Wednesday 8 February 2012

Yarn Along

Wisest is she who knows she does not know...

  Jostein Gaarder, Sophie's World,p51






At last I have mastered circular pins...I don't know why the transition from dp to circular was so traumatic for me...What was all the fuss about?  I think I just needed a little time and headspace to work, and then it was fine. Oh and the help of a couple of youtube tutorials like this one here...






Once that was solved I made the Tiny Owl Knits, Deer With Little Antlers Hat using beautifully soft artesano alpaca/wool mix (50/50) in colour C883. It looks grey in electric light but in daylight is a soft donkey brown colour. You can see how the colour changes in different lights in the images above. Although labelled aran it knits like chunky and so was perfect on UK 6.5mm, US 10 circular needles with a tension of 14sts and 18 rows to 4x4inches.


It's a really simple pattern that you can knit up in an evening (once you've mastered circular needles...if like me you need to!) The hardest part is placing the ears and baby antlers.





Then I made another pair of Hopsolot bunny slippers, this time in deep chocolate brown.I have another pair on the needles and two more to go.  You will find that once you start knitting these little bunnies you can't stop...everyone wants a pair...

This pattern is even simpler.  The tricky part is the felting because it can be difficult to get the size you want...the same organic 100% wool has given me totally different sized slippers. But if your slippers come too big or too small and don't fit the feet they were knitted for...a bit like the Ugly sisters...someone else always wants them. 


..and in between times I made some  colourful kitchen pot holders with odds and ends to brighten up a winter kitchen and make me think of warmer climes.  Mexico for some reason...






ooh and in the process learned another new skill here.


And reading? An unusual novel "Sophie's World" by Norweigan author Jostein Gaarder. It was a surprise, arriving in the post from a new friend...which considering the trope of the narrative... is quite appropriate...


It tells the story of fourteen year Sophie who receives unexpected notes in her mailbox that make her ask some very big questions for a young girl...An intriguing book that I can't put down...


...And next?  I can't wait to begin making these fair isle Norweigan totoro mittens...I hope to getting the yarn tomorrow...



I'm joining in Yarn Along at Small Things today
...Why don't you join in too?




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26 comments:

  1. angelina8 February 2012 at 03:25

    your blog is beautiful, i love the happiness statement up top. lovely knits !

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  2. Tracey ~ Clover8 February 2012 at 03:31

    I love youtube, that's how I learned to knit!
    The hat is too sweet and I'm glad you learned a new
    skill. I find knitting with circulars muc easier than dpn.
    Happy Yarn Along.

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  3. Crochet Addict UK8 February 2012 at 03:33

    The hat is very cute! Your projects are fantastic.

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  4. come on in x8 February 2012 at 04:14

    the yarn is beautiful and those bunny slippers are adorable, in fact there is a very interested 6 yr old peeping over my shoulder at them right now! Good luck with the mittens, I am just finishing a pair off at the moment.
    http://steadyfootprints.blogspot.com/

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  5. Jess8 February 2012 at 04:28

    Oh my goodness! that hat is too darling!
    and the booties are also so sweet!

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  6. karen8 February 2012 at 04:58

    Love love love the yarn you are knitting with!!! I cannot imagine knitting on anything except circulars....unless I'm knitting socks then it's dpns.

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  7. www.OhThePlacesWellRoll.com8 February 2012 at 05:25

    i learned the circular needles from you tube too! lol. there was a day when the ladies of our ancestors learned to knit from each other. i guess those days are over? lol

    :)
    jen

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  8. pinkundine8 February 2012 at 05:59

    That hat is gorgeous :) I love all the greys in your pictures, such lovely colours

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  9. Hurrayic8 February 2012 at 06:51

    Love all the bunny items. And those hot mitts are a great use for those scraps - are they knit or crochet?

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    1. debby emadian9 February 2012 at 03:09

      hi Hurrayic,

      Thank you, they are cute aren't they. The hot mitts are crocheted...just simple half double crochet.

      Deb

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  10. Natalie8 February 2012 at 07:43

    I love every single one of the projects in your photos. If I knew anyone with younger children...I would totally be making those bunny slippers. Sadly, my boys and all the nephews would think they are a little too young for them.
    Thank you for sharing.

