Friday, September 20, 2013

I'm back, and with a finished Baktus

No I neither drowned or stayed in Indonesia (although one was tempting) but I just didnt have any energy for crating or blogging when I got home. A post-diving depession? Anywho, Im now a knitting divemaster! And I've got be craty-energy back! Thank godness.

The Baktus scarf has been on a long nice hiatus over the summer (kind of like this place), but since autumn is creeping in, i started to feel that it would be the perfect everyday scarf. The only thing left on it was making a crochet border and adding tassels.

It's was a boring knit (I made it way to big), but i'm happy with the results.


The Yarn is Fantasi from Järbo (multi colored) and some unidentified that i had lying around, might be some kind of alpaca blend, I's quite similar to drops alpaca. Pattern for Baktus here, although it's so damn simple you don't really need one unless you are a beginner.

Now I need to finish off a lace shawl I've lost steam on (but the rows are so loooong now..) and I also have a baby hat in the works, for a little critter soon to be entering the world.

Friday, June 7, 2013

My new Ipad cover

Since I've bought a keyboard to my ipad in hopes of not having to carry my laptop around anylonger (It's days are counted, and I though the poor laptop and my poor shoulders would be happier if it stays at home), i also needed a new ipad cover, big enough to fit both keyboeard and ipad. Not that big, since its a super slim keyboard (logitech, love it), but it still needs just a bit more space.

I took it as an opportunity to try a "real" quilted project for the first time. To be honest, I'm nor entierly sure about the terminology here. Are quilted always with padding? Is it otherwise patch-work? Well any how, first time using padding.



The fabrics i used are dark green cotton from my first dress (that I'm yet to post, i know..), light green from an old sheet i used to make a pair of prototype harem pants that ended up way to big, and some striped quilting cotton. Lining is plain withe cotton.

Kind of (sloppy) tutorial:

1. I made fabric strips and sewed them together
2. I added the padding and quilted it (again, im out on deep water with the terminology here)
3. added the lining right side to right side of quilted fabric and sewed addid a piece of elastic to the top for closure, and flipped so the lining ended up on the other side of the padding.
4. I folded the now long rectangular cover a bit under the middle, and left about 10 cm on one side for the flap, and top stitched around.
5. Added button.

Voilá and all that.

It was a fun project that I did from start to finish in one sitting. Just took a small break when this happend...



It's gonna come with me to Indonesia, leaving on friday, Woooo!

Friday, May 3, 2013

Sixtens Gooseberry Sweater


This friday I will actually post an FO! Im usually wortless at this, since it takes me about 1 hot second from finishing something untill I'm all up in something new. This little sweater is for a super charming little man I visited in March. While I was there I knitted him a berry hat, and since he looked like the cutes little gooseberry ever, I felt an urge to make a matching sweater. Me, the little gooseberry and gooseberry-mom went yarn shopping togeather. And this is the result!


The Pattern is Little Coffee Bean, available as a free ravelry download. It's knitted top down, which was super easy, fast and fun. I will definitely use that pattern again. The size is 1 year, modified as I went along, measuring on Sixten. The yarn is Cotton Time from Schanchenmayr (please dont make me pronounce that), 100% cotton. The dark green stitches are not knitted in but sewn on afterwards.

To be honset it's not 100% done, I still need to block it. But close enough. All in all, quite happy.

Thursday, April 18, 2013

When you leave nerds alone

My husband decided to put his own touch on our bedroom decore while I was away visiting friends. Guess which part?

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Lace curtain thriftin'




Im buying lace curtains at the thrift shop, what have I become? Grandma? (Well grandma never really had lace curtains, I think she is to modern for that).

I find newer lace that I've seen to be a bit blotchy for my taste, but these old curtains are light with small details. Pristine condition as well. They are probably going hang infront of our "wardrobe", which is an alcove more then an actual wardrobe.

I laso bought some 70ies cotton print fabric that I cant make up my mind weather it's fun or hideous. But they where both a steal, so I can sleep on it.


