KNITS - MORE OR LESS

I came across the designer Nanna van Blaaderen while searching for inspiration, and her collections is like nothing I've ever seen.  I find them utterly fascinating.


Below are the shots from her collection named "More or Less".  I find some of them to be so decorative, like abstract sculptures.  I absolutely love the attention to detail.  Look at the amazingly braided hair and how it goes with the texture in the fabric.

 

"The sculptural handknitted collection 'More or Less' is inspired by organic forms, animal life and nature. Using thick woolen yarns in off-white colors, Nanna van Blaaderen experimented in combining knitting techniques with braidingtechniques. This resulted in various expressive garments of voluminous structures and forms."
 

- nannavanblaaderen.com -

MADMANKNITTING - QUESTIONED BY POLICE

I came across an article about this man who was approached by police officers and questioned because he was knitting at Starbucks...  
It's a lovely article, and it really made me smile, I really recommend that you read it.   :)  You will find the article further down in this blog post.
Even though it did make me smile, I also felt for this guy who was just trying to drink his black coffee in a corner while knitting, as he was being stared and prodded at...

I got curious about who this guy was, this "Madmanknitting" as he calls himself, and popped by his blog. I recommend you do the same.  It was an interesting read, and I sure felt like adopting one of his teddy bears at the end of it. 

"Madmanknitting" is also known as Gregory Patrick.  He is a writer and knitter in Orlando, Florida. Patrick writes the blog madmanknitting.wordpress.com, where this post first appeared. Check out his hand-knit teddy bears //HERE.

Gregory and one of his teddy bears.

"A year ago I lost everything and had to find a way to feed myself. Somehow, I fell back on my old hobby of knitting to survive. What was a born was a teddy bear that has grown in popularity and adoration."

- Gregory Patrick -

I Was Questioned By The Police

I’m sitting at Starbucks, which I rarely do. Its hard to knit there. I lot of people still find it weird for a man to be knitting in public. But, for us fellas that knit, its nothing short of ordinary. There are MANY people that see us, see what we’re doing and find themselves asking us lots of questions. And they have no problem stopping to ask questions while you’re in the middle of counting.

I’ve been asked on numerous occasion in email if I ever go out to knit with groups or have knitting friends. Sadly, I don’t. I’m too busy counting. I can’t lift my head from the stitches to hear what’s being said. I’m so focused. I’m there with the rows, both knit side and purl sides facing with the work, and the rest of the world falls away into….well, nothing.

So, I’m at said Starbucks working up one of my teddy bears, roughly 8am, figured I was safe, not too many people running in and out. And as I’m working on row 10 of the body of the bear, I see three sets of Orange County Sheriffs officer’s legs approach.

I hear the clearing of a voice, “ahem….What are you doing?”

I look up and see them staring at me strangely. A trio of enormously inquisitive men in their early 30′s pulling up their belts, propping themselves in that “stance.” Authoritative, broad, forceful.

Now, you’ve seen how I look. I imagine I was mistaken for a vagrant and was going to be asked to move along. They do it at Starbucks all the time. Little known secret. You can look rough and sit outside with your coffee and yes, someone will ask you to MOVE on if they think that coffee was left behind by someone else. Even though I’ve paid for the coffee, all it takes is a yuppie couple with a baby feeling “threatened” by the unsavory looking guy outside. “Could you ask him to leave? Did he PAY for that coffee? Or is he just taking up space so we can’t sit out there with our SUV sized baby stroller? Besides he smells of….something (Old Spice) and our little one is allergic……” Happens all the time. They spent a gazillion dollars on a latte and a cappuccino and all I had was a tall coffee, with no room for milk. I’m not as important.

You know how it is. Oh, YOU KNOW how it is….

“What is that you’re doing?” One of the officer’s asked, staring me dead in the face.

“I’m making a teddy bear.”

“But, WHAT is it you’re doing? Is that needlepoint?”

“No! No, it’s knitting.”

“I KNEW IT,” he screamed to the guy to his left! “See? I told you it was knitting! I just never saw anyone do it with 4 needles before. That ain’t needlepoint! I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT!!!”