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    1. debby emadian9 February 2012 at 03:11

      Hi Natalie,

      Thanks for your nice comments. You're very welcome. Actually the bunny slippers aren't for tiny kiddies but big ones like my daughter and her friends, and even my sisters...who are having their second childhood! I do think they are a girlie thing though...

      Have a good day,
      Deb

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  11. Denise8 February 2012 at 07:58

    That antler hat is adorable...and so are the slippers. I love the tiny owl knit patterns too.

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  12. Meadow8 February 2012 at 08:15

    The bunnies are so cute!

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  13. steph8 February 2012 at 08:23

    bunny hat definitely made me smile--great projects--happy knitting!!! and a new book (to me) to find!! Thank you!!!

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  14. Andria8 February 2012 at 10:07

    Knitting videos have saved me time and again, thank goodness for the internet! I love your hat, it is so cute! The pot holders made me smile too, I like the colours!

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  15. Cheryl8 February 2012 at 12:51

    The bunny hat is fabulous! We love Totoro. I've seen Totoro mittens around blogland. I'm really looking forward to seeing yours.

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  16. Unknown8 February 2012 at 13:48

    That hat is too cute. And bunny slippers. Oh my!

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  17. Unknown8 February 2012 at 15:23

    Oh my you've been knitting up a storm. Love those little slippers!

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  18. Maria8 February 2012 at 17:32

    What a sweet, sweet hat!

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  19. Lori ann8 February 2012 at 20:30

    love all your knitting debbie, and all the lovely colors you've chosen. i really need to make some of the bunny slippers. i just adore yours. i'm a little surprised to learn you have just now tried circulars, you are such an accomplished knitter. yay!

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  20. Lisa9 February 2012 at 06:40

    I haven't read "Sophie's World", but I love his book "The Christmas Mystery"!
    That's a great shade of brown.

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  21. Tracey10 February 2012 at 01:30

    Oh yes, youtube tutorials always come in handy. How exciting to have some new needles mastered ... your creations are so cute!! (you know how much I love woodland creatures).

    PS. I loved Sophie's World ... it's one of my favourite books. In fact it's sitting on the bookshelf just behind me. Enjoy! :)

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    1. debby emadian10 February 2012 at 09:29

      I know...I don't know what I'd do without youtube...it's a bit like having a friendly person on hand to teach everything you need to know.


      I can see why Sophie's World is one of your favourites Tracey it just has so much in it. Each time I'm about to put it down she receives another lesson and I have to find out what it is. I'm definitely enjoying reading it.

      Have a great weekend.
      Deb

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  22. Caz10 February 2012 at 02:48

    You are a woman after my own heart Deb. I've always wanted to master circular needles but have tried a couple of times then given up in frustration. Next time I'm going to try the YouTube tutorial which is how I finally taught myself to crochet. That hat is enough to get me excited!

    How are you enjoying Sophie's World? I've had it on the shelf for years so must give it a go too. So much to catch up on. I thought by now I'd be enjoying some new found freedom with the kids back at school but so far I've been busier than ever with work and boring car troubles!

    Maybe next week will be quieter?

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    1. debby emadian10 February 2012 at 09:23

      Hi Caz, I've missed you.

      I hope Henry settled into his new school happily and that you managed to get the car sorted out quickly...Mine has just failed it's MOT today! Grrr...Actually I've been travelling to work by bus. It's not a long journey but it gives me a little bit more time to read if I want and a bit of exercise too...which I definitely need after Christmas! So I'm enjoying no car...

      I'm enjoying Sophie's World too. It's not beautifully written...but with a translation that can sometimes get lost anyway. The beauty is in the content. I'm learning so much that I don't want to put it down. The philosophers I studied the first year of Uni were ones like Kant and Heidegger, not the ancient ones and definitely not Scandinavian.

      The friend who sent me this book thought it might help me to look at things with a new eye. I'm taking a year off making any artwork to catch up with myself and then research and plan projects for much later, maybe next year...

      Hope you have a lovely weekend and a quieter week .

      Take care,
      Deb

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