KIP Knit cafe

To hot for puppy's, the weekends heat wave has made Rasmus sad

Karin's returned(Hooray) and here is her gift for me!
Gorgeous, funky 1980 colours, remind me of the George Michael Wham era
"wake me up before you go go!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hksil-KkebQ
Old friends

What a gloriously sunny day to sit and have an informal knit cafe on.
This was the place http://www.pastan.nu/cafe-chokladbollen-1.13676
Sunday 12 and 2 for me, but I'm sure it went on long into the afternoon.

Karin back, with chat of Raverly abroad, showing her tan and share memory's of Ecuador.

Margaret(Swedish spelling I'm unsure), her commission knit lady(friend) arrived to try on the finished cardigan, perfect fit.

Public, the word of the day
Kip
Knit in public
Try on in public (commission knit)
A very public knit cafe
Even a gift given in public (say that fast;-)

Home Sweet Home, Stockholm!

Home sweet........home (finished!)
Stockholm
I guess is the word I never wrote,
because like it or not Stockholm, is my home;-).

And strangely I feel more at home in Stockholm, I guess now(3years) than I do in England, that's a fact but its hard to face that feeling.

my nomadic wondering qualities.
Where will they take me!

Today we (hubby and I) walked and walked the sun shone and the pretty city is made to walk and soak up the sun and the sights.

Project Blythe

Today I began making these cute little pink and red combination of yarn for my
Blythe, matching little dresses.

This was today's (KIP) knit in public, tram, train and sat in the
Rosendals Tradgard having lunch.
http://www.rosendalstradgard.se/section.php?id=0000000051

We ended the day in one of my favourite places in Stockholm Solstugan
(summer cottage, I think is the translation)

Monet's memory blankie

Day's go by...........
Months
Years!

Not a whole lot of crochet happening this week. It's been busy, as you know I was in the progress of getting ready to leave Sweden.

Things didn't go to plan!, The economy,life,etc etc

So I've been busy getting back on track,
had my life on hold
(Stuck in limbo land)
Its a good place to be!
But we all need plans.
Should I stay or should I go now!
Song lyrics I can't remember the artist;-(

That's how it's been really, for the last 6 months readying the family and myself,
Set for the big storm. That being our return to UK.

I had a week to get my act together and I have just been doing little things here and there, thing always fall in to place it's good positive thinking that helps.

And a little knit inspiration from my fellow bloggers knitter and good friends.

I'm feeling like I'm bouncing back with a bang.
No more what if's,
Just the what now's!

Blog promoting

http://crochetliberationfront.blogspot.com/2009/05/creating-opportunity.htm

Creating opportunity(title)
I read her blog article and thought that it would be good to share/she is promoting the crochet craft.
Blog-Crochet liberation Front
Written by Laurie wheeler

The importance of knit cafes

Love the name!
Ladies having fun........
Vintage knit Lab, I found this image on Google Images and it was attached to a blog click below to read her knit cafe visit, defiantly worth a read;-)
http://www.ihanna.nu/blog/?p=679

Below
Katrina and Jenny regulars knit cafe Buddie's, I'm not sure if this is Gino's or Hurtigs, we moved the knit cafe but what's funny is it's my daughter in the back ground.
Image taken from flicka/google Image

Diary entries from my most recent knit cafes
Venue
Hurtigs konditori
Drottinggatan 90A
Thats, Stockholm Sweden
Day Tuesday
Time from 530 until 8/9

my knit cafe visiting
I'm usually every few weeks and around 5;30 till 7;00 not long but enough time to stay in contact with regular group members,and usually always a new face to say hello.(Hey hey)

Between four and 10 (at most!) sometimes only your alone,

Weather depending if the sun is shining, theirs no sitting inside for my Swedish friends. And I completely understand the sun is not for long, so those batteries need to be charged. The snow and dark, is lets just say... a difficult time.

What to you get up to?
keep an up date, on the knit world...........in other words, Raverly!.
We Share new magazines or books that one or another member has purchased.

Coffee and a cake or dinner,you choose.
Most recent topic's
Rock god's Iron Maiden verses Metalica?
Whats the best chick flick/ever Love Actually came out on top, we didn't actually poll, just chit chat.

Lenah's, knit cafe in the garden
Good to see old knit buddies.
Book's flicked through, mostly vintage
General chit chat/mostly missing Ecuador karin

To stitch and bitch is such a fun community idea, people of all walks sharing there projects and ideas with like minded people.

Knitted by me, My own Youtube, All me!.

