White socks

I have knitted my very first pair of socks.
Lovely, white, light, woolly socks.
And even if I did knit them myself I'm still baffled by the fact that it is possible to knit a sock, a fine, finely shaped sock from just one long string of yarn - using wooden sticks.
The wonders of this world, we live in. (Among which I probably should not count my socks, but still....)
Modelled by the lovely Vincent:

The old fur project

I once inherited an old fur.
I do not quite remember when, where, or who. Could be my evil stepsister's husbond's stepmother.
Black astrakhan. Strangely cut, with narrow shoulders, narrow, illfitting sleeves, and too much bulk everywhere else.
I've never worn it. And while I would not buy a fur coat, I've never wanted to get rid of it either. The fur was first worn by a warm, breathing, living animal and as such should not be discarded because of bad tailoring.
So I've always thought that someday I would turn it into something else, someting fitting me a little better.
And now that it is growing increasingly chilly outside, now is the time. Especially as this week I have two full days off.
Which is such a rarity.
And should be put to good use - some of that good use will involve friends and fresh air, but also the old fur project.
I am in the process of taking it apart. Making it possible to see how much I have to work with.
I'm planning a short, fitted jacket. But how I'll cut depends on the result of the cutting apart.

My week in the shape of a pie

Having a full time job while studying full time is not ideal.
Far from it.
The white slice represents the time left for knitting, the cat-cuddling, .... drinking coffee, shopping, cooking, eating, bathing, doing laundry, going to the post-office, to the bank, or to the library, the time for cleaning, sewing, pleasure-reading, keeping plants alive, dancing (far too little), making the bed, drawing, seeing lovely people, exhibitions, concerts and movies. And all the other "little" things, not scheduled.
Which is probably why I'm not as elaborate, or witty or ... clever as I would like to be on this page. It's not as important, not as necessary, as other things are.

New white socks

So far just one in progress. The wonderful library got me Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks, and I've started on the Evening Stockings for a Young Lady.
The cats have only played with it a little, giving me hope that this I might actually get to finish.

Laurenz loves Vigdis

Vigdis in progress is perfect for snuggling

Vigdis - back on track

After a weekend feeling snotty and peevish I have at least made some progress on Vigdis - if little else. While Vincent claimed the Kitty Pi for himself not bothering Laurenz one bit Now it is Monday, the part of the day labelled work is over, and it's dark and cold outside, light and .... less cold inside, and there are cats, wine and yarn waiting in the sofa. Quite perfect for a Monday.

Vigdis - day ... who's counting anyway

After a not too productive week in the knitting department, I had just finished the second pattern repeat on Vigdis, when I realised, that I have made one very big, very visible mistake in the left side crossing -over-of-cables.. And not just once, but twice.
Now I have started over, almost.
Cursing my lack of pattern-following skills.

Vigdis - days three to five

A very long day at the university was followed by two equally long days at work, but I have made some progress on Vigdis. "She" is a bit squeezed at present as I keep forgetting to find time for buying her a fitting round needle. And I have now learned to follow the pattern. And I want to learn to cable without those pesky cable needles. However I now understand why they come in pairs, as cats obviously find them to be the most Brilliant Things to Run off With.

Orchid falls victim to wild cat chase

Will spend rest of its life in glass of water.

One sock in its making

I am now halfway through the first of hopefully two socks In spite of thorough sabotage, which has made it less fun than it probably could have been. But at least now I know the pattern in my sleep.

Vigdis - day two

As I should perhaps have expected I did get bored with the simple, nice, easy sleeve. And to counter the boredom I started on the front, which is much more interesting, offering new exciting things such as cables. However, at the crucial point, the cats were weighing me down, and the book was out of reach,... so I let the cables turn whichever way I felt like. Which is not exactly as described in the pattern. But I hope that will just be the personal touch and not a direct way into trouble. I will probably find out later.

Vigdis - day one

From the very first moment I thought about playing with needles and yarn, I've wanted to knit the Vigdis sweater from Elsebeth Lavold's Wiking patterns. Ok, I have been knitting for only a few weeks, I think, and it may have been the third or fourth book I brought home from the library, so "very first moment" is ... not really very precise, but close enough. And today I have started. It may be my downfall. But I am well on the way through the first nice, simple, easy sleeve. Starting out slowly and carefully. Not yet a cable in sight.

Kitty pi bed process

First: recognizing need for Kitty Pi bed:

Then: yarn purchase (do not yet have suitable stash) followed by yarn inspection.Followed by a lot of knitting and waiting and knitting and waiting And finally it is ready to meet the washing machine..... And after the washing, further inspection: And then the happily sleeping pi filling:With a few loose threads still in need of snipping.

Kitty Pi bed is done

The bed is done. Very big and beautifully oval and the bad cats love it. And my hands are slowly healing from knitting chunky wool using gigantic needles. Camera is gone, however. Has taken a short vacation, off somewhere, I guess. Otherwise I would have documented the stretched out sleeping love of the kitty pi bed. Hopefully they still love it when it returns. And I may even get some sockknitting done.

Kitty pi bed project

I've by now guessed that the consistent sabotage of my sock-knitting may well be caused by the cats lusting for a kitty pi bed. However, after buying lovely wool and gargantuan needles for the project I'm not much inclined to invest in something biggish and round for the blocking. And it will need to accomodate to longlegged cats who like to stretch out. So I've decided to make them an oval kitty pi using my laundry basket where the original calls for some tupperware pie thingy. Below are the calculations for the project, considering size of the basket, gauge and allowance for shrinkage - and ovalness. The cats have tried the basket on for size, and it looks just about right. However, I don't think its a good sign, that after three days of knitting I already refuse to follow a simple, easy pattern. But if the cats are happy - socks may be made.

Appearances deceive

And they look so very innocent when sleeping

Oh, well

I had completely forgotten about this. But somehow now that I have decided to quit the cigarettes and take up knitting instead I do for some reason find a need for a place to record my progress - and hopefully not the lack of same. I have for the fourth time started knitting a black sock, later to be paired with a second black sock. Lovely light and soft black alpaca wool. Unfortunately the snotty siamese bad cats also find it lovely light and soft and have unravelled the first three sock-attempts, leaving sad little heaps of black shredded wool and small bits of beautiful ribbing on the living room floor. From now on the to-be-socks sleep in an old cookie jar at night. And I'm still smoking.