Nunoya

No words. Just photos of this incredible fabric shop. Hidden in between the small streets near the cathedral. Filled with fabric treasures that got my wallet down on its knees begging for mercy.

No mercy were given.

Fabrics were bought. A promice was uttered.

- I’ll be back.

Spanish baby knit inspiration

It’s crazy times around here, and I need myself some blog reading time. Now. So many things to share and so little time. Before I wish you a great week end, let me show you these beautiful baby knits from the Spanish knitting magazine “Tricotar”.

After leaving Barcelona for Costa Brava, I found a kiosk selling magazines. Rows and rows of embroidery, cross-stitch AND knitting magazines. I loved the classic knits in this Tricotar magazine so that’s the one that came with me home from the shelf. To my funny surprise – we established life’s many coincidences in last post didn’t we? – Inside the magazine was an interview with Laia from Lanarium!

I love these classic pastels and less-is -more designs. I also loooove the bright colours in the beach dress. No more babies for me, but it’s a good thing I have friends that still need baby knits.

Wish you all a splendid week end!

Llanarium

Did you visit Alicia’s blog? Well today, I’ll share some pictures of Llanarium the yarn shop she took me to. If you are planning to visit Barcelona in the near future, I recommend a visit to this cosy little yarn shop in the middle of Barcelona’s huff and buzz’ - OK so I just invented those words, but you know what I mean, right?

Right next to Placa Catalunya in a narrow side street, you find Llanarium and its very sweet owner Laia (which is expecting her first baby). This is where Alicia took me after our initial “hellos”, and “how fun to finally meet you”! And I loved it.

There I also discovered that as much as this blog world is big, it is also small. It turns out that some of the other knitter aficionados in the shop had read the (then) most current post about my visit to Pickles (without knowing it was my blog). When they saw me walking in with the Pickles bag they were a bit surprised and began explaining how they had just read about that shop in a blog… When showing us which blog they had seen it in, it turned out…It was Life in Yonder. Life’s coincidences.

While they talked about the yarn, I took pictures and looked at all the yarn- wonder in Llanarium.

At Llanarium I also met Esther who was knitting herself a featherweight cardigan with Schachenmayr select yarn. I have read a lot about featherweight cardigan when it was a big hit on Ravelry, but never seen one in real life. Now I understand its popularity. I love the shape of it. It is a perfect summer cardigan. In fact, I loved Esther’s version of it so much that I bought the same yarn to knit one. You can see her finished cardigan on Ravelry.

The photos I took does not give this shop or the nice people in it justice, but if you have time, look at this short video presentation of the shop that captures the feeling you get inside. A warm welcoming knit place. When you do so, take a notice of the man with the spectacles. His name in Josep Mestres and he is a crochet master. He makes the most elegant and feminine crocheted designs I have ever seen. Oh, if only I had Audrey Hepburn’s body…

Have a nice week end! I'm going to use the week end to read about the knitters get together at the wool factory in Sjølingstad. One day I'll go there too. I hope.

New knitting bag and new friends

Did I show you my knew knitting bag? No, I didn’t did I. Well here it is. Besides being made with gorgeous fabrics bought at my favourite fabric store in Barcelona (I’ll tell you about the fabric store in a later blog post), what makes it special is that it was a gift from my new friend Alicia behind the blog Ganxetades. She’s a blog friend that I met this summer while visiting BCN. This is the second time I meet someone in real life that I have first known through Blogland. And I must say, I feel lucky to get to know so lovely people through this place.

Did you see the beautiful detail on the shoulder strap? I love details like that. Small quirky details on simple designs.

We spent an afternoon together in Barcelona where she showed me a beautiful yarn shop, introduced me to more nice Spanish knitters and took me to my dream fabric store.

Now go and take a look at all the beautiful things she makes. After that come back in a day or two to see the beautiful yarn shop she showed me.

Have a nice week!

Good bye summer, hello fall

Welcome back back after a long summer break and renewal of energy. Since last, I’ve knitted (of course), bathed, eaten ice cream, spent time with old friends, met new friends, had a few GT’s, enjoyed the sun and turned 40. Yes, I am finally 40! And so far it is working out fine.

My once a upon gospel choir- and high school friend Anja gave me this beautiful lithography for my birthday. She is a talented, beautiful, generous and inspiring soul. Not afraid to live life and not afraid to be who she is …or perhaps her true bravery, is to be who you are despite of being afraid. Well, that’s her.

