Fieldtrip

Karin, the knitter behind the Swedish blog "Litet nystan", spent some days in Luxemburg, and we went for a bi-national yarn hunt. Karin has written a nice report in Swedish; Litet nystan: Garnspan i Luxembourg.

The Phildar store was lovely as ususal, but many of the new qualities on display had a distinct autumney feel about them. Many of the summer yarns were removed from the shelves and stored in the back of the shop. Sometimes I get the feeling that Phildar is too trend-driven, it doesn't really make sense to sell pattern catalogues where the yarn is already on its way out, and to sell yarn when you don't yet have any matching patterns. The shop can always order yarn from the main storehouse somewhere in France, I think they have qualities dating a few years back, but then you need to wait a while.

I have high hopes for the summer sales in a few weeks time. I need to make a list of projects I want to do and the amount of yarn I will need. The Phildar sales are ususally 50% off on the yarns of the season.

I bought a lovely new yarn for a set of mittens and a scarf, but I can't find any shade cards online yet.


Phildar Wervik has some qualities (among others the fascinating Phil Onde, see for instance Chicknits' knitalong from last year and my chlorophyll sweater) on sale already. (The page is not available from the English version of the site, you need to go to the French version and choose the page "Fin de série")

Noting your knits and other ideas

Here is a short tutorial to describe the notebook I made for my secret friend in Norway.

To do it you need:
- some yarn (I used 1 ball each of Lana Grossa Solo and Lana Grossa Da Capo)
- felt
- a ring-bound notebook ( I bought a lovely Canson notebook at our art supplies store)
- matching thread and buttons
- a pen


Start by knitting a very short multidirectional scarf
The number of stitches vary with the yarn used and the size of your notebook. Keep increasing the first triangle of the "scarf" until its sides (not the "live" side where the needle is) are the same width as the notebooks height. Continue with the next triangle, and work until you have enough to cover your notebook. Finish using the alternative ending given in the pattern. (Please note that it the scarf must be knit in garter stitch for the pattern to work.) I used a randomly striped pattern of one, two or three ridges of each yarn.


Cut a piece of felt the same height as the cover of the notebook, and sew it on to one end of your "scarf". No seam allowance is needed if you sew close to the edge, the elasticity of the knitted material will make it work anyway and you will get a snug fit.


Check that the first piece of felt fits the cover, and fold the "scarf" neatly over to see where the second piece of felt will be attached. Sew it on as before.


Make a small penholder from left-over felt, and attach buttons. I crocheted loops for the buttonholes. An other solution could be to attach a ribbon and tie a bow.


Voilà! Ready to roll. I think I need to make one for myself!

25 no more..., a bag and a revision

Bonne Marie has spent some time in Paris, and in one of Phildar's shops she spotted a very nice lime green sweater. It's in Phildar's catalogue16-25 ans Tendances, and I like it a lot. But I'm far from 25... I'll visit a Phildar store next week, and I'll take a look at the catalogue and the available sizes. I have gained a few kilos these last 15 years...

I have received my fourth package from the Nordic secret friend exchange, a lovely hand-woven bag. The same person got my package, and she seems happy with the contents. Pictures and a short tutorial will follow.

I mentioned the White stripes cardigan and gave an optimistic deadline for the 6th of june - Sweden's national holiday. I have been busy doing other things, and the new revised timetable aims for the first of July. We'll see.

Preview: Interweave Knits fall 2005 projects

Interweave knits offers a peek into the autumn edition. What a relief! I see several projects in my not-to-distant future. My favourites, after a quick look at the small photos, are Textured coat, Vintage-Inspired jacket, Union Square Market Sweater and the Weekend Getaway Satchel.

I'm curious about the Knitscape magazine, is this something completely new?