Tendrils

This sock pattern is called Tendrils, the designer´name is Mary Lou Egan.

Here is another pattern from her knitting basket : Coquille 

 Mrs Egan is inspired by organic shapes - and knitting her patterns makes me think of the Art Nouveau period: In Denmark called "Skønvirke" (1895-1920) The decorations were inspired by wild flowers, insects and the flora and fauna of the sea.
Kristian Rørdam, Danmarks Tilblivelse (1898) A wild danish forest, drawn in "skønvirke" style (Danish Arts and crafts : Art Nouveau, Jugend style").

In Britain the movement was called arts and craft.

"The Arts and Crafts style started as a search for aesthetic design and decoration and a reaction against the styles that were developed by machine-production. Arts and Crafts objects were simple in form, without superfluous decoration, and how they were constructed was often still visible. They tended to emphasize the qualities of the materials used ("truth to material"). They often had patterns inspired by  flora and fauna."
This goes for knitting, too.
The sock yarn is an ordinary solid blue, however the stitch pattern has 3D effect on the solid yarn color, reflects the light and makes it look like semisolid. And the knitted fabric becomes elastic and lofty.
Tendrils is a birthday present for my son, who appreciates a hand knit sock.

how to make a knitter happy

 This weekend I had a great trip to Copenhagen. I especially wanted to visit this exhibition:

Faroese knit: art and design
30.04.11 - 23.08.11

So glad I did, it is really something to travel for.. If you are not in Copenhagen this summer, I guess these gorgeous blankets will be shown in other parts of the world. They certainly are worth it. Thanks to Johanna av Steinum these knitted pieces of art could inspire knitters anywhere.

The works are some kind of mix between knitting and quilting. The way the material is used, reminds me of the way you plan to work a rag rug - actually using "rags".
The photo is an antique runner from Sweden. I borrowed it from this shop.

To make a rug like this, you have to have all your rags ready, make a plan, spread the colors. Just like the old quilts.
A place like this it is good for you to sit down for a while for reflections. I rested on one of these felted rock cushions by the South African designer Ronel Jordaan.

This blanket was my favorite.

 From the website:

Faroese knit: art and design exhibits the first knitted artworks from the Faroe Islands, created by Katrina Maria Hansen (Mia) from 1960-1975, and the most recent knitted fashion design by Jóhanna av Steinum.

 As an outsider on the Faroese art scene, K.M. Hansen´s work was discovered by coincidence by knitwear designer Jóhanna av Steinum. Although K.M.Hansen´s artwork was unkown, her skills as a knitter, especially jumpers for the Faroese costume was well acclaimed. In 2007, Jóhanna av Steinum was writing a university thesis about the Faroese costume, and it was in connection to this that Jóhanna av Steinum visited and interviewed the experienced knitter. Steinum accidently found the artwork hidden away in Mia´s home. She immediately knew that she had come across something unique and understood right away that it deserved to be exhibited and preserved.

To use knitting for purposes other than clothing production was highly unusual in the Faroe Islands until in recent years. Knitting was used for functional purposes and for practical use, never in an artful way with purely an aesthetic purpose. To create patterns and combine colors, the way Mia did, was completely unheard of at the time.

Jóhanna av Steinum is a young Faroese fashion designer, where she designs fashion often inspired by Faroese traditional patterns. In recent years, she has been one of the head designers for the Faroese label SIRRI. In addition, Jóhanna av Steinum has exhibited her own works and given lectures and workshops about design and knitting in many countries.

Jóhanna av Steinum was so inspired by Katrina Maria Hansen that she designed a fashion collection based on her knitted artwork.  This exhibition is therefore an interaction between the original works of Katrina Maria Hansen (1913-2010) and the contemporary design of Jóhanna av Steinum. The first knitted Faroese artworks, side by side with the most recent knitted fashion design.

Katrina Maria Hansen died in 2010 at the age of 96, just before the exhibition was realized, so she did not experience the acclaim and attention for her works in connection to this exhibition.  

Before I left the exhibition I worked two rows of the knitting on the ladder. Yarn: three threads fingering wool,held together. Needles: broomsticks.

music, art, knitting

Days with lots of rain, however, one night a wet yellow - rose light poured into my living room and I was lucky to see this from my window, a fantastic sunset. It was just what I needed after a funeral, and taking care of a confused and very old man.

The next day was a lovely summer´s day and I was determined to do some impulse buying, just for me.

I came home with this: the yarn is three threads of linen and one thread cotton. From Karen Noe. I used it for the Balloon dress. and it behaves very well after washing. Blogged here.
The music is piano music by Carl Nielsen. I am very fond of his music. This piece  is called The Fog is Lifting. It is written in 1920.

The cover is a painting by the Danish painter Vilhelm Hammershøi. Here is another one.

 "Interioer" from  Hammershøi's flat in Strandgade 30, Copenhagen. I am actually going to Strandgade, no: 91 this summer to visit this exhibition. I shall write about it in a later post.
I am really looking forward to my vacation in a few weeks and I hope to finish this.

The pattern is Buttercup by Heidi Kirrmeier.

Trompe d'euil

Off needles is a pair of blue jeans. For my 1½ year old granddaughter. The pattern is BLU, and after reading Helen's post about Debbie Bliss' cotton denim aran I decided to use it for the project. However, the brand is discontinued, but Helen generously took six skeins from her stash, one skein in a light shade for the turn-ups, and sent them to me. Thanks, Helen, for this lovely gift, and the fine card. I love your sense of details and noticed how the fur of the cat matches the dark shade of denim. You are right about the yarn. I have washed the pants and the fabric keeps it's softness, perfect for a toddler.

