Somebody loves me!!

Just yesterday, I had a nice comment on my latest post from a lovely girl named Kaitlyn, from Kaitlyn's Simply Vintage. She told me she had nominated me for a Liebster-award.

Moi?!!?

I was of course thrilled, and a wee bit surprised! Obviously, someone is bound to stumble upon my blog at some point, but they don't necessarily have to like it, but it sure is nice that some of you do :)

The Liebster award is a token of recognition that bloggers award to fellow bloggers who they think deserve more recognition. (The term "Liebster" roughly translates to "Dearest" from German)
The guidelines of this award are as follows:

You must answer the 11 questions set by the blogger who nominated you.
You yourself then pick 11 blogs who in turn have under 200 followers.
You must then think of 11 questions for the blogs you have picked and also tell them.
You must link back to the blog that nominated you.
Write 11 facts about yourself

So, onto the question Kaitlyn has given me:

1. Why did you start blogging? 

I think it mostly was down to curiosity, "can I manage to make a blog?". But as I realized that I indeed could, it turned out a great way to keep myself motivated, and organized. I liked having somewhere to track my progress. Blogging well is kind of hard work, and getting nice comments on your extra effort is very satisfying.

2. What is your favorite piece of music?

Oh.....tough one. There is so much nice music out there, and I listen to so much different stuff. I guess my answer would be whatever matches my mood at a given moment. Funk and Rockabilly is never wrong though!

3. Do you thrift shop? If so, what purchase are you most proud of?

We actually do have one thrift shop where I live. I've been meaning to go (for years) but never get round to it. Weird, because I love all kinds of old stuff, flea markets and thrift stores!

4. Tea or coffee?

Both! But whenever there is GOOD coffee to be had, I prefer it over tea :)

5. What colors are the walls in your bedroom?

They are a yuckie yellowish color. Me and Mr. Pinhouse bought our house 3 years ago, and redecorating bedroom is now high on the to-do-list (mine, anyway)! I dream of soft grey and white, with a contrast wall of driftwood (there will be discussions, I know...) Heh!

6. What is the best piece of advice your parents ever gave you?

All of them, probably. I was just too young and stupid to listen. "Get an education" is high up there!

7. What would your dreamhouse be?

Easy. Bilbo Baggin's house.

8. What creative pursuits do you follow?

I am good at switching focus, and there is sooooo many things I want to master.

I am however, determined get more practice playing my didgeridoo!

9. Are you a morning person?

That depends. If I have to go to work, it's no big deal getting up at 04.40 in the morning, but whenever there's a holiday or vacation, I'd rather be awake all night. I think I descend from those people that used to keep lookout for predators and kept the fire going when we lived in caves :)

10. What is your ideal fashion item?

I am not very good at fashion, personally. My lifestyle has always called for practicality, before style. Not that those two can't be combined, but factory working and horse owning do set some standards. But if I were to choose an item that makes me think of fashion and style, it is the hat. I wish hats could make a huge comeback, so that one could wear one without feeling slightly ridiculous :D

11. Do you collect anything?

No, not per se. But I do however notice my ever growing stash of vintage sewing and knitting patterns.....

My 11 Liebster nominees are (in random order):

• One Small Stitch
• Sewing ♥ Vintage ♥ Knitting
• The Sunshine Grove
• Vint Hill Vintage
• Cardigan Girl Knits
• The Nerdy Seamstress
• Sew Classic
• Sew Deputy
• HoffiCoffi
• My Sewing Suite
• The Forties Floozy

Go check them all out, some are currently hosting give-aways!! Yay!

My list of questions to the nominated bloggers:

1. What do you find most challenging about blogging?
2. If you could choose any super-power, what would it be?
3. What is the most important thing in your life?
4. Which object/tool could you not do without on a daily basis?
5. What is your favorite movie of all times?
6. What is your dream destination for travel?
7. Which wild animal do you find most fascinating? 
8. What is the most romantic thing anyone's ever done for you?
9. Who do you admire the most, and why?
10. If you could make a living doing anything, which profession would you choose?
11. Describe yourself in 5 words.

Lastly; 11 fun-facts about me:

• I love dinosaurs.
• I have moved 18 times in my life.
• I have eaten bugs on purpose.
• I once slept for 32 hours in one go.
• Snow makes me happy. The more ,the better!
• I talk to myself out loud when I am alone.
• I physically can't sing when someone is listening.
• I was Norwegian Champion in hairdressing for apprentices in 1998.
• I love travelling alone, no matter how far.
• When I was young, me and my best friend "adopted" a baby crow that had fallen from the nest and hid it in our basement. We nursed it until it could fly, and then released it.
• I cannot wear rings on my fingers. I loose them.

