World in Color

Last Sunday was my last chance to see Kaffe Fassets´ works at Silkeborg Museum, home of the Tollundman, a bog body from early Iron Age. He has his own webside here. We paid him a short visit and walked the 20 meters from the dark bog colors directly into the Kaffe Fassett colorful world.

His jackets are gorgeous, however, I adore his textiles for the home. This counterpane almost took my breath.

I sat down for 10 minutes to watch a video in which Kaffe Fassett, on a trip to Vietnam, tells how he is inspired by patterns and colors. It opened my eyes and during the last week I have appreciated pattern and colors in my surroundings so much more.

This is my curly kale in the snow. Still growing fresh leaves for the green sprinkling, topping my bread and fried egg.

And here is all my bedding out for some fresh air.

And here is the weather forecast.

On the needles this week was a pair of socks for the 9-year-old granddaughter. 

From time to time someone asks me why I bother to work time-consuming knitting details. Why not just go for a vanilla sock? Here is why.

- The first row is worked like this for a more elastic cast on edge: *knit 2tog, stall- don´t let the stitch off the left needle, knit the first stitch again, slip both stitches. Repeat from*

- The 1x1 ribbing is: knit one in the back leg, purl. For a more elastic ribbing.

-The lace patterns. This simple lace pattern makes the sock cling to the foot like the young monkey to his mum, and you do not have to heave it from the toe of your boot every 5 minute. With only 56 stitches, I skipped the first and the 16th stitch and row 8 and 9.

-The slip stitch heel pattern is for more durability. In this case the stitches are staggered because I think it is cute for a girl´s sock.

Yarn: Drops Fabel. 310 Sunset

Pattern: Cookie A.´s: Monkey 

Needle size: 2,25 mm

inexplicably woven

 I really envy people who have the ability to put together colors and transform them into new expressions. I would really like to learn.
I have read two articles which has been a great inspiration. One is from Knitty by Robin Dodge and one is from Knitter´s Review.
At present I work a shawl with two thin threads and it gives me an opportunity to mix both fibers, wool and alpaca, and colors. My inspiration comes when I look into my garden and see how Autumn changes my garden.

A few years ago I knit a cardigan.

The bright yellow and the subtle green turned into this color.

I was inspired by this jacket. The shawl is Daybreak. Stephen West has a wonderful new website. Don´t hesitate to pay him a visit.

it is talking to me

It is always exciting when a new Knitty is published. I like the innovative and playful attitude towards knitting, new ideas and interesting articles.

In this issue, the historic pattern translated by Franklin Habit, is Lady´s Traveling Cap from 1847. It made me grab at my needles and embroidery yarn, leftovers from this Danish shawl from 1845. I wrote about it here.

The cap pattern calls for five shades of any light color, plus white. The shades blend from darker to light and back. Just like the shawl. I think it is funny how knitting fashion was international, even 165 years ago.
However, the best part for me, is how Franklin Habit describes his fascination by exploring these old pattern. It was as written out of my heart. English is not my native language and I do not always have the words to express myself. And now I have a cap for my shawl.

Shawl 1845

The shawl from 1845 is done, and blocking.
I have weaved in ends but will wait to cut them until it is completely dry. Whenever I work these old patterns I sit and memorize what I know about the period. The author of the pattern was a head principal and perhaps she has used this pattern for her pupils. It is an easy and fun knit and the colors and symmetry will appeal to girls. Even today. The colors are extremely bold. However, people at that time really loved the new chemical colors that did not fade like the old ones. From a book about Van Gogh I have taken some funny photos to remind me how extreme the paintings were at that time.

Van Gogh had a Japanese lacquered box in which wools were kept.
He used to make up combinations of complementary colors.
I recommend this pattern for people who work at open air museums in the period 1845- 90. It is an easy way to dress up for an original urban Victorian outfit.