Knit lab/Lenah;-)



Vintage Youtube
End of 2007
Stockholm's happy memory's

Click here and you will see a very,very nervous me and a good friend Lenah
The owner of which has now sadly closed, Knitlab.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUS4Foqr0gU&NR=1

Dearly missed my knit cafe family and favourite place to hang out. But if any one would like a glimpse of knitlab in it's glory and prime, Or just a peek and a very camera shy me or my knits.

It made me smile watching it over again, how time fly's.

This is the TV appearance, that led to the Swedish knit book authors
(A Trio of lovely ladies)
They gave me a two page spread in their book,
Knitted by me
http://www.knittedbyme.se/
Good times;-)

Memory Blanket

These are my daughters Monet's, she is chip of the old block as they say in the UK.

She is very into free-form. I guess she has to be, as I cant teach her any different;-).

She is very clever with crochet, as she is a left hander. But I had to teach her right handed as we just got to confused when we tried to reverse it.

Maybe now a different story, as we both are a little bit more experienced but you know how it goes.

Cont
The way you where shown/taught 1st, is the way that sticks whether right or wrong.
She was around 8!, when she got to basics. She made a few scarf's but little sample blankets for small things
(little TY or littlest pet shops is all she liked to do!)

Currently she is too pre teen to knit/crochet
"Designer every thing is her plan, oj oj oj she come back to the hand makes, it's a fad".

But together we tided her room this weekend (Mission) and I found her box of neatly stash squares and she asked what could we do with them?

This is where the memory blanket part come in! why not attach them and then edge them, Blankie Mania Ravelry http://theknittingforartexhibition.blogspot.com/2008/09/blankie-mania-turns-tracey-emin.html But not ON such a disciplined scale;-).
Home Sweet, still working on my racing green acrylic egding, as it hangs here in my garden I can see that I will have to unpick the bumpy mixed yarn thats in the centre as making it all in one peice defianlty has not worked.

The final thing I will do before I flog that middle is iron/press with the heat and see if that makes the yarn sit flatter.

This weekend I have been mostly crocheting.......

Camera holder for Gray

This is for my Canadian mate Gray, he has a sorry little excuse of a camera case, a cut up sock! (clean I must add) for protecting his camera, not so good.

So I saw the perfect opportunity for a knit gift or Crochet in this case.
(Case Ha,pardon the pun!)

A tiny little stitch for a tiny little bag, tie string optional.
Made on a 3.5 hook using yellow cotton.

Home Sweet

I filled out the centre, but I'm not sure sure its working as it seems to have really pulled the letters out of shape.

So today I have begun the dark green that will be the surround(frame) Then once I have edged the letters with a green band and can see how it sits. Flat hopefully and if not I'll have a re-think.

I may flog the centre and start again;-(
Watch this space.
Mabel Blythe with her up do! (Too cute)
http://www.thisisblythe.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=125

I took this a while back and forgot to post it!OJ OJ OJ
So today I thought would be a good day, as im all doll inspired after seeing the Coraline film.

I found this on you tube and and its the model maker, hair fixer! I guess that's the best way to describe her. Have a look at the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCDOs5DxJPY&feature=related

Coraline

A knitter must see, plenty of mini knits and little knitting needles and even a mini crochet hook to look out for.
Miniature knitting you tube artist link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5VTE9MZzIw
Plot
A young girl walks through a secret door in her new home and discovers an alternate version of her life. On the surface, this parallel reality is eerily similar to her real life - only much better.

But when her adventure turns dangerous, and her counterfeit
parents (including Other Mother/robot dad) try to keep her forever and ever, Coraline must count on her resourcefulness, determination, and bravery to get back home. To save her real family.

DON'T READ BELOW IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE FILM YET

Charm
The character the out fits, all hand made. I love love loved it. The hands of the the Terry Hatcher bad mother character made from pins and almost female terminator body made spindly pins all joined as if a skeleton structure.

Favourite parts
Fake garden
The buttons
The crocheting of new wings for the dog that is not dead yet!

Magic
The fact that its all in three d!
Trailer for movie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8EeoMLivA8

A Sad Bag of abused knitting needles

Knit Story

I took this picture from e bay a while back for an eventual post (good time), I get hooked on e bay every now and then, not really to buy. I do but they get me on the P&P here so it has to be really necessary or a complete bargain,
just hooked at looking at all the knitting memorabilia, Vintage (key word).

This bag of needle shower up, this saddened me and I even considered bidding.
Just so I could end the misery of these poor abused knitting needles, pair them clean them love them.
So I did..........Bid that is
But days later when I remembered to check (terrible short term memory)
I almost always put an amount(max) and then don't look until bid end. As I don't want to get caught up in the £1 more scenario.

