In the old times - Ennen vanhaan

That's what this hat and scarf set looks like to me - like something a girl/boy would have worn in the old times. It has this distinctive home-made look to it.
The yarn is a beautiful Camel/Llama/Alpaca blend that I received a couple of years ago in Secret Pal yarn swap. I fell in love with the yarn as it was so lofty and soft. But I didn't have a clue what to make out of it - until now. I decided on a hat using the same design that on my DH's hat, just recounted the stitches to accommodate smaller needles. I also wanted a pompom on top. Thought it would look nice with this design. And it does.

After completing the hat I still had more than 1 skein left and wanted to make a scarf with the equally quaint feel to it. Knitted a braid and then finished it off with a simple crochet edge.
Apart from shedding quite a bit while knitting - I loved working with this yarn. So squishy. The heathery mix of different browns and greys is just beautiful.

Neuloin tämän pipo+ kaulaliinasetin helmikuun aikana ja siitä tulee mieleeni vanhat sodan aikaiset valokuvat, joissa hiihdetään tai ollaan lumisotasilla... Sain ihanaisen laama/Kameli/alpakkalangan jo pari vuotta sitten Secret Pal lankavaihdossa ja siitä asti olen aina välillä miettinyt mitä ihmettä siitä tekisin.

Halusin jotain langan luonteeseen sopivaa - eli vähän rustiikkia ja kotikutoisen näköistä mutta samalla sellaista, jolle saisi paljon käyttöä pakkasissa. Eli päädyin neulomaan siitä pipon samalla mallilla, jota käytin mieheni pipoon. Laskin vain silmukkaluvut uusiksi puikkokoon pienetessä parilla pykälällä ja lopuksi kiinnitin päälaelle tupsun. En muista milloin mulla olisi ollut tupsupipoa - mutta se on jotenkin niin hellyyttävä tässä pipossa... en voinut vastustaa kiusausta.
Huivi on yksinkertaisuuden ylistys. Simppeli letti-palmikointikuvio, jota neuloin itselleni sopivan pätkän, samanlaisella oikeilla ja nurjilla raidoitetulla pohjalla kuin pipossakin. Kehystin neulotun huivin virkatulla reunuksella ja valmista tuli. Helposti. Lanka oli aivan ihastuttavaa - mitä nyt varisi melkoisesti neulottaessa. Nyt ensimmäisen kylvyn jälkeen ylenpalttinen karvojen lähtö on onneksi loppunut ja kaulaliina on vain ihanan pehmeä ja lämmin.
Patterns: none /mine - Ohjeet: omasta päästä
Yarn:Argyle fibre mill/ Fifty-mile fiber Houseblend (icelandic wool, alpaca and llama!)
Needles: 6mm for hat & 7 mm for the scarf
Crochet hook:5mm

3rd SP13 Package arrived!

3rd package from my secret pal arrived yesterday and once again - it was a hit. Lovely yarn. Really nice booklets with a local touch (Hello Wisconsin!!- just had to say that - remember TV series "the 70's show"??? ) and M&M's for my daughters. Fantastic! I also got a card which revealed my secret pals identity - Thank you Kate! This was my 1st secret pal round and truly enjoyable.

Kolmas paketti SP13 vaihtoon liittyen saapui vihdoin eilen (oli postin sivujen mukaan tullut lajittelukeskukseen jo 27.2 - miten voi kestää 5 päivää sieltä omaan postiin???). Ihanuuksia taas koko paketti täynnä. Lankaa, neuleohjevihkosia ja namia. Kiitokset kuuluvat Stash house-blogin Katelle Winsconsinista.

So what was in it:Wisconsin Winter Socks - and other goodies - booklet (which begins with: "Some knitters live in boring climates and endure the same warm temperature year round. Not everyone wakes up to an invigorating blast of cold wind against weathered cheeks... " )
The Wonderful Wallaby - a hooded sweater for all ages - booklet
Knitcircus Issue #5
and lovely yarn:
wonderfully soft and lofty (and extremely warm . I would imagine) Houseblend (icelandic wool, alpaca and llama!) from Argyle fibre mill/fifty-mile fiber in a lovely rustic brown (2 big skeins - I'm already pondering what to make with it...:-) and a Gorgeous kettle dyed sockyarn from Rio de la Plata. ( I think 400yds should be enough for a small lacy scarf)
A great package . Thank you!!
Yummy...

Amazing package!- Uskomaton paketti!

I got a package from my secret pal yesterday.

It is amazing.

So amazing and huge that I dreamed about it last night. I cannot believe all that was for me! So much yarn! Gorgeous colours! Alpaca. Merino. Silk. (do I still need to go on?) Ahhh....