“OH! Yeah! Well, its so you can work up stuff without a seam.”

“A teddy bear, you said?”

“Yea…..or socks. You can do all kinds of things if you can work double pointed needles.”

The other two were equally impressed. “I’ve never seen anyone do knitting like that before.”

Ok. So, here is where my own charm popped in. I WANTED to say, “It’s quite common. These are double pointed needles. Its basic knitting 101.”

Oh, no. A trio of hot, burly, sexy virile young deputies????

I replied, “That’s cuz I’m a master, a knitting ninja….,” I twirled one of the double pointed needles between my fingers. “Yeah. Ninja….”

They all laughed, snorting coffee out of their noses and spilling crumpet crumbs to the ground. (Funny, huh? Cops with crumpets? ha ha!) One shook my hand and said, “I’m impressed. I’ve never seen a man knit before…..but I have DEFINITELY  never met a knitting ‘ninja’ before. This your usual time?”

It was about 8am. “Yeah….yeah, it is.”

“Ok, we’ll see you next time…..and if you have any trouble you let us know. Even ninjas need back up.”

Thanks, fellas. I will…..The next time I’m there, I’ll complain about a yuppie couple with a stroller giving me a hard time :)

Adopt a teddy bear!  PLEASE!!!!  Mario and I need groceries and such. :)

- Gregory Patrick -
madmanknitting.wordpress.com

SLOW-TV KNITTING ON NRK

One lucky lamb will be coming to national fame as NRK television stages National Knitting Night on Nov. 1. 2013! 

"Couch potatoes: Mark your calendars.

Norway's NRK television network, the folks who brought you 12 hours of a crackling fire in February and 5 1/2 days of a cruise ship steaming along the Arctic coast in 2011, plans to carry five hours of live knitting as its next "Slow TV" offering.

The Friday night prime-time event on Nov. 1 is a bid by Norwegian wool shearers, yarn spinners and avid knitters to capture the world record from Australia for producing a sweater, from sheep's back to human's."

Read the full article in the Los Angeles Times //HERE
- By Carol J. Williams


What exactly is "slow-TV"?  
"Slow television, or Slow TV, is a term used for a genre of live "marathon" television coverage of an ordinary event in its complete length. Its name is derived both from the long endurance of the broadcast as well as from the natural slow pace of the television program's progress. 

The concept was widely introduced by Tumlarmedia of Stockholm. Later examples are the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation's live coverage of the complete 7-hour train ride along the Bergen Line (Bergensbanen) on 27 November 2009 and the live coverage of the Hurtigruten ship MS Nordnorge during its 134-hour voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes starting on 16 June 2011.

Both events received extensive attention in both Norwegian and foreign media, and were considered a great success with coverage numbers exceeding all expectations and record ratings for the NRK2 channel."

- click //HERE for full article.-
-wikipedia -


The TV Channel NRK made a very nice video presentation of the project in english, and have it available on their web pages.  Take a look //HERE, and scroll down until you see the video as highlighted in the image below, and hit the blue play button.

So what do you think?  Will you be watching NRK's "kniting project"?
http://strikk.net

OVERSIZED KNIT - DONNA KARAN

Dette må være den mest fascinerende strikkede genseren jeg har sett på lenge.  Den gjorde definitivt ett inntrykk!  Du finner den //HER.

Jeg elsker oversized og comfy, og denne faller så absolutt innenfor disse kategoriene.  Snakker om genser man kan bo i!  :)

Jeg er overbevist om at denne hadde vært utrolig tøff som stylet med en stor messy bun på hodet, røffe skinny jeans, og noen skikkelige platform pumps som beige eller svarte louboutins med den velkjente røde sålen.



//This has to be the most fascinating knit I've seen for a long time.  Let's just say that it definitely made an impression! You can find it //HERE.