Sadly I had been out bid, but at the same time completely relieved that this bag on someone's once cherished tools and memory would be going to a once again loving home.

The End
Random fun, taken from google image.
Scary

Experimental

Rolf Harris Crochet

http://www.retrojunk.com/details_articles/3607/
Image taken from the blog link above
Rolf
As a 70's child, in my teens I was mesmerised by Rolf Harris's cartoon time.

Bom, Bom, Bom here a little wiggly, wiggly, mmmm
" Can you see what it is yet?"
(Imagine all this, with the Australian accent).

He sketched with a marker, made many random noises and that was it. Fabulous and he never started in an obvious place, so you got to keep on guessing, what the picture would eventually be.

I feel a little Rolf with my knit projects or in this case my crochet lettering project.

I fill in parts and then things just seem to come together, and not really in a very organised way but it works for me, Rolf Harris style.


A little splash of colour here!
And what do we have? Home Sweet home progress.

Betsey Johnson for my birthday

Not a lot of knitting has gone on today but it's ok to have a day off, I'm a little bit of a daily knitter as you know by reading this blog.

But today I have had a wonderful birthday, I don't even care about being another year older I have a Betsey Johnson to keep me company.
Totally Spoiled!
Breakfast out/bike ride
Lunch out
Dinner in with the family (I'm worn out) BBQ and in true planned style it's raining but I don't care;-)

Betseyville link below
http://www.fashionstage.com/designer/betseyville/17/1/


Home Sweet I have began the central fill in, I choose a mixed yarn over a block of one colour as the one colour seemed to be to strong and your eye would have been drawn to the centre rather than the writing and that's the point!.

Crochet Grafitti Lettering

Home Sweet

Here's my progress so far this weekend on the SWEET part
For Sweet the letters have worked all out well on the 1st attempt at putting them together.
Next step
I will join Home to Sweet
I plan on doing this by filling the central squarish (space) with one block colour, home above sweet below.

This will eventually be a wall hanging, so I wanted it to look almost as if a framed cross stitch. The Kitcher the better in every way;-)

Crocheted Lettering

Home Sweet home
The S and the W of Sweet, I have completed all the letters I have to surround them in the Orange yarn to make them stand out more clearly.
Patio Pom project
Here is a Pom- pom that hangs proudly on my patio, Its an art project as I have been photographing the seasons change and eventually I hope that the knitting (Yarm pom) and nature will become one, as the honey suckle surrounds the hanging ball.
Shawl
One of the 3 easy pattern of shawl that I have been making is completed.
Well according to how I read the pattern, but I think I have gone a little wrong.
As too me it seems to small for a shawl and more a neck scarf!
So I need to work on this a little more I feel to fix this problem I may just edge with crochet to make the project grow.;-(

Knitta Project NGA

Start process
Above,Completed.
Below the front entrance of the of the National Gallery Australia (Camberra)
This is where it will end up!, my made with love little scarf, a small part to add to big project. Along with 100's of others (hopefully)


Big scale graffiti knit

Project oz
Well actually project "Knitta please"
Camberra

None other that the National Gallery of Australia (NGA to the locals)
Funny I guess being an artist, id like my art on the inside but seeing it's going on
one of the six large colossal columns out front that's just as good.

I'm very happy, mine is completely clashy, that way I thought it would hopefully stand out.
Proof in the pudding as they say.
Job done......
Finished packaged and posted.

Its scarf size and a group of volunteers will attach them altogether, I'm not sure if a project like this has been done before.

But yet another fab-knit-tastic idea!
what to do with needles and yarn.

I really need to get my thinking cap on, I keep being involved in these great idea's, knitta and of course the Pom pom project.

I think its time I thought of one........

I guess that I have the time now, to do just that.

Official, life change announcement!

We, my family will be living in Stockholm for one more year.
Not my choice, don't get me wrong I love love love Stockholm, its been a very lucky place for me.

I am who I am, because of Stockholm I really found my self here.

I was Just ready to go home, but due to reasons beyond my control all my knit buddies have to put up with my mad ideas and big knits, for another year;-).

And all my new knit connections that I have been working on in the UK will have to wait one more year.

Famous last words.
Only one, only two the third and final and now the fourth
Oj Oj Oj

Home Grafitti Crochet

Part of my Crocheted lettering project.
I'm learning as I go along, what works best, letter shape wise.


Here is an update on my project Graffiti
Home Sweet..........
?
The last part(word in the sentence) is what ever!, you would like it to be
Traditionally, Home Sweet Home!

