at least 6 months since I last knitted a pair, which meant it was about time to get going with another pair. Preferably several, in fact, so I went and dug out some skeins of sock yarn. This got me thinking about sock knitting in general.<br /><br />As I mentioned, I knit socks usually when I absolutely have to. There is normally a pair or two on the needles, waiting to be knitted when waiting at the car service or traveling, but it takes forever to finish a pair that way. Socks are perfect for travel-knitting, since they don't require a lot of thinking or concentration. But this means they're also very, very boring to knit. They would be more interesting with patterning, but I just prefer plain socks to any patterned socks.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/4412727689/" title="finnsheep socks by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4412727689_13a2faf81d.jpg" alt="finnsheep socks" height="500" width="440" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5010631591/" title="sleeping beauty 2 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5010631591_d0d6a94eca.jpg" alt="sleeping beauty 2" height="434" width="500" /></a><br /><br />My favorite type of sock is a plain stockinette stitch toe-up sock, with upside down French heel, and a 2x2 ribbed cuff. Sometimes I go wild and knit a small broken rib pattern on the instep and the cuff, but usually I prefer plain socks. Preference to plain socks is mostly due to the fact that most of my sock yarn stash consists of very colourful variegated or self-striping yarns. Choosing a pattern with such yarns would end up in neither of them showing very well.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5243069207/" title="purple socks by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5130/5243069207_83065c3ca8.jpg" alt="purple socks" height="500" width="360" /></a><br /><br />Striping with two variegated would also be an option. I haven't knitted striped socks since "our boys" (= my younger brothers) were small and I knitted all sorts of socks for them in a collection of left-over yarns. In fact, I remember a time when I did all sorts of crafts but my knitting consisted only of socks for our boys. And they were well-worn socks too. In fact the high volume of socks knitted was due to the fact that they, being boys, went through them very quickly, and I didn't know how to knit very durable socks at the time. I'm not sure if we have a pair anywhere, anymore. But they were very traditional socks - cast on for a 2x2 ribbed cuff, which measured some 4 to 6 inches, then a reinforced heel with a regular sl1, k1 heel stitch, a sharp gusset decreased on every or every other row, and finished with a round toe. If striped, there would be 2 stripes in the cuff. The wilder version would have two stripes in the foot too. I don't think we even knew of variegated or self-striping yarns then, at least I don't remember knitting with them, ever. Those came later, but I was never truly drawn to them, until I started dyeing myself. And socks are perfect for very wild color combinations - small accessories as they are, and on your feet, they don't show as much as a scarf or a hat would. And you can choose colors which normally wouldn't be anywhere near your face. Such as orange!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5243121551/" title="oranssit sukat by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5283/5243121551_8daa0ea733.jpg" alt="oranssit sukat" height="350" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Sock-knitting, while not necessarily fun, is very important then. Whether socks are worn only occasionally (like boot socks or slipper socks) or all the time, a good pair of socks is worth a lot of time and effort - and good materials. I prefer wool over any material. Cotton just feels odd in hand-knit socks, and loses its shape very quickly. (This can be due to the cotton used, or the fact that my feet are shaped very much like duck feet, they're only bigger.)<br /><br />The best yarns I've used for my socks have been handspun.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/3581269005/" title="wild colors bfl socks 1 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3616/3581269005_df3d51794b.jpg" alt="wild colors bfl socks 1" height="500" width="425" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/4412728063/" title="rag rug socks by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4412728063_5f4f205d6c.jpg" alt="rag rug socks" height="500" width="458" /></a><br /><br />But spinning sock yarn would make the process even slower, so when working with commercial yarns, I've loved Opal and Trekking yarns. They seem to last a long time, and they can be washed in a regular cycle without any damage to the knitted fabric. The colors are sometimes quite bizarre, but then again, my socks can be of very wild colors.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5243666526/" title="crazy wild socks dark by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5170/5243666526_d128ae1292.jpg" alt="crazy wild socks dark" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br />I always use the basic recipe for my socks: cast on 12 or 16 stitches (24 or 32 total) using Judy's magic cast-on, increase to 16 or 17 or 18 stitches per needle (64, 68 or 72 stitches total), then knit round and round and round until the gusset increases, which happen on every 3rd or every second row until I have about 20 new stitches. Then work the French heel upside down, with a small triangle at the base, turn the heel by knitting the 32, 34 or 36 stitches of the heel flap together with the sole stitches, and then work a 6 to 8 inch cuff and finish with 2 inches of ribbing. I've done it dozens of times, and it requires no thinking whatsoever, especially since I discovered that the foot is wide enough when I place the beginning of the sock on my left hand and my fingers have room to move around in the toe, and the gusset increases begin when the toe is long enough to touch the base of my thumb. The heel must be knit when the foot is long enough to cover my palm entirely.<br /><br />There are slight variations to this recipe: sometimes I work a small pattern on the instep stitches, sometimes the ribbing is shorter than 2 inches, sometimes I work a Dutch heel instead of the French heel. I don't even have a preference for needles: I've knit them two at a time on one circular, or two circulars, or DPN's. I like bamboo needles, but mostly knit with metal ones.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5243069667/" title="pikkusukka by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5243069667_3650001ec9.jpg" alt="pikkusukka" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /><br />But one thing is always certain: I cast on for socks at the toe.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/5243070449/" title="brown socks by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5121/5243070449_19a3f16ebe.jpg" alt="brown socks" height="500" width="377" /></a><br /><br />Except when I knit my socks cuff down. :D<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/palantirmaailma/2139308960/" title="hélène 5 by Louhitar, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2305/2139308960_aa80f3effb.jpg" alt="hélène 5" height="500" width="409" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8