I love oversized and comfy sweaters, and this for sure fits both categories.  Talk about a sweater you could practically live in! :)

I'm convinced that his piece would be perfect accompanied by a large messy bun, roughed up skinny jeans, and some platform pumps with a serious attitude, like nude or black louboutins with the signature red sole.//

I HAVE YOUR YARN STASH

TRENDY SOFT SWEATER - RECIPE

This sweater is soft and wonderful, perfect for the colder evenings now as fall is slowly coming closer.  It is perfect for beginners, as it's fast and really easy to do.

Good luck!

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MATERIALS AND PREPARATIONS 
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SIZE:
S - M - L - XL - XXL - XXXL

FINISHED MEASUREMENTS:
Bust: 90-100-110-120-130-140 cm / 
35½''-39 3/8''-43 3/8''-47¼''-51''-55''

Full length: 66-68-70-72-74-76 cm / 
26''-26¾''-27½''-28 3/8''-29 1/8''-30'' 

MATERIALS: 
DROPS ALPACA BOUCLÉ from Garnstudio
150-150-200-200-200-250 g color no 0100, off white

And use:
DROPS SYMPHONY from Garnstudio
250-300-300-350-350-400 g color no 01, off white

And use:
DROPS COTTON VISCOSE from Garnstudio
200-200-200-250-250-300 g color no 02, off white

NEEDLES:
size 12 mm / US 17 – or size needed to get 8 sts in stockinette st with 1 strand of each yarn (= 3 strands) = width 10 cm / 4''.
CIRCULAR NEEDLES:
size 10 mm / US 15 (40-60 cm / 16"-24") - for neck edge.



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BEFORE YOU START
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GARTER ST (back and forth on needle):
K all rows. 1 ridge = 2 K rows.

PATTERN:
See diagrams A.1 and A.2. Diagrams show all rows in pattern seen from RS.

DIAGRAM:

	=	K from RS, P from WS
	=	K from WS
	=	1 YO on needle (slip YO off the needle on next row)
	=	2 YOs on needle (slip YOs off the needle on next row)

KNITTING TIP:
On the rows where dropped sts are worked, make 1 extra YO inside the edge st in each side (i.e. 3 YOs on needle with large dropped sts and 2 YOs on needle with small dropped sts). 
Slip YOs off the needle on next row as before. 
This is done to avoid tight edges on the piece.

MEASURING TIP:
Because of the weight of the yarn all measurements must be done by holding the piece up otherwise the garment will be too long when worn.



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PATTERN AND INSTRUCTIONS
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BACK PIECE:
Worked back and forth on needle. Loosely cast on 36-40-44-48-52-56 sts on needle size 12 mm / US 17 with 1 strand of each yarn (= 3 strands). 

Work 2 ridges in GARTER ST - see explanation above (1st row = RS). 

Then work pattern according to diagram A.1 with 1 edge st in garter st in each side - READ KNITTING TIP and REMEMBER KNITTING GAUGE. 

When piece measures 51-52-53-53-55-56 cm / 20"-20½"-21"-21"-21½"-22" - READ MEASURING TIP, cast on 2 new sts at the end of the next 2 rows = 40-44-48-52-56-60 sts. 

Continue A.1 with 1 edge st in garter st in each side - NOTE: It is important to also make 1 extra YO on the rows with dropped sts inside edge st in each side (slip YOs off the needle on next row). This is done to avoid tight edges on the piece.

When piece measures 64-66-68-70-72-74 cm / 25¼''-26''-26¾''-27½''-28 3/8''-29 1/8'' - remember Measuring tip, bind off the middle 10-10-10-12-12-12 sts for neck from RS and finish each shoulder separately. 

Continue to bind off 1 st on next row from neck = 14-16-18-19-21-23 sts remain on the shoulder. 
K 1 row from RS and K 1 row from WS before LOOSELY binding off with K from RS, piece measures approx. 66-68-70-72-74-76 cm / 26''-26¾''-27½''-28 3/8''-29 1/8''-30''. 

Repeat on the other shoulder.



FRONT PIECE:
Front piece is worked the same way as back piece but 10 cm / 4'' shorter vertically. 

Beg and work as on back piece until piece measures 41-42-43-43-45-46 cm / 16"-16½"-17"-17"-17 3/4"-18" - remember Measuring tip. 