Or another token word.
For me today it's a slightly **ity Home.
So that would be a good two words to end, but I'm not sure that a good responsible mum would allow her self to crochet a swear!
I cant believe I'm even thinking about it!
Even though it would be funny, hung over the fire place as a centre piece;-)

Villa Knit Pearl

I actually stayed in a place called Villa Pearl, I failed to mention this is my yesterday post. And I personally didn't book the venue (Gem did) But it seemed a strange coincidence when I have a blog with the title pearl in it, pearl by accident as you'll laugh at this fact.

But I was actually un-aware that purl as in knit was spelt differently!
(it was a while ago, my spelling is defiantly on the improved side of the scale) "Boy have I come on a long way"........ But for all of those who know me well, they would just think it was for my love of pearls, because I have an ability to team pearls with any out fit! (unfortunately not real pearls) huge charity shop collection.
Funny fact is the only real pearl that I have is attached to the end of a crochet
hook.






The Recession depression, which ever the uk title

Having the week away I was able to catch up in some U,K literature, the girls packed well as living in Stockholm I can buy Uk editions but at twice/three time the price so about twice a year. But in this over dose selection of trivial trash (most of it!) The magazines talked about How to save
Recycling your clothes
Your fabrics
Your T Bags (Becker)
But mostly about what people are doing with there spare time,
pause........
Not spending, but actually making!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It seems brewing your own coffee is a huge saver
(Sorry to the Star Bucks employees that lost their jobs)

The biggest mention was the fact that people are again enjoying the crafts such as knitting and crochet. Maybe not the biggest arcticle, but to me it was! DIY (love it)

I am really pleased/very glad even, it’s a shame that it takes hard times, for peeps to fall into that don’t buy it ill make it phase but better late than never.

I would be hard pressed now to buy a shawl or a cardi
I just could not justify it! not since i've been knitting/crocheting my own things,

When it would be good money for good quality yarn and I could make my own.
Benefits
Own design
Own time
Own one off gift that no body else would have.

Whether it’s this years, new picnic blanket and if you’re a beginner it will take a while. And as with all knit projects, it will always have that knitted/crochet history.

The story that come with every stitch. You don’t get that with the blanket you just brought form say Ikea. The only story that comes with that purchase is a guarantee that when you leave you blanket in the field to have a swim in the River.
(This is a Swedish thing I mention don’t think many rivers in to U,K are sadly swim-able any more)

The only guarantee is that when you return to dry off, you’ll be hard pressed to find your pic-nic spot. As there will be so many blankets of the same type of ikea print, that you will struggle to find yours.
:-)

Recommended, flight knit therapy

Myself , Gem, Beck dressed in the Tropical hen theme

Girlie week away!

Well it was actually Gem’s (adopted sister) her hen do!

Cala en Porter

A quiet week, I seemed to be the one whom drank the most, or I guess the one with the lowest tolerance level.

Home sweet........graffiti start

Lets just say that much!!!, but for me a mini break equals a knit fest

Two flights each way,living in Sweden unbelievably flights cost double. So to the Uk, then to Spain the long way around......

This included to Heathrow to Gatwick to Spain and then a reverse but that just means more up in the air knit time.

I’m a little nervous about flying, I could never say it doesn’t bother me but I do think that knitting is honesty my saviour. As for when I do have those irrational thoughts.....CONT-

Birthday gift shawl

CONT-Thinking the bumpy turbulence, means that I just may fall out of the sky.

This is when some emergency stitches, knit one purl one or that crochet free-form just makes me forget,

I breathe deeply, concentrate and this calms my nerves almost completely.

I would strongly recommend flight knit therapy, even if you can’t knit, by the time you get to your destination armed with an easy print out, from say

"Bitch n Stitch" you’ll get it for sure;-).

And it's Guaranteed that their be a little old lady(traditional)

(In this day and age a teen/Air steward)

To assist those nervously shaky hands, knit those 1^st few stitches.

Mabel Blythe took her first flight

The hen weeks projects for me, where as follows

Pom-pom elvis Roberts flicka project(huge fan)

(palm tree in the villa)

Shawl three, a gift

Home Sweet…….. The new graffiti knit

Blythe Bikini

Palm Pom-pom

Apologies, 1st for my week gap in blogging with out an explanation

(my life choices are a little hectic at the moment)

No excuse!



And two for this completely mad mix up with the font, I've been working at it for ages unable to realise what has happened and it has just occurred to me that this happened before.



It's because I typed the post before had in word, why? now I just don't know but I will not do it again, ill just use note paper or a note pad on pc. That what I get for trying to be extra organised.