The actual knitting takes no time. But the finishing keeps you occupied and wrapped up for quite a while following the instructions from the clever ladies of the Mason-Dixon Knitting
Last Saturday I went to the National Gallery of Denmark. The Gallery has quite a collection by Cornelis Nobertus Gysbrechts 1630-1683 who worked in a style of painting which gives the appearance of three-dimensional, or photographic realism. Translated from French it means "trick the eye." Trompe d'euil.
I took this photo of a cupboard, it has real hinges but when you open it and see the blank wall behind it you realize that you have been cheated. 

It was while I was working the fake seam I realized I was doing my own piece of Trompe d'euil. In stead of canvas and brush I used a needle and a thread of orange cotton creating fake turn-ups, pockets, fly, rivets and a button to make the illusion. 
After finishing I pinned the work to my display board and admired the work.

First from the front

And from the back. The label is a piece of brown felt.

The last days I tend to see Trompe d'euil everywhere. And curiously enough, I remembered this mural.

It was painted in 2008 and the house lies in a street only five minutes from where my grandchild lives. I like the way the old chimney form the red top of the pencil. And of course the anti-war message in this huge drawing. And why did I come to think of this. Perhaps because the Italian artist's name is Blu.

If you have become interested in seeing more paintings in the Trompe d'euil style, this is, in my opinon, the best way you can spend 3,01 minutes.

 

there's beauty in the silver singing river

This weekend I went to Copenhagen. My sister lives there and had invited us to celebrate her birthday on Sunday.
Saturday afternoon we spent the day together with my Son II and my DIL. First we visited National Gallery of Denmark/ Statens Museum for Kunst. The Museum has run an exhibition of Bob Dylan´s paintings and it was the very last chance to see it. My husband is a dedicated fan.

There's beauty in the silver singing river

There's beauty in the sunrise in the sky

But none of these and nothing else can match the beauty

That I remember in my true love's eyes

- - -Bob Dylan, "Tomorrow is a Long Time" 

Afterwards I took a little stroll to see the other part of the Museum. It has a beautiful new extension and I enjoyed the view of this very old beech through the enormous window.

I was told, that before they built the extension there had been a park with a toboggan run and children had actually sledged at the very spot where we were standing.

I saw many fantastic paintings, however, I fell in love with this one, Melancholy, her shoes and the orange skirt caught my eyes and her expression puzzled me and I decided to borrow a book about the artist next time I go to the library.
When we left the Museum, I noticed this young man sitting outside the Museum wearing sunglasses and suddenly was I was 45 years back in time.

From Culture to Nature. Next door to National Gallery is Botanical Garden with a small cafe and we had our afternoon coffee outside in the April sun.

I just had to look inside the old greenhouse and imagined how it must have been to visit it in 1813 and experience palm trees and exotic flowers before television and photos existed.

Sunday I went to my sister´s birthday. She passes a milestone and only wanted a pair of socks. Loksins! is Icelandic and means Finally!

I thought of Spring when I chose the pattern. The yarn is Shepherd Sock, and the colour is Fjord.

I also bought her a Buff. I wish I could find a stitch pattern and knit a cowl like it. The fabric is extremely elastic but only sideways. It does not give an inch when I try to stretch it vertically.
How to wear it? If you have not seen the video, take a look at it here.
We had such a great Sunday celebrating my sister. We had a gorgeous brunch prepared by her friends and the socks were admired and greatly appreciated.

A Peasant Meal

I aim at living a simple life. It means, that I try not to rush here at Christmas time. However, I love the music and chocolates, but I try to avoid knitted gifts. A week ago I asked my husband if he had a present list. Of course he hadn´t, because he only wanted a pair of socks. I told him in a low voice about my resolution but realized I had to make an exception in his case. His birthday is ultimo May. Not exactly the woolen sock season.
I have a weakness for Hedgehog Fibres and ordered her last colour in stock a sock yarn called Damned Nation. I could not tell from the photo which colour but it was a man´s colour, very dark.

I chose the pattern from Knitting Vintage socks called Gentleman´s Half Hose in Ringwood Pattern from 1899. Nancy Bush tells that the pattern was used for gloves knitted and exported from Ringwood in Hampshire. 
Husband has big feet. 30 cm long. And I was afraid to run out of yarn. Hedgehog fibres sock yarn runs 350 m, so I decided to work the cuff in a black Arwetta from Filcolana.

The leg pattern extends in a very elegant way into the heel flap, and I worked the last 10 rows and the turns with the black Arwetta, too.

While I was knitting I began to wonder which nation this colour was named after. No, I will properly not get an answer, and suddenly my mind moved into the painting by Van Gogh called The Potato Eaters from 1885. Painted in Holland. His palette of this period was black, olive green, raw umber, pale ochre and raw sienna.
The peasants are eating their potatoes, I see the warm light from the oil lamp. The steam from the hot meal, the woman pouring up a hot drink for them all. The painting radiates a respect for manual labour, people working and eating together.

Life is not a problem to be solved

I love open air museums and there is one in Skagen. One of the houses portrays living conditions around 1850 to 1875 for a wealthy fisherman. It is always exciting for me to see the old textiles. And I took some photos. Life was extremely hard, and many fishermen died at sea. The Skagen painters portrayed these people heartrendingly. The painting of the two women and their loss is a preliminary study for a very famous painting by Michael Ancher called The drowned Fisherman 1896

Girls gossiping

I have been away for a holiday to the North of Denmark. Of course I had to go to Skagen Museum to watch all the paintings there. I have been there lots of times and I enjoy the it more and more. There are a lot of paintings of local people living in the late 1800 and especially for me who has so much love for tie shawls, it is joyful to watch.