knitting Archive - Seite 5 von 11

World Wide Knit in Public Day

Veröffentlicht am 16. Juni 2014 von Carina

Usually, I have no problem (anymore) to knit or crochet in public. Actually, I love to keep my hands busy in cafes or when using public transportation. So when M suggested we’d go to Hoppegarten (the racecourse outside Berlin) on World Wide Knit in Public Day I did not mind at all. I would even announce it on Facebook …

my knitting - double protected (orange sack, hiding in green bag). — my knitting – double protected (orange sack, hiding in green bag).

Well, that became a full-blown failure … Even though I had taken my knitting with me I did not even unpack it.

Lebensglück = Joy of Life. Isn't that the nicest name ever!? — Lebensglück = Joy of Life. Isn’t that the nicest name ever!?

First, because the pre-race inspection of the horses, the filling out of betting slips, and finally the sight of those magnificent horses dashing across the track (while following the basketball play-offs on my cell phone) kept me busy – there was no time to actually concentrate on stitches.

Second, people (ladies) around us were dressed to kill, in silk and with huge hats – believe it or not, I was too intimidated to unpack my knitting.

Third (and last) it was the German Mongolian horse races: there were Mongolian costumes to look at (very colorful), Mongolian life music to listen to (just like Rammstein, if you’re familiar with the band), and Mongolian food to taste (delicious but spicy).

However, what inspired me the most (surprise …) were garments and accessories made from either cashmere or yak fibers. Mostly undyed and in all shades of brown and grey they were unbelievably soft and beautiful. There was quite a bit of knitting but felting as well. I should have taken more pictures for you to see.

Did you do better than me? Where did you go?

Plum Colored Cardigan

Veröffentlicht am 26. Mai 2014 von Carina8 Kommentare

I still owe you the pictures of my cardigan – I almost forgot. Remember, I worried about ruining it in the washing machine? Well, luckily I did not.

Finding the perfect buttons took pretty much as long as knitting the cardigan. For days I could not decide which ones to attach. Finally, I decided on mother of pearl. Depending on the light, there is some brownish-violet-plum inside that beautifully matches the yarn.

Then, I had M take pictures. That – again – would take a long time as either the yarn was depicted a lot lighter than it actually is (but all stitches were clearly visible) or it was pictured in its beautiful proper color (too dark to see anything at all).

Now, here is what we agreed upon:

It is a perfect cardigan in a very pretty color. However, if I were to make another one of these, I would probably choose a different yarn as the cardigan is now very heavy. I am afraid it might wear out at the yoke sooner or later. But for now it fits like a glove (is that what you say?).

Talking about colors, my hair started to turn gray when I was in my mid twenties. I would color it for a while (brown, blonde, blue) until I became too lazy (and less of a revolutionary …). Weird to see how white it has become (actually, quite a nice contrast to the dark cardigan 🙂 ).

My Cardigan

Veröffentlicht am 10. Mai 2014 von Carina2 Kommentare

This morning I sat in front of the washing machine, never loosing sight of the „bull’s eye“ … 600 rpm spin speed … a hand knitted cardigan inside … nerves all on edge … 🙂 Luckily, all went well.

I am sure you have been there before.

It has been a while since I knitted a garment. Even longer since I knitted something for myself. Scarves, wraps, monsters, wrist warmers, blankets for others? Yes. Something for me? Not really.

Until now.

Now, a cardigan – the color of dark plums and knitted in garter stitch with a leaf pattern on the yoke – is recovering on a big towel. As soon as it is dry I will show pictures.

Sifu Design Studio & Fine Yarns

Veröffentlicht am 8. Mai 2014 von Carina5 Kommentare

Sifu is Chinese for „Master“ or „Teacher.“ In Mandarin it is pronounced like „sure foo“, whereas in Cantonese it is more like „see foo.“ However, no matter how you vocalize it, it is used to express the speaker’s utmost respect with regard to the addressee’s skills and experience.

A Japanese friend (when taught how to knit) called Lisa her Sifu. Understandably, Lisa would feel very honored and when starting her business the Sifu became her mission statement: „You, too, can be a master of your craft.“

When asking where and how to get a copy of Chicago Knits Magazine’s first issue I was told to buy it at Sifu Design Studio & Fine Yarns in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood. And this is where I went.

To cut a long story short: it is a store with a soul! Does that make sense? I so wish it would be in my neighborhood!

There is that huge table in the back, where probably ten people of all ages would sit, knit, work on computers, laugh and chat away, while one was trying to refloat a knitting machine (or loom?). The center of the store (if there is a center) is an old counter, surrounded by mostly antique furniture along the walls, such as drawers, suitcases, shelves, boxes and dressers, brimming over with yarn of all colors imaginable. The walls are covered with paintings, thread spools, and other decoration. There are books, magazines, postcards, all sorts of hooks and needles, ribbons, buttons, stitch holders in little drawers, trinkets everywhere.

An amazing store, punishing me for every time I had been (too?) strict with J: „You’re supposed to look with your eyes, not with your hands. Don’t touch it! Put that down!“ Well, here I was, in knitting wonderland, wanting to touch everything, as everywhere was something to see, to admire, and – yes – to desire, to long for …

As the world is small, my friend Mamie has known Lisa for quiet a few years and when I told her that I wanted to go to the store, Mamie left a gift certificate for me behind Lisa’s counter. What a treat!

No doubt – M and J needed quite a bit of patience until I was done choosing from all the lovely yarn and stuff that was there … Here is what I (finally) picked: Four skeins of Cascade 220 sport in „Lake Chelan Heather“ and the most beautiful handmade little stitch markers in turquoise and orange. Again, thank you so much Mamie – once I have decided what to make out of it I will let you know!

And guess who I met while there: Kim Richardson, the Chicago Knits Magazine’s „mother.“If you like to know more about Lisa and her Sifu Design Store – she is featured in the magazine. If you get a chance to visit – GO!

The Windy Knitty

Veröffentlicht am 7. Mai 2014 von Carina

In Southern Illinois (the night before we left for Chicago) my circular needles would break! Have you ever experienced that? They would break right above the point where needle and cord meet. Knitting garter stitch (while holding the broken needle in my right hand), I had been lost in thought, not paying attention to what I was doing. Consequently, I would not even realize what had happened until J pointed it out („Mami, are you doing this on purpose? They’re all falling down …“). Very weird experience, that has never happened to me before – fortunately easy to fix (the knitting, not the needle).

However, the next day, literally right after dropping our luggage at the airbnb-place we had rented, all three of us went to the Windy Knitty.

There we would not only get the circular needle, but so much more! The ladies were extremely helpful – with regard to all sorts of gorgeous yarn and when it came to Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood in general: they would provide us with addresses from breakfast to dinner, from yarn makers to book stores, from basketball trading cards to public NBA broadcast, writing everything down or encircling it in the map. In no time, three days were packed, every minute planned :).

We were all set! Plus, I had bought a book, that had been on my list for a long time (Amy Herzog: Knit to Flatter, signed by the author), and a beautiful pattern for a summer wrap.

The store itself is really nice, very well-assorted, with a lot of space and a lot of light, and a super-wide variety of yarn for every budget, which made it pure pleasure to examine (eyes & hands) their specialty yarns as well as affordable skeins and quite a few „must-haves“ (Cascade 220, Malabrigo, Louisa Harding, Madelintosh).

Unfortunately, we would not stay long enough for me to take part in one of their meet-ups for yarnies or a knit-night. I’ll have to come back I guess …

Thanks again for recommending the store in your comments!