Annis with pearls - Helmi-Annis

As promised yesterday - some photos of the Annis shawl I knitted for myself.
I left out the nupps and replaced some of them with small clear pearls. Also added a few random pearls to the upper stockinette section and added i-cord to the top edge to bring a bit more stability.

For me the pearls look like dew drops on moss.
Pattern: Annis by Susanna IC
Yarn: Madil Kid Seta in #1005
Needles: 5mm
Other: small clear glass pearls + tiny crochet hook

The shawl is wonderfully light (I only used approx 1,5 balls of KidSeta = less than 40g) and so soft. It is also surprisingly warm! I have to say that KidSeta went directly to my favourite yarns list. I always thought that the Rowam Kidsilk haze is the best there is as far as the mohair-silk blends go , but KidSeta is getting close. Very close. It might be even softer than Kidsilk haze. In any case a superb lace-weight kidmohair-silk. Plus it is a joy to knit. And I love that zingy refreshing green colour!!
Kuten eilen tuli luvattua - tässäpä kuvia Annis huivista, jonka neuloin itselleni - ja ilman niitä helvetillisiä (siis neulontaa ajatellen) nyppyjä. Sen sijaan korvasin osan nypyistä pienillä kirkkailla lasihelmillä (Tiimarista;-) ja huvikseni neuloin muutaman helmeen ihan sattumanvaraisiin paikkoihin huivin yläosaankin. Jostain syytä ajattelen kastehelmiä sammalella kun katson huivia. Jotenkin satumaista.
Huivi on valtaisan kevyt - painaa alle 40g. Ja silti todella lämmin. Kuin pehmeän pilven kietoisi kaulan ympärille! Tässä vaiheessa tunnustus: kuvittelin aina ettei rowanin Kidsilk hazen voittanutta lankaa voi olla olemassakaan - mutta Madilin Kidseta pääsee kyllä tosi lähelle. Se on ehkä mahdollisesti jopa pehmoisempi kuin Kidsilk haze ja aivan ihana lanka neuloa. Tietysti väri on myöskin mahtava. Sellainen kirkas ja raikas, mutta murrettu kevään vihreä. Aivan ihana!

(Is it only me - or does the shawl remind you of the fern in this photo?)
(Tuleeko kenellekään muulle mieleen saniaisen lehti tästä vikasta kuvasta?)

Annis

Yesterday we celebrated my mother's birthday and this is what I gave her.

Eilen juhlittiin äitini synttäreitä ja lahjani näytti tältä.
In addition to the book I gave her Annis shawl that I made in January.
Kirjan lisäksi annoin Annis huivin, jonka neuloin tammikuussa.
Pattern: Annis shawl by Susanna IC
Yarn: Lotus yarns Cashmere fingering in Turquoise (100% Casmere)
Needles: 5mm & 6mm Addi circulars

The yarn could not be any softer and the bright turquoise happens to be one of my moms favourite colours. I had my share of difficulties on the nubby rows of Annis (those p7tog are not enjoyable at all!) But after that it was all smooth sailing and the finished shawl is a real winner. I actually love this design so much that I have already whipped up one for myself as well... (no photos yet)
Lanka oli mahdottoman pehmeää, kuin vain 100% kashmirlanka voi olla. Ja kun kirkas siniturkoosi on vielä yksi äitini lempiväreistä niin tämä oli mieluisa lahja. Tykästyin itsekin malliin niin paljon että neuloin saman mallisen huivin itselleni (tosin ilman niitä kammottavia 7 oikein yhteen - nyppyjä. Siis nypyt näyttävät hyviltä mutta meinas hermo mennä niitä vääntäessä)

p7tog

The other day the postman brought these lovelies that I ordered some time ago from Die Wollbox. Incredible lace yarns: 100% cashmere (turquoise), a natural coloured50% camel/50% silk and some gorgeously spring- green kid mohair/silk.
The cashmere already jumped on the needles. I'm knitting Annis shawl for my mom as a birthday gift. (I think I can pretty safely mention it here because she never visits this blog)

I love the yarn and the pattern looks great but.... there are 3 rows where you repeatedly purl 7 together, which is a pain in the a**e. I literally through the whole damn thing to the floor as I got so frustrated of p7tog. So here's a free tip : if you want to remain calm and collected ( or even just not going bonkers) do not try to knit 100& lace weight cashmere on standard addi circulars...
Ok, now that I've vented a bit I'm gonna go and take yet another try of those bloody p7togs. I will knit this if it was the last thing I ever did. See you later.

Skew socks

This design was total addiction to me. Once I started - I was not able to put my needles down. I had my moments of doubt - because at some point my brain just could not comprehend how these could ever grow into socks that fit. (once I got to the point of photo below- I could have sworned that the socks are going to be way too big...) But perseverance and blind faith(!) paid off and the end result is wonderful. Magickal even.
Pattern: Skew by Lana Holden from Knitty winter 2009.
Yarn: Garnstudio Drops Fabel
Needles: 2,5mm

Love the way this design forms funny angles and makes this super boring yarn look good. (which is a nice benefit - as I've had this yarn in my stash for ages..) So one more pair of socks for me - which is needed as fall has finally arrived and day temperatures have dropped below +15 celsius. And I find myself reaching for a pair of cozy wool socks the first thing in the morning when getting out of bed. No more bare feet before next spring...