Cast on 2 new sts at the end of the next 2 rows = 40-44-48-52-56-60 sts. 

Continue A.1 with 1 edge st in garter st in each side - NOTE: It is important to also make 1 extra YO on the rows with dropped sts inside edge st in each side as on back piece. 

When piece measures 50-52-54-55-57-59 cm / 19¾''-20½''-21¼''-21 5/8''-22½''-23¼'' - remember Measuring tip, bind off the middle 8-8-8-10-10-10 sts for neck and continue each shoulder separately. 

Then bind off for neck at the beg of every row from mid front: 1 st 2 times = 14-16-18-19-21-23 sts remain on needle. 

Continue to work until piece measures 55-57-59-61-63-65 cm / 21 5/8''-22½''-23¼''-24''-24¾''-25½'', K 1 row from RS and K 1 row from WS before LOOSELY binding off with K from RS.



ASSEMBLY:
Sew the shoulder seams tog inside bind off edge.



SLEEVE:
Pick up 24-26-28-30-30-32 sts from RS inside edge sts along armhole on needle size 12 mm / US 17 with 1 strand of each yarn (if more or fewer sts are picked up, inc/dec evenly on first row).

K 1 row from WS. Then work pattern according to diagram A.2 with 1 edge st in garter st in each side - remember Knitting tip. 

When sleeve measures 4-4-2-2-2-2 cm / 1½"-1½"-3/4"-3/4"-3/4"-3/4" - remember Measuring tip, dec 1 st in each side. 

Repeat dec every 11-11-9-8-8-6 cm / 4 3/8"-4 3/8"-3½"-3 1/8"-3 1/8"-2 3/8" 3-3-4-4-4-5 more times (= 4-4-5-5-5-6 dec in total) = 16-18-18-20-20-20 sts remain on needle. 

Continue pattern until sleeve measures 44-42-41-39-38-36 cm / 17 1/4"-16½"-16 1/8"-15 1/4"-15"-14 1/4".

Switch to circular needle size 10 mm / US 15 and work in garter st back and forth until sleeve measures 49-47-46-44-43-41 cm / 19 1/4"-18½"-18"-17 1/4"-17"-16 1/8" (shorter measurements in the larger sizes because of wider shoulders). 

Loosely bind off.

Knit another sleeve in the opposite side.



MORE ASSEMBLY:
Sew sleeve and side seams in one, sew in outermost sts, make sure the seam is not tight.



NECK EDGE:
Pick up from RS approx. 30 to 36 sts around the neck on circular needle size 10 mm / US 15 with 1 strand of each yarn (= 3 strands). P 1 round, K 1 round and P 1 round, then LOOSELY bind off with K.



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This wonderful Recipe is free, made and shared by DROPS Design, at Garnstudio.com.  They have many wonderful recipes on their websites.  The website is in many languages, and they also list retailers and online shops in different countries and regions, so it's very likely you'll find what you need.

Direct link to original recipe by DROPS sweater pattern //HERE

KNITTED GRAFFITI - YARN BOMBING

Knitted Graffiti, anyone?

I honestly hadn't heard about "Yarn-Bombing" until only a short time ago.

I guess all us knitters grin a tiny bit when seeing this.  I mean, talk about dedication and hard work! ...even though it's not that appreciated by everyone, which is most definitely understandable.   Not all of us would appreciate neon striped trees in the city centre.
I have to admit I love the tank though.  What do you think, is it an interesting way of displaying a message, or just silly?

Have you heard about Yarn Bombing?  I have to say it's pretty fascinating!  

Check out the the history and explanation below.  :)

"Yarn bombing, yarnbombing, yarn storming, guerrilla knitting, urban knitting or graffiti knitting is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk.

Yarn bombing examples have been recorded as early as May 2004 in Den Helder, Netherlands. One year later in the U.S., Texas knitters used their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but it has since spread worldwide with custom pieces being created by artists.