Not very gangsta

13 year old metal me would cry... and 15 year old hip hop me. But 6 year old me would understand.



Friday, March 22, 2013

Tinted glass


I just can't seem to get enough of it. Bought these two yellow tinted glasses, and a small blue assiette at the thrift shop. I think it's my loning for spring that makes me extra drawn to light and brigh thinks at the moment.


Sunday, March 17, 2013

My new toy / Husqvarna Emerald 116


Let me introduce to you out new family member, Husqvarna Emerald 116.
(Grannys old Husqvarna zig zag, may you rest in peace).

I've been so busy fixing the bedroom re-decorations chaos, taking care of my sick husband and working since we got home for Munich,  I't wasn't until yesterday I had the opportunity to spend some time with it. It sews like a dream, compared to my old one (not a difficult feat, I'll admit). I wont give you any illusions of a review, now or later, since I'm really not in a skill position to do so. I can however say that the automatic needle threader is complete junk since it more fiddly than threading your self, and the little sharp hook breaks the thread, but I can thread my own needle, no probs.

I made a children's hat practicing sewing in streachy materials, which I have no experence with. Im having another project in mind for this fabric, but I wanted a test run first. I used this tutorial from Blomma åker vagn (varning, swedish). It was super easy, fast and fun.
(Edit: forgot to mention, the fabric is cotton/lycra from swedish fabric chain stor Ohlssons)


I also made a prototype for a baby grab ball (end result will be something like this). I have crocheted a ball like this once (not fun) which you can see on my ravelry page, it turned out way to big but thats another story. This time Im going for sewing (hopefully more fun). I like the color combination of the fabrics, but i think I need to make the "leafs" a bit longer in proportion the the width to be able to assemble it properly.


I think this marks the start of a long friendship. In my family there is a tradition of animosity rather than friendship with sewing machines, but hopefully I can break that.

Love and Stiches from me.

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Knit and crochet for the air


Tomorrow, Friday, we are flying to Munich for the weekend. Hurray! I've been looking forward to this for so long, especially since it's my first time going away since the whole disc herniation ordeal.

Since I fly with just carry on luggage I don't want to take my interchangeable metal needles, since there seem to be no consensus what so ever if they are allowed on flights. Instead I'm bringing some short wooden needles and a bit of Järbo Raggi sock yarn for a small project I have in mind (that might result in a gift, hence the lack of details). I'm also bringing some of my cotton Tilda to make a few more granny squares. If they take my beautiful green hook I'll be seriously pissed, but It's the only size 5 i have. It should be allright. Right?

These small project should be enough to keep me entertained on the way there and back. I don't think there'll be much time for it while there, I'll be busy drinking beer and eating sausage and red cabbage.
Ah German food,  so cheap, so delicious.
We'll be visiting a Bundesliga game between Munich and Dusseldorf as well. I'm not really a sports person, but I can get enthusiastic about most things if I just put my mind to it. And they have beer, so all is well.

Since I know what yarn to pack I should be ready to go, right?

Have a nice weekend! Hope you get some quality time with friends and family as well, where ever you are.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

The 10 km scarf knits on for the second WIP Wednesday



So, It's WIP Wednesday again. It seems like wednesdays occur more frequent then the other days, dosen't it?

Anyway, I'm still mostly workning on my 10 km Scarf. Since it's so much else going on in the appartment, i like simplicity of it. It's measuring about 1,1 m now! (1.2 yards)

I've added all of the pink I had, some crazy withe effect yarn that made people at the knitting café get a strained look on their faces and say "oh, how.. interesting".
It's not interesting, It's really quite ugly. But then I'm not generally one for effect yarns, and I don't think the kids will care all that much. The grey is a short bit of Norwegian sock yarn.

Someone at the knitting café asked me if It was a two sided braid. Apparently there is a way to knit braids that makes them identical on both on the front and back side. I need to check this out and try it., Im fairly certain I understand the principal of i when she explained.

