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.

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.

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

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. 

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 

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.

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.