Take a Look:

Yarn to die for: Ewetopia Fibershop 100% superwash merino Hand dyed (I know - fabulous stuff!!) sock yarn in gorgeous colour (it's a bit more terrracotta-ish in nature- Love it!)

Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine (50%Peruvian Wool, 20% Alpaca, 30% Nylon) in heathered dark plum . (I'm going to knit posh socks with it...) And Mountain Colours Winter Lace in Copper(50%wool, 50%silk) Just gorgeous. Wish you could feel it. So my colour.

Wildfoote Luxury Sock yarn (75%wool/25%nylon) in Ragtime (I have just the shoes to match:-) and 2pcs DP Wip Tubes although only one set in the photo because I just had to try the other one immediately. Works beautifully. Really handy!! (I cast on with Wildfoote right after taking this photo , It's going to become RPM )

Personal touch : couple of recipes that I (or my DH) have to try.. (Brownie pudding sounds delicious!) Jelly beans for my daughters. Although they are only going to get them when they behave well... (hopefully very soon!) The Sow's Ear-project bag in use. Holding my wip Tomten from Opinionated Knitter. (Previous gift from my secret pal)

I'm so happy:-) Thank you Secret Pal!

Hain eilen postista paketin Jenkeistä. Secret Pal oli todella pistänyt parastaan. Aivan uskomaton paketti - ihania lankoja, wip-kassi, pari herkullisen tuntuista reseptiä, vähän namia tytöille, wip-sukkapuikkokotelot... Olen melkein mykistynyt. (paitsi että olen jo luonut silmukat Wildefootista ja kassi & toinen wip-sukkapuikkokoteloistakin on jo otettu käyttöön.)Uskomatonta.

Christmas! - Joulu!

Yesterday was Christmas Eve and we celebrated. We decorated our Christmas tree that my DH had brought in on 23rd. Girls did most of decorating, which explains the placement of gingerbread-decorations and all... (We baked gingerbread cookies on 23rd and iced them...)

In the morning we went to sauna and my parents arrived to celebrate with us before noon. Had some rice porridge and then continued by just spending time together , eating , lots of chocolate, and after dinner Joulupukki came and we had presents. It is true that Joulu is most of all for children - to see the joy on their faces when they got presents was worth more than anything. (Amanda was jumping up'n'down with every new present and they were so excited...Just wonderful!)

Because it was special day we let the girls stay awake until late (it was probably around 11pm when they finally nodded off) Just a lovely Christmas eve.

Today we've been playing with Singstar (our 5-year-old is really good!! ) eating etc. Weather outside is pretty as well - we had a tiny bit of snow couple of days ago and now it's -3Celsius and we've seen the sun (!a rarity this time a year!)

Ihana Joulu! Pari päivää sitten satoi snadisti lunta ja koko maisema kirkastui. Nyt Joulupäivänä olo on seesteinen ja mukava. Eilinen jouluaatto meni perinteikkäästi - aloitimme joulusaunalla ja jatkoimme päivää syömällä ja seurustelemalla. Aamusella tytöt koristelivat myös kuusen itseleivotuilla (ja -koristelluilla)pipareilla ja lameella. (mikä selittää hieman tuota koristeiden asettelua... Ihan ylös kun on vaikea yltää jos omaa pituutta on vain hieman alle ja hieman yli metri...)

Illalla joulupukki kävi ja toi kasapäin lahjoja. Voi sitä riemua! Kaikki oli niin Ihanaa. Ja "kato äiti tätä" "Voi tätä mä toivoin! " jne. Kyllä joulu on lasten juhla. (ja upeeta kun kaikista lahjoista osaa iloita ihan yhtä lailla - oli ne sitten pieniä, tai suuria)

Sitten Secret Pal 13 toisen kysymyksen kimppuun:

There was a Secret Pal 13 2nd question roughly a week ago -

Part A:Are you doing any holiday knitting?

Yes - I did knit a scarf for my friend and a pair of socks for my dad. and I'm still knitting a scarf for my mum...

Part B:Have you finished?

Yes and no - I'm still working on it with my mom's scarf but here are photos for the other two:

Scarf for my friend -

Pattern: Feather Scarf (slightly modified) by Wenlan Chia from Twinkle's Big City Knits (ravelry link)

Yarn: Rowan Ribbon Twist in "Regency" less than 3 skeins (<300g)

Needles: River John 12mm straight

I'm very happy with this scarf, I've made one for myself last spring and immediately thought of my friend, then found this beatiful plum coloured yarn and it was perfect match. I hope she likes it as well.

Socks for my dad. Very happy with these as well, they fit beautifully and my dad seemed happy to get them.
Pattern: my own
Yarn: 7 Veljestä by Novita in dark blue (between 100-150g)
Needles: 3,25 Harmony dpns

Thanks Secret Pal! - Kiitos SP!

