A knitting room of one's own

We just moved to a new 3-room appartment, and made a very bold decision: We have no living room. We have a quite large kid's room, an even larger guy's room half filled with computer stuff and playthings, and [ta-ta-tara!] mum's very own little room for knitting, sewing and chatting.

It has been ten years or so since I last had a room of my own, and I really enjoy the closed door sometimes. But even more, I love to bring my family into the tiny space with three cups of tea, two magazines and a box of Polly-dolls. Yesterday, the blonde Polly took her man shopping in Knitty, carefully tiptoeing over my laptop keyboard, before they had lunch on daddy's knee.

Today, I am carefully sorting my yarn into piles on the sofa. Planning where and how to store the different yarns, and what to knit this summer and fall. Taking my time to touch and smell the delicate fibres, combining different colours, and knitting swatches as I go. Knowing that if I can't finnish today, I can leave everything out, close the door and continue tomorrow.

Constitution Day knitting

As some of you know, next sunday we celebrate Norvegian Constitution Day (AKA The National Spring Fest of Ice Lollies, Hot Dogs and Children's Parades).

Also, as some of you know, after my encounter with some rather strict regulations to who can buy materials and patterns to the national costume I have put my plans to make a "bunad" to rest.

But that does not mean I have run out of Constitution Day knitting! I still need to make a red boy's cap, a white girl's shawl and a few pairs of socks. I must darn a "Marius" sweather and rebutton a "Fana" jacket. And I would really like a new pair of wrist warmers for myself... perhaps in the "Fana" pattern, or inspired by the pearl embroidery on the belt of my grandmothers "bunad"?

Yikes! I knit milk!

This weekend I got to try out the Viking of Norway yarn "milk and honey." It is made out of 70% milk fibre (and 30% cotton), and I still find it hard to understand ...WHY?

Of course, I do not quite understand HOW either, but that's for some future post. What I do understand of the process, however, is that it isn't easy nor cheap. It does sell on the eco-friendly wave, but I am not convinced that it is any more eco friendly than plain cotton.

But great political, philosophical and ethical questions aside, let us concentrate on the important perspective: The knit.

Honestly, it felt like cotton. Slightly less plied and thus also a looser knit than the cottons I prefer, but not at all like some brands of 100% cotton. So, why bother adding that much milk to the blend? Need I try the new 100% milk fibre?

Interchangeable needles problem

I have borrowed a set of Knitpicks interchangeable needles to test. If you are not familiar with the idea, the set consist of different sizes of needles and langths of cable that you can put together, and some very clever stoppers that allow you to store stitches safe on the cable.

Indeed an intriguing concept. But I face trouble: My right hand needle keep unscrewing. Not to the point where I drop the needle/stitches, but that is only because I notice the snagging and rescrew it. Anyone else encountered this problem? Any ideas on how to solve it?

Mind the gap

Sometimes, the wall behind the girly-princess' bed gets really cold, and sometimes she complains about a draught. But mum rushes to her rescue, knitting up a bed-lenght pillowcase for a folded duvet. Problem solved!

Finding closure

I can't decide if I like this mother of pearl closure. What do you think, ladies and punk?

It the bag it was pretty enough, but I really don't like how the "buttonhole" part tugs at the fabric.

Considering the crime

My brother forgot his sweather with me. Last spring. How long must I wait before I can call it mine without actually stealing it? Will it be theft to borrow it occasionally? How often, and how many times, can I borrow it? May I bring it out of town? Leave it at the cabin?

Or should I simply bring it next time I visit him?

Not to forget: Just how cruel would it be to hide it whenever he comes over to my place?