While my baby blocks

The secret Magknits thing is blocking and it looks good. Now I just need to get the pattern down and to arrange a photo session. This is so exiting!

Waiting for water

I am waiting for a package from Sweden, stuffed with these wonderful creations. It is the kind and talented Ulla who has dyed a whole lot of alpacka for me. I don't know if she gives her colourways names, in my mind this is water (for the moment, I might change my mind once I meet these beauties in person). I have some ideas, but other suggestions are always welcome. Should I do this, with a touch of glitter? Or this, with double yarn (might eliminate some unwanted pooling). Or maybe something wavy, like the sweater Ulla started herself in a similar colour.

Another alternative would be to knit matching scarves for everyone I know.

The Magknits thing moves along nicely and the yarn ends are already waving their little tails at me.

Back, inspired and dreaming of Vino.

I have seen so many lovely lace shawls this summer, and the most gorgeous ones are always made from Kidsilk Haze. As a matter of fact, I have seen some nice ones made from variegated wool too, but as with the famous "Charlotte's web" I often find that the colour changes kill the lace. Today I made a web visit to Stricken Wolle Design. They are showing Rowan Kidsilk Spray, with just the perfect amount of colour variation. Mmm, how about a Vino shawl for those glühwein moments waiting around the corner? I am seriously tempted.

This is my first day back from the holidays. I have been knitting on my Magknits thing, but I ran out of the main colour and now I'm patiently waiting for my supplier to supply me with the missing skein. I started a top-down raglan cardigan in Phil Onde for Joel, but it has been progressing slowly. I was knitting on the first sleeve last night, and I worry that it will be too baggy for him.

I bought some balls of Quick from Lana Grossa Basic, Lana Grossa's new second line. It was ment for the Magknits project but a swatch proved it to be a bad choice. Now it's trying to become an alligator, based on an error-ridden free Lion Brand pattern. I hope it will turn out OK anyway.

I bought the new issue of Rebecca the other day, but I am not too impressed. They show a lot of sweaters using their Cashmere yarn. The last time I checked, one 25 g ball sells for 16 euro. I can't imagine a pattern alluring enough for me to shell out that kind of money. The Rebecca designers can't either.

Luckily, there are other designers in the world. I have just received Teva Durham's book Loop-d-loop. I love it. There are some items I long to knit (The slinky tree bark tunic is the first on my list), but most of all, it's the most inspirational knitting book I've come across in a very long time.

For knitters planning to visit Thun, Switzerland, I can recommend a small but very well stocked little yarn shop in the center of the old town. I managed to leave without buying anything, only because our car was packed to the limit.