Thank you for nominating me, Kaitlyn!
This was actually quite hard, but very fun :) Can't wait to see what my nominees answers on my little "quiz"!

A new design in cable stitch

Finally!!
Happy new year, all!
After a lot of waiting for the planets to align, non-crappy weather and light (and a decent hair day) I gave up, and photographed regardless. (Well, at least the weather was decent :)

So I am happy to present to you; my entry for the Knit for Victory challenge/ knit-along hosted by Tasha.
The pattern is 'A New Design in Cable Stitch', free from the V&A Museum online.

The cardigan took me 4 weeks from start to finish, and was a fairly easy pattern. The sizing was, well, abit of a puzzle, and even though I added extra stitches to fronts and back and blocked it vigorously it is still quite small. I can wear it buttoned up, but don't care for the "skin-of-the-sausage-look". 40s fashion was close fitting, mainly due to rationing, but nowadays and extra skein of yarn is not a problem. But I think I will wear this open, thank you very nicely ;)

I initially wanted a green cardi, but the one shade in the store didn't turn me on so I ended up with this light blue, and I quite like it. The buttons are not vintage, but cute shanked plastic buttons with flowers on them in a "frosted" look.

The only thing I didn't like is how the cables don't meet up on the shoulders. Due to the decreasing on the back piece armhole shaping, it doesn't add up when assembling the cardigan. Purely cosmetic, I know, but being a perfectionist things like that annoy me.

If I was to knit this one again, I probably would make it slightly longer, so that the junction between ribbing and the cabled portion would hit my natural waist. But it was hard to tell during knitting if I would get into it at all! This project taught me a lot, and next time I will be able to better adjust these things.

After all, this is only my second knitted garment (other than socks, mittens, hats and scarves) and all in all I like this cardigan very much. I've seen multiple versions from other knitters in all kinds of beautiful colors and with fun buttons. It looks gorgeous in black!

On another note, my hubster uttered a request for a sweater, so I am now busy with a traditional Norwegian 'Marius'-sweater. It was designed in 1953, but is based upon stitch patterns from the 20s and 30s.
It is named after war hero and skier Marius Eriksen, and is very popular in Norwayland these days. The design is on everything from coffee mugs to Ipad-covers, even cars!!

source

I cast on Dec. 23rd, knitted the whole body on the round, found out it was too small (even for me!!!), frogged the whole buggar, and started over a week ago....sigh.
More on that later (just the arms to go now!) but here's a little teaser :)

So, tell me; what are you working on??

Blocking a knitted garment

Hello everybody, are you all en route with your Christmas preparations? 

I sure hope so, and I am sure many of you agree it is quite the race! 

My holiday has officially started, I had my last day at work this year on Wednesday. And if I am honest, I don't know how I would get done with all my shopping and preparations if it wasn't for those two extra days off. It also meant I was able to finish my Knit for Victory cardigan!! Yay!

I cast on November 21st, and I never thought it would be finished this fast! But the pattern was very straight forward, and I had very few problems along the way. Don't you just love it when things run smoothly?

I did however have the nagging feeling of knitting a child size cardigan, the pieces just looked SO small, and there was really no way to tell how it would turn out. Other than knitting the darn thing finished, naturally :)

I knew I had to block it, and having never done it before, it was an exciting new experience! 

So here's how I did it:

You'll need bucket, water, detergent, tape measure, towel, pins, cushion and knitted wool string :)
(a bottle of wine is useful too.)

I first finished all my pieces (obviously), and washed them how I would the finished cardi. I soaked the pieces in lukewarm water, using a mild detergent especially for wool. My yarn is 100% new wool. I was careful not to rub or wring it, I just gently swooshed it around in the water and squeezed what water I could from it with my hands. 

Rock and roll :)

Then, I placed the piece on a clean dry towel, rolled it up into a sausage, and stepped on it a few times. Yes, people, I did, just to get the towel to absorb the water. It works like a charm, and the pieces come out nice and flat and just the right amount of damp :)

Take care with the edges!  If you get scallops like these,
it may help using more pins, and just work the shape til it's even.

Next step is to stretch the piece to the right size and shape. My pattern had an illustration with measurements, so I just got out my tape measure, took some measurements of my own body for comparison and started pinning the piece onto my blocking surface. I used a garden couch seat cushion, but any pinable smooth surface will do. Just be careful your yarn will not bleed any color onto your pinning surface, it can do that when wet. I used large upholstery pins, but I am sure regular pins are just as useful. If they are without heads, pinning them at an angle away from your piece will keep it from slipping off.

Much better even edge.