I have sorted out a few skeins from my stash for this project. All of them is Eskimo from Drops Yarns, except from the red one which is Iglo soft from Trysil Yarn (Note how they all happend to be bulky, I'm not stupid, I want to see som dan progress when i knit this, 10 km is a loong way)

I've also made a bit of progress on Baktus but it's going slooow and I've made a few granny squares with the goal of a pillow for the kitchen sofa.

And, as always, check out some other WIPs over at Tamis Amis.



Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Chaos (not pictured)


It's a bit quiet in here because there's a lot of this stuff going on in the appartement at the moment, leaving less time for other tinkering. I did fit in some knitting time with friends this saturday though, and to nigh I'm attending a knitting café at the local yarn shop Perssons. Just need to find my missing skein for the Baktus scarf, which is easier said then done in this appartement due to above pictured reasons (our bedroom is now fitted in to our living room, I will spare you those pictures).






Wednesday, February 27, 2013

the 10 km scarf / WIP Wednesday



No, I have not gone completely mad and are planning to make a 10 km scar by my self. Im to easily bored to even finish of Baktus...

It's going to my my contribution to the 10 km scarf project, which started out here in Umeå, and have spread through Sweden, and also Europe. It's a joint projects where the goal is to knit a 10 km long scarf that is going to be show cased in 2014 when Umeå is the Europan culture capital. After that, the scarf is going to be cut up and made in to blankets and normal sized scarf for a orphanage in Russia for handicapped children. The combination of joined effort, a big ass scarf and charity really makes is something special, I think.

So, this week I started my contribution. I had almost 1 skein of Natur Uld left over from Owls which is the grey, the yellow is the yarn used for Maplewood (which are finished by the way, and will be posted on Friday) and the hot pink I just started with is just something I had laying about.

The only rules for the scarf is size 5 needles, 40 stitches, then knit away! So anyone can do it, newbie or pro. I chose garter stitch for fast progress and then a simple braid to keep me from going garter-mental.The scarf all in all is about 3600 meters atm, so there is quite a bit to go. Hopefully the project will keep on spreading and more people can chime in with a couple of inches here and there.

If you want to join in, just send me a message and i can provide more info and also give my address so you can send your contribution, and I'll make sure it gets delivered, with proper reference to you of course.


50 cm down, quite a bit to go. I'm aiming for 2 meters to start with.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Latest thrift finds / Map, Tin, Cotton, Pattern


Thought I might show some finds from my lastest thrift shop rummage. Above is a framed old map over the nordic countries (with Latin names). Pretty happy about this one, since we really lack decorations for our walls, and my husband is very fond of maps. Need to hang it still, but our wall is concrete so it's easier said then done.




I also found a small baking tin with a nice triangular pattern, about 3 yards of turquoise cotton fabric for about 20 sek (3 usd) and a nice cape/coat/jacket Burda pattern (paid a measly 10 sek, 1,50 usd, for that one).

It was a good day.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Owls finally finished


Owls. Such a pretty pattern, such a fast knit.
Then how come it took me about 3 years to get this done?
I have no idea, but now it's finished, so lets leave all that behind. This is actually my first "big" project. Something went amiss in the back, I think i might have attached the sleeves at the wrong place. Anyway, it left me with a big bulge on the back, so I improvised some pleats and now I don't think any one notices.

Knitted with Natur Uld from Hjertegarn. You can get the pattern here.
If i where to do it again I would probably chose a less bulky yarn. It is very warm. Very. So it makes for a good cozy sweather for cold evenings, but it is hard to wear as an everyday sweather, which I would have liked to.

Have a nice weekend, and check out some other FO's at Tamis Amis


Thursday, February 21, 2013

Who needs flower arrangements?




This is how i store my baktus scarf at the moment. Just as pretty as flowers, less maintenance. 
The vase is from the 60s designed by Mari Simmulson, and gifted to me by my mother for my last birthday. 

