Flared World-Wide

I recently finished this pleated skirt. The pattern is  free  from Ravelry. It was a stash reducing and experimental project, however it was a success. The yarn is Dansk Pelsuld 8/2 . There are only a few Danish Spinning Mills left. This one, Hjelholt Spinnery, collects wool from farmers who breed Gotlandsheep spins and dye the wool. The sheep are naturally grey and the colors are gorgeous. Why I several years ago chose this dark gray is a mystery for me today, however the 237 grams are now transformed into this flared pleated skirt. I made no mods except for the hem.

 I did this: after picking up stitches from the provisional cast on, I doubled the number of stitches (kfb)and worked 6 rows of double knitting.(k1, sl1pw),Worked a row of 2 stitches together. Turned and doubled the stitch count again (kfb). Turned and worked 6 rows of double knitting and bound off.

 In that way I could use a thin round elastic band. Pulled it through the first hem, made a loop and pulled it back through the second. The button is sewed on to secure the ends of the elastic band.

The skirt is called Bulgarian and it is originally written in Japanese and so fun to wear. The knitting of it made me think of this small Danish film called "Maskens mester", about knitting in Peru. If you have 10 minutes left please link to a wonderful video. Enjoy !

Summer In Progress

Summer in Progress is my Ravelry name for a gorgeous red pullover I just finished. The German name is "Stehkragen-Rolli im Stil von Akris" and in English: Akris-Style Sweater with Stand-Up Collar. 

Again I could not resist a special sleeve construction. This one is called the Dolman sleeve.

The sweater is originally designed by Akris, and the German magazine Für Sie 01/2007 made a pattern. A very nice knitter has made an English version and it is available through RavelryI have worked size Small, from the bottom, back and forth. And followed the pattern as written.

The yarn : http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/brands/karen-noe-design is a cotton/ linen thread which actually is four different colours, red, purple, pink and orange.
It was difficult to make the dolman-decreases the way I wanted,
 and I was thinking ??that if I worked this sweater on a circular maybe I could use this Muhu decrease.

I recently borrowed this book from the library and I think it is absolutely fabulous.

Here is a page chosen at random.

Here is my beauty .....................

And here is the sweater on the catwalk.................................

my winter knitting

This is small Winter paper about the Jacket in Garter Stitch I have mentioned in two previous posts.

My Cristmas present was this pin which is designed for the jacket.

The brooch reminds me of a small ship.

I have recently borrowed two of Vibeke Lind's books, and I am looking forward to Spring Knitting in her knitting universe.

Redy for Sleeves

First an update on my Vibeke Lind and Hanne Vedel Jacket. First sleeve is done and I have ordered the gold pin, which is designed for the jacket. A lovely Christmas present from my father, my husband and myself. 
The sleeve is knit sideways, with saddle shoulder, using short-rows for top-shaping. I am not sure that my cast-on edge and the bind-off ditto will be of equal length so I decided to use provisional cast-on and will sew the sides together with kitchener stitch...(Smiling)Helen has a lovely post which tells what can happen if you have to send your knitting over-seas for seaming.

I have recently worked a pullover using the contiguous sleeve method developed by Susie Myers. I really like the look of my shoulders in that construction. Notice: I had to make some athletic postures to show you this winner. 

Danish Modern

I am about to start a very exiting new project and I can´t wait to share. It is a jacket in garter stitch in a dense fabric. A garment you can´t wear out, in a classic, simple design made by Vibeke Lind, the author of Knitting in the Nordic Tradition. The pattern is in Danish.

The yarn is wool and silk and comes from the weaver Hanne Vedel´s workshop, Spindegården.  One of Hanne Vedel´s latest projects is supplying textiles for the newly restored Trusteeship Council Chamber a gift from Denmark to the United Nations in 1953.

The two shades of brown will be held together. 

For closure goldsmith Anette Kræn has designed a pin.
I took the photo the moment Hanne Vedel wanted to show me the closure. Not a cool thing to do ! I admit.

Victorian style in the year 2012

Last week I visited Aarhus Possementfabrik the last factory for hand made braids and tassels in Denmark.

The owner, Jesper Povlsen tells about his factory and shows their products.His father is last trimming maker since 1965.

This is a tassel for a flag

Yarn used for braids, 110 colors

First impression was a little confusing. The factory also make stuff for modern Danish design.

However, here are photos to show how to make a handmade braid. The yarn at the back is for filling

Follow the red line. 20 meters long.

Around the waist is a belt with spools.

Taking the tension out of the braid to avoid bending.

And here is the beauty (finished braid), twisted of four, two of them are plushy.

***I am working on a shawl in check pattern from 1845. Right now I have the fringe on the needles. You´ll find the receipt on this page.

Have fun!

Mette Sofie Larsdatter 1900

If you liked the Kællingesjal 1897 I believe you will be interested in  this photo.
Mette Sofie Larsdatter Jensen was born in 1838 in Uggerby, in the North of Jutland, only 20 km from the museum where the Kællingesjal was exhibited in 2009.
She was married in 1859 to a shoemaker, Justinus Jensen and they lived and worked in the little town, Bindslev. She had 10 children, six of them lived. 
In 1900 a folklorist, Evald Tang Kristensen, was told that she knew  and remembered a lot of old tales and songs, she had learnt from her mother and grandmother. 
He went to see her to write down what she remembered.

However, it was not easy. The shoemaker had his repair-shop in the living room,  he was a very religious man and he had stomach trouble. He believed that what his wife was telling came from the devil. They were lies and he did not want them written down on paper. He kept asking: what is it good for? He simply could not understand.
After a while the shoemaker got so angry and Ewald Tang Christensen was thrown out, however he made a deal with Mette Sofie. When she had made supper for her husband and finished her work, she went to the teacher´s house and there all the stories she had heard in her childhood were written down and we can read it today. 
In return she was offered to go to the photographer and have her photo taken, and here she is. Sitting in the studio, wearing her ironed apron, her best shawl, and of course with her knitting.