Stretch and pin the piece into the shape and size you want, but make sure any edges are nice and even. When wet the piece is springy, but once dry it will hold the shape it dried into, so if you don't care for scalloped edges, do spend some extra moments getting it all even.
Also, make sure to match the length of the sides where front pieces and back piece meet, and also the shoulder area, so that sewing together goes smoothly.

Not too shabby:)

Just to give an idea on just how much larger you can make your pieces (Thank Gawd!!), here's my sleeves pre and post blocking! WOW!!

From straight jacket to wearable in a couple of hours :)

When your happy with the result, leave to dry :) Repeat with all pieces.

Now all's left is to weave in all those loose ends, and assemble your garment (which I have), so stay tuned ;)

In the meantime, don't forget to relax a bit and enjoy the Christmas spirit!

Merry Holidays to you all ;)

Knit-along coming along!

So the last few weeks have been quite busy over here in Norway-land.
Work is crazy, a lot of last minute scramblin' before the holidays, so when I finally get home from the factory and stable chores, I just want to pass out on the couch.

But there has been crafting! Oh yes!
Today is exactly three weeks since starting my Knit For Victory cardigan, using a vintage pattern from 1940.
It is free online on the Victoria and Albert Museum website, and is called 'A new design in cable stitch'.
And I must say it has been smooth sailings all the way! I have knitted some in the past, but mostly small things, like socks, mittens and hats. Oh yeah, and the Snowroses sweater :)
Here's my progress so far.

Back piece, not yet cast off because I wanted to coordinate
the armhole and the shoulder sloping to the fronts.

The fronts.
One of which I knitted one and a half time.... Forgot some decrease stitches at the armhole there.
Whoopsie.

Two thirds of a sleeve,
one and one third to go!!

This is my first cable knit, but it is really easy. All you need is an extra needle (a little wonky one for cabling) and the ability to count to eight, because you only do cabling (in this case) on every eighth row. Simple! I am "memory challenged", so I bought some markers to help me keep count, but so far I have only used one, for where I started the increases on the sleeve.

If anything, the hard part is getting the cables to look good near edges. For example, on the fronts I noticed after casting off, that the decrease rows on the shoulder was right on where a cable should happen, so it doesn't look right. If I don't fix it, I know it will bug the crap out of me, so there will have to be some frogging. But it is just a small piece at the top, so no biggie.

Damn.
There should be cabling... could be worse though :)

There are some similar issues on the arms. Because of the increase stitches happening on either side, there will be new cables appearing, and at some point they will be wide enough to get "twisted" like the others. Until they are, they are just flat stripes of knit stitches and look odd. But since they will end up on the underside of the arm, I can live with it.

I did knit a swatch before I cast on, and had the right gauge.
But I did so in Stockinette, and I am so worried it will end up too small. I added extra stitches to the back piece and fronts (about the equivalent of 1 inch, so around 3" in total). All that is left now is one and a half sleeve, but for some reason I totally forgot to check the measurements on the sleeve sketch in the pattern, and did not add any extra stitches either! Gulp.

What can I say....I was eager. So praying they won't end up Arm-Strangulators. Heh..

Like mentioned before, at this point I think it mostly resemble a cabled straight jacket, so I will obviously be blocking the beejeezuz out of it. I am actually very curious on that process, because I have never blocked any knitting in my life, so I don't have any idea on just how much it is possible to block. Interesting!

But that's a tale for another post! Onwards!!

Knit....purl.....knit.....purl

For those of you that might have missed me, I am still here!
Entangled in yarn!
You see, winter time in Norway is definitely knitting time for me, and after a few years of not knitting a stitch I am now wielding my needles like a crazy person!

source

The very talented Tasha, at By Gum By Golly, is hosting an awesome 40s knit-along these days, and the timing was perfect for me. The last weeks I have been kind of hoarding knitting patterns from just the 1940s, so the only conundrum left, was to choose ONE pattern. It's like telling a child to only choose ONE piece of candy in the candy store.....gah.

Anyways, I landed on a pattern called "A new design in cable stitch" and it is free from the Victoria and Albert Museum website. I see a couple of other knitters in the knit-along are using the same pattern, so obviously a tried and tested pattern. Besides, it feels safe to have the opportunity to nag other people, in the event of getting stuck. Hah!

So here's my progress so far, the back is done, and the left front nearly there. It is looking quite good for my first attempt at cabling. It really is rather easy, luckily.

The pattern states it is for a 37" bust, but it is alarmingly small at this stage. I know it will be blocked, but you know, your feelings are a bit split when the thing looks like a cabled straight jacket. I even knit a swatch, AND threw in some extra stitches for good measure. 40s sweaters tend to be on the close fitting side (the painted-on-look) so I am in suspense here! It will be fine, I'm sure (happy-thoughts!!!)...