Last few days have been pretty miserable, as girls have caught a bad cold and so have I , so I'm trying to hold on and manage somehow while having fever myself. .. I'm not worried about me, but seeing my youngest one having burning fever and no strength at all is just sad. (She had her Birthday today - Cannot believe she is already 1! what a birthday - .. but hope she's getting better by Saturday when we've been planning to have a party for her) Fortunately my oldest daughter got better today (as did I) and she's now fine. (I hope) On the other hand the Wild-One is now getting really ill.... I need strength!

But - it is not all misery here - In the afternoon I walked to our postbox and look - a package from my Secret Pal!

I opened it and -

Woaah! Wonderful! I love it! I've wanted to have EZ's Opinionated Knitter for some years - and now I have it. It is a gem. Thank You - thank you my Secret Pal - whoever you are!


Viime päivät täällä on ollut täysi sairastupa päällä. Minä ja vanhin sekä nuorimmainen kaikki kuumeessa... Nuorin neiti täytti tänään 1v kuumeen kourissa - toivottavasti paranee lauantaiksi, jolloin olisi tarkoitus juhlia ensimmäistä täyttä vuotta...
Nyt illalla vanhin on kunnossa mutta Villikko on vuorostaan kuumeessa... Onneksi oma olo on parantunut, jaksaa huomattavasti paremmin kun itse ei ole ihan taju pois, kun koittaa hoitaa muita:-)


Päivän ehdoton kohokohta oli käynti postilaatikolla, jonne oli ilmestynyt postia Secret Paliltani!! Aivan loistavaa! EZ'n Opinionated Knitter, jota olen himoinnut jo useamman vuoden. Kiitos! - Kiitos! kuka sitten oletkin.

Secret Pal 13 Q&A

This is the first time I participate to any swap so should be interesting. Here are my answers to Secret Pal 13 questionnaire:

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?
I love alpaca and all natural fibres, especially hemp, linen, silk, merino and those still quite new fibres such as soy & sea silk, corn etc. I do not like acryl. Hate it. Any yarn I knit with should have at least 50% of natural fibres in it (although I do consider viscose as a natural fibre... even though it is not).

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?
I'm still very unorganised in that department. (after all - I've "only" been knitting for over 25 years so why hurry?;-) I have a big basket where I put everything. So it is a big mess. And takes a long time to find anything...

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?
I've been knitting forever. I cannot remeber how I learned. Maybe from my mom(?) but I wasn't even at school yet. I would call myself Fearless Advanced - meaning that I know quite a lot, and then I know that there are lots of tricks that I do not know - but I'm willing to fearlessly attack on any challenge and learn more as I go...

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Nope

5. What's your favorite scent?
I like orange & my perfume is pure Amber scent from l'Occitane. (I don't like lavender, vanilla or white flowers)

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?
Oh yes. Nothing beats good dark chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?
I don't know how to spin. Would like to learn though. I sew clothes and home furnishings. I know how to crochet but very seldomly do it.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)
Yes my laptop can handle MP3s. I used to be a huge industrial fan (Skinny Puppy, Young Gods, Fear Factory etc..) but I have mellowed down somewhat and broaden my taste in music - I listen to Tori Amos, Depeche Mode, NIN, Faithless, Danko Jones, Infected Mushroom...

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?
Warm autumnal shades are all very "me" (warm greens, rust, orange, gold, brown, petrol blue) I do not like cold colours. no pinks, greys or blues for me!

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?
I'm married to a wonderful man and we have 3 small daughters. No pets.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?
Yes to first three (it gets cold here during winter months) but not ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?
It depends on my mood. Socks, hats, lace, sweaters, knits for children &babies, accessories. Like to knit them all.

13. What are you knitting right now?
Currently on needles: Pi shawl, "couple" of accessories for xmas presents, Iceland top, Baby cables ...-sweater, Perugino throw

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?
Yes

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I always use either circulars or dpns. (wooden/bamboo & addi circulars and bamboo/wooden dpns)

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?
Nope

17. How old is your oldest UFO?
Over two years. A damned pair of socks that I might never finish.

18. What is your favorite holiday? What winter holiday do you observe?
I like Joulu (xmas ) - without the religious content. It's all about leaving the darkness behind as days are getting longer again and having good time with family, eating well - and giving & receiving gifts.

19. Is there anything that you collect?
Not really - if you don't count knitting related books & yarn;-)

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?
I'd love to have Norah Gaughan booklets and those fab Japanese lace pattern books. Oh - and Elizabeth Zimmermanns "opinionated knitter".
I subscribe to IK & buy every issue of VK

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?
All of them as soon as I hear about them!

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?
Yes I am. my foot is quite narrow (European) size 38-39. (23,5cm)

23. When is your birthday?
April 2nd.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?
Yes. I'm A-L on Ravelry.