Miette (the cardigan)

Our roof still isn't fixed but I took advantage of the weekend and the short time of daylight I had to take some pictures of my latest FO - Andi Satterlund's "Miette".

I like this pattern a lot and it was the perfect match for my re-purposed merino yarn from another frogged project (a vest that I've never, ever worn - who comes up with patterns for thick merino yarn without sleeves??). I recently discovered Andi Satterlund's patterns and took an immediate liking to them. A) because she has a good taste in cardigans and b) because they are fairly straight forward and fast to knit.

The construction is top-down which I liked and the progress was fast. I was just a bit confused with the lace pattern around the edges so I think in the back of the neck I got a bit mixed up with the lace but was too lazy to rip it all up again. The lace pattern might or might not be a bit wonky as a result.

Unfortunately this is another cardi that came out a bit too small - either I have gained a size or I should seriously rethink my swatching technique because I swear it seemed fine when I tested the gauge! I hope it's nothing that a bit of blocking can't fix.

All in all I'm very happy and I'm already considering knitting a second edition, maybe a size up this time.

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Pattern: Andi Satterlund's Miette
Yarn: Lana Grossa Merino 

Housing troubles

After moving house in December I thought the worst was over and I could finally concentrate on my knitting and other FUN things. Unfortunately I was wrong.

It's been barely a month but things with the new flat have been chaotic to say the least: on the day we moved in, our garage was broken into and a neighbour's bike was stolen and another neighbour had his car window smashed. Not even a month after moving in, it turns out we have a leaking roof which manifested itself in flooding of our bed- and living rooms. As a consequence of the leak a fuse blew and we have been partly without electricity since. Fun!! Especially the part where we walk around with camping lamps in our own flats to  brush our teeth....

Of course things can go wrong - that's life and we all get our share of it - but why does it all have to happen at the same time?! Besides the flat-situation, work is also particularly stressful (if exciting) which means I have to do long hours and all I wish for is to come home to our (dry) flat, cook a nice dinner, and sit on the couch and read a book or knit - all of which are quite difficult without light. Not even mentioning the unavoidable quarrel and chasing up with landlords, contractors, janitors, etc. which is costing me a lot of nerves.

I need a holiday!

PS: Sorry, no fun pictures. Mainly because I don't feel like it but also because of a lack of lighting.

Arrows

Lopipeysa number 01/2016 or, to be correct, number 6 in my personal collection. But as I'm trying something new with every jumper I tested using Plötulopi this time as Maria Carlander mentioned her positive experience with it on her blog. I also used her chart for the yoke while keeping my trusty "Aftur" pattern for the bodice & sleeves.

Knitting with Plötulopi is a bit different because it is unspun yarn so the fibres are only attached to each very losely; it is not twisted or plied. But since it is sheep wool the fibres "stick" very well to each other and you can fix it very easily if the yarn breaks. That didn't actually happen to me very often, the only thing that was a pain was at the end when I tried to stitch the underarm holes together with kitchener stitch. Of course there was too much tension on the yarn and I should have come up with a better solution but in the end I just plied a strand by hand and that worked.

In spite of my positive experience I'm not sure if I'll use it again because when held double it is very bulky, something in between Létt Lopi and Alafoss Lopi, which results in an extremely warm garment. I might try to hold it as a single strand and see what the result is but normally, Létt Lopi is more than enough for the mild Belgian climate. Big plus though: Plötulopi is even cheaper than the already cheap Lopi yarns in general. I think I payed around 3 € for 100 g in the Alafoss shop in Reykjavík.

Oh, and I already have my eye on the next Lopipeysa. Isn't this one a beauty?

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Pattern: A mixture of "Aftur" and Maria Carlander's chart for the yoke
Yarn: Alafoss Plötulopi/Unspun Icelandic

Berlin

It's been a long time since I celebrated New Year's in Berlin even though we used to go almost every year when I was a child. It was always great fun to stay up late and just before Midnight climb the roof of our friends' 5-storey building (to the horror of my mother who clung on to the chimney while we children balanced along the edge of the not-so-shallow incline of the roof). From there you had the best view over the city and all the the fireworks. 

And, wow, I had forgotten about the fireworks! I think nobody who has never been in Berlin can imagine the amount of noise and chaos that ensues the two hours before and after Midnight on New Year's eve - except if you're coming from a war zone, that's probably the only matching comparison. I don't know why people choose to waste their money on firecrackers (or rather small bombs) and I always wonder why there are no restrictions on the worst combination ever: drunk people handling explosives. Was that ever a good idea? Well, at least it makes for a memorable party and it certainly left a lasting impression. By Midnight, the air was so full of smoke that we could hardly see the other side of the street and when people started shooting fireworks at each other we decided to make a move. 

But Berlin, you never disappoint with your run-down streets and Hipster cafés, cheap food and Ossi nostalgia. Both in summer and in winter, even though this year we can hardly call it a "winter" with the cherry trees in bloom. Next time I won't let as much time pass to visit again but maybe then without fireworks. 

Knitting review 2015

2015 was quite a busy year in many respects: I turned 30 (a bit scary but also fun), got more responsibility in my job and moved house. This is also reflected in my knitting. I did quite a few smaller projects at the side and fewer cardigans although when I'm looking at the pictures now, I'm impressed myself how much I managed to do!

From top left to bottom right:

(1) My frogged and re-knitted favourite Lopipeysa
(2) Well-used and cosy warm "Be my Valentine" cowl
(3) The bunny mittens - a baby gift that was unfortunately lost in the post :(
(4) My "Marius" jumper, a Norwegian debut (less worn because it's not a cardigan)
(5) Another baby gift
(6) "Changing the of the guards at Buckingham Palace", meant for a baby but the size is bigger
(7) "Riddari" for the boyfriend - tested and approved in Iceland
(8) Polka-dot socks based on Anna Wilkinson's design - look great but wear out quickly
(9) "Tailwind" scarf by Clara Falk
(10) My "Petit poisson rouge", a test knit for Sigrid
(11) Estonian mittens No. 1
(12) Estonian mittens No. 2 

Now I'm looking forward to an exciting 2016 and I already have quite a few projects in the pipeline that are just waiting to be cast on. Moving into a new flat with a spare bedroom to indulge in all my crafting activities will even make it easier and I'm looking forward to it.

Wishing you all the best for the new year & happy knitting everyone!