The start of this movement has been attributed to Magda Sayeg, 37, from Houston, who says she first got the idea in 2005 when she covered the door handle of her boutique with a custom-made cozy. Houston artist Bill Davenport was creating and exhibiting crochet-covered objects in Houston in the 1990s, and the Houston Press stated that "Bill Davenport could be called the grand old man of Houston crocheted sculpture."Artist Shanon Schollian was knitting stump cozies in 2002 for clear cuts in Oregon.The Knit Knot Tree by the Jafagirls in Yellow Springs, Ohio gained international attention in 2008.

The movement moved on from simple 'cozies' with the innovation of the 'stitched story'. The concept has been attributed to Lauren O'Farrell[6] (who creates her street art under the graffiti knitting name Deadly Knitshade), from London, UK, who founded the city's first graffiti knitting collective Knit the City. The 'stitched story concept' uses handmade amigurumi creatures, characters and items to tell a narrative or show a theme. This was first recorded with the Knit the City collective's "Web of Woe" installation in August 2009.

The Knit the City collective were also the first to use O'Farrell's term 'yarnstorming' to describe their graffiti knitting, as an alternative to the more popular term 'yarnbombing'.

Yarn bombing's popularity has spread throughout the world. In Oklahoma City the Collected Thread store yarn bombed the Plaza District of the city on September 9, 2011 to celebrate their three-year anniversary as a functioning shop.[10] and in Australia a group called the Twilight Taggers refer to themselves as 'fibre artists'. Joann Matvichuk of Lethbridge, Alberta founded International Yarnbombing Day, which was first observed on June 11, 2011."

- wikipedia.org -

INSPIRATIONAL KNITS IN FASHION

To me fashion is an art form, and knitting is as you know something dear to me, so you can imagine how excited I get when I see amazing creations like the ones below.

KNITTING - BAREFOOT - BY THE LAKE

Yeesss, barefoot, by the lake!  That's me, waving my feet around in the air! I'm sure they're not all that interesting, but there you have it.

My husband took me to this beautiful lake where we decided to spend the day.

We had a nice steep cardio session getting up to the top of the mountain to where the lake is, and I for some reason started yawning... and yawning... I was yawning my way all the way to the top for some reason. Lack of oxygen perhaps? It was really weird.  I'm definitely out of shape.

As we got to the top, we sat down, drank some ice coffee, and took in the wonderful view - barefoot of course.  :)

My trusted VM sweater is turning in to quite the globe trotter, coming with me everywhere, so of course it came with me in my bag all the way up the mountain.

RUNNING AWAY TO SWEDEN

Here the other day, the weather was really depressing - cloudy and slightly chilly - so we decided to abandon ship and run away to Sweden!

...or rather, drive right over the border to Sweden for a little day trip.  ;)

The weather started changing as we drove towards the border, and not long after crossing it, the skies were blue and the sun warm - lovely.

We ended up in the town Strömstad, where we decided to spend the day - shopping, eating, and relaxing.  It was really a cute little town, perfect for a day trip in good weather.  There were outcroppings stretching out into the water right next to the city centre, where you could lay down and enjoy the sun and the sea.

I just have a thing for prawn crackers.  Love them.  Not particularly healthy, but hey it's only summer once a year right?

Along the water front there were small stalls, filled with all sorts of fun, and I just fell in love with this one.  "Toves' little knitting corner" --> you can see her hand made sign there over the pink and the purple sweater, with something I think is supposed to be two balls of yarn and some crossed knitting pins.

Now this has to be the height of fashion.... want one of these, in the colours of the Swedish flag, and with it's name on your butt?   This is some seriously classy stuff, ha ha ha :)  Who knows, maybe they're super comfy?
Hilarious, that's for sure.

The height of the visit for me had to be these bizarre but really extremely cute hippy style headpieces!  I, of course, had to try one on.

The city center was small, and easy to walk around being all touristy by foot.  I was of course doing some window shopping.

After walking around, having some ice cream and peeking at all the different stores and stalls, we headed off to the rocky seaside to just relax in the sun.

I love sitting and just looking at all the beautiful sail boats passing by.  Of course, the VM sweater came with me, so I got some knitting done as I was enjoying the view.