Sewing wise, it has been a tad quiet, but I have an ongoing project from my sewing list, no less!
A petrol wool skirt, and I am trying out interlining this time. Also a first time attempt, and it is looking ok so far (although there has been slipping and cursing involved).
Here's a teaser:

The color on both the yarn and the wool fabric on these pictures, are not true. They are more teal-ish, and the avid reader will notice that I AM COLOR COORDINATING!!! (that's a first...)
Oh yes, I used my brain when shopping, and that deserves a glass of wine imho!

Have a lovely weekend, all!

The birdcage blouse!

I really got my blouse sewing mojo on lately!
Just as well, as I am seriously lacking separates in my closet.
So here's my latest make; The Birdcage Blouse!!

It is made from the Wearing History Smooth sailing blouse pattern, a 30s style blouse.
It has short puffed sleeves, with turn up, bias cut cuffs, a large pointy notched collar, a fitted, yoked bodice with tucks in the back. Gathering on shoulders and on the back, and small front pockets (that I totally forgot to install!)

The fabric is 100% cotton, also a remnant I found for cheap. I just can't resist a good novelty print, and this was just too cute to pass up. It is birdcages on powder pink, with different colored birds in them, and cute little hearts scattered around. Some of the birds are neon colored, but that doesn't show in the pictures.
I wanted to persuade my two budgies to pose in the pictures with me, but they were not having it, so here's just me..

I am sorry for the semi blurry photos, I really struggle getting good photos alone with my tripod and remote as we have crappy lighting indoors, but you get the general idea.

This blouse was easy and quick to make, and I really like the style. It is perfect for casual wear, and novelty prints. I read some reviews on the pattern in advance, and some said that the sleeves was tight, so I just cut them the next size up from the size I was using. No problem!
As a matter of fact, this is the first thing I have made that didn't involve any seam-ripping, what so ever! What??! Can it really be?
I guess it means I am coming along... :)

I suspect more of these blouses in the near future! Such a great pattern, and fit.

Have you tried any of the Wearing History patterns?
What did you think of them?

Meow!

Hello good people!

I am back, with my newest make!
For your viewing pleasure is a pussy bow blouse made from Simplicity #8738, printed in 1978.
The fabric is a light cotton I found in a remnant bin for about 1£, and it was just enough to squeeze out this cute blouse.

The pattern is one I got in a small lot off a Facebook group, for a couple of £s earlier this summer, and when I saw there was going to be a Bow Neck Sewalong hosted by Seamstress Erin, well... I was good to go!

The pattern was VERY tatty... I had to totally restore it, before it could be put to use. If someone told me it was cut by Stevie Wonder, I would not bat an eyelid. (No offence, Stevie, but we all know you're no good with scissors..). On several pieces the seam allowance had been cut off, and they were also severed at all "lengthen-here" lines, so it was quite the puzzle.

I went for View 4, with short sleeves.

The construction was actually great. The back yoke piece is self faced, and made the inside lovely and clean. The instructions was clear and easy to follow, and the bow collar was so easy that the whole shirt was made up in just a few hours spread over a couple of days. None of that usual collar-crazyness!

I found the perfect buttons!! Can you see the little pussycats?
So cute!!

When it was time for sleeves, I decided  to use the same pattern pieces as I did on my first blouse.
There was not enough fabric for long sleeves, besides I really liked those little puffy ones with the pleating, but I wanted pointy cuffs this time.
To make a long story short, I went about fusing on interfacing, and cut the ends of the cuff pieces at an angle, only to find out that I was actually suppose to fold those pieces and so - they were ruined.
I was sure I could make new ones, and rummaged through my scraps. Oh no. Not a single piece big enough for even one of the cuffs, so it was time to get creative! I managed to cut out six narrow strips about 5" long, three of these were joined together and used as binding. I figured, since this was a bow blouse, some more bows couldn't hurt, right? So, ta-dah!! Bowed sleeves :)

I really like this blouse, but I think I need to put some darts in it, because it is HUGE! I have become accustom to 40s sizing, so a size 16 usually mean a 34" bust. This pattern, however, is from the late 70s, so the amount of ease is enormous! The fact that the bust size of 97cm (38+ inches), is printed on the envelope, totally escaped my attention... I blame my enthusiasm. Heh.
The color is really fresh, and to my recollection, I have never worn yellow before. So it was a positive, and cheery change in my wardrobe.

Pussy bow blouses are fun to wear, and I really want more of these. But i might look for a more fitted style next time. This one was great for getting my feet wet with these cute blouses. I would also like some in a more "dressy" fabric, but for my first go this everyday cotton was just the ticket!

The sewalong runs till the end of November, so there is still time to join, if you haven't already ;)