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Baktus Scarf half way done / WIP wednesday




My baktus scarf is coming along slowly but steadily. It has become my socializng knit, since you can knit it and still hold an intelligent (more or less) conversation. It might be the reason that the edges is coming out a bit wonky but I don't think it's something a good blocking can't help, or in worst case, a crochet edging.


I've just reached half way, and started decreasing. The pic above is a decent representation of the color shifts, although a bit washed out by the sunlight (taken with my iphone). 

So thats my WIP atm, since i finished off my Maplewood mitts yesterday. Results to come, but I'm very pleased with the results.

Don't forget to check out some other WIP projects over at Tami's Amis, how enourmosly cute aren't these daisy shoes by Ginx Craft for example? Or the so-far headless gnome by Amination 

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

New fabric and a crafty schedule




When to the thrift shop with my sister in law yesterday and cam home with this little pile of awsome fabric. It's quite thin and airy (and here is were yo realize I know absolutely nothing about fabrics), so I'm probably gonna make an infinity scarf out of it.  I love the charming pattern shifts, i got if for 25 sek (3.96 us dollar) and it's about 3 yards I'd say.


I also bought an old sheet just because i needed some yardage for a experimental sewing project I've got in mind..
In other news i have quite a crafty week ahead of me. Today I'm gonna check out a knitting café I haven't been to yet, in one of the yarn shops in town. Tomorrow I have some sewing planned, possibly with good company and a glass of wine. Thursday spells my usual knitting café (which will be the first time post-op, yay). I also need to get my sewing machine situation sorted, which probably means buying a new one. Sigh, I wish i could keep my old Husqvarna Automatic, but I'm simply not knowledgable enough to get it running smoothly.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Thrift find touch up / Retro chairs with new upholstery

We picked up two new chairs for the board game table (yes, we have a designated board game table) at one of the local thrift stores last week. I like the style of them, but the old fabric was a bit old and.. ugly. So i gave them some new pale green upholstery.

I think the the style of the chairs go well with our retro couch (peaking out in the background above), and the pale green doesn't clash with the orange, which is proving to be a tricky color to decorate around.

Original upholstery
 A good thing with this kind of DIY projects is that you can make it look nice and smooth from the outside, and it doesn't matter that the under side of it looks like a mess.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

10 + DIY projects with buttons!


Because of the big button bag gifted to me through the Make & Create give away, I decided to compile a list of some fun DIY projects with buttons. I've made sure all of them include tutorials or instructions of some sort, because i find it so annoying when you see this interesting project, but have no idea how to go about it. I think the monogram and the magnets are probably my favourites.




Button Book Marks from iheartnaptime.net

Button Magnets from Big Box Detox






Button Necklace, from Yellow and Backbird



 Or another kind of Button Necklace, from Adventures of a DIY mom


Button Monogram from the Stonybrook House



Button Earings from Artsy-fartsy Mama



Button Tree Ornaments from Beneath the Rowan Tree


 Button Flowers from Craft and Creativity



Button Bowl from Kumquat and Junebug


Button Headband from Crafted


Heart Button Cushion from All About You



Button Embelished Cards from Martha Steward



Happy Crafting!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The anatomy of a Semla / Semeldagen

Semla, here with intact top

Us Swedes seem to like having days designated to different sorts of bakery, we have waffle day, cinnamon bun day, and the most important of all, Semel day (Semeldagen/Fettisdagen). I don't know much about the other cases (I usually eat, content without knowing why precisely)  but this one has to do with being the last tuesday before the christian fast (which about not  many care about in Sweden, but we like our bakery).

Swedish blogs has been tattered with Semlor the last week, and Im gonna be no better. Bur for those of you not from these freezing bakery-goodness filled corner of the world i thought I'd present something helpful.

The Anatomy of the Semla!