If you live near the Oslo area, I recommend visiting the art gallery she founded in 2008 “Pikene ved broen”, to see some of the beautiful art she makes and the beautiful work by other talented artists.

Before I begin to share my knits and photos with you this fall I would just like to say welcome back and “Drink your tea with tenderness”.

Summer time

It´s summer time and vacation time. The blog is also taking a vacation while I will be busy doing as little as possible, enjoying time with my family and friends. Looking forward to see you again in September.

Until then, enjoy these photos from our visit to the west coast.

I wish each and every one of you a good summer!

A perfect summer knit

I couldn’t wait beginning to knit with my newly purchased yarn. In case you didn’t read my last post it is Pickles angora. Cut angora. This is important if you care for the welfare of the animals, which I do.

I’ve chosen the Pickles pattern “Knæsj Cardigan” or “Mardi Cardi” in English. My version of the cardigan shall be named “The paradox cardigan” since I have chosen the less “knæsj” colour (“knæsj” means something very colourful or with strong colour) in the whole Pickles shop.

I was afraid that this jacket would take a looong time because the yarn is very thin, but knitting with needles sized 4mm makes this project go fast even if it is a grown up size. So fast that when I should have switched needle size from 3.5 mm to 4 mm after the ribbing was done, I forgot. Now I have to undo until I reach the ribbing, switch to 4 mm and continue.

Anyhow, it’s a perfect summer knit because it weights close to nothing and I can knit in the round (yes another knit in the round and cut jacket – I still have the other uncut though). It feels like feather and I cant wait to wear it!

Hope you are enjoying summer so far!

Guess where I have been?

I finally made it. I finally made it to this candy shop for knitting folks, the Pickles shop. And with that, my “knitting only from my stash” attempt has had a little set back. However, the only one who knows this is me… and you.

I could have spent a lot more time and money than I did. Fortunately or misfortunately depending on how you see it, I had to be quick about my visit, since mr. Yonder and gang were waiting for me outside the shop.

After considering different projects and type of yarns and colours (there are so many beautiful colours), I ended up with several skeins of Pickle Angora. I think I will knit it into something for me. If I do, it will be my second ego knit in less than a year.

What’s on your needles? Do you drop knitting completely because of sunny days and warmer temperatures? Do you have other activities you prefer in summertime? Or have you begun preparing the wardrobe for fall and winter?

The benefits of procrastinating

So what do you do when you are finished knitting a jacket in the round that needs to be cut? And you are terrified. Well of course, you are absolutely right: you begin binding of threads on your previous project. The one you didn’t think you’ll ever finish.

Procrastination is a perfect fear-managing tool. Besides it goes hand in hand with “finishitis” and “startitis”. Because you always need a knit, and if you are procrastinating one project you either have to finish an older one or begin a new one.

Knit and cut

The waves are coming along. Slowly but steady. It’s the first time I knit a jacket in the round. With purl stitches in the middle as a guideline for where I need to cut.

I’ll begin on the arms tonight and almost hope they take me a while because I am terrified at the thought of cutting into the knit. I need someone to hold my hand while I do this. Yes, I am serious. You have no idea how serious I am. Just go ahead laugh.

I vision two scenarios. One where I cut the jacket, everything goes wrong and I end up in tears, frustration, and lots of wasted yarn and time. The other scenario is much jollier. I come back and write a whole post about how silly I am and how ridiculous easy cutting a knit is and how everyone should be doing it. She who waits will see.

Have a nice weekend!

Spring knit

It’s time for a cheerful spring knit. This time I have chosen a wool & cotton yarn from my stash. I am still working on my stash reduction. Longing to buy new yarn in spring colours, but doing with what I have. Once more, I turn to the Danish designer Samsøe.

I love her clean and simple knitting designs.The wave jacket is a perfect left over yarn project. And also a good stash buster since the main colour recalls for 200-250g depending on the size. I’m left with less knitting time but with a few knit minutes here and a few knit minutes there it will be done.

In case you are wondering, the fall coat and I have taken a little break. Has that happened to you? That you are almost reaching the finishing line and the air goes out of you? I mean, we are talking about perhaps an hours’ worth of knitting and I would be done… Ready to indulge in warm wool. Instead, there it is in the unfinished pile. Glaring at me. I’m just going to glare back. At least for now :-)

Hope you are having a nice week so far.