Recipe? Ask Google, thats what I did.
Almond paste, I can tell you, is something close to marzipan, but with more almonds. Very easy to make your self with a food processor, 50% almonds, 50% sugar. Tada! Mine was store bought, because i didn't feel like it.

I am hereby placing my self in a bakery quarantine until further notice. I've become like Shirley the last couple of weeks...

Have a nice Semel evening!

Friday, February 8, 2013

Consolid... I'm-fantastic-prize

I got a happy suprise in the mail the other day. Well, kind of suprise, I knew something was on the way, since i was declared on of the winners of a consolation prize in the Craft & Creativity / Make & Create give away over at Hildas Hem.

Consolation prize sounds so.. sad, so I chose to see my self as one of 10 in second place!


So, I recived a nice blue parcel, with some tiny clothepins and glittery hama beads taped with to the front. And inside it was..


Half a kilo of colorful buttons in every size imaginable, from super tiny to really big and chunky!
Look at them! Don't they cheer you up just by their pure buttonessnes? (Yes I am making up words)

I spent a good long while sorting through them, and inspecting all the different kinds. In the end I sorted them roughly by size so that finding the right kind for the right project would be a bit easier.


Oh, and I found this one.


I'm not quite sure what it means? You love to make babies? You'd love to, Baby? (Love to what? Are you hitting on me, button?)

Big questions.

Anyway, I have a tutorial round up comming your way in honor to this great pile of buttons, so stay tuned for that.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

WIP Wednesday / Maplewood


So, it's Wednesday again and time to post som knitting progress. Last week I was missing in action due to doctors carving in my back, while heavily drugged (me, not the doctors. I think.). But this week I'm back on track, and as soon as my nausea subsided I got started on a pair of Maplewood mittens.

I've started these once before, while trying to figure out two at once knitting, but I was way of gauge, so I had to rip out and start over. This time I do them one by one, and lo and behold, Im already on my second one, and determined that no one-sock/mitten curse shall fall over this project.

It's a fun knit, and quite fast. I had to rip out about 15 rows on the second mitten, since I made the common misstake of doing another right hand mitten. It's almost tradition to do this, right?

I have managed to do a couple of rows on the baktus scarf as well, but it is boooring ( but pretty).

Check out what some other blogging peeps has been working on over at Tami's Amis.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Raspberry Sugar Cookies and Brownies - post Op baking

I get better each day, it's such a great feeling. The nausea is getting much better, and i have been able to do some knitting. Yesterday I ventured outside for the first time since the Op, all the way to the trash bin (although my knees where shaking afterwards). I even got some baking done , so a lot of things are possible with some well planned rest-sessions inbetween.

Raspberry Sugar Cookies - simple is often better

First, I made raspberry sugar cookies. It's just a basic batch of sugar cookie dough (without egg) such as this (for Swedes, I used this one)

* you roll it into small balls
* place them in paper baking cases/cups (not the giant muffin version)
* make a dent in the middle of each one and place a raspberry.

Bake for about 10 min (til' they looke nice and slightly brown) in 200° C  (approx 390° F)

I would say that is my best tip for sucess with these cookies, to go for whole raspberrys (frozen is fine) instead of (the traditional) jam. Jam tends to float out during baking and make them messy looking, and the cookies are sweet enough as it is.

I also made Brownies, something I'm not as familiar with. I used this recipe from Instructables.


Yummy Brownies from Instructables


They turned out fantastic, with the perfect gooeyness in the middle with a bit of crust on the edges. Mmmh.. They reminded me of the brownies my first longtime boyfriends mother used to make, a giant batch for all his firends. That, I think, really played into why we mosly hung around his place.

The recipe was a bit annoying since it was divided into pages, and the amounts where listed on the first page, and the instrucions on the following pages. But since the result was so good I forgive them.

I hade to bake it way longer than instructed, but I think that has to do more with our highly unpredictable oven than anything else.

That was yesterday. Today I have eaten them (not all of it...yet.), and made